happens to be married to Lincoln Moss, hits the gossip circuit.”
Kathryn got out of the car and waited for Nikki to lock it. She hopped around for a few minutes, aware that Nikki was watching her. “Yeah, it hurts. No sense lying about it. Now that the dampness is lifting, and the sun is out, it’s not aching as bad. Before you can ask, I don’t know what I’m going to do. Between you and me, Nikki, I think I’m allergic to this damn titanium bar they put in my leg. They say no. It’s my leg, but I’m seriously considering having it taken out and letting the leg heal on its own. So I walk with a limp for the rest of my life, so what. I always thought I was tough, but the pain is really getting to me. The therapy just aggravates the whole deal. I’m fed up. Okay, enough of my whining. Let’s go see what the dude who runs this paper can tell us.”
Nikki linked her arm with Kathryn’s as a show of moral support. “It goes without saying, Kathryn, that if there’s anything I can do, and I know I speak for the others, just ask. You have to ask, Kathryn. Can you do that?”
Kathryn looked at her old friend. “Maybe before the answer would have been no, but not now. Now I know when to ask, and I won’t have any trouble doing it. I’m done with all the ‘why me’ pity parties I’ve been having. C’mon, let’s see what In the Know has to say for itself.”
The two women walked across the parking lot to a wide stone walkway boarded with low evergreen ground cover and colorful flowers. “Maintenance must cost a fortune,” Nikki said, looking around. Kathryn nodded. “And this building had to cost beaucoup bucks. I think I read it was built twelve years ago. Looks brand-new. No one told us who actually owns this rag, do you realize that?”
“Well now that you mention it, yeah. Probably one of the other tabloids, and this is just a spin-off to throw everyone off.”
Nikki held the door for Kathryn, and they walked into a wonderland of a grotto of waterfalls and live trees and every flower known to man. Soft music was being piped in from somewhere, soothing sounds along with the waterfall. Probably to soothe the minds of those here to rat out others.
Groups of people were sitting everywhere, chatting, taking notes, or just relaxing. In the center was a circular desk made out of colored stone that was so eye-catching both women gasped as they looked around to see all the minirainbows reflected on the walls from the overhead lighting.
The woman behind the desk looked up and smiled. She was not beautiful; nor was she homely. She was pleasant-looking. Her hair was done nicely, her makeup was flawless, and she was dressed conservatively. She wore Sarah Palin glasses. “Can I help you?”
“I hope so.” Nikki smiled in return. “We’d like to see Mr. Goodwin, and no, we do not have an appointment, but it is important. We’re here to claim our prize.”
The woman whose name tag said she was PAMELA WARREN said, “And what prize would that be?”
“The one about the model,” Kathryn said.
“Oh, I see. Please, have a seat, and I’ll see if Mr. Goodwin is free.”
The girls didn’t bother to take a seat; instead, they walked around looking at all the marble and statues as well as trying to get a fix on all the people in the lobby. Nikki whirled around in time to see Pamela Warren motion for them to return to the desk.
“Mr. Goodwin says he can only give you ten minutes because he’s late now for another appointment. Will that work for you, ladies?” She beamed a high-wattage smile that pretty much said it better be okay because there were no other options.
“Sure,” Kathryn drawled. “I know how to talk fast. The really big question is how long it will take Mr. Goodwin to write out the check. That might eat into the time frame.” Pamela Warren didn’t smile at this snappy comeback. Instead, she said, “Someone will be here momentarily to escort you to Mr. Goodwin’s office.”
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