be sweating like a pig.
CHAPTER TEN
FRANK STOOD IN FRONT OF ED’S DESK AND LOOSENED HIS TIE . The man looks like a tick about to pop, Ed thought as he watched his boss fidget.
Frank gave the piece of knotted cloth a final jerk. “Anything of interest in the morning mail run?”
“No, Frankie. Not a damned thing. I wish the son of a bitch would contact me again. I hate sitting around with my thumb up my ass.” Ed stood and began pacing the floor behind his desk. “The cops took the first picture and won’t tell us anything.”
The older man sat down in one of the chairs in front of the desk. “It’s probably just as well. A couple of Metro cops are here checking our mail as it comes in. But the good news is they can’t open it. Until they get a court order like they did with Hadley Cox, we still get first dibs.”
“Are you on top of that, Frankie? Have you got our lawyers working on this?”
“We’ve got the legal department handling it. They should be able to stall a while. Of course if we don’t get any other pictures or correspondence from the killer, we won’t need the legal support.”
Ed stopped pacing. “Maybe the killer won’t hit again. Just because he contacted us once, doesn’t mean he plans on killing again.”
“The man likes the spotlight.” Frank picked at a stain on his loosened tie. “Of course he’ll do it again.”
“Shouldn’t we hope yesterday was a one-time deal?”
“That’s bullshit.” Frank leaned forward, still gripping his tie, and lowered his voice. “You want the publicity as much as the station needs it. We’re not exactly at the top of the rating polls. I hate to see anyone else murdered either, but God Almighty, the woman was just a prostitute.”
“Christ, Frankie.” Ed dropped back down on his seat. “That’s fucking cold.”
“Yeah right, Hersh. I’m ashamed of myself. Everyone in this place is thinking the same thing. I just happen to be the only one who has the balls to say it out loud. Our ratings suck. A good murder spree could improve them.”
“Especially if yours truly is the recipient of crime scene photos?” Ed tipped his head to one side, keeping his eyes on his boss.
“You got it. Everyone watches the news when it’s bad. Murder is fascinating to most people.”
“It’s still wrong.”
“I’m not saying it’s not. But no one here wants the brass coming in and cleaning house.” Frank leaned back in the chair and rested his folded hands on the swell of his stomach. “I hear your name is at the top of the list, Hersh. If the ratings don’t improve, you may be out of a job.”
“Well, the brass doesn’t know shit. I’m the best thing this station has going for it. They’d do well to remember that. If I had a good team behind me, our ratings would burst through the roof. Hell, the station is lucky I haven’t moved on to the big show yet. The networks would gobble me up if I decided to steer my career in that direction. But for now, I’m happy here.”
“Blow me, Hersh.” Frank stood. “You’d be out of here in two seconds flat if you got an offer from one of the networks. Don’t try and bullshit the King of Bullshit. Your chance at a network desk already came—and went just as fast.”
He turned to leave, took a step and then hesitated. A look of remorse crossed the man’s face.
“Hersh, I’m sorry I said what I did. You’re good at what you do and the networks are going to realize it one of these days.” He shrugged his shoulders. “I’ll stop by after the next mail run comes through. If you get any updates in the meantime, give me a shout.”
“Sure, Frankie. I’ll let you know if I hear anything. By the way, look over by the break room. There’s your blonde with the big tits. Go grab her before she gets away.”
Frank’s whole body straightened as he turned
CHAPTER TEN
FRANK STOOD IN FRONT OF ED’S DESK AND LOOSENED HIS TIE . The man looks like a tick about to pop, Ed thought as he watched his boss fidget.
Frank gave the piece of knotted cloth a final jerk. “Anything of interest in the morning mail run?”
“No, Frankie. Not a damned thing. I wish the son of a bitch would contact me again. I hate sitting around with my thumb up my ass.” Ed stood and began pacing the floor behind his desk. “The cops took the first picture and won’t tell us anything.”
The older man sat down in one of the chairs in front of the desk. “It’s probably just as well. A couple of Metro cops are here checking our mail as it comes in. But the good news is they can’t open it. Until they get a court order like they did with Hadley Cox, we still get first dibs.”
“Are you on top of that, Frankie? Have you got our lawyers working on this?”
“We’ve got the legal department handling it. They should be able to stall a while. Of course if we don’t get any other pictures or correspondence from the killer, we won’t need the legal support.”
Ed stopped pacing. “Maybe the killer won’t hit again. Just because he contacted us once, doesn’t mean he plans on killing again.”
“The man likes the spotlight.” Frank picked at a stain on his loosened tie. “Of course he’ll do it again.”
“Shouldn’t we hope yesterday was a one-time deal?”
“That’s bullshit.” Frank leaned forward, still gripping his tie, and lowered his voice. “You want the publicity as much as the station needs it. We’re not exactly at the top of the rating polls. I hate to see anyone else murdered either, but God Almighty, the woman was just a prostitute.”
“Christ, Frankie.” Ed dropped back down on his seat. “That’s fucking cold.”
“Yeah right, Hersh. I’m ashamed of myself. Everyone in this place is thinking the same thing. I just happen to be the only one who has the balls to say it out loud. Our ratings suck. A good murder spree could improve them.”
“Especially if yours truly is the recipient of crime scene photos?” Ed tipped his head to one side, keeping his eyes on his boss.
“You got it. Everyone watches the news when it’s bad. Murder is fascinating to most people.”
“It’s still wrong.”
“I’m not saying it’s not. But no one here wants the brass coming in and cleaning house.” Frank leaned back in the chair and rested his folded hands on the swell of his stomach. “I hear your name is at the top of the list, Hersh. If the ratings don’t improve, you may be out of a job.”
“Well, the brass doesn’t know shit. I’m the best thing this station has going for it. They’d do well to remember that. If I had a good team behind me, our ratings would burst through the roof. Hell, the station is lucky I haven’t moved on to the big show yet. The networks would gobble me up if I decided to steer my career in that direction. But for now, I’m happy here.”
“Blow me, Hersh.” Frank stood. “You’d be out of here in two seconds flat if you got an offer from one of the networks. Don’t try and bullshit the King of Bullshit. Your chance at a network desk already came—and went just as fast.”
He turned to leave, took a step and then hesitated. A look of remorse crossed the man’s face.
“Hersh, I’m sorry I said what I did. You’re good at what you do and the networks are going to realize it one of these days.” He shrugged his shoulders. “I’ll stop by after the next mail run comes through. If you get any updates in the meantime, give me a shout.”
“Sure, Frankie. I’ll let you know if I hear anything. By the way, look over by the break room. There’s your blonde with the big tits. Go grab her before she gets away.”
Frank’s whole body straightened as he turned
Similar Books
