Hard News

reporter shouldn’t go after a story he feels strongly about.”
    Rune nodded, wrestling with
this
batch of negatives.
    “But I just wonder if your efforts aren’t a little misplaced. Boggs had his day in court and even if there were some minor irregularities at trial, well, so what?
    “But I just have this feeling he’s innocent. What can it hurt to look into it?”
    Sutton’s matte face scanned the room slowly then homed in on the young woman. She said in a low voice, “Are you sure you’re not doing a story about
you?”
    Rune blinked. “Me?”
    “Are you doing a story about Randy Boggs or about a young, ambitious journalist?” Sutton smiled again, a smile of fake innocence, and said, “What’re you concerned with most—telling the truth about Boggs or making a name for yourself?”
    Rune didn’t speak for a minute. “I think he’s innocent.”
    “I’m not going to debate the matter with you. I’m simply asking the question. Only you can answer it. And I think you’ve got to do a lot of soul-searching to answer it honestly…. What happens if—I won’t say it turns out he’s innocent because I don’t think he is—but if you find some new evidence that can convince a judge to grant him a new trial? And Boggs gets released pending that trial? And what if he robs a convenience store and kills the clerk or a customer in the process?”
    Rune looked away, unable to sort out her thoughts. Too many tough questions. What the anchorwoman said made a lot of sense. She said, “I think he’s innocent.” But her voice was uncertain. She hated the sound. Then she said firmly, “It’s a story that’s got to be done.”
    Sutton gazed at her for a long moment, then asked, “You ever budgeted a segment on a news program? You ever assigned personnel? You ever worked with unions?”
    “I’m union. I’m a camera—”
    Sutton’s voice rose. “Don’t be stupid. I know
you’re
union. I’m asking if you’ve ever
dealt
with the trades, as management?”
    “No.”
    Sutton said abruptly, “Okay, whatever you do, it isn’t going to be as sole producer. You’re too inexperienced.”
    “Don’t worry, I’m, like, real—”
    Sutton’s mouth twisted. “Enthusiastic? A fast learner? Hard working? Is that what you were going to say?”
    “I’m good. That’s what I was going to say.”
    “Miracles can happen,” Sutton said, pointing a long ruddy finger at Rune. “You can be assistant producer. You can report and you can …” Sutton grinned. “like’ write the story. Assuming you write more articulately than you speak. But I want somebody who’s been around for a while to be in charge. You’re way too—”
    Rune stood up and put her hands on the desktop. Sutton leaned back and blinked. Rune said, “I’m not a child! I came here to tell you about a story I think is going to be good for you and for the Network and all you do is insult me. I didn’t
have
to come here. I could’ve gone to the competition. I could’ve just sat on the story and done it myself. But—”
    Sutton laughed and held her hand up. “Come on, babes, spare me, please. I don’t need to see your balls. Everybody in this business has ‘em or they’d be out on their ear in five minutes. I’m not impressed.” She picked up her pen, glancing down at the document in front of her. “You want to do the story, go see Lee Maisel. You’ll work for him.”
    Rune stayed where she was for a moment, her heart pounding. She watched as Sutton read a contract as dense as the classified section in the Sunday
Times
.
    “Anything else?” Sutton glanced up.
    Rune said, “No. I just want to say I’ll do a super job.”
    “Wonderful,” Sutton said without enthusiasm. Then: “What was your name again?”
    “Rune.”
    “Is that a stage name?”
    “Sort of.”
    “Well, Rune, if you’re really going to do this story and you don’t give up halfway through because it’s too much work or too tough or you don’t have enough chutzpah—”
    “I’m not going to give up. I’m going to get him released.”
    Sutton barked, “No, you’re going to find the
truth
. Whatever it is, whether it gets him released or proves he kidnapped the Lindbergh baby too.”
    “Right,” Rune said. “The truth.”
    “If you’re really going to do it don’t talk to anybody about it except Lee Maisel and me. I want status reports regularly. Verbally. None of this memo bullshit. Got it? No leaks to anyone. That’s the most important thing