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 leaderâs fall from grace. Their sins seem larger, even in those cases when their motivation is worthy of the pedestal on which weâve 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
âIt is unthinkable that such a highly respected member of our community would do this. I donât believe it. If you say Reverend Sam is capable of robbing banks, youâre saying Reverend Sam Cross is on the same level as a crack smoking, welfare leeching, gun toting common thug.â
Tap the pause button on the videotape machine. Look at the way the mayorâs 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.
âCrack smoking? Welfare leeching?â Hunter asks. Heâs standing over his reporter Andy Blackman in the converted coat closet that now serves as a video editing room.
Andy doesnât look up as he scribbles some notes. âMayorâs up for reelection. Heâs a sound bite machine.â
âWorks for me. Letâs put him on TV. Who else can we get to talk about the arrest?â
Andy ticks off the names of Bakersfieldâs best. âI have calls in to several of them, but theyâre kind of reluctant to go on camera.â
âThatâs easy,â Hunter says smoothly. âCall them back and say, if they wonât comment, weâll just make up something and attribute it to them.â
Andyâs eyes narrow, and then he dutifully makes a note in the pad on his knee.
âJust kidding,â Hunter says.
The young reporter smiles weakly, relieved. He crosses out the scribbles he had made.
Hunter continues, âFigure out if theyâre a friend or foe. Friend? If they like the guy, stress that Reverend Sam needs their support. Foe? If they think heâs 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.â
Andyâs smile widens. âKidding, right?â
âNope. Serious. Get on it.â
Hunter checks his watch as he glides across the newsroom. Two oâclock. 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 Kathyâs 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 oâclock show. Van Thompson is arguing with her. He has one particular angle he wants to hold back for six oâclock. Sugar is taking notes. Kent is staring off into space. And the director, Lee Richards, is sitting behind him, focused on the back of Kentâs head and surreptitiously inching forward with fingers poised as if to pluck a flea from the anchorâs wig. Or maybe heâs after the whole wig. Who knows?
Hunter pulls up a chair and reaches for a rundown of the dayâs stories.
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