Naked Edge Read Online Free PDF Page B

question, introducing her to Lakota ceremonies, helping her to adjust to her new home, becoming the father she'd never had. To know that he had faith in her abilities, to see the trust on his face ...
    She swallowed the lump in her throat. "I'm humbled by your words and grateful to have the chance to help in a meaningful way."
    He didn't smile--the moment was too serious for that--but she could see the gleam of approval in his eyes.
    KAT ARRIVED AT the office early on Monday morning, a plan of action outlined in her mind, her determination to expose this injustice strengthened by the trust Grandpa Red Crow and the other elders had placed in her, their prayers for her echoing in her mind. She doubted most people in Denver would understand what it meant to have an inipi interrupted, but explaining it to them would be her job.
    Of course, there was the possibility that Tom would refuse to let her set aside her investigation of the county's proposed solar-energy program to cover it. Tom Trent was the best editor she'd ever worked for, which helped make up for his terrible temper. But he was also meticulous in matters of journalistic ethics. Would he view Kat's presence at the inipi as a conflict of interests and give the story to someone else? Would he understand that she, as an Indian woman, could bring knowledge to her coverage of the story that no one else on the I-Team could?
    She settled in at her desk, then called the Boulder Police Department and asked for a copy of the police report from the raid. When that was done, she typed out an open-records request demanding the police dispatch logs from Saturday night, as well as all documents and e-mails in the city's files pertaining to Mesa Butte. Though that was probably casting her net a bit wide, it didn't hurt to be thorough.
    Focused on her work, she barely noticed her fellow I-Team members drift in or heard the greetings they called out to her. She had just faxed off the request to the police department and Mountain Parks when she realized that it was already time for the daily I-Team meeting.
    "Coming, Kat?" Sophie Alton-Hunter, the I-Team's prison reporter, waited for her, notepad and pen in one hand, water bottle in the other.
    One of the most courageous women Kat had ever met, Sophie had nearly been killed two years ago while trying to bring justice to abused female inmates. Now she was married to her high school sweetheart and mother to an adorable one-year-old boy. Three months along with her second baby, she seemed to glow with such happiness that Kat was surprised no one else had figured out she was pregnant yet.
    Kat grabbed her notepad and hurried over to Sophie, the two of them lagging behind the rest of the I-Team. "How are you feeling?"
    "Better, thanks." Sophie gave her an easy smile. "The morning sickness is fading, and I'm less tired than I was. Hunt has been keeping an eye on Chase so I can take lots of naps on the weekends. He's so excited about this baby. He missed out on this part of the pregnancy last time because he was still behind bars."
    Kat remembered those days, remembered how rough it had been for Sophie not knowing whether the man she loved would be a part of her and her baby's life or whether he'd spend the rest of his life in prison. "When are you going to tell Tom?"
    Tom seemed to disapprove of pregnancy, begrudging his female employees their eight weeks of maternity leave, as if a woman's bringing a new life into the world were more of an inconvenience than a cause for celebration.
    Sophie gave a sigh. "I haven't decided yet."
    In the conference room, they found Tom poring over the newspaper, one pencil tucked behind his ear, another in his hand. Built like a bull, he could be just as stubborn and intimidating. And yet, despite his temper, Kat had come to respect him as a journalist. In his own way, he was a warrior, using ink and paper to fight on behalf of those who had no voice.
    He looked up, pushing a shock of curly gray hair out of his