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good for Will to stay in Long Creek to look after Fran Spicer, and that as long as he was there he should follow the kidnapping case “as the Gazette ’s representative.”
    â€œThat bastard,” Karen said.
    â€œIt’s not that he’s malicious. Just thoughtless, in the most literal sense. He thinks this is the same as my going to chamber of commerce meetings or United Way luncheons. My time is his time to use.” Will paused, trying to keep his anger from poisoning the conversation. “I know plenty of editors, and they all feel sometimes like they’re being chopped into little pieces by their publishers. But Lyle may be worse than most.”
    â€œHis top editor is much better than the paper deserves.”
    â€œThanks. I needed that. His background is all on the business side, so he has no idea of the time and effort involved in covering a major story. And he doesn’t care to know.”
    â€œDamn him anyhow!”
    â€œGoes with the territory.”
    â€œFor now,” Karen said.
    Ah, yes. Neither was in the mood to chew on that last thought. Will could not be sure how long the publisher would want him around. Come to think of it, there were times when Will wasn’t sure how long he’d put up with things, regardless of what Lyle Glanford wanted.
    â€œAs long as you’re there, try to enjoy yourself,” Karen said. “You might like playing reporter again.”
    â€œI’d like it better if I were ten years younger. And single. Besides, I’m rusty.”
    â€œYou were a fine reporter. You know damn well you were.”
    Will thought that over: She was right; he had been a good reporter. “Bless you. Kiss the kids for me.”
    â€œYou sound tired.”
    â€œI’m going to try to pace myself. Fran looks like hell, by the way. It’s touch and go. The nurse said that.”
    They talked for a few more minutes. When Will said goodbye, he thanked the Big Power for giving him such a wife.
    He had a big breakfast in the coffee shop, stopped at a stationery store to pick up a notepad and a couple of cheap ballpoints, and headed for the police station. He had called the night before and learned that a briefing was scheduled.
    Outside the station, several television news vans were parked. Will saw from the letters on the side that two were from stations a long way from Long Creek. For God’s sake, there was a crew from Bessemer. He hoped they wouldn’t recognize him.
    In the lobby, there was a white poster with an arrow and the words PRESS CONFERENCE. The arrow pointed to a large windowless room, which was already nearly full. Will stumbled over a thick cord on the floor.
    â€œWatch it, buddy!” a cameraman said.
    â€œ You watch it,” Will said.
    A microphone on the table squeaked, then tipped over. The noise was magnified electronically as a young policeman tried to adjust it. “Take your seats, please, so we can get started,” the policeman said. “I’d like to introduce the Long Creek police chief, Robert Howe. Chief?”
    A glistening blue uniform adorned with gold stars and braid and stuffed with a fiftyish man of big belly and red face marched into the room and sat down in front of the mike.
    â€œAs you all know—” The mike shrieked and clicked. “As you know, it’s now five days since the abduction of Jamie Brokaw. Since that time, the Long Creek Police Department, under my command, has conducted an exhaustive search in and around the city. We have been assisted by the Hill County Sheriff’s Department at every stage of this investigation, and I can assure you that there has been total cooperation and coordination between our two agencies. We also have the full cooperation of the FBI, and we are in constant—”
    â€œExcuse me, Chief,” a reporter interrupted. “This is all well and good, this stuff about police coordination, but we’d like to know