Read Online A Shot of Red by Tracy March - Free Book Online Page A

I’m the on-camera spokesperson for all of these appearances?” Mia took a swallow of her lukewarm coffee and set the mug back on the massive cherrywood conference table. The prospect of going from near anonymity in Haiti to appearing on some of America’s top TV shows sent a shudder through her.
    Ellen nodded, her silky dark shoulder-length hair catching the light. “Mrs. Moncure insisted.”
    Lila. No one would dare call Mia’s mom by any other title but senator. Mia raised one eyebrow. “Insisted to whom?”
    “There was a launch strategy meeting with me, your mother, Gio Lorenzo, Secretary Dartmouth, Matthew, and Mrs. Moncure. There was some…discussion. You know, whether we should go with a consistent spokesperson or switch it up.”
    Mia had no interest in how that “discussion” had gone, or how Lila managed to keep votes for Matthew as spokesperson from stacking up. She prickled at the idea of Gio being in a meeting where she was the topic of discussion.
    “You’d be the best person for the job,” she said sincerely to Ellen. “You have an enviable way of looking serious without appearing stern, of being instructive without coming across as bossy.”
    Ellen smiled.
    Mia wondered if anyone had ever taken the time to point out all the positive attributes Ellen brought to the company, not the least of which was her dedication. She’d been there since Mia was in middle school.
    “At the risk of incurring a lawsuit,” Mia said, “the camera would love you.” At about forty, Ellen was pretty and fit, perfect to appeal to all the demographics they needed to reach.
    “Not nearly as much as it will you. And my name isn’t Moncure.”
    Mia took a deep breath and blew it out with a hiss. “Sorry, Ellen. I’m sorry that things got turned upside down when I left for Haiti, and I hate what’s happened with Brent. You deserve to be the spokesperson for One Shot. I’m sure that’s what Brent would’ve wanted.” She shrugged weakly. “Me, too.”
    Ellen didn’t flinch at the mention of Brent. “Did you get to talk to Mrs. English? I hope you don’t mind that I gave her your number.” She seemed innocent in asking, making Mia reasonably sure Nora hadn’t mentioned her suspicions when they’d spoken.
    “No worries. I visited her yesterday,” Mia said. “I think she was just looking for some closure.” Since she thinks Brent was murdered. And in the dark hours overnight, Mia had started to believe it, too. She had to figure out who could help her get to the truth about the vaccine and his death. It could involve a cast of people, or just one. Whether her suspicions were right or wrong, she wasn’t sure whom she could trust with them.
    Just to be safe, she’d decided to visit Nora again this evening and give her a prepaid cell phone. If she received more information about Brent’s situation, Mia needed to know. But not via her company phone. She planned to get a prepaid phone for herself, too.
    “It’s all so sad,” Ellen said. “Every day I walk past his office and expect him to be there.” She reached over and squeezed Mia’s hand. “I’m sure it’s hard on you, too, coming back to the shock of it all and this round-the-clock PR campaign that has to move forward nevertheless.”
    Mia nodded. “I’m afraid to ask who made the travel team.”
    “I lobbied to keep it small, but I’m sure we’ll have some drop-ins along the way.”
    “No doubt,” Mia said.
    “Right now it’s you, me, and a medical liaison from the CDC to give us cred.” Ellen shuffled her papers. “Oh, and Gio. Senator Moncure insisted he come along to massage the message if we need to, since it’s critical to get it right quickly.”
    Mia’s heart stuttered. “We’re PR professionals. We don’t need anyone from my mother’s staff to ‘massage the message.’” Especially not Gio. “And even if we did, they could spin it from here in DC.”
    Ellen gave her a rueful look. “I was in no position to argue