Worth the Trip by Penny McCall Read Free Book Online

She chose to focus on my dating history instead.”
    Hollie looked surprised, but then she always looks surprised. There was nothing slow about the mind behind the wide eyes and freakishly smooth forehead. “All I know is that I was told to confine my questions to the book, which was a real challenge since it was neither well-executed nor properly researched. In my opinion,” she added with a smile that only Norah would label nasty .
    Before she could find a comeback that was more than a spiteful commentary involving Hollie’s focus on the exterior at the expense of real character substance, the anchor said, “We have another caller,” and put an interested expression on his face as he stared into the camera. “This one’s from Stu Enwright from WGXQ. Go ahead, Stu.”
    “We at WGXQ would like to apologize to Ms. MacArthur,” Stu said, “and assure her that Ms. Roget was never told to avoid questions about the Gold Coast Robbery. She did not clear this interview with us, and any comments made by Ms. Roget about Ms. MacArthur’s personal and professional life are strictly Ms. Roget’s opinion as she is no longer a representative of WGXQ.”
    The anchorman kept smiling, just his eyes cutting to Hollie. Who was not smiling. She looked a little nauseous, as a matter of fact, and more than a little homicidal. Norah had no trouble guessing at who headlined Hollie’s hit list.
    Trip took the phone from Norah and said, “It would help if you ran the footage from fifteen years ago, especially the part where the FBI and the Chicago Police Department determined there was nothing at the MacArthur residence. Unless you want to be responsible for Ms. MacArthur’s safety as well.” And he disconnected, nodding when Stu Enwright informed Chicago and the world that the footage would be released as soon as it could be located.
    “I guess you aren’t the only one concerned about litigation,” Trip said.
    Norah looked over her shoulder, just in time to see him fold his cell closed and slip it into his pocket. “You had her fired?”
    “She got herself fired. I called my handler, and explained the problem. He decided it was a bad idea for Hollie to have a big soapbox.”
    “She may not have her own program, but every news network in the country is going to want to interview her.”
    “I don’t think so.”
    Norah sank back against the desk. “You got her blackballed, too? Jeez, Trip, she’s going to complain to anyone and everyone she can. And she’ll blame it on me.”
    Trip shrugged. “Let her. It will blow over soon enough.”
    “Not until the loot from those safe-deposit boxes is found.”
    “Which will be soon. I’ve been talking to your father.”
    If she hadn’t already been leaning against the desk, she’d have needed to sit down. Normally she would’ve said her father was the last person who’d fall for a line, but Trip really knew how to deliver, and he’d be telling Lucius exactly what he wanted to hear.
    “What if I told you Lucius is on board?”
    “Lucius is in jail.”
    “He thinks it’s a good idea for me to hang out with you the next couple of weeks. Once he’s out he’s going to tell me where the money is.”
    She laughed, instantly relieved. “He’s conning you. He made a vow to see that everything gets back where it belongs. All of the partners are dead, so it’s up to him.”
    “And you believe that? Maybe you’re the one he’s conning.”
    “He swore on my mother’s grave.”
    That shut Trip up, which didn’t mean he was convinced. “You don’t think there’s any chance he’s playing you?”
    “He wouldn’t lie to me. Not about that.”
    “How about we go ask him?”
    “Sure,” Norah said, not believing for an instant that Trip would take her to see her father, and grateful for it. Lucius MacArthur was her only living relative, but she’d spent her entire adult life trying to live down his crime. She couldn’t even begin to imagine what she’d say to him, but she