She could reach out to the news stations, offer the footage to the highest bidder.
Even better, she could sell to the company willing to give her a real job and leave her name on the credits. As much as she hated that President Walters had been shot, the fact that she had it on video was an unbelievable turn of good luck for a journalist in her position.
It was enough to make a career.
She changed out of the catering uniform and opened her laptop, scanning the major news sources for updates on the president. She was in critical condition and they’d sworn in the vice president. Wow. Talk about historical days.
Grabbing her phone, she rewatched the footage she had captured, wincing when she saw the president go down. She could delete the video right now. One click and she would go on with her life and find another way to become a real journalist. That EPA story wasn’t going away. There was no doubt in her mind that the president had been coming to that meeting in the Seminole room.
Breaking that story was journalism. This video? It was mostly luck.
Heavy banging on the door made her jump. She tiptoed toward it and peered through the peephole. Her heart sank at the sight of her landlord, with his thin, greasy hair and dingy tank top. It was tucked in, barely constraining his girth.
“Open up, Hannah! I saw your car. I know you’re there. You owe me two months’ rent.”
She stepped back, leaning against the wall, and held her breath, hoping he would go away.
“I’m sure we can make other arrangements if you’re strapped for cash, sweetheart.”
Hannah felt herself start to gag at his lewd suggestion. She silently pleaded with him to go away.
He knocked again. “You’ve got one more week. Then I’m evicting you and your worthless roommate!”
Hannah sagged with relief when he left and turned back toward the tiny living room. Her laptop sat open on the coffee table. An invitation to something bigger. She told herself she didn’t have a choice. Not really.
She drafted the wording of her email in a document, rereading it multiple times and adjusting the wording so it was both professional and urgent. With each hesitation, she reminded herself what was at stake. She couldn’t get kicked out. And she definitely wouldn’t be making any deals with the scummy landlord.
After working up her courage, she created a new email address and sent emails to the major news companies, using the email of the highest-ranking person she could find in the company. To show them she was serious, she attached a still from the video from just before the shooting.
When it came time to hit send, a funny tugging in her chest made her keep the emails anonymous. Just in case.
Her hands were shaking when she finished.
Yelling erupted in the apartment next door, pulling her attention from the laptop. Through the thin walls, she could hear every word. She looked around the bleak apartment. Whatever happened, this was going to change her life. She was just praying she was making the right choice.
CHAPTER
SIX
They were using the small conference room at BTS as mission command for now. Tank and Pierce were combing through the intel that Joey had given them last night after she’d unceremoniously ignored his request for the information on Coulter. Will knew it was because Kensington had been arrested and she was doing everything in her power to clear his name. Or at least get him out of jail.
His phone rang, and he answered without looking to see who it was. The only people with this number were Black Tower.
“Gilbert,” he said by way of greeting.
“We’ve got a complication.” Ross cut straight to the point, apparently.
He bit back the curse word that threatened to escape. “That didn’t take long,” he said drily.
“There was a witness to the shooting. She got it on camera, and she’s trying to sell the footage to the highest bidder.”
Will turned so the rest of the team couldn’t see the expression of surprise and dismay on his face.
“Who is she?”
“We’re still trying to figure it out. We got a tip-off from our friends at WBC Media.”
“She’s a reporter?” Will cringed. In his experience, journalists were the lowest of the low, willing to do anything to get a story—even if it meant selling out a classified mission and putting innocent lives at risk. “How did your boys in black let a freaking reporter into a secured area?”
“Relax, we don’t think she’s a reporter. Miranda’s got some hotel security footage for you to look at. She was wearing a catering uniform. Pretty sure she’s just a hotel employee who was in the wrong place at the wrong time and thinks she can make a quick buck by selling the video.”
Will clenched his jaw. He still didn’t like it. Who tried to profit off an attack like this? “Fine. I’ll take a look at the video. What’s the problem if she sells it?”
“We don’t know what’s on the video yet, but it might have footage of the shooter. And that’s the other update. We’ve narrowed down the shooter to three options. I’ll send you their information via the secure link. We’d like you to bring her in, get the footage, and try to use it to confirm the shooter.”
“Easy.” He guessed they were headed to Florida after all. What were the odds the shooter was still around?
“Unless the shooter finds her first,” Ross countered.
“You think they know about her?”
“I don’t know. But with the Syndicate potentially involved, we can’t take any lead for granted. They’ve got people everywhere.”
Will sighed. “All right, we’re on it.” He looked back toward the conference room. “I need to talk to Joey.” He was still waiting for that information about Coulter.
“Ah, about that.” Ross’s voice made Will narrow his eyes.
“What?”
“Joey’s bringing in someone for backup. But she’s pulling double duty until they get here. She’s at the courthouse now, but she’ll be back in an hour.”
“Are you serious?” On an op like this, the last thing Will needed was his information on a time delay.
“Head to the airport. We’ll be in touch,” Ross said before disconnecting.
Awesome. They had a witness in danger, an unknown shooter, and now his intel and tech specialist was too busy with her boyfriend to help him. Operation Blue Smoke was going swimmingly.
“Pack it up, boys. We’re lifting off. I’ll brief you in the air.”
Miranda’s estimation was right on the money. Ninety minutes later, Will gathered his team while the small plane tore through the clouds. He shared the update about the witness and the potential suspect reports he hadn’t reviewed. He did leave off his personal commentary about Joey’s priorities and the fact that they’d be relying on an untested tech specialist. No use throwing Joey under the bus before it caused any real issues.
In a few minutes, Miranda was on the line giving them an update.
“Here’s your girl.” Miranda shared the footage from the hotel. Will furrowed his brow at the obvious fear of the woman hiding in the loading dock. “I was able to catch a better glimpse of her nametag from another angle. Melanie.”
“That’s all we’ve got?”