office staff? Donald Landin seems to have worked on all your projects. How well did you know him?"
A pulse began to throb in Galinger's neck. "I didn't. I have my own staff to liaise with city employees. Lindan? I don't even know the name."
"Landin," Harrison corrected. "But getting back to you and Yeager. So you two didn't share business interests. How about you and any of Yeager's family?"
"Never met any of them," Galinger answered shortly. Then, seeming to regret his rudeness, he said, "Sorry. But Toby was divorced, you know."
"That's what I understand," Harrison said. "I've only a couple more questions. Maggieâ"
Galinger broke in. "Look, I don't know what you're going after, but you've got my word there was never a more honest man than Toby Yeager. If you do write a piece on him, I hope you'll present him as the dedicated town leader he was. And if you must write about me, I hope you'll be fair. Remember, I didn't have to come in here."
He looked at his watch. "I'll have someone fax you my biography and a bit about Galinger Construction. And now I really must leave."
"Of course," Harrison said. "But first ... Maggie, didn't you have a question about something you found?"
For a moment my mind went blank. Then, "Munez," I said. "Mary, Raul, and Luis Munez. We were wondering about your relationship to them."
A dark flush coursed up the sides of Galinger's face, and he leaned forward so far that Harrison must have felt his breath. "I never heard of them," he said. "And now stop wasting my time."
"You've never heard of three of Galinger Construction's principal owners?" Harrison repeated. "Interesting." He took his time writing. "I want to make sure I quote you correctly on that. And what about a J. A. Garcia?"
Galinger stood abruptly. "Who's your editor?" he demanded. "I want to see him."
"Sam Braden," Harrison answered. "I'll introduce you."
***
I didn't get invited to that conference, although Harrison motioned me to move to a desk close enough to the glass sides of Mr. Braden's office that I heard most of the louder parts.
The last thing Galinger said before hurrying out, anger marking every long-strided step, was, "You'll be hearing from my attorney, Braden, if you print one word."
"What are we going to do?" I asked after I'd been waved in to take the chair still warm from Galinger.
"Write it up," Fran answered. "Galinger's a candidate for a public office. People he'd be representing have a right to know about potential conflicts of interest, and about past ones involving him and the person he wants to replace."
Mr. Braden nodded. "Stick to factsâwhich we've got plenty of, straight from the public record. No conclusions. And no paraphrasing anything Galinger said. Just straight quotes there."
Harrison hesitated. "We could wait a dayâdig around and try to paint a more complete picture. Though..."
"Though if we do, someone else will beat us to the story," Mr. Braden said. "You want to waste an exclusive?"
"No," Harrison said. "I don't."
Fran said, "Me, neither. Besides, you can do more in a follow-up. You and Maggie will be on this one awhile."
CHAPTER 14
Harrison worked on the story all afternoon, and I made phone call after phone call, under his direction, checking and recheck-ing everything.
Along with Fran and Harrison and me, Mr. Braden read the page proof with the finished article.
It began, "Previously undisclosed financial ties between developer Ralph Galinger and a recently deceased Eastside city councilman who chaired the planning committee responsible for approving several Galinger Construction projects came to light this week when
Herald
reporters..."
The lead didn't mention which reporters, but it didn't need to. Above the story were the words "By Ed Harrison of the
Herald,
with contributions from Margaret Wynn Chen."
By then, other staffers had come over, their interest adding to a current of excitement that had been building all day. Everyone knew we had something
A pulse began to throb in Galinger's neck. "I didn't. I have my own staff to liaise with city employees. Lindan? I don't even know the name."
"Landin," Harrison corrected. "But getting back to you and Yeager. So you two didn't share business interests. How about you and any of Yeager's family?"
"Never met any of them," Galinger answered shortly. Then, seeming to regret his rudeness, he said, "Sorry. But Toby was divorced, you know."
"That's what I understand," Harrison said. "I've only a couple more questions. Maggieâ"
Galinger broke in. "Look, I don't know what you're going after, but you've got my word there was never a more honest man than Toby Yeager. If you do write a piece on him, I hope you'll present him as the dedicated town leader he was. And if you must write about me, I hope you'll be fair. Remember, I didn't have to come in here."
He looked at his watch. "I'll have someone fax you my biography and a bit about Galinger Construction. And now I really must leave."
"Of course," Harrison said. "But first ... Maggie, didn't you have a question about something you found?"
For a moment my mind went blank. Then, "Munez," I said. "Mary, Raul, and Luis Munez. We were wondering about your relationship to them."
A dark flush coursed up the sides of Galinger's face, and he leaned forward so far that Harrison must have felt his breath. "I never heard of them," he said. "And now stop wasting my time."
"You've never heard of three of Galinger Construction's principal owners?" Harrison repeated. "Interesting." He took his time writing. "I want to make sure I quote you correctly on that. And what about a J. A. Garcia?"
Galinger stood abruptly. "Who's your editor?" he demanded. "I want to see him."
"Sam Braden," Harrison answered. "I'll introduce you."
***
I didn't get invited to that conference, although Harrison motioned me to move to a desk close enough to the glass sides of Mr. Braden's office that I heard most of the louder parts.
The last thing Galinger said before hurrying out, anger marking every long-strided step, was, "You'll be hearing from my attorney, Braden, if you print one word."
"What are we going to do?" I asked after I'd been waved in to take the chair still warm from Galinger.
"Write it up," Fran answered. "Galinger's a candidate for a public office. People he'd be representing have a right to know about potential conflicts of interest, and about past ones involving him and the person he wants to replace."
Mr. Braden nodded. "Stick to factsâwhich we've got plenty of, straight from the public record. No conclusions. And no paraphrasing anything Galinger said. Just straight quotes there."
Harrison hesitated. "We could wait a dayâdig around and try to paint a more complete picture. Though..."
"Though if we do, someone else will beat us to the story," Mr. Braden said. "You want to waste an exclusive?"
"No," Harrison said. "I don't."
Fran said, "Me, neither. Besides, you can do more in a follow-up. You and Maggie will be on this one awhile."
CHAPTER 14
Harrison worked on the story all afternoon, and I made phone call after phone call, under his direction, checking and recheck-ing everything.
Along with Fran and Harrison and me, Mr. Braden read the page proof with the finished article.
It began, "Previously undisclosed financial ties between developer Ralph Galinger and a recently deceased Eastside city councilman who chaired the planning committee responsible for approving several Galinger Construction projects came to light this week when
Herald
reporters..."
The lead didn't mention which reporters, but it didn't need to. Above the story were the words "By Ed Harrison of the
Herald,
with contributions from Margaret Wynn Chen."
By then, other staffers had come over, their interest adding to a current of excitement that had been building all day. Everyone knew we had something
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