“I get it,” Lily said. “Anybody who’s against the death penalty must appear to be a total idiot.”
Chatsworth smiled. “But on my show, they are total idiots. Got it?”
“Of course. No sense in examining issues from more than one perspective.”
“It sounds as if you’d prefer to work at a television station back in, oh, 1965.”
“If you know of any openings there, let me know. Until then, I’ll keep carrying your sorry bum.”
He laughed. “That’s my girl. I can always count—” He stopped, looking behind her.
Lily turned to see what had grabbed his attention. A van passed a security checkpoint and emerged from the prison, prompting the protestors to wave their signs and shout their positions with renewed vigor.
“Get that van,” Bobby shouted to the cameraman. “Hurry!”
The van rolled by just as the cameraman lifted his rig and zoomed in on the passenger compartment.
Chatsworth gave a low whistle. “Would you look at that…”
“What am I supposed to be looking at?” the cameraman asked.
Chatsworth watched the van move past the protestors and turn at the intersection. He turned back to Lily. “Believe it or not, Kendra Michaels was in there.”
“Are you sure?”
“Positive.” He handed the microphone to the soundman. “That guard said we had to cut the interview short because Colby had some important visitors. Apparently, she was one of them.”
“Why would Kendra Michaels want to see him?” Lily asked. “To share a pint and relive fond old memories?”
“Hmm. Don’t know. But we really need to interview her. It’s like a gigantic hole in my show.”
“She was on our list, but she didn’t even return my e-mails. She never comments on her investigations.”
“I’ve heard that…” Chatsworth thought for a moment. “What if we offer something in return? Something that might be of use to her?”
“And what exactly might that be?”
He smiled. “I think we may already have it.”
* * *
DON’T THINK ABOUT COLBY NOW, Kendra told herself, as she boarded the flight back to San Diego. She had to overcome the emotion and separate it from logic. It was the only way she could come to any reasonable conclusions.
“Want to talk?” Lynch asked as he watched her buckle her seat belt.
She shook her head. “There’s been enough talk. Too much. I just want to rest and close everyone away from me.”
He nodded. “I’ll try to keep Griffin and the rest off you.” He made his way down the aisle.
Evidently he succeeded because Kendra spent much of the trip home lost in her thoughts, trying her best not to mentally replay her conversation with Colby. Lynch and the FBI agents spent most of the short plane flight tapping out memos on their laptops and passing around pages from documentation provided by the warden. She knew that there would be a complete copy of the file in her e-mail in-box the next morning, and she’d be better able to focus on it then.
They landed at the San Diego airport at eight thirty. After a few mumbled good-byes between her and the other agents, Griffin pulled her aside.
“Look, I’m sorry about the way things went down at the prison. I shouldn’t have asked you to join us.”
Her brows rose in surprise. “I’m touched.” She paused. “You were right to ask.”
He blinked at the response. “Your first reaction was that you didn’t want to go.”
“Damn right. But I thought about it and realized it had to be done.” She looked him in the eye. “So it was my decision. Everything that happened was my responsibility, not yours.”
“That’s very … generous.” He started to turn away, then looked back at her. “I can see how a guy like that can get inside your head, especially with your history with him. I know it took a lot for you to go there. Thank you.”
She nodded. “Good night, Griffin. See you tomorrow.”
Griffin walked away.
“I’m amazed,” Lynch said from behind her. “That’s not a guy who usually makes apologies.”
“Well, it doesn’t come easily to him. His teeth were practically clenched for the entire conversation.”
“Baby steps, Kendra. Baby steps.” Lynch motioned toward the terminal exit. “This way. I’m taking you home.”
She frowned. “Since when?”
“Since I remembered that you didn’t bring your car here. How did you think you were getting back to your place?”
“Cab.”
“Nope. Anyway, there are a few little things I want to go over with the security detail outside your condo. Let’s go.”