The Key by James N. Frey

Author:James N. Frey [Frey, James N.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780312300524
Publisher: Macmillan
Published: 2002-08-03T07:00:00+00:00

She put her purse in the bottom drawer of her desk, brushed some lint off her pants suit, ran her hand through her hair, put some drops in her eyes to get the red out, and dabbed on a little lipstick.

"Am I beautiful?" she asked Lenny Fargo.

"Always."

"Okay, let's go."

The two of them crossed the city room. Most of the half-dozen reporters were out covering their assignments. Only Fred Hanson, the new kid just out of Berkeley journalism school, was still at his computer. He looked up as they passed his desk—he didn't yet rate a cubicle. "Dragged to the principal again?" he asked her.

"You got to take your whippins in this business."

She was only a few years older than Fred, but she'd been a reporter, she was fond of telling him, for a hundred years longer.

Lenny knocked at the editor-in-chief's office, and the two walked in.

Marion Weibel sat behind a desk piled with papers. He was an obese man in his forties. He had a round, florid face, and wore thick, black-rimmed glasses. He reached for a piece of red licorice as they entered the room and gestured for them to have some. Garret took one.

"I read your story, Garret."

"I have more than one source; I carefully checked the facts."

"I've got no quarrel with the job you did—it's something else. Lenny, leave us alone, would you?"

Lenny Fargo nodded and shuffled out of the room.

Garret dropped into a chair and sucked on the licorice.

"When I was a pup," Weibel said, "this Harry Ballard character owned a body shop south of town. Some say he was running stolen cars down to Mexico. Some say he once killed a man in a knife fight. Not exactly a fair fight."

"All the more reason for us to nail the bastard."

"And what if he comes after you—or me?"

"I'm not scared, are you?"

He took out a handkerchief and wiped his forehead. "What do you say we cut his name out of the story, Garret?"

"No."

"We're taking an awful chance."

"It's a risky business, didn't your mother tell you? That all? I've got a dog show to attend."

"I've got to think about this," he said.

"You're the boss."

"It's a mighty fine piece," he said. "You sure got the knack for stringing words together."

"Thanks for that," she said. "And thanks for the licorice."

Marion Weibel heaved his weight in his chair. "Hold it a minute, Garret."

She did. "Yes?"

He rubbed his chin. "Look," he said, "I know why you knock yourself out, and it isn't just because you're a hot rod."

"I do my job, the way it should be done."

"Yeah. Listen. You were the youngest, brightest reporter they ever had at the New York Post, and they dumped you because you were into taking speed."

Garret felt a catch in her throat. Another editor, another office, flashed in front of her mind's eyes, and the words You have cast a shadow on the integrity of this paper, and we can no longer tolerate your employment.

This editor now said, "I just want you to know 1 understand why you take such risks.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.