Robert. And you.”
The others echoed their agreement.
“Do we want to meet at Minnie’s for supper tomorrow and see where things stand?” Rayne asked Gabby.
“Sure. Seven-thirty?”
“I’ll be there,” Sheldon stated.
“Me, too,” Immy agreed while Tonna nodded.
“Great.” Gabby smiled, sending a silent prayer of thanks for having such loyal and loving friends in her life. “I’ll call y’all as soon as I can to update.”
And she prayed she’d have good news to tell.
Two hours later, Gabby was in the studio. “Thanks for tuning in tonight, Mystique. Tonight we won’t be taking calls. Most of you have heard that our former longtime owner, Robert Ellison, was named today as the sheriff department’s leading suspect in the murder of Howard Alspeed.” Gabby swallowed back the lump in her throat.
Clark smoothly filled the gap her emotions blocked. “I haven’t known Mr. Ellison nearly as long as you folks in town, but from what I do know and from the way he conducted the business of selling KLUV, I firmly believe in Mr. Ellison’s innocence and am confident the truth will come to light.”
She smiled her appreciation. “Thank you for your support, Mr. McKay. Robert Ellison is a pillar of our community, a good man. I stand behind him and will press for the truth to be revealed. The truth about what happened to another member of the KLUV family, Howard Alspeed.” Again, emotions held her voice in check.
“Tragedy has fallen on the station, but we believe Mr. Ellison’s arrest is just that—a tragedy.” Clark straightened, his hands in tight fists on the desk. “We will cooperate with the police in any way possible to clear Mr. Ellison’s name.”
If she weren’t on the air, she might very well have swooned right then. As it was, her stomach did little flips. “I’ve looked up to Mr. Ellison for years. Some of you know Robert personally,some of you only in passing.” Tears clouded her vision. “I won’t rest until the truth is revealed, the real murderer is behind bars and Robert’s name is fully cleared.”
“And I’m authorizing use of the station’s resources to assist Gabby in this noble endeavor.”
Oh, now she could really kiss him. “So, Mystique, you heard what happened to poor Mr. Alspeed. If you have any information, regardless of how insignificant you may think it is, about the morning of the murder, please call Sheriff McGruder. I’m sure he’ll appreciate your help.” She queued off her mic, chuckling, and looped a commercial set.
“Bet the sheriff isn’t going to be too happy with you.”
“No, I doubt it.” She shrugged. “But maybe, just maybe, somebody will have seen a car or something. We’ve gotta help where we can because McGruder sure isn’t looking any further for suspects than Robert.”
“Oftentimes, truth is the first casualty when an investigation begins.”
She detected something in his voice. Sadness? Gabby narrowed her eyes, studying him. “Speaking from experience?”
“Well…”
She held up a finger. “Hold that thought for just a second.” Gabby leaned over her mic. “Instead of taking calls tonight, I’ll be playing some songs from Robert’s and Howard’s favorites list. To remember and honor these members of the KLUV family.” She flipped off her mic and queued up a music loop.
Leaning back in her chair, she gazed at Mr. McKay. “You were saying?”
He held that thought…and saw no reason to volunteer the information about his past. The smear campaign that had been waged against his paper, the friends he’d lost when he’d refusedto back down from the truthful, if controversial, article—all of that was part of his past he’d be just as happy to forget.
The bitter taste of betrayal still scorched his tongue.
Gabby cleared her throat, still waiting for a response.
“Nothing.”
He looked at Gabby, the studio light highlighting the nostalgic tears in her eyes and the soft smile on her face.
Yes, he
The others echoed their agreement.
“Do we want to meet at Minnie’s for supper tomorrow and see where things stand?” Rayne asked Gabby.
“Sure. Seven-thirty?”
“I’ll be there,” Sheldon stated.
“Me, too,” Immy agreed while Tonna nodded.
“Great.” Gabby smiled, sending a silent prayer of thanks for having such loyal and loving friends in her life. “I’ll call y’all as soon as I can to update.”
And she prayed she’d have good news to tell.
Two hours later, Gabby was in the studio. “Thanks for tuning in tonight, Mystique. Tonight we won’t be taking calls. Most of you have heard that our former longtime owner, Robert Ellison, was named today as the sheriff department’s leading suspect in the murder of Howard Alspeed.” Gabby swallowed back the lump in her throat.
Clark smoothly filled the gap her emotions blocked. “I haven’t known Mr. Ellison nearly as long as you folks in town, but from what I do know and from the way he conducted the business of selling KLUV, I firmly believe in Mr. Ellison’s innocence and am confident the truth will come to light.”
She smiled her appreciation. “Thank you for your support, Mr. McKay. Robert Ellison is a pillar of our community, a good man. I stand behind him and will press for the truth to be revealed. The truth about what happened to another member of the KLUV family, Howard Alspeed.” Again, emotions held her voice in check.
“Tragedy has fallen on the station, but we believe Mr. Ellison’s arrest is just that—a tragedy.” Clark straightened, his hands in tight fists on the desk. “We will cooperate with the police in any way possible to clear Mr. Ellison’s name.”
If she weren’t on the air, she might very well have swooned right then. As it was, her stomach did little flips. “I’ve looked up to Mr. Ellison for years. Some of you know Robert personally,some of you only in passing.” Tears clouded her vision. “I won’t rest until the truth is revealed, the real murderer is behind bars and Robert’s name is fully cleared.”
“And I’m authorizing use of the station’s resources to assist Gabby in this noble endeavor.”
Oh, now she could really kiss him. “So, Mystique, you heard what happened to poor Mr. Alspeed. If you have any information, regardless of how insignificant you may think it is, about the morning of the murder, please call Sheriff McGruder. I’m sure he’ll appreciate your help.” She queued off her mic, chuckling, and looped a commercial set.
“Bet the sheriff isn’t going to be too happy with you.”
“No, I doubt it.” She shrugged. “But maybe, just maybe, somebody will have seen a car or something. We’ve gotta help where we can because McGruder sure isn’t looking any further for suspects than Robert.”
“Oftentimes, truth is the first casualty when an investigation begins.”
She detected something in his voice. Sadness? Gabby narrowed her eyes, studying him. “Speaking from experience?”
“Well…”
She held up a finger. “Hold that thought for just a second.” Gabby leaned over her mic. “Instead of taking calls tonight, I’ll be playing some songs from Robert’s and Howard’s favorites list. To remember and honor these members of the KLUV family.” She flipped off her mic and queued up a music loop.
Leaning back in her chair, she gazed at Mr. McKay. “You were saying?”
He held that thought…and saw no reason to volunteer the information about his past. The smear campaign that had been waged against his paper, the friends he’d lost when he’d refusedto back down from the truthful, if controversial, article—all of that was part of his past he’d be just as happy to forget.
The bitter taste of betrayal still scorched his tongue.
Gabby cleared her throat, still waiting for a response.
“Nothing.”
He looked at Gabby, the studio light highlighting the nostalgic tears in her eyes and the soft smile on her face.
Yes, he
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