to look. “Good idea. Catch you later.”
Ed watched the old guy wobble over to the break room, and heard the blonde’s phony squeal of laughter a few seconds later. Frankie was okay. The poor bastard always did have a hard time insulting anyone. He couldn’t resist apologizing as soon as he got in a good strike.
But maybe Frank was right. No, that wasn’t possible. After all, he was fucking Ed Hershey. He just needed another break.
Andy stopped by his desk, ruining his internal pep talk. “Hey, Mr. Hershey, how’s it hangin’?”
“Everything is hanging fine, Andy.” With the exception of every time you open your mouth.
“I was wondering if you got to see my piece on the watering ban last night.” Andy beamed like a kid wearing a gold star.
“I did. It was good.” Ed had no idea what the younger man was rattling on
about.
“Not as exciting as you’re used to doing, I’m sure.”
“No, I found it very interesting.” If I’d seen it, I’m sure I’d have been bored shitless.
The kid’s beaming smile grew wider for a moment, before he wiped it from his face. “Did you get any more letters from the killer?”
“No, I haven’t.”
“I heard you received letters from a killer before.” He pulled the chair Frank had just vacated closer to Ed’s desk. “Tell me about it.”
As irritating as Andy could be, Ed couldn’t resist bragging. He tipped back in his chair and crossed his hands, resting them on top of his head. “I was the man back then. A killer by the name of Hadley Cox was terrorizing Las Vegas. He’d kill women and then send me letters detailing the murders and where to find the bodies.”
“Wow, that’s pretty cool.”
“No, it wasn’t cool, Andy. When I read the details of what Hadley Cox had done to the first girl he murdered, I puked until I thought I’d hurl my balls.”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right, that’s not too cool.”
Ed grunted, satisfied he’d put an end to the annoying young man’s cheery attitude.
“It became a game to Cox. He gave hints in the letters where he might strike next or how the cops might find him. The letters put me in the spotlight and got the networks’ attention. It was almost like I could do no wrong.
“With the exception of the Vegas Police Department, everyone thought I was doing a good thing.”
“You must have done something right.”
“Maybe. I think Hadley Cox knew how hard I’d fight to keep control of the letters. I wasn’t going to let the cops shut me down until I’d gotten every scrap of news out of them I could get.”
“I can only imagine how great it would be to have the networks calling.”
“It’s a great ride. The big house, the fancy car, famous friends, a couple magazine covers and a few talk show appearances. As a matter of fact, I met my wife, Vivian, while shooting the cover for News Time Magazine.” His voice softened and he forgot about Andy for a moment. “Beautiful, beautiful, Vivian. We were married for six months.”
“What happened?”
Ed cleared his throat. “When Metro Homicide found the killer, everyone lost intere st . The money was history and the house was gone. Vivian left. I thought it was just a temporary separation, but she met someone else.”
Bitterly, Ed remembered Vivian’s perfect manicure as she’d had handed him the divorce papers, a cruel smile curling her lips. The next thing he knew, she’d gone after Nicolas Campenelli.
“That sucks, Mr. Hershey. Maybe you’ll get another big break soon.” “Another break would be nice.”
Andy nodded. “I’m working on a new piece this week. The fire at that kennel, Paradise Keepers. It killed thirty-two animals. I’ve got some interviews lined up with some of the dead pet’s owners. They’re taking the deaths pretty hard.”
“People do get attached to their
Ed watched the old guy wobble over to the break room, and heard the blonde’s phony squeal of laughter a few seconds later. Frankie was okay. The poor bastard always did have a hard time insulting anyone. He couldn’t resist apologizing as soon as he got in a good strike.
But maybe Frank was right. No, that wasn’t possible. After all, he was fucking Ed Hershey. He just needed another break.
Andy stopped by his desk, ruining his internal pep talk. “Hey, Mr. Hershey, how’s it hangin’?”
“Everything is hanging fine, Andy.” With the exception of every time you open your mouth.
“I was wondering if you got to see my piece on the watering ban last night.” Andy beamed like a kid wearing a gold star.
“I did. It was good.” Ed had no idea what the younger man was rattling on
about.
“Not as exciting as you’re used to doing, I’m sure.”
“No, I found it very interesting.” If I’d seen it, I’m sure I’d have been bored shitless.
The kid’s beaming smile grew wider for a moment, before he wiped it from his face. “Did you get any more letters from the killer?”
“No, I haven’t.”
“I heard you received letters from a killer before.” He pulled the chair Frank had just vacated closer to Ed’s desk. “Tell me about it.”
As irritating as Andy could be, Ed couldn’t resist bragging. He tipped back in his chair and crossed his hands, resting them on top of his head. “I was the man back then. A killer by the name of Hadley Cox was terrorizing Las Vegas. He’d kill women and then send me letters detailing the murders and where to find the bodies.”
“Wow, that’s pretty cool.”
“No, it wasn’t cool, Andy. When I read the details of what Hadley Cox had done to the first girl he murdered, I puked until I thought I’d hurl my balls.”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right, that’s not too cool.”
Ed grunted, satisfied he’d put an end to the annoying young man’s cheery attitude.
“It became a game to Cox. He gave hints in the letters where he might strike next or how the cops might find him. The letters put me in the spotlight and got the networks’ attention. It was almost like I could do no wrong.
“With the exception of the Vegas Police Department, everyone thought I was doing a good thing.”
“You must have done something right.”
“Maybe. I think Hadley Cox knew how hard I’d fight to keep control of the letters. I wasn’t going to let the cops shut me down until I’d gotten every scrap of news out of them I could get.”
“I can only imagine how great it would be to have the networks calling.”
“It’s a great ride. The big house, the fancy car, famous friends, a couple magazine covers and a few talk show appearances. As a matter of fact, I met my wife, Vivian, while shooting the cover for News Time Magazine.” His voice softened and he forgot about Andy for a moment. “Beautiful, beautiful, Vivian. We were married for six months.”
“What happened?”
Ed cleared his throat. “When Metro Homicide found the killer, everyone lost intere st . The money was history and the house was gone. Vivian left. I thought it was just a temporary separation, but she met someone else.”
Bitterly, Ed remembered Vivian’s perfect manicure as she’d had handed him the divorce papers, a cruel smile curling her lips. The next thing he knew, she’d gone after Nicolas Campenelli.
“That sucks, Mr. Hershey. Maybe you’ll get another big break soon.” “Another break would be nice.”
Andy nodded. “I’m working on a new piece this week. The fire at that kennel, Paradise Keepers. It killed thirty-two animals. I’ve got some interviews lined up with some of the dead pet’s owners. They’re taking the deaths pretty hard.”
“People do get attached to their
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