‘What, for Chrissakes?’
‘Was it a good shot?’
‘So it was a good shot. You know it was a good shot.’
‘Gave you a good show, didn’t it?’
‘Lizzie...’
‘It’s Eliza... E-liza. Bye.’
She blew him a kiss and went into her office, kicking the door shut behind her.
‘Ah, damn,’ Tubby said forlornly. As he turned toward the studio, he yelled back at her door, ‘Being a producer around here is like trying to direct a Broadway show full of deaf-mutes.’
The phone was ringing when she entered the office. She dropped her clipboard and notes on the desk, took a deep breath, stared at the phone and lit a cigarette.
Well, shit, she thought, I can’t avoid it.
She snatched up the phone. ‘Gunn here,’ she snapped.
‘Very nice,’ the voice said. Howe’s voice was a deep, quiet, paternal rumble. He never raised it and he rarely showed anger. He didn’t have to.
‘Look, Mr Howe, I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean to be rude...’
‘My dear, I have been a newsman all my life, I didn’t inherit this business, I started it. Myself. I know a good news story when I see one. Although I must say I am deeply sympathetic toward Johnny Caldwell. He was a good friend. That’s not why I called, however. I have an assignment I’d like you to consider.’
She tried to remain calm. Charles Gordon Howe, calling her. ‘An assignment?’
‘Not in your regular line.’
‘You mean it will take me away from the show?’
‘Yes.’
‘For how long?’
‘That really depends a lot on you. Are you free right now? I’ll have my car bring you over.’
‘Look, Mr Howe, I’ve been doing investigative reporting for almost three years and I’ve got a good reputation. To leave the show now...’ She let the sentence hang
‘Mmmm.’ The deep rumble. Seconds of silence. She was getting uncomfortable.
‘I’ve been watching you very closely.,. May I call you Liza?’
‘It’s E-liza, but everybody does.’
‘All right, Eliza. I think you may be the best television reporter I’ve got. That’s why I want to discuss this with you. Of course, there’s a bonus in this—’
‘It’s not the money,’ she said quickly. ‘Well, I mean, of course money is important. It’s just that, people forget you fast. Three months and they won’t know who I am. How long will this take?’
‘I’m not sure,’ Howe said. ‘What do you know about Francis O’Hara?’
‘Frank O’Hara? The reporter?’
‘The same.’
‘Uh ... well, I know he was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize and passed over. He was in intelligence for several years before he became a reporter. Uh ... he wrote that great series on the CIA for the Washington Post a couple of years ago—’
‘Not bad,’ Howe interrupted.
‘I didn’t know it was a quiz,’ she said.
Howe chuckled. ‘Ray Pauley told me you were a feisty one,’ he said.
‘What about O’Hara’?’ she asked.
‘Let’s settle the question of the bonus. What do you want?’
‘I don’t know the job.’
‘Let’s say. . . You’ll be off the air for two months. What do you feel is an equitable agreement for two months of air time?’
‘1 want a shot at New York . .. or Washington.’
‘You think you’re ready for New York — or Washington?’
‘I know it.’
‘Pauley doesn’t want to lose you.’
‘You asked me, Mr Howe. Don’t you think I’m ready?’
‘Okay, we can talk about it.’
Eliza swallowed hard. Just like that, a shot at New York. But what did she have to do for it? ‘So ... what about
