Read Gumshoe Gorilla for Free Online Page A

be somebody that the public likes. And more importantly, someone that they trust. Hence, all these new questions on the survey. You want to know what the audience said?"
     
    She nodded yes, and tried to look less excited than she was. I tapped an icon on a corner of the notebook and opened up the results. Sandy had won hands down in all categories amongst all age ranges and demographic groups. In the composite "Trust" category, she received the highest ranking from more than fifty percent of the respondents. Her next closest competitor had gotten less than twenty-five.
     
    Her eyes lit up, and she stared at the numbers for what seemed like a minute, a smile spreading across her face. Then she turned to me.
     
    "So why show me this?"
     
    "Because I just finished showing these results to the #2 candidate, and he wasn't too happy about them."
     
    Sandy glanced at the poll and noticed who had gotten that twenty-five percent of the "Trust" vote.
     
    "Trent Reed? But he's not even on any of our programs."
     
    "No, but he's been doing a lot of press conferences and talk shows. He's been very visible for the last few months. He's a strong public speaker, and people are starting to associate his face with the network. And..." I leaned in closer, "...he knows that the real power in this network comes with being the presence in front of the camera. He wants the top job."
     
    "But he won't get it. Because the audience trusts me more. Right?"
     
    "For the moment, yes. Reed seemed surprised by that. Apparently he thought that you were too young and that the viewers wouldn't accept you in a more serious role. He said that he didn't want to show the numbers to Stonewall until he is sure what they mean."
     
    "What they mean?"
     
    "Yeah. He seems to be expecting the polls to take a sharp turn in his favor over the next few days."
     
    Sandy frowned.
     
    "Why would that happen?"
     
    "Well, I was wondering that myself, so I talked to a couple of friends over in the newsroom. Um... have you looked over your copy for tonight's news?"
     
    "Yeah. I've got a great story on..."
     
    "You might want to re-read it. I think you'll find that they've made some last minute changes."
     
    Sandy grabbed a notebook off her makeup table and called up the script.
     
    "What? They've cut my piece on teen missionaries in China! I worked my butt off on that story! Now they've got me doing some piece on... how Stonewall was framed?"
     
    She read on.
     
    "Witch on the scene... Traded bodies with Stonewall... used his body to commit murder while he used hers to try and stop... Jesus, who wrote this crap? Even I can't figure out what they're trying to say."
     
    "What they're trying to say is that you're willing to lie to protect Stonewall. Look, I don't know what your feelings are for the old guy, but if you go out and lead some charge in his defense, your trust ratings are gonna fall through the floor. Right now, the big thing you've got going for you is that people trust you. Everyone figures you're too young and sweet to be mixed up in any of Stonewall's plans. But you go out there and deliver that story and... well, the audience is gonna think twice before they believe anything else that comes out of your mouth."
     
    "But what am I gonna say?"
     
    "Anything but that copy they're handing you. Pretend you didn't get the changes. Tell 'em you didn't have enough time to practice it. Tell 'em that you're in love with the piece on Chinese teenagers and you won't do anything else. Throw a tantrum if you have to. You're a star, you're entitled to be a little temperamental. But whatever you do, don't read that speech."
     
    "But what if Trent fires me?"
     
    I laughed.
     
    "Fire
you?
With ratings like yours? Sandy, he'd never be able to justify it to Stonewall. Just hold your ground and you'll be fine."
     
    "Yeah, you're right. What was I thinking?"
     
    "Reed will keep the pressure on you for a few days. But eventually Stonewall will get his hands on