Read The Morning Show Murders (1) for Free Online

interviewing a starlet from
The Golden Lady
show, angrily tore off his Indian headdress on camera and then tossed a wet blanket over the actress's effervescence by reminding her of the show's low ratings.
    But it was our eccentric, usually genial meteorologist, Professor Lloyd Sebastian, transformed by Lo and Jolly's magic into Randolph Scott's crusty old sidekick, Gabby Hayes, who made me realize something was definitely amiss. Lloyd approached me, even more sour-faced than Gabby, and said, "I thought we were friends, Billy."
    "We are friends, Lloyd."
    "Actions speak louder than words," he said, before returning to his green screen.
    What the what?
    The show's closing theme had barely stopped playing when Kiki informed me that Gretchen Di Voss wanted me in the conference room immediately.
    "What's up?" I asked.
    "Her assistant didn't say. But ..."
    "What?"
    "I've heard grumbling about ... you and Gin." Kiki looked at me expectantly.
    "What about us?"
    "I assumed you'd know."
    "Well, I don't."
    She shrugged. "I imagine Gretchen will clear it up," she said.

Chapter

SEVEN
    It was Rudy Gallagher who did the clearing.
    He and Gretch were in the conference room with the old man himself, the company's CEO Commander Vernon Di Voss. None of them seemed too happy to see me. I didn't think it was because my costume reminded them of Herb Jeffries. Gretch was scowling. The commander, in obvious discomfort, studied an unlighted cigar as intently as if it contained tomorrow's overnights.
    Rudy looked like he was about to start foaming at the mouth.
    "Who the hell told you to stick your nose in this company's business?" he roared.
    "What are you talking about?"
    "You're gonna deny you put her up to it?"
    "Put who up to what?" I asked.
    "I'd worked out a reasonable deal with Fred and Hildy," Gretchen said. "And then you had to put your oar in the water."
    Fred and Hildy
. Gin's agent and manager.
My nose. My oar
. I was starting to get the drift of things. "This is about the conversation I had with Gin last night at the Bistro?"
    "Conversation?" Rudy yelled. "I'd call it a goddamned
battle plan
".
    "That's a little dramatic, isn't it, Rudy? All I did was listen to what she had to say and nod from time to time."
    "That was some fu--" Rudy glanced at the old man and self-censored. "Some bloody expensive nodding."
    "The little lady hardballed us but good," the commander said, shifting his attention from the cigar to me.
    "How hard?" I asked.
    There was a sudden silence. Gretch broke it. "It's no longer a secret. Fifteen million a year for the next three years."
    I blinked at her in disbelief. "Fifteen million dollars? Nobody's worth that kind of loot, unless they're wearing a sports jersey and testing negative."
    "You're beautiful, Blessing," Rudy said. "First you instruct that little bi--
witch
to hold us up, then you have the gall to criticize Gretchen for making the deal."
    "I didn't tell Gin to hold you up. And I'm not criticizing anybody, except maybe you for calling your very valuable superstar a bi--
witch
."
    "It's not just the fifteen mil," Rudy continued, as if I hadn't spoken. "It's what this does to the budget of a show I'm exec-producing. Everybody thinks the contract bar has been raised. They must've speed-dialed their agents as soon as the word spread. I've been fielding calls for the last hour, explaining that nobody else is getting a bump.
    "But I do know how we're gonna save a few bucks. You're through here, Blessing. Pack up your pots and pans and get the hell out."
    "Hold on there, Rudy," the commander said. "Let's just cool down a little and let Billy explain himself."
    I gave them a quick rundown of my chat with Gin. "If I'd mentioned the words 'fifteen million dollars,' they would have stuck in my throat, Commander, especially considering what
I'm
being paid."
    The old man gave me his paternal grin. "Well, I'm not sure your participation in this matter merits a
raise
, but neither do I think it merits a dismissal."
    He