Larry was in court all day, so I had the office to myself except for Michelle and David, who were happy to leave me alone. I went back to the computer to do more research on the Steels.

Where to start? The article about Talon’s heroics, of course. It had been in the local paper, but it was such a huge deal, I figured I could find national or at least state coverage. A search proved nothing. The Award of Honor wasn’t worth a bit of national news? And why not the Medal of Honor?

I went back to the original article. No byline, but at the bottom was a name.

Wendy Madigan, NNN.

The National News Network? If this story originated from the National News Network, why hadn’t it actually been in the national news?

Maybe this Wendy Madigan would know.

I did a quick database search. Turned out she had been a NNN correspondent until about two years ago, when she retired.

Her image was easy to find, and I recognized her. She had been a staple on the news, and I was surprised I hadn’t remembered the name. She was an attractive older woman with short light-brown hair and blue eyes.

Since she was no longer with the National News Network, I had to find her on my own. I found a few e-mail addresses and phone numbers but decided against e-mail. I wanted to talk to her.

The first number I tried had been disconnected.

The second number, however, rang until someone answered. A Denver area code too. What luck.

“Hello?”

“Hi, I’m trying to reach Wendy Madigan.”

“May I ask who’s calling?”

“Sure. My name is Jade Roberts. I’m a city attorney in Snow Creek, Colorado.”

The woman cleared her throat. “May I ask what this is regarding?”

“I’d rather keep that between Ms. Madigan and myself, if you don’t mind.”

“All right.” A short pause. “Wendy, phone.”

“Thanks, Mom.” Then, “Hello?”

“Ms. Madigan?”

“Yes.”

“This is Jade Roberts from the city attorney’s office in Snow Creek, Colorado.”

“Snow Creek? Where did you get this number?”

“It’s one of your numbers of record.”

“This is my mother’s landline.”

“I don’t know what to tell you. At some point, it became a number of record for you.”

“Look, Ms. Roberts, I’m sure there’s nothing I can help you with. You know I’m no longer with the news.”

“Yes, I know. But I’m doing some investigation on the Steel family. There’s precious little information out there about them, but your name did pop up on an article about Talon Steel.”

Silence on the other end of the phone.

“Ms. Madigan?”

“Yes, I’m here. I guess I should’ve expected this phone call eventually.”

My heart thumped. What had she meant by that? “So you know why I’m calling, then?”

“Why don’t you tell me why you’re calling.”

Smart woman. She knew what she was doing.

“I’m doing some research on the Steel brothers and their ranch here in Snow Creek.”

“Why would a city attorney be interested in the Steels?”

“I’m afraid that’s classified at the moment, Ms. Madigan.” I hated the words as soon as I’d uttered them. I sounded like Larry. Sleazy Larry.

“Then why should I answer any questions?”

“You’re certainly within your rights not to. But I’m most interested in an article that appeared in the local paper about three years ago, when Talon Steel was discharged from the Marines and returned to Snow Creek. Clearly the man was a hero, and he received the Award of Honor, but this news did not appear anywhere else. I found your name at the bottom of the local article.”

“I’m afraid I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Perhaps you didn’t want your name there, but it was, Ms. Madigan. Why didn’t this appear in the national news? You were a national news correspondent. This man was a hero. Shouldn’t this have been sprawled on the front pages of all of the national papers? Shouldn’t it have been on the network news? Shouldn’t he have gotten the Medal of Honor?”

A throat cleared on the other side of the line. “The Steels are very private people, Ms. Roberts.”

That was the understatement of the year. “Do you know how the story ended up in this little local paper, then?”

“I’m afraid I don’t.”

“Well, it was obviously your story.”

“Perhaps my name was a misprint.”

I couldn’t help a soft chuckle. “Ms. Madigan, you’re an accomplished newswoman. Now, I may be a new attorney, but I know better than to believe the bull you’re spewing at me. There’s a reason why this story was not on the national news.”

“I’m sorry. I sympathize with your plight, but I really can’t help you.” The line clicked dead.

I had only been investigating for a couple of weeks, but already I knew when someone was lying to me. That number had a Denver area code, and with the databases at my disposal as a city attorney, I easily found the address for the landline. Now, how to get to Denver? The easiest way would be to fly, since I didn’t have a car. I buzzed Michelle.

“Yes?”

“Michelle, could you get me on the first flight to Denver, please? And call George to drive me over to the airport, as well.”

“You mean you want to go today?”

“If possible. It’s early yet. I should be able to get there by midafternoon if there are any seats left. Get me on a return late tonight.”

“Should Larry okay this?”

“Larry’s not here, and he wants me to get information on this case. I think he’d probably be okay with it. The fare’s pretty cheap.” I hoped she’d buy the lie.

“All right. I’ll take care of it, Jade.”

Fifteen minutes later, I had a seat on a flight leaving in two hours.

Wendy Madigan, here I come.

Chapter Thirteen

Talon

“Yeah?” the heavily tattooed bald guy at the front desk said to me. “What can I help you with?”

“I need to see Toby.”