Part 22 (1/2)

truth. Back at the Times it might even have been nominated

for an award. But she wanted no accolades for this project.

All she wanted was justice!

n Monday Maggie silently presented Clyde with a

copy of her TS Development expose', and then

walked grimly back to her office. She wished she

could blame her frustration purely on the circ.u.mstances of

the story, but the truth was she was still getting over her con-

versation with Leah during their drive into town that

It had probably started with Jed taking Maggie out

toorning.

lunch after church yesterday. He'd invited Spencer and

Leah as well, but Spencer had already made plans and Leah

had simply shrugged it off, saying she'd ”rather not”

without offering any explanations. Well, now Maggie sus-

pected that Leah had felt left out after all. And although

she'd only hinted at it this morning, and politely enough,

Maggie sensed the hurt behind her voice. So she had simply

suggested that perhaps in the future, Leah might try to corn-

municate better, for instance if she really wanted to go to

lunch with them to just say so. But then Leah had become

very quiet, pulling into herself as if Maggie's words had hurt

her even more. And even after Maggie sincerely apologized,

Leah still seemed withdrawn, climbing silently from the car

as if mortally wounded. That's when Maggie had recalled

her mother's words about how raising teenaged girls was