The Sky Is Falling by Sidney Sheldon

library.
    Pamela Hudson rose and hurried toward the sound. Roger and Dana followed. They stopped at the door. In the library, a blue Ming vase had fallen to the floor and shattered. Kemal stood next to it.
    “Oh, my God,” Dana said, horrified. “I’m
so
sorry. Kemal, how could you—?”
    “It was an accident.”
    Dana turned to the Hudsons, her face flushed with embarrassment. “I’m terribly sorry. I’ll pay for it, of course. I—”
    “Please don’t worry about it,” Pamela Hudson said with a nice smile. “Our dogs do much worse.”
    Roger Hudson’s face was grim. He started to say something, but a look from his wife stopped him.
    Dana looked down at the remains of the vase.
It was probably worth about ten years of my salary
, she thought.
    “Why don’t we go back to the living room,” Pamela Hudson suggested.
    Dana followed the Hudsons with Kemal at her side. “Stay with me,” she muttered, furious. They sat down again.
    Roger Hudson looked at Kemal. “How did you lose your arm, son?”
    Dana was surprised at the bluntness of the question, but Kemal answered readily.
    “A bomb.”
    “I see. What about your parents, Kemal?”
    “They were both killed in an air raid along with my sister.”
    Roger Hudson grunted. “Goddamn wars.”
    At that moment, Cesar came into the room. “Luncheon is served.”
     
     
    The luncheon was delicious. Dana found Pamela warm and charming and Roger Hudson withdrawn.
    “What are you working on now?” Pamela Hudson asked Dana.
    “We’re talking about a new show to be called
Crime Line
. We’re going to expose some of the people who have gotten away with committing crimes, and we’ll try to help people in prison who are innocent.”
    Roger Hudson said, “Washington is a great place to start. It’s full of holier-than-thou phonies in high places who have gotten away with every crime you can think of.”
    “Roger’s on several government-reform committees,” Pamela Hudson said proudly.
    “And a lot of good it does,” her husband grumbled. “The difference between right and wrong seems to have gotten blurred. It should be taught at home. Our schools certainly don’t teach it.”
    Pamela Hudson looked at Dana. “By the way, Roger and I are giving a little dinner party Saturday night. Would you be free to join us?”
    Dana smiled. “Why, thank you. I’d love to.”
    “Do you have a young man?”
    “Yes. Jeff Connors.”
    Roger Hudson said, “The sports reporter on your station?”
    “Yes.”
    “He’s not bad. I watch him sometimes,” he said. “I’d like to meet him.”
    Dana smiled. “I’m sure Jeff would love to come.”
     
     
    As Dana and Kemal were leaving, Roger Hudson took Dana aside.
    “In all candor, Miss Evans, I find your conspiracy theory about the Winthrops in the realm of fantasy. But for Matt Baker’s sake, I’m willing to check around and see if I can find anything that could possibly substantiate it.”
    “Thank you.”
In all candor, Miss Evans, I find your conspiracy theory about the Winthrops in the realm of fantasy. But for Matt Baker’s sake, I’m willing to check around and see if I can find anything that could possibly substantiate it.
Thank you.
    Tape ends.
     
IX
     
    THEY WERE IN the middle of their morning meeting about
Crime Line
, and Dana was in the conference room with half a dozen staff reporters and researchers.
    Olivia poked her head in. “Mr. Baker would like to see you.”
    “Tell him I’ll be there in a minute.”
     
     
    “The boss is waiting for you.”
    “Thanks, Abbe. You’re looking cheerful.”
    Abbe nodded. “I finally got a good night’s sleep. For the last—”
    “Dana? Come in here,” Matt yelled.
    “To be continued,” Abbe said.
    Dana walked into Matt’s office. “How did the meeting with Roger Hudson go?”
    “I have a feeling he wasn’t very interested. He thinks my theory is crazy.”
    “I told you he’s not Mr. Warmth.”
    “He does take a little getting used to. His