Live at Five by Larry Brill

Live at Five by Larry Brill

Author:Larry Brill
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Black Tie Books via Indie Author Project
Published: 2013-04-06T00:00:00+00:00


Slug: Preacher Thug

Anchor intro:

There is something profoundly unsettling about a respected leader’s fall from grace. Their sins seem larger, even in those cases when their motivation is worthy of the pedestal on which we’ve placed them.

So reaction is swift, and rejection is strong. In an instant, they can drag a hero down to the level of a common thug.

And if you think this about Reverend Sam Cross, think again.

Roll tape

“It is unthinkable that such a highly respected member of our community would do this. I don’t believe it. If you say Reverend Sam is capable of robbing banks, you’re saying Reverend Sam Cross is on the same level as a crack smoking, welfare leeching, gun toting common thug.”

Tap the pause button on the videotape machine. Look at the way the mayor’s face freezes in the monitor with his eyes half-closed and mouth cockeyed, like the snapshot of a boxer taking a hard right to the jaw from his opponent.

“Crack smoking? Welfare leeching?” Hunter asks. He’s standing over his reporter Andy Blackman in the converted coat closet that now serves as a video editing room.

Andy doesn’t look up as he scribbles some notes. “Mayor’s up for reelection. He’s a sound bite machine.”

“Works for me. Let’s put him on TV. Who else can we get to talk about the arrest?”

Andy ticks off the names of Bakersfield’s best. “I have calls in to several of them, but they’re kind of reluctant to go on camera.”

“That’s easy,” Hunter says smoothly. “Call them back and say, if they won’t comment, we’ll just make up something and attribute it to them.”

Andy’s eyes narrow, and then he dutifully makes a note in the pad on his knee.

“Just kidding,” Hunter says.

The young reporter smiles weakly, relieved. He crosses out the scribbles he had made.

Hunter continues, “Figure out if they’re a friend or foe. Friend? If they like the guy, stress that Reverend Sam needs their support. Foe? If they think he’s a jerk, tell them someone needs to stand up against this kind of criminal activity. Beg. Threaten. Offer them your first-born child if necessary. Just get them on TV.”

Andy’s smile widens. “Kidding, right?”

“Nope. Serious. Get on it.”

Hunter checks his watch as he glides across the newsroom. Two o’clock. His skin nearly tingles as if the big story of the day has charged the air with electricity. This is fun.

The producers and anchors are clustered around Kathy’s desk for the afternoon planning session. Round up the usual suspects: Kathy is going over a list of all the stories she plans to put in the five o’clock show. Van Thompson is arguing with her. He has one particular angle he wants to hold back for six o’clock. Sugar is taking notes. Kent is staring off into space. And the director, Lee Richards, is sitting behind him, focused on the back of Kent’s head and surreptitiously inching forward with fingers poised as if to pluck a flea from the anchor’s wig. Or maybe he’s after the whole wig. Who knows?

Hunter pulls up a chair and reaches for a rundown of the day’s stories.



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