printing his own newspaper."
Scott laughed. "Great. Competition is healthy.
The front door opened and they both turned to see Gavin
Barnes. At least it looked like Gavin, but something about
him seemed very different. Maybe that old swagger was
gone, or perhaps he'd lost that hard glint in his eye, but
somehow he reminded Maggie of an errant boy who'd just
been sent down to the principal's office. She extended her
hand in a friendly greeting. "It's really good to see you again,
Gavin. I didn't even know you were in town."
"Good to see you too, Maggie. I just got here and
thought I'd stop by to see my uncle first." The way he said
first suggested he didn't know what he'd do after that~r
perhaps whether he'd even be welcome at all.
"Hey, Gavin," said Scott. "I liked your letter."
Gavin glanced uneasily at Maggie. "Did you print it?"
"Last week. And I've already heard some nice feedback."
He seemed relieved. "Is Clyde here?"
"He's out back," said Scott, "having a problem with one
of his cranky old machines, and the words are flying."
"Maybe I can give him a hand," said Gavin. As he
walked toward the back he stopped by Abigail's desk.
"How's it going, Abigail?"
Her brows shot up. "Just fin~thanks." After he was out
of earshot, she shook her head. "Now, if that don't beat all.
Gavin's never given me the time of day before."
"People can change," said Maggie as she headed to her
office. To tell the truth, she was almost as surprised as Abi-
gail, but she hoped, especially for Clyde's sake, that Gavin
had truly changed.
She quickly went online with her computer, going directly
to her email. She found a note from Rebecca and a couple of
other things, but not a word from Jed. She told herself it
didn't matter and went into a search for any record of law-
suits pending against Cohn Byers. A couple of phone calls Looking for You All My Life167
and faxes later, she had just what she needed in her hand.
And although the court date for an impressive4ooking class-
action lawsuit wasn't set until next August, the insinuation
of wrongdoing was as plain as day. She knew just where she
would work this little bombshell of information into her
story. Just as she finished her last rewrite on the Desert
Winds article, she heard a quiet knock on her door. "Come
in," she called as she hit the "save" button and exited from
her document.
"Got a minute?" asked Gavin tentatively.
"Sure, come on in."
He sank into the chair across from her desk and exhaled
loudly. "I just talked to Clyde."
"How'd it go?" She leaned forward with interest.
"Actually, better than I had expected." He forced a smile.