Page 151 of Secrets Hidden In The Glass

“Nate,” Kay’s voice played over the radio.

Sanchez opened the door for them.

“I’m right here,” Nate said, stepping inside.

Kay rushed to her feet. “I think we have a problem. I should have realized it sooner.”

Nate frowned, caught off guard. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d seen Kay this flustered—maybe never. “What’s going on?”

“I’ve had some calls from the press this morning. After the problems you and Callie had in the city this last weekend, I’ve been hanging up as soon as they start identifying what paper they’re from. But someone from The New York Times just called in asking questions about you, Callie, and Little Girl Lost—”

Nate’s stomach sank as he tipped his head back and closed his eyes, already knowing that this was bad.

“I told the guy I had no idea what he was talking about, but after I hung up, I went to their site and found this,” Kay continued.

Nate stepped closer to Kay’s computer screen and stared at the picture of Callie standing with Justine Battleman. “You’ve gotta be fucking kidding me.”

“According to the article, the waitress’s son had no idea Callie was a famous artist until he saw the two of you in the paper last night. He’s saying Callie is Little Girl Lost from all those years ago—that you’re trying to help her find her mother and you two were at Justine Battleman’s house on Friday, looking for answers.”

Nate jammed his hand through his hair and paced away, well aware of what this meant for Callie. “That son of a bitch.”

“So it’s true? Callie’s Little Girl Lost?”

“Yeah,” he tossed out, stopping to take a deep breath. Right now, he needed to focus on the fallout instead of how much he wanted to hunt down Max Battleman and beat the shit out of him.

Kay sat. “Well, good heavens.”

He slid his hands through his hair again. “We’re saying nothing to the press. Not a word except ‘no comment.’”

The phone rang again, and Kay picked up. “Carter County Sheriff Department’s nonemergency line. This is Kay.” She frowned. “No comment.” She slammed down the phone. “That was The Wall Street Journal.”

“Damn it.” Nate hurried down the hall to his office and got Sanchez the tape, then came back. “You need this.”

Sanchez took it. “I’ll get a rush on it—see what we can come up with. You know they’re going to come sniffing my way—want updates on the case. I’ll hold off for as long as I can, but it’s more than likely we’re going to have to make some sort of statement.”

Nate rubbed at the back of his neck as his tension compounded. “Call me before you do. This is going to turn into a fucking nightmare. Let’s go. I’ll walk you out.” Nate opened the doors and stopped in his tracks when the Boston News 4 van turned down the road. “Shit,” he muttered.

Sanchez held out his hand to Nate. “I’m going to go before they figure out who I am and I make this worse.”

Nate shook his hand. “Thanks for everything.”

“I’m going to give you all the help I can. Unfortunately, this isn’t my priority. You know I’ve got forty-eight hours once my phone rings with a missing person report. Things go to shit real quick after that.”

Nate nodded. “I appreciate whatever you can give me.”

“Good luck with all of this.”

“I’ll take it, because I’m going to need it.” Nate jogged toward the Tahoe as the news van slammed on its brakes and the reporter in the front seat got out and ran his way.

“Sheriff Carter, I’m Amanda Mancamp from Boston 4—”

He paused with his hand on the handle. “Now’s not a good time.”

“Can you verify that Callie Davis is your girlfriend? Is she Little Girl Lost?”

He got in and shut the door, turning on his lights and chirping his siren to remind the woman that he was law enforcement and to get her out of his way. He stepped on the gas, turning right out of the parking lot, heading toward the deli. “Kay,” he said into his radio. “We’ve got a Boston news crew here, and I have a feeling it’s only going to get worse. Call in Shawn and Mac ASAP. Cancel Denny’s patrol and get him back to the station. Tell them not to say a goddamn word to anyone about anything until I’ve talked to them first. I’m going to get Callie home and then I’ll be back.”

“Copy that.”