The Newsmakers by Lis Wiehl Read Free Book Online Page A

“Bolivia—or is it Namibia? Ha-ha!”
    Erica leans against her desk and sucks air. She closes her eyes and recites the Serenity Prayer, repeating the second phrase three times.
    Courage!
    She strides into the hall, turns left, and heads toward Greg’s office.

CHAPTER 8
    â€œ WHAT ’ S UP ?” GREG ASKS IN alarm, looking up from his computer.
    â€œClaire Wilcox stole my ferry story!”
    There’s a pause, and then Greg nods in resignation and looks down at his desk. Why isn’t he more upset? Why isn’t he outraged?
    â€œDid you know?” Erica demands.
    â€œNo, I did not know. But to be honest, Erica, I’m not surprised.” He looks her in the eye. “Why don’t you sit down a minute.”
    Erica fights the urge to rant. She knows from experience that impulse comes before error. She sits and crosses her legs, tries to compose herself, but her top leg is bouncing.
    Greg sits back at his desk, gives her a rueful look, and runs his fingers through his thick black mop. “I’m very sorry this has happened.” His soulful green eyes are so sympathetic that for a moment Erica is afraid she’ll burst into tears. Like tears ever got her anywhere.
    Greg leans across the desk toward her. She smells his piney soap. “You have a lot of talent, Erica. I believe in you. I think you can make it to the top in this business, and I want to do everything in my power to help make that happen.” He leans back and crosses his arms. “But Claire Wilcox has some clout at GNN. A chunk of the network’s revenues come from advertising sold on her show. Yes, your ferry coverage did well, and that’s been noted by Nylan—you’re firmly on his radar.”
    â€œCan we take this up with him?”
    Greg gets up, closes his office door, sits back down at his desk, and lowers his voice. “Claire wouldn’t have pulled this without his okay. Nylan is a shrewd bird, Erica. He likes to pit people against each other. And even play mind games. He’s a little perverse.”
    â€œDo you think he put Claire up to it?”
    â€œThat’s not something I want to get into here and now.” He gives Erica a meaningful look and switches gears. “I think we have to be very smart and very strategic. We’re in the news business. ”
    Erica tries to push Greg’s words about Nylan out of her mind. “Greg, Claire is going at the story the wrong way. I believe we have to look into the possibility of cyberterrorism.”
    â€œSay more.”
    â€œWhat if someone hacked into the ferry’s computer system and shut down the controls?”
    Greg drums the desktop with his fingertips, wheels turning. “Cyberterrorism is the twenty-first century’s battlefield. And there’s so much hacking going on these days. But terrorists are usually eager to take credit, and no one has.”
    â€œYet.”
    Greg is silent for a moment. “I think you should write Claire a memo and copy it to me and Nylan, laying out your theory.”
    â€œShe just stole my story and you want me to hand her a promising lead?”
    â€œAbsolutely. If it does turn out to be cyberterrorism, you’ll look like the brilliant reporter you are. And there will be a record of it. Plus you’ll earn points for being a team player.”
    Erica knows he’s right, but it’s a hard pill to swallow.
    â€œThe best thing we can do is accept what’s happened, keep our heads down, work like dogs, and find a story Claire Wilcox can’t steal.”
    Greg’s voice is so calm, so reasonable, and there’s no sugarcoating. He’s speaking the simple truth. And presenting a way forward. Erica lets out a deep exhale and feels herself relax. She has an ally. Someone she can trust.
    Greg smiles at her. She looks at his hands, the dusting of hair, the prominent veins, the long, supple fingers—and has a sudden urge to be held by