***
Jilly folded her napkin on her lap. “I’ve been doing some background research on Tess, the woman I met in the café.”
Logan had been waiting for Jilly to say something all night. “From The Bridesmaids Club?”
She nodded. “When she was modeling her name was Theresa Daniels. I knew I’d seen her face before. She’s been on every major fashion magazine cover in the world.”
Logan kept eating his apple crumble. He wondered what else Jilly had found out.
“Has she ever said anything about her career?”
“Not that I can remember.”
Jilly watched him dip his spoon into the ball of half-melted vanilla ice cream on the side of his plate. “If I tell you something, you’ve got to promise you’ll keep it to yourself.”
Logan had already promised Tess the same thing, so he didn’t have a problem with Jilly’s request. “I won’t say a word.”
Jilly looked over her shoulder. She moved closer when the conversation at the table behind them petered out. “A friend of Theresa’s died of a drug overdose. There were no formal charges laid, but it sounds as though Theresa was involved in what happened.”
He couldn’t blame Jilly for jumping to conclusions. She hadn’t had much time to look at what else had been happening when Tess’ friend had died. But a part of him was disappointed that she’d been so quick to accept what someone else said. He’d expected more from her.
“Have you spoken to anyone? Verified what you’ve heard?”
Jilly reached for her bag and pulled out a notebook. Not the electronic variety, but the old-fashioned paper and pen variety. She flicked through the pages and settled on a particular section. “I called the modeling agency Theresa worked with. They haven’t spoken to her since she left three years ago. They gave me her old address in New York.”
“Are you going to fly out there?”
“Not on this vacation. Besides, there’s no point. The building she lived in has been converted into high-end apartments. Nothing like the shoe boxes someone at the agency told me she lived in. But that’s small beans compared to the other person I’ve been speaking to.”
Logan dreaded to think about what Jilly had been up to. He just hoped she hadn’t contacted the senator’s ex-wife. Marcie Gibson was looking for anything that would prove, beyond a doubt, that her ex-husband was a drug dealer and cheat. Three years ago, Tess didn’t have any evidence to back up her complaint to the police. Marcie had the evidence, but Tess didn’t want her name connected with the senator.
If Jilly talked to Marcie Gibson, Tess’ cover would be blown and everyone would know what had happened. As soon as the story hit the headlines it would be picked up by every newspaper in the country. Tess’ life wouldn’t be the same again.
Jilly leaned forward. “Have you heard of Senator Andrew Gibson?”
Logan was glad a waitress came across and asked if they’d like coffee. It distracted Jilly, gave him time to think. If the senator knew a reporter was digging into his past, he’d use every trick he knew to shut her down.
He hoped like crazy Jilly hadn’t spoken to the man himself. “Doesn’t he represent California?”
“You know your politicians.” Jilly sounded impressed.
“His name’s been in the paper once or twice.”
Jilly leaned forward. “I spoke with his previous press secretary. She resigned suddenly three years ago. The word going around town was that she didn’t like how the senator responded to allegations of drug use and improper behavior. The person I spoke to said she got a massive confidential payout.”
“Did she sign a non-disclosure form?”
Jilly shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t need her to back up my story or give me names.” She looked over her shoulder again. The other couple had left. “The senator has been having affairs for years. Some people think his wife knew about them, but I’m not so sure. Anyway, about three years ago he hit the headlines with a story about his involvement in the death of a model. She died from a drug overdose. A friend of the dead woman said Senator Gibson was giving the model cocaine. Guess who the friend was?”
The waitress reappeared with their coffee. Logan waited until she’d left. “I’ve got no idea.”
Jilly sent him a sharp look. “You think I’m making this up?”
“No. But I think you could be in over your head if you write the story.”
“Theresa Daniels, also known as Tess Williams, is the person who went to the police.”
Logan picked up his coffee cup. “What happened to Tess after the story broke?”
“She lost major contracts and disappeared from the modeling scene. Until now, no one knew where she’d gone.”
“Does that set warning bells off in your head?”
Jilly frowned. “I’m a reporter. I hear a bell and I know I’m heading in the right direction.”
“I want you to listen carefully to me, Jilly. You’ve been writing for the lifestyle section of the paper. I can’t imagine there are many stories that have the potential to destroy someone’s life. Tess and the senator’s press secretary left their careers after the drug story broke. Do you honestly think Senator Gibson will let you bury him in mud in an election year?”
“I’m not interested in what Senator Gibson will do. If he had anything to do with the model’s death, he needs to be held accountable.”
“Before you do anything, you need to have a really hard think about the consequences of going any further.”
Jilly’s lips clamped together. She wasn’t impressed with his advice. Five years ago, he probably would have been the same. But time and a whole lot more experience had taught him a valuable lesson. The truth wasn’t always what it seemed. And sometimes, telling the truth had more lethal consequences than keeping quiet.
“Something tells me, Logan Allen, that you know more than you’re saying.”
“What I know or don’t know isn’t important. Forget about Tess for a minute. What do you think this story will mean for your career?”
“Professional recognition. A promotion, maybe a new job in a bigger city.”
“It could also get you fired, or at the very least, demoted. The police couldn’t prove anything last time. You need to have water-tight evidence before you even consider taking a story to your editor and the paper’s legal team.”
Jilly titled her chin. “I’m not scared of a story.”
“Maybe you should be.”
“I can’t believe you just said that. You’ve won three awards. A Pulitzer Prize. Your columns are syndicated to newspapers across the country. You don’t get that type of recognition by writing about the ten most popular paint colors of the year. You’re lying to yourself if you think you wouldn’t follow this story.”
“I’m not following the story because it could hurt far more people than the senator. Leave the people that are involved to come up with the evidence and go to the police.”
“What have you found out?”
Logan sat back in his chair. He felt far too old and jaded to be having this conversation with Jilly. She still had high ideals and an ambitious streak that could take her to the top of her career or sink her like a stone.
He’d promised Tess he wouldn’t say anything, and he’d keep his promise. But if Jilly wrote a story, Tess would have to do something fast.
“Leave the story alone, Jilly.”
“Are you giving me that advice as a friend or a colleague?”
In the past, Logan had treated the line between friendship and work with a blurry grayness when it suited him. But he wasn’t that person anymore. “My worry about your safety comes as a friend. As a colleague, I’m telling you to be very careful. Senator Gibson won’t take your accusations lightly. He’ll come after you and won’t leave you alone until you’re either gone from the paper or charged with defamation.”
Jilly picked up her bag. “I’m willing to take that risk. I’ll pay for dinner on my way out.”
&nbs
p; Logan watched her walk toward the reception desk. He didn’t like what Senator Gibson had done any more than Jilly did. The only person with enough evidence to put him away was his ex-wife. Until she was ready to go to the police, Jilly didn’t have enough information to force a conviction. And with no conviction, her career and the life Tess had built were in danger of being destroyed.
He turned his cell phone on. He needed advice from someone who knew how to keep people safe. And Dylan was the only person he knew that could help.