From the Heart

two-ways, phones, the men working in shirt sleeves. What could they want with Thorpe? she wondered. This had nothing to do with the press.
    Chief Daniels pushed his glasses back onto his weary face.“T.C., Morrow’s demanding to speak to you directly. You game?”
    “Sure.”
    “The tape’ll be running. Be careful what you say. If he makes any demands, don’t promise, don’t negotiate. Leave that to us.” He spoke quickly and without inflection, but Liv caught the undercurrents. He didn’t like this new twist. “You’re not in a position to give him anything he wants. He’s smart enough to know that. Whatever he asks for, you just tell him that you’ll check and get back to him. Understood?”
    “Understood.”
    He glanced at Liv and focused in on her press badge.
    “She’s with me,” Thorpe told him easily.
    “None of this goes on the air until I give the word.” His eyes were hard, and close to hostile. “We’re not going to give him a media free-for-all.”
    “Understood,” Liv said calmly, then watched as Thorpe was handed a receiver.
    “We’ll ring.” Daniels signaled one of his men. “Keep him talking as long as you can. If things start to get out of hand, we’ll take over.”
    Thorpe nodded and heard Morrow pick up the phone on the first ring.
    “T.C. ?”
    “Yeah. How you doing, Ed?”
    Morrow laughed shakily. “Terrific. You going to do a report on me?”
    “That’s right. You want to tell me why you’re up there and what it’ll take to get you down?”
    “You remember that day we sat in my office and talked about the Birds when Wyatt was held up in a meeting?”
    “Sure.” Thorpe caught a glimpse of Daniels’s grim face as he held a headset to his ear. “End of last summer. The Orioles were fighting for first place.” He drew out another cigarette and flicked on his lighter. “Seen any games this year?”
    Liv could hear the echo of the frantic laugh come through the receiver. “I’ve already dropped twenty-five big ones on games this year.”
    “That’s rough. You need money?” Thorpe’s eyes were locked on Daniels’s now. “Is that what you want for Wyatt’s release?”
    “I’ll tell you all about it T.C., but just you. You come in and do one of your interviews right here. I’ve got an exclusive for you.”
    Liv could hear snatches, and what she heard was enough to have her grabbing Thorpe’s arm in panic. Ignoring her, Thorpe kept his eye on Daniels.
    “Too many hostages,” Daniels said in an undertone.
    “That’ll give you one more hostage, Ed,” Thorpe replied easily. “Doesn’t seem like a very good deal.”
    “No, no, I see your point.” Morrow’s voice shook with nerves. “Maybe I’ll send out the two aides for you. If you tell me you’re coming up. You’re as good as your word, aren’t you, T.C. ?”
    “Two for one,” Thorpe mused, watching Daniels steadily while Liv gripped his arm tighter and shook her head. “But then, the aides don’t mean much, do they?”
    There was a long pause. Liv could feel the sweat beginning to trickle down her back.
    “You come up, alone, no back-up, and I’ll send out Wyatt. How’s that for a deal? A one-time offer, T.C. You’re not going to turn down a scoop like this, are you?”
    “I’ll have to check back with the big shots at CNC, Ed. Give me ten minutes. I’ll get back to you.”
    “Ten minutes,” Morrow agreed, and cut the connection.
    Liv grabbed Thorpe’s jacket and turned him to face her. “No.” She shook her head frantically while her eyes mirrored her fear. “You can’t. You can’t think of doing such a thing. Thorpe, you can’t.”
    “Hold on a minute.” His voice was calm and practical as he set her aside. “Well?” he said simply to Daniels.
    “Number one, we can’t ask you to cooperate.”
    “So you’re not asking,” Thorpe countered. “What then?”
    “People I have to talk to before we consider making an exchange like his.” Daniels rubbed a hand over his mouth. He didn’t like the taste of it. But there was a senator involved. Touchy, he thought. Very touchy.
    “Then start talking to them,” Thorpe suggested.
    Daniels sent him a long look. “You’d better do some thinking while I do. It’s not going to be a cozy interview.”
    “Thorpe.” Liv’s voice quavered with panic. She knew that look in his eyes. “No.”
    Thorpe took her gently by the shoulders. “Liv,” he began.
    “No, no, listen to me.” She gripped the front of his