Read (1982) The Almighty for Free Online

personal part?’
    Victoria hesitated. ‘A brief involvement. He was married, and promised to get unmarried. He didn’t.’
    ‘Were you hurt?’
    ‘Only momentarily.’ She reconsidered the episode. ‘Not really. I’m sure it was just as well. As I told you, I’m still looking for Mr. Right.’
    ‘And as I told you, you’ll find him.’
    ‘Anyway, I wanted a change. Above all, I wanted to get away from that crummy suburban paper.’ She added with certainty, ‘Dad, I know I’m ready for something big-time.’
    ‘I’m sure you are. Maybe you’ve made the sensible move.’ He paused. ‘I was going to suggest that you let me make a pitch for you with my old sheet in Chicago. But you say you want a change.’
    ‘Thanks, Dad, but no. It’s more than just a change. There’s been one Weston there, and he can never be surpassed. My feet aren’t big enough to fill your shoes.’
    T think you’re overdoing it a bit.’
    ‘I’d really like to leave Chicago. I’d like to try at the summit.’
    ‘New York?’
    Victoria nodded. ‘Yes, New York.’
    Weston ate his omelet and thought about it. He wiped his mouth with his napkin. ‘It’s pretty crowded there, Vicky. Would you consider a slight detour, maybe upward, editorial staff of a magazine or book publishing house or even television? I have some contacts -‘
    Victoria leaned against the table. ‘Dad, I want what you had, newspapering. I’ve always envied your life, the excitement, the craziness, the day-to-day aliveness.’
    ‘The short money,’ said Weston with a wry smile.
    ‘To hell with the money. I’ll live in one room in a ghetto, eat
    an apple a day, mend my own panty hose - as long as I can wake up unable to wait for my job to begin, and go to sleep knowing I want more hours of the same. I want to be Nellie Bly. I want to be Annie Laurie. I want to be Dorothy Kilgallen.’
    Hugh Weston sat back in his chair. ‘Well…’ he said.
    ‘Well what?’ Victoria asked intently.
    ‘New York,’ he said. ‘Tough town. Let me think.’
    He rose, wandered about looking for his tennis jacket, extracted a caked pipe, tobacco, pouch, and lighter, and moments later was seated across from his daughter once more, smoking. She eyed him intently, waiting.
    ‘I was just reviewing my contacts in New York,’ he said, ‘and I just had a notion. My mind went to Ezra J. Armstead. Remember him?’
    ‘E. J. Armstead. “The Giant,” they called him. You worked for him on his Chicago paper. He died this week, didn’t he?’
    ‘Yes, he died. That means the New York Record will probably go to his son, Edward Armstead - Edward was his only heir, far as I know - and Edward and I were very close in Chicago.’
    T remember him well, Dad. You used to bring him home for dinner sometimes. You practically treated him like a son.’
    ‘A good man, not that much younger than I, but in a sense he didn’t have a father, and he would often turn to me. We had a close relationship. I haven’t seen him in a while, but I think he still feels kindly toward me. Perhaps I should give him a buzz. We might luck out -‘
    Victoria clasped her hands. ‘Oh, Dad, that would be perfect. The New York Record -‘
    ‘Whoa, there.’ Weston pushed himself to his feet. ‘There are a few ifs along the road - if Edward Armstead inherited the sheet, if he is looking for new personnel, if he’ll consider you.., well, let’s find out.’
    Weston went into the living room, where a telephone sat upon the rolltop desk that he had brought from his office in Chicago. While Victoria nervously removed the lunch dishes, Weston called longdistance information and got the number of the New York Record. He dialed the number and waited.
    ‘Record? I’d like to speak to Mr. Edward Armstead. Tell
    him Hugh Weston is calling from Washington, D.C___
    Okay, I’ll hold on.’
    Weston saw that Victoria had materialized in the living room, untying her apron, also holding on.
    The telephone crackled. Weston was