“It’s an orange scone and plain latte. Sydney assured me they’re your favorites.”
Bridget gladly accepted the cup and inhaled the aroma of the coffee. “I need this.”
“Rough night?”
“Yes.” She would never love hospitals. And her boss had only called back early this morning with reluctant approval to involve the media. “I’m not sure how we can best spread the word about finding Jane Doe’s family. We don’t have a good picture of her and sharing a picture of her in the ICU feels invasive.”
“I can start by interviewing you. If that doesn’t work, we can take more steps. Start with the classic ‘we need the public’s help identifying a child’s family.’”
“That works. My boss doesn’t want a full press conference until we know more.”
Dani smiled. “Then I guess it’s a good thing we know each other. I can have Logan here in half an hour and have the first story on the noon news with something on socials before then.”
“Okay.” Bridget swallowed against the panic at being the one interviewed. She did not love that idea, but she wanted to find this girl’s family more. “Todd Westmont is the detective who found her.”
“Caleb’s partner? That explains why Caleb left so early this morning. I can follow up with him, too. Maybe get video there.” Dani stepped away as she started typing on her phone.
Bridget could practically see the wheels spinning in Dani’s mind. Maybe this would work.
“Any idea what’s wrong with the girl?”
Bridget shook her head, then took a sip of the latte. She needed caffeine to hit her bloodstream fast. “Right now, the doctors seem mystified. They’re focused on identifying what it’s not.”
“Maybe she’s simply exhausted.”
“It’s possible.” But Bridget thought it unlikely. If that was the case, Jane Doe should have become responsive at some point during the night. Instead, she hadn’t responded to any stimuli yet.
Dani’s eyes clouded, much as they had the prior night when she talked about her oldest child. Then she shook it off. “Well, let’s get started so we can get the story circulated for her.” She glanced at her phone. “Logan is on his way and should be here in five minutes.” She looked around the waiting room. “Why don’t we do the interview outside. I bet the hospital will prefer that.”
Bridget imagined they would, too, but she also wondered what her manager would think. Why was she the one doing the interview? She let the warmth from the coffee cup warm her hands as she considered who would be better prepared to represent the state on a matter so important. “Does it seem odd to you, that I’m the one doing the interview?”
Dani shrugged. “The division has a spokesperson, but they usually handle official press conferences. Are you having second thoughts?”
“Maybe, but we have to find her family.” It just felt like this colored outside the protocol. “This was my first night on call.”
“You landed a doozy.”
“Yeah.” Her phone buzzed, and she glanced at the number. “I’ve got to take this.”
“I’ll get Logan set up outside.” Dani hurried away, while Bridget stepped into the hallway.
“This is Bridget.”
“Anything new to report?” Leticia sounded harried, as if she was half on the call.
“Only that Dani Jamison with Channel Thirteen is here. Sure this is the right approach? We could have the public relations person talk with her.”
“Don’t have time to get them up to speed. It’s all you.”
“If you’re sure.”
“I am. There won’t always be a clean procedure for each situation. This is one of those. Time is essential.”
Bridget had to agree, even as she didn’t want to be the person in front of the camera. But that young girl needed her to step up and be her voice when she couldn’t speak for herself. “All right. But I’m going to need help today. I had a couple court hearings.”
“Already been assigned to other people. I reassigned the people who had the cases before you.”
She forced her chin up as she absorbed the blow. It stung that she could be so easily replaced. This couldn’t be the right job for her. Not the way each of those sentences landed.
