The Evening News (33 page)

This would contain incidental intelligence, some of it speculation or
rumor, whose sequence was irrelevant or not known. From time to time, as
"miscellaneous
”
items developed, they would be transferred to the other
board-all of it a research responsibility
.
The boards' purpose was twofold: first, to apprise everyone in the task
force inner circle of all available information and new developments;
second, to provide a focus for progress reviews and brainstorming sessions
which could, and often did, provoke new ideas.

Punctually at ten o'clock, Rita Abrams raised her voice, cutting across the
general buzz of conversation
.”
All right, everyone! Let's get to work
.”

She was seated at the head of a long table, Harry Partridge beside her
.
Leslie Chippingham arrived and took his place at
the table too. As he caught Rita's eye, they exchanged discreet smiles
.
Crawford Sloane seated himself at the far end. He did not expect to
contribute to the discussion at this point and had confided to Partridge
,
"I feel helpless right now, like a loose nut
.”

Also at the table were the three producers Rita had recruited. Norman
Jaeger, oldest of the three, was a CBA veteran who had worked in every
phase of news. Soft-spoken, imaginative and scholarly, he was a producer
for the network's highly acclaimed magazine program, "Behind the
Headlines
.”

His abrupt temporary reassignment today pointed up the exceptional resources of the task force
.
Next to Jaeger was Iris Everly, in her mid-twenties and a brightly shining
star on the news production scene. Petite, pretty, a Columbia Journalism
School graduate, she had a shrewd mind which functioned at lightning speed
.
When working to pursue an elusive news story, her reputation for toughness
and cunning matched Rasputin's
.
Karl Owens, the third producer, was a workhorse who had gained his
reputation through persistent, tireless plodding; sometimes his joint
investigative work with correspondents succeeded after competitors had
given up. Midway in age between Jaeger and Iris Everly and not as
imaginative as either, Owens could be counted on for solidity and a
thorough knowledge of his craft
.
In other seats at the table and immediately behind were Teddy Cooper and
the two assistant researchers, a staff writer borrowed from the National
Evening News, Minh Van Canh, who would be senior cameraman, and a woman
secretary, appointed unit manager
.”
Okay, we all know why we're here
,”
Rita said, opening the meeting with a
businesslike tone
.”
What we'll discuss now is how to go about our work
.
First, I'll talk about organization. After that, Harry will direct us on
the way we should march editorially
.”

Rita paused and looked the length of the table at Crawford Sloane
.”
Crawf
,
we won't make speeches here. I don't think
any of us could without becoming emotional, and you have enough distress to carry without our adding to that burden. But I want to tell you, very simply and from all of us-for your sake, your family's, and our own because we care-we're going to do our damnedest
!
”
From the other task force members there was an approving, sympathetic
murmur
.
Sloane nodded twice, then managed to utter, "Thank you
,”
his voice
choked
.”
From here in
,”
Rita said, "we shall operate on two levels -the long-term
project and the daily breaking story. Norm
,”
she continued, addressing
the older producer, "you're to be in charge of long term
.”

"Right
.”

"Iris, you'll do the day-by-day, starting with a spot for the news
tonight, which we'll discuss shortly
.”

Iris Everly said crisply, "Got it, and the first thing I'll want is the
video of that melee this morning outside Crawf's house
.”

Sloane winced at the mention of the incident and glanced half pleadingly
at Iris, though she took no notice
.”
You'll get it
,”
Rita told her
.”
The tape's on the way in
.”

To the third producer, Owens, Rita said, "Karl, you'll move between the
two project sides as needed
.”

She added, "And I'll be working closely
with all three of you
.”

Her attention turned to Cooper
.”
Teddy, I understand you want to go to
Larchmont
.”

Cooper looked up with a grin
.”
Yes, ma'am. To dig around and make like
the famed Sherlock H
.”

Turning his head, he added for the others, "At
which I'm exceptionally good
.”

"Teddy
,”
Partridge said, speaking for the first time, "everyone in this
room is exceptionally good. It's why they're here
.”

Unabashed, Cooper beamed
.”
Then I oughta feel right at home
.”

"After we finish this meeting
,”
Rita advised him, "Minh will go to
Larchmont, heading two fresh camera crews. You'll go with him, Teddy, and
meet Bert Fisher who's a stringer for our local affiliate station. I've
arranged it. Fisher was first to
break the story yesterday. He'll drive you around and introduce you to whoever you want to sec
.”

"Wizard! I'll make a note o' that: Go fishing with Fisher
.”

Norm Jaeger said softly to Karl Owens, "Before this assignment's over I may
strangle that Limey
.”

"Minh
,”
Iris Everly said to the cameraman, "let's you and me talk, please
,
before you leave for Larchmont
.”

Minh Van Canh, his square dark face impassive as usual, nodded
.”
For the time being that takes care of the nuts and bolts
,”
Rita said
.”
Now, more important, there's editorial direction. Harry-over to you
.”

"Our first objective, as I see it
,”
Partridge began, "is to find out more
about the kidnappers. Who are they? Where are they from? What are they
aiming for? Of course, very soon they may tell us that themselves; however
,
we won't wait for it to happen. At this point I can't tell you how we'll
learn the answers to those questions, except that together we will focus
our brains on everything that's occurred so far, plus each new piece of
information that comes in. Today I want everyone here to study all the data
that we have, memorizing details. The boards will help
.”

He motioned to the
"Sequence of Events
”
and "Miscellaneous
”
boards, adding, "Both will be up
to date later this morning
.”
After everyone has caught up I want us, separately and collectively, to
keep picking over the pieces, worrying at them. If we do that, based on
past experience something will come out
.”
Around the table the group listened attentively as Partridge continued
.”
One thing I'll tell you for sure. Somewhere, those people
the
kidnappers-have left traces. Everybody leaves traces, no matter how
carefully they try to hide them. The trick is to locate some
.”

He nodded
to Jaeger
.”
Concentrating on that will be your job, Norman
.”

"Got it
,”
Jaeger said
.”
Now the short term. Iris, about our spot for tonight's evening news. I know you've been thinking. How do you see the bones? Do you have a framework
?
”

She answered crisply
.”
If there's no fresh dramatic news like communication
from the kidnappers, after saying there isn't, we may go to the snafn this
morning outside Crawf's house. Then, since this will be the first full day
since the event, a recap of yesterday. I've watched the tape of last night;
it was a mishmash. Tonight we can do better, be more orderly. Also I'd like
re-interviews with witnesses at Larchmont"-Iris consulted notes-"especially
the old lady, Priscilla Rhea, who's video-rich. She and the others may have
remembered something new
.”

"What about reactions
?
”

Jaeger asked
.”
As in Washington
.”

Partridge answered
.”
A short bite only, from the President, I think. Maybe
some citizen interviews if we have time
.”

"But nothing from Capitol Hill
?
”

"Maybe tomorrow
,”
Partridge said
.”
Maybe never. Everyone on the Hill will
want to get in the act
.”

He motioned for Iris to continue
.”
To wrap up
,”
she said, "we should do some analysis at the end n interview
witb an authority on kidnapping
.”

Partridge asked, "Anyone in mind
?
”

"Not yet
.”

Karl Owens volunteered, "I know of a guy. Name's Ralph Salerno, an ex-New
York cop, lives at Naples, Florida. He lectures about crime to police
forces all over and has written books. Knows a lot about kidnap. I've seen
him on air. He's good
.”

"Let's get him
,”
Iris said, glancing at Partridge who nodded his approval
.
Les
Chippingham int
e
rje
cted, "Karl, we have an affiliate in the Naples
area. Work through them if you can; otherwise fly Salerno to Miami
.”

"And either way
,”
Iris added, "book satellite time for Harry to do the
interview
.”

"I'll get onto it
,”
Owens said, and made a note. After another fifteen minutes of discussion, Rita tapped the
table
.”
That'll do
,”
she announced
.”
The rap is over. Real work begins.,,

Amid the serious business, a marginal tempest
.
For research purposes, Harry Partridge had decided to interview Crawford
Sloane. Partridge believed that Sloane, like many people who became
involved in a complex episode, knew more than he realized and that skilled
,
persistent questioning might bring out new facts. Sloane had already agreed
to the session
.
In the conference room after the meeting, as Partridge reminded Sloane of
the arrangement, a voice behind them broke in, "If you don't mind, I'd like
to sit in and listen. I may learn something too
.”

Surprised, they turned. Confronting them was Special Agent Otis Havelock
who had w
alked in as the meeting broke up
.”
Well
,”
Partridge said, "since you ask, I do mind
.”

Rita Abrams queried Havelock, "Aren't you Mr. FBI
!
'
He answered amiabl
y, "You mean like 'Miss America!
My colleagues might not
think so
.”

"What I really mean
,”
Rita said, "is you shouldn't be in here at all. This
area is off limits to anyone except those working here
.”