His alarm clock’s blaring reveille jarred Herb awake. The red numbers read 7:33 as he smacked the snooze then turned the switch to off. He felt like someone had spread Cheez Whiz down his middle and skewered him with a party pick. He did not want to get up. He fumbled for the TV remote. Time for the first forecast on GWC. He waited for the picture to appear, ready to punch in the right code. The sound came first. “...light stalkers...” was all he heard before his mind went numb. Someone had spilled the beans. He stared at the tube as it came to life. There before his eyes was the VBI photo, the four shadowy creatures digitally refocused so folks could see their gruesome features sharp and clear.
“Bloody Mary!” Herb clicked off the set. The phone was ringing.
He picked it up. Before he could say, “Yeah,” he heard the shouting. It was the Redman. The mayor was screaming about the picture on the TV. He wanted to know why he didn’t know this bit of evidence had come into the police department’s hands. “And who the juice gave it to the media?” he demanded. He further wanted to know why Herb had said to ignore the bank robbery. “And who’s this VBI chick I hear is in town? What’s the Bureau doing here?”
Herb was glad he stopped there. He could answer that one. Maybe the robbery question would be forgotten. “Her name is Monica Stewinsky and she’s here with a team sent to investigate the choppings. She gave me the picture yesterday afternoon and then left. I have no idea who gave it to the news folks.” He paused for effect the spoke slowly. “And I didn’t have time to contact you about the photo, sir, because I was busy searching the city for the choppers!”
“Well,” huffed the mayor, “if you don’t find these...these...these things soon, don’t blame me if it’s you the masses throw on the cutting board.”
“I’ll remember that, sir,” Herb spoke with dripping sarcastic sweetness. “Is there anything else?”
“Yes!” the radish shouted. “Get me that VBI woman’s number. We’re going to have us a real live press conference this afternoon. You, me and this prissy profiler. 1:00 at the courthouse. Don’t be late!”
“You can’t do that,” Herb began. But the click on the other end cut him off. The conversation was over. He flopped back on the bed, his head spinning. Who had leaked the picture? It had to be someone with the VBI team or one of his own at the station. No one else had access to it... except the photographer who took it!
He picked it up. Before he could say, “Yeah,” he heard the shouting. It was the Redman. The mayor was screaming about the picture on the TV. He wanted to know why he didn’t know this bit of evidence had come into the police department’s hands. “And who the juice gave it to the media?” he demanded. He further wanted to know why Herb had said to ignore the bank robbery. “And who’s this VBI chick I hear is in town? What’s the Bureau doing here?”
Herb was glad he stopped there. He could answer that one. Maybe the robbery question would be forgotten. “Her name is Monica Stewinsky and she’s here with a team sent to investigate the choppings. She gave me the picture yesterday afternoon and then left. I have no idea who gave it to the news folks.” He paused for effect the spoke slowly. “And I didn’t have time to contact you about the photo, sir, because I was busy searching the city for the choppers!”
“Well,” huffed the mayor, “if you don’t find these...these...these things soon, don’t blame me if it’s you the masses throw on the cutting board.”
“I’ll remember that, sir,” Herb spoke with dripping sarcastic sweetness. “Is there anything else?”
“Yes!” the radish shouted. “Get me that VBI woman’s number. We’re going to have us a real live press conference this afternoon. You, me and this prissy profiler. 1:00 at the courthouse. Don’t be late!”
“You can’t do that,” Herb began. But the click on the other end cut him off. The conversation was over. He flopped back on the bed, his head spinning. Who had leaked the picture? It had to be someone with the VBI team or one of his own at the station. No one else had access to it... except the photographer who took it!
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