The Evening News (59 page)

At the next opportunity she said, "I've been trying to guess where we
are. Georgia? Arkansas? Where
?
”

It was Nicky who supplied the answer
.”
They took us out of America, Mom
.
The man told me. We're in Peru
.”

"Earlier this morning
,”
Teddy Cooper told the rows of attentive young faces in front of him, "I was planning to stand here and spin you a cock-W-bull story about why you've been hired and what you'll be doing. Like a real smart-ass, I had what I thought was a convincing cover story all worked out. But a few minutes ago, after talking to some of you, I realized you're all too smart to be taken in. Also, I believe that when you know the real facts, you'll leave here keen, tight-lipped and caring. So sit up straight, lads and lassies. You're about to be trusted with the truth
.”

The approach was rewarded by some smiles and continued attention
.
It was 9:30 A.M. Monday. Within the past half hour exactly sixty young
men and women, the sexes almost equally divided, had reported for
temporary work at CBA News, Uncle Arthur having persisted with his
telephoning through Sunday evening to make up the full complement
required. All were now assembled in the CBA auxiliary building a block
away from news headquarters, which the preceding Thursday had been used
for the press conference conducted by Crawford Sloane. On the same sound
stage, folding chairs had again been set up, facing a lectern
.
Most of the recruits were about twenty-two years old and recent
university graduates with good scholastic records. They
were also articulate, competitive and anxious to break into the TV news milieu
.
About a third of the group was black and among these was one Uncle Arthur
had drawn to Cooper's attention-Jonathan Mony
.”
You may want to use
Jonathan as a supervisor
,”
the older man advised
.”
He's a Columbia
Journalism graduate who's been working as a waiter because he needs the
money. But if you're as impressed as I am, when this is over maybe the two
of us can somehow bring him into CBA
.”

Mony, who had been one of the earliest to report this morning, had the
build and agility of a professional basketball player. His features were
finely cut, with compelling, confident eyes. Mony's voice was a clear
baritone and he spoke without jargon in concise sentences. His first
question to Cooper after introducing himself was, "May I help you set this
up
?
”

Cooper, who liked Mony instantly, responded, "Sure
,”
and handed over the
batch of forms which the network required all of today's newcomers to
complete. Within minutes, Mony was showing fresh arrivals to seats and
explaining the forms he had glanced over only moments before
.
Soon after, Cooper asked Mony to make two phone calls and pass along
messages. Without asking any questions, Mony simply nodded and disappeared
.
A few minutes later he was back, reporting, "Okay, Mr. Cooper. Both answers
were yes
.”

That was ten minutes ago. Now Teddy Cooper was continuing his introductory
remarks, having paused for effect after telling his audience they would be
"trusted with the truth
.”

"So what this is really all about is the kidnapping-which of course you've
heard of--of Mrs. Crawford Sloane, Master Nicholas Sloane and Mr. Angus
Sloane. The work you'll be doing is aimed at helping those kidnap victims
and is triple-X important. When you leave here you'll be detailed off to
local newspaper offices and certain libraries where you will read every
issue published over the past three months. Not just reading, though, but
Sherlock Holmesing for clues on which I'll brief you, clues which could
lead us to the body snatchers
.”

Interest on the faces before him was now even greater than before
,
accompanied by a hum of conversation which quickly
q
uieted as Cooper continued
.”
As soon as I'm through sounding off up here, you'll be divided into groups and given the gen about where to go and what to do. Some of the newspaper offices have already been phoned by us this morning; they're cooperative and expecting you. At others you'll have to introduce yourselves, saying you represent CBA. Before leaving here everyone gets a CBA identification card. Save it-a souvenir for your grandchildren
.”
About transport, we have some motors waiting which will take several
groups each day, dropping off one person at a time at their starting point
.
After that, you'll make your own way. You all have initiative; you'll get
the chance to use it. Some of you will get where you're going by bus and
train. Either way, travel expenses are on CBA
.”
You needn't come back here at the end of each day, but you must report by
telephone-we'll give you numbers-and also call immediately if you find
anything important
.”

The arrangements Teddy Cooper was describing had been worked on through
Sunday and early this morning by himself, his two assistant researchers and
a secretary borrowed from the news staff. Some backup work, including
phoning local papers, was continuing
.”
Now
,”
Cooper declared, "that was for starters. Next let's get to the big
picture. Somewhere about now you should be getting several sheets of paper
. . . Yes, here they are
.”

The ebullient Jonathan Mony had been consulting with Cooper's assistants
,
busy at a desk across the room. Mony now returned, burdened by a pile of
papers---copies of the task plan and guidelines developed yesterday by
Cooper and printed overnight. Mony began handing copies to his fellow
temporaries
.
,,When you get to those local newspaper offices
,”
Cooper said, "You'll ask
first to see issues published three months back from last Thursday-that is
,
starting June 14. When you have them in front of you, go to classified ads
for estate agents and look for any ad offering to rent a small factory, or
a warehouse, or a large old house-but not just any old place like that
.
. .and to get specific, let's turn to page one of those notes you just received
.”

As he explained his reasoning and planning, Teddy Cooper was relieved
about his decision to disclose the truth. How much or how little he
should tell these helpers had been left to his discretion, and now not
using a bogus story made everything simpler. There were risks involved
,
of course. One was the chance that what CBA News was attempting would
become known to a competitor, another network perhaps, who would either
publicize the fact or run a parallel project of its own. Cooper intended
to caution these young people not to reveal any details of CBA's
behind-scenes purpose. He hoped his trust would be justified. Surveying
his audience, still attentive and with a majority scribbling notes, he
believed it would
.
Cooper was also keeping his eye on an outer doorway. The phone calls he
had asked Jonathan Mony to make were messages to Harry Partridge and
Crawford Sloane requesting they make a brief appearance here. He had been
pleased when the response from both was positive
.
They arrived together. Cooper, in the midst of describing his imagined
picture of the kidnappers' operating base, stopped and pointed to the
door. All heads turned and despite the group's sophistication, there was
an audible gasp as Sloane came forward, followed by Partridge
.
With suitable deference, Coo
per stepped down from the lectern
. He would
not presume to introduce the National Evening News anchorman, but simply
made way
.”
Hello, Teddy
,”
Sloane said
.”
What would you like me to do
?
”

"Mostly, sir, I think everyone would like to meet you
.”

Sloane kept his voice low
.”
Tell me, how much have you let these people
know
?
”

Partridge had joined them near the lectern and was listening
.
.,Pretty much the lot. I decided they'll be more keen that way and we
should trust them
.”

"I go along with that
,”
Partridge said. Sloane nodded
.”
Okay by me
.”

He moved toward the rows
of chairs, ignoring the lectern. His face was serious; no one would expect him to be smiling and happy today, and when he spoke his voice matched the sober mood
.”
Ladies and gentlemen, it may be that in days to come, what
anyone
or
some of you are about to do will contribute directly to the safe return
of my wife, my son and my father. If by great good fortune that should
happen, you may be sure I will seek you out to thank you personally. For
the time being I would like to express my appreciation of your being
here, and wish you well. Good luck to us all
!”

Sloane remained in place as many of the young people rose to their feet
and some came forward, reaching out to shake his hand and offer genuine
good wishes; among them Teddy Cooper saw a few eyes glistening with
tears. At the end, Sloane signaled goodbye and left as unobtrusively as
he had come. Partridge, who also shook hands and spoke with some of the
temporary workers, went with him
.
Cooper continued his briefing, describing what these investigative
neophytes should look for. When he invited questions several hands shot
up
.
A youth in an NYU sweat shirt was first
.”
Okay, so one of us has found
an ad that fits the specs you've given, and it might be the place you're
looking for. So we phone it in. What next
?
”

"For starters
,”
Cooper replied, "we find out who placed the ad. Usually
a name will be there and you'll tell us. If there's no name, just a box
number, try to get the info from the paper where you are, and if they're
sticky about that, let us handle it
.”

"And after that
?
”

"If we can, we'll contact the advertiser by phone and ask some questions
.
If we can't, we'll go to visit them. Then, if the lead still looks
promising, we'll take a look-very cautiouslyat the place that was
advertised
.”

"You've been saying 'we
.”

' The new questioner was an attractive young
woman in a fashionable beige suit
.”
Does that mean just you and other big
shots, or will some of us here get to share the interesting part, where
the action is
?
”

T
here were some cheers, and laughter in which Teddy Cooper joined
.”
Let's get something straight
,”
he responded, "I'm a little shot, and be
careful how you spell it
.”

(More laughter.) "But this I promise you: As
far as we can, we'll bring you in on any developments, especially those
you have a hand in launching. One reason is, we'll need you. We don't
have many bodies for this job and if there's a target, chances are you'll
be headed for it
.”

"When you get to that stage
,”
a petite redhead asked, "will there be
camera crews
?
”

"You mean might you be on camera
?
”

She smiled
.”
Something like that
.”