Page 20 of Rescuing Sara

“I’ll bet,” she chuckled as they followed Anne through the familiar newsroom and Danni waved and called back her colleagues’ greetings. Even though her work here was only part-time, theExcelsiorstaff had always welcomed her and made her feel like she was part of their family.

Family.How terribly important family was. Especially if you really didn’t have any.

But then they were in Stanley’s office and to Danni’s delight, Mac was there, along with a woman Anne introduced as Elaine Prescott.

“I’ve been hoping you might agree to an interview about your experience last month,” Danni said as they shook hands. “That is, when and if you feel up to it.”

“I’m good with that,” Elaine said. With her white-blonde hair, she was one of the most stunning women Danni had ever seen. “And I’ve read the series you’ve been doing,” she added. “It’s spot on with what I learned the hard way while looking for my cousin Chelsea last month.”

“Where’s Stanley?” Danni asked as they gathered around the large round table in the center of the office.

“Checking on the pastries and seeing to the Blue Mountain coffee I told him he’d better have since Patrick was sure to be with you,” Elaine laughed. “How are you, Patrick?”

“Just happy to be here,” he answered. “Where’s Griff hiding?”

Elaine shrugged but she was smiling. “He’s designing a website for an author friend who is hopelessly technologically challenged, but he said to tell you ‘hey’.”

“Ah, we’re all together in one place, I see.” Stanley Harris entered pushing a large cart with a tray of pastries, coffee urns and cups. “Help yourself everyone. The urn with the blue handle is the Blue Mountain.”

After they served themselves, and took their places at the table, Harris said, “OK, Danni, let’s hear about your ideas for future stories.”

“Well,” Danni said, “I didn’t know they would be here, but I’d like to interview Anne and Elaine on how the kidnapping of their family members impacted them. My other stories have been more fact-driven, with some human interests, but no interviews with people affected by the abductions. Their two cases have hit close to home because Knoxville is home.”

“I’d be glad to do it,” Anne declared.

“Me too,” Elaine agreed. “I’ve got a couple of things to clear from my calendar, but I could do it next week.”

“And what keeps the Lady Elaine so busy?” Patrick teased. He’d developed a great affection for her when he’d helped her, and Griff Tyler track down her long missing cousin and a group of young girls, also long missing, last month. He’d heard she was now acting director for Families United after the former acting head was arrested for trafficking kids, possessing kiddie porn and Lord only knew what else.

“Well, last week I was asked to head the local chapter of Tennessee Task Force–” Elaine began.

“Hey, that’s great!” Mac said “Congratulations!”

“Yeah, but I turned them down.”

“Why?” Anne demanded. “You’d be perfect for it!”

“Wait a minute,” Danni pleaded. “Tennessee Task Force?” Patrick watched her dig in her purse for a pen and pad of paper. “What’s that?”

“An organization that was founded this past early spring,” Elaine explained. “Originally it was to be called The Southeastern Alliance for Finding Missing and Exploited Children, but some very wise person thought that name was way too long to remember or put on letterhead–stop laughing, Mac–so it was shortened to Tennessee Task Force.”

“Makes sense,” Danni agreed. “Is it up and running yet?”

“Almost.” Elaine’s sigh was one of relief. “It’s been a challenge to pull together a multitude of agencies and organizations across the state. And of course, too many wanted to be the one with the last word. Late last month, it was decided to break the agency into three geographic regions, East, Middle, and West, each one working with the counties in their regions, with one director over them. More efficient, less headaches.”

“Sort of like how the Episcopal church in Tennessee divides itself,” Anne put in. “Three regions, East, Middle, West with one bishop for each region. Three bishops but one church. Very practical and efficient.”

“That’s my cradle Episcopalian talking,” Mac praised, leaning over to kiss her cheek. “Smart and pretty. Don’t you love her?”

“According to what I’ve been told, there were a lot of people and agencies jockeying for leadership positions who had lots of different ideas on how to run things,” Elaine continued. “That’s what’s taken so long. But the final details have been worked out and Tennessee Task Force will be officially up and running on the second day of the New Year.”

“So why aren’t you accepting the Directorship for this region?” Mac asked. “Like Anne said, you’d be perfect.”

Elaine grinned as she stripped off her gloves and held out her left hand. A large diamond ring sparkled from her third finger. “Because I’ve no intention of starting my married life doing a job with crazy hours.”

Patrick shot out of his chair to envelop her in an enormous hug. “That’s wonderful,” he choked. “Really wonderful. Considering what we went through together, I should kill Griff for not even dropping a hint.”

Elaine kissed him on the cheek. “We thought you would have guessed it,” she teased. “But thanks.”

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