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Face expressionless, he inclined his head. “If you’re hoping yet I’ll work my way around to indignation over the death of a swine like Fitzhugh, you’re doomed to disappointment. The difference is I saw what happened to a young cop today. What happened to Ian, what might have happened to Feeney. To you. That changes the complexion of this pompous, egocentric, and self-serving statement. But some who hear it will consider this purity group heroes.”
“Heroism isn’t achieved by remote control,” Eve snapped.
“If you keep spouting sound bites like that off the record,” Nadine said, “I’m going to break down and cry.”
“Then show them up for cowards,” Roarke told her. “Let the public see the grief Halloway’s family is feeling because their son was an innocent victim. A cop who died in the line of duty because of something this group started. You let them see McNab, young, eager, wounded. You need to use the media as thoroughly, as skillfully as they will.”
“I need to find them, I need to stop them, not play Who’s Spinning the Media Wheel now.”
“Lieutenant.” Roarke squeezed her shoulder. “You need to do both.”
“I need that disc.”
Nadine ejected it, held it out. “This is the original. I’ve already made a copy for myself.” She smiled as Eve snatched it out of her hand. “It’s going to be such fun working with you.”
“I don’t give you anything on record until I’ve cleared this with Whitney.”
“Go ahead, give him a call. I’d say we could all use some coffee.”
“I’ll give you a hand with that.” Roarke strolled out of the room with her.
Eve took a moment to calm down. She hated knowing Nadine was right. She would have to fight part of this battle on the airwaves.
She used Nadine’s ’link to wake up her commander.
“She’s been in there a long time.” Nadine poured a second cup of coffee.
“You wouldn’t break the story at this time of morning.” Because Nadine was puffing on one of her herbals, Roarke indulged himself with a cigarette. He preferred real tobacco. “You’ll wait until six to maximize the viewing audience and ratings, catch your competitors unprepared, and thoroughly screw up their first-of-the-day broadcasts.”
“You’re good at this.”
“I’ve some experience with manipulation.”
“I’m giving her ten more minutes, then I have to call into the station, block the time, do the prep, call in an electronic’s expert. I don’t suppose you’d—”
“I think not. That would be skirting right over the line Eve’s already drawn in her mind over this. But I can recommend a couple of names if you don’t have anyone particular in mind.”
“I was thinking Mya Dubber.”
“She’s excellent. A solid handle on electronics and a pleasant way of communicating technical jargon in simple terms.”
“She works for you, doesn’t she?”
“In a freelance capacity, yes.”
Unable to sit any longer, Nadine stood up to pace. “She’s cutting me close on this. I’ve got research to do, copy to write, interviews to set up. This story’s going to blow everything else off the air. Who’s next? That’ll be one of the questions. And they’ll keep tuning in until there’s an answer.”
“And my cop will work herself into the ground to try to beat that answer, so there is no next.”
“That’s why you have to respect her. And that’s why she always makes a damn good story. Are you two bu
tting heads over this one?”
He blew out a lazy stream of smoke. “Not heads so much as philosophies. It’s more difficult for her to accept mine than it is for me to accept hers. We’ll work through it.”
“I appreciate you backing me up on this.”
“I didn’t do it for you,” he stated calmly. “I did it for her.”
