The committee room resembled a courtroom, with rows of wooden benches for the audience and an elevated dais for the committee members. There weren’t many people in the audience—the reporters easily outnumbered the spectators. Gary and Danny had chosen a good spot for their camera setup, directly in front of the chairman’s seat.
Nancy noticed a pompous-looking man with a mane of blow-dried silver hair enter the hearing room. When he took the chairman’s seat, she knew he was Steve Gilbert. He banged his gavel to bring the meeting to order. He made a few self-serving remarks before accepting an award from a representative from the trucking industry.
When the presentation was finished, Danny clicked off the bright TV camera lights and started disassembling the camera setup. Steve Gilbert glanced in the direction of the Channel 9 news crew.
“I guess I should call a brief recess while our friends in the media make their exit,” he commented sourly. He banged the gavel again to signal the recess.
Gary just shrugged and continued packing the equipment. Nancy quickly helped Danny fold the cumbersome light stands and pack them away.
This would be a good time to ask him some questions, Nancy decided. She wanted to check out Hal’s suspicions that Steve Gilbert was somehow involved in the threats against him. While Gary and Danny had their backs turned, she approached Mr. Gilbert.
“Representative Gilbert?” she began, stopping him as he walked across the room toward the exit.
Gilbert’s professional politician’s smile faded as he looked at her. “Aren’t you with the crew from Channel Nine?” he demanded. “I don’t have anything to say to anyone from Hal Taylor’s station.”
“That’s exactly what I want to ask you about,” Nancy continued. “Are you aware of what’s been happening at the station?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Steve Gilbert blustered. “And I have no further comment.” He brushed past Nancy and headed for the exit.
Nancy felt frustrated as she watched the politician disappear. A straight-on approach wasn’t going to work with him, she realized. She’d have to think of another way to gather information.
From across the room, Nancy felt herself caught by Brenda Carlton’s calculating stare. The reporter strode across the room toward her.
“Don’t tell me you’re not working on a case, Nancy!” Brenda said. “It’s something about Steve Gilbert, isn’t it?”
Nancy looked around warily. She could see Gary Krieger staring curiously in their direction. She decided to turn the tables on Brenda.
“What’s the matter, Brenda,” she said, “can’t you find your own stories to write about? Or is it that you can’t stand the thought of my competing with you as a TV reporter?”
Brenda’s mouth fell open. “Do you think I’m jealous just because you’re working in TV and I’m not?” she asked, a defensive glint in her dark eyes. “No way! People are always telling me I’d be a natural on TV!” With that, she turned on her heel and stomped off.
Nancy breathed a sigh of relief. She’d thrown Brenda off the trail—for the moment.
When she rejoined Gary and Danny by the camera equipment, Nancy found the two men hunched over, listening intently to a mobile phone that the reporter was holding up to his ear.
“What’s going on?” Nancy asked. From the tense look on their faces, she was afraid there had been another attack on Hal Taylor.
“It’s the station,” Gary announced. “We’ve got an emergency!”
Chapter
Four
WHAT’S THE EMERGENCY?” Nancy asked, quickly moving to help carry the equipment back outside. “Does it have anything to do with Hal Taylor?”
“Shh!” Gary warned as they passed another camera crew, which was taping an interview in the hallway. As soon as they were safely past the other reporters, Gary sprinted ahead.
“An apartment building caught fire over on Market Street in Springfield,” he explained to Nancy in a low voice. “If we hurry, we’ll be the first ones on the scene.”
Nancy helped Danny heave the equipment into the back of the van, then turned around and looked for Gary. Strangely, the reporter was suddenly nowhere to be found.
“Where’d Gary go?” she asked Danny.
The cameraman merely shrugged and smiled mysteriously. “Taking care of business” was all he said.
Frowning, Nancy walked down the row of news vans that were parked alongside the curb. Then she spotted Gary—he was hunched over the rear wheel of one of the vehicles. He was using a metal instrument to let the air out of the tire!
“Why are you doing that?” Nancy asked angrily. She couldn’t believe that he was actually trying to sabotage the other station’s news van.
Gary Krieger looked up at Nancy. “This is an old reporter’s trick,” he explained. “It slows down the competition.” Once the tire was deflated, he jumped to his feet and dashed back to the Channel 9 van. Nancy couldn’t believe his unethical action! She had no choice but to follow him back to the van. But when they got back to the station, she felt that she would have to tell Otto Liski about the incident.
Gary drove at breakneck speed back to Market Street. When they arrived at the fire scene, puffs of ashy smoke could be seen rising from the apartment building, but no flames were visible. Nancy and Danny waited in the van, while Gary dashed off to talk with a couple of fire officials who were standing around. The reporter returned, disappointment clearly written on his face.
“It’s only a puffer,” he announced. “Lots of smoke but no major injuries or property damage.”
“But that’s good, right?” Nancy protested.
Gary Krieger shrugged. “Not for me. I thought I had the lead story for tonight’s newscast. This story won’t even make it into the lineup. It was a total waste of time.”
Nancy shook her head as she climbed back into the news van. She thought about Gary’s behavior and his jealousy of Hal Taylor. It was clear that he was a man who knew few limits when it came to pursuing a news assignment. The question was—did Gary Krieger know any limits when it came to pursuing the job of anchorman?
“I heard someone say that the incident on the news last night must have been an inside job,” Nancy commented once they’d pulled away from the fire. “It’s sort of scary to think of someone like that working at the station.”
She watched Gary carefully, but he simply shrugged. “Liski and Hal blew that whole thing way out of proportion,” he said. “I think it was just a stupid prank—no big deal.”
“Like that clever prank you pulled on that rival news van?” Nancy asked in an even tone.
Gary shot her a look, but Danny laughed out loud. “She’s got you there, Gary,” he said teasingly. “Krieger’s always in hot water with management because of his practical jokes,” he continued, turning to look at Nancy. “Gary, remember that time you switched our blooper tape with Hal’s lead story on the newscast? Whoo boy, was Liski mad about that one!”
“Shut up, Danny,” Gary snapped. Nancy sat back triumphantly. So Gary had a prankster history that included switching tapes! He was now looming larger as a suspect in Nancy’s mind.
• • •
Nancy sought out Otto Liski in his office as soon as she arrived back at the TV station. To her surprise, the producer seemed to dismiss Gary’s sabotage of the rival news van.
“Krieger’s the journalistic equivalent of a trained attack dog,” Mr. Liski said. “Every decent news operation has a reporter like him—someone who’ll do almost anything to get the story and get it first. It’s such a competitive business that we have to rely on his kind, like it or not.”
“What about the fact that he wanted Hal’s job as anchorman?” Nancy asked. “That would give him a strong motive in the threats—and he has a history of switching tapes on the air.” She quickly recounted the story of the blooper tape incident.
Otto Liski shook his head. “That was just an April fool joke that Krieger pulled,” the producer said. “Anywa
y, he wouldn’t gain anything by Hal’s leaving. Even though he seems to think so, he was never a serious contender last year for the job. He doesn’t have the right qualities to become an anchor. A good anchorman has to project a smooth, friendly image—the total opposite of Krieger’s style.”
Nancy had a feeling Gary didn’t know that, however. Before she could say anything more, a knock sounded on the door, and Valerie stepped into the office.
“Marilyn’s been acting up again,” she told Otto Liski, a worried expression on her face. “The hairdresser called in sick today, and Marilyn’s saying she won’t go on the air without a hot comb.”
Mr. Liski sighed and shook his head. “Marilyn’s a real prima donna,” he explained to Nancy. “But the viewers love her, so we try to keep her happy.” He turned back to Valerie. “You’ll have to beg, borrow, or steal a hot comb from someone. Try Murphy over in sports. He’s always fussing with that lion’s mane of his.”
“I’d be happy to track down a comb for her,” Nancy quickly offered. She was eager for a chance to find out what, if anything, Marilyn knew about the attacks on Hal.
On her way to find Murphy, Nancy did a quick survey of Krieger’s desk. Since it was in the middle of the open, crowded newsroom, there was not much chance for sleuthing. The other reporters’ desks were covered with photos and assorted memorabilia, she noted, but Krieger’s was bare except for his computer terminal and a collection of journalism awards. He didn’t seem to have many interests outside the news business.
Nancy found Mike Murphy in the sports department. True to Mr. Liski’s word, the sportscaster was applying a final spritz of hairspray on his wavy blond hair. He was happy to lend Nancy his hot comb.
“Just be careful when you give it to Marilyn,” he warned jokingly. “You might find some claw marks when you pull back your hand.”
“Is she that bad?”
Murphy shrugged. “Recently she has been,” he said. “It’s just a case of that old saying—no fury like a woman scorned. She took it pretty hard when Hal broke off their engagement.”
“I didn’t realize they were actually engaged,” Nancy said in surprise. She wondered why Hal hadn’t mentioned his engagement to Marilyn. No wonder she’d gotten so upset when he broke up with her!
“They were going to announce their engagement in the newspaper,” Murphy said, in response to Nancy’s question. “Then Hal got cold feet or came to his senses, depending on how you look at it. Marilyn’s been busy making everyone miserable ever since.”
Murphy put the hairspray back into his desk drawer. “Anyway, I heard that she might jump ship pretty soon, so she’ll be someone else’s problem.”
“You mean leave the station?” Nancy asked. This was definitely a day for surprises.
“Yep,” Murphy said. “I heard she was negotiating with one of the biggies—the national networks,” he explained. “She brings in great ratings, although why the viewers like her I’ll never understand.”
“Marilyn doesn’t seem like a very serious newsperson,” Nancy agreed.
“None of us look very serious these days with our new happy talk format,” Murphy said. “Marilyn’s just better at the chitchat than most of us.”
After thanking Murphy for the hot comb, Nancy set off to find Marilyn’s office. She found it tucked away at the end of the same hallway where Hal’s office was located.
Nancy paused just outside the door, which was half-open. She could hear the anchorwoman talking in hushed tones. Nancy was about to knock on the door when she heard Marilyn’s voice rise in anger.
“I don’t care,” Marilyn said. “I’ll murder Hal before I let him humiliate me with that girl!”
Chapter
Five
A MOMENT LATER, Nancy heard Marilyn bang down the phone.
Nancy stood frozen, unsure of what to do. Finally she cleared her throat and tapped on the door, then stepped into the doorway. Marilyn looked up at her with a flustered expression.
“What do you want?” she snapped. Then she saw the hot comb in Nancy’s hand. “Oh, put it down over there,” she said, gesturing toward a small vanity table in the corner. “And go get me a ham sandwich and some coffee while you’re at it—black with two sugars.”
“No problem,” Nancy said, and left Marilyn’s office. Any questions would have to wait. She took several wrong turns but eventually reached the commissary. Seeing the sandwiches and salads at the snack bar made Nancy’s stomach growl. She suddenly realized that she hadn’t eaten lunch. She wolfed down half a tuna sandwich, then headed back to Marilyn’s office with the ham sandwich and coffee.
Marilyn’s office was empty when Nancy got there. Nancy glanced up and down the hallway to make sure no one was coming, then conducted a quick survey of the office. First her gaze came to rest on a three-drawer file cabinet next to Marilyn’s desk. She tried one of the drawers, but it was locked. Reaching into her jacket pocket, she withdrew a tiny leather case that contained her lock-picking tools. The file drawer gave easily after she fiddled with the lock for a few moments.
Inside the top drawer, Nancy found a stack of manila file folders. She flipped through the folders, looking for anything that might link Marilyn to the threatening tape or letters that Hal had received. One of the folders was marked Personal, Opening it, Nancy discovered a stack of letters and notes. They were all written to Marilyn from Hal. The first few notes were warm and loving—obviously love letters. But as Nancy continued reading, the tone of the letters changed. They sounded terse, even angry. Hal accused Marilyn of acting vindictive following their breakup.
Continuing to look through the file, Nancy found a series of letters to Marilyn from a major network. Murphy was right—Marilyn was negotiating for a new job with a big increase in salary. That made her more of a suspect in Nancy’s eyes. If Marilyn was about to leave the station, she wouldn’t care about any negative effects sabotage might have on her show’s ratings.
Nancy tensed as she heard a noise coming from the hallway. She quickly replaced the letters in the file and locked the drawer. By the time Marilyn strode in a moment later, Nancy was pretending to stir the coffee she had brought for the anchorwoman.
“Why are you still here?” Marilyn demanded, taking the cup from Nancy.
“I was wondering if you needed anything else,” Nancy replied.
Nancy’s response seemed to mollify the anchorwoman. She took a sip of coffee, then asked in a softer tone, “What are you, a new intern?”
“Yes, my name is Nancy Drew. I’ve been assigned to work for Hal Taylor,” she said, then waited for a reaction from Marilyn.
She didn’t have long to wait. Marilyn’s expression turned calculating, and her eyes swept over Nancy in a frankly appraising look. “You should do well. He evidently likes them young and pretty.” She turned away from Nancy with a dismissive gesture.
Just then there was a tap on Marilyn’s door, and a tall, bearded man in his fifties appeared in the doorway. He wore blue overalls and had an assortment of small tools hanging from his belt. He was holding out an elegant crystal table lamp to Marilyn.
“I finished rewiring your lamp,” he said in a soft voice that contrasted with his husky appearance.
Marilyn clasped her hands together. “Oh, thank you, Bill,” she said, looking pleased. She took the lamp and set it on her desk. Then she seemed to realize that Nancy was still standing there. “Oh—Bill, this is Nancy Drew,” she said, almost as an afterthought.
“I’m a new intern,” Nancy said, shaking his hand.
“Bill Steghorn, chief engineer,” he told her.
“Bill’s been an angel, helping me out with little chores around my house,” Marilyn said. “I don’t know what I would have done without him, ever since Hal and I broke up.”
Bill patted her shoulder. “It’ll be okay,” he said gently.
Nancy left Marilyn’s office, puzzling over Marilyn Morgan’s mercurial nature. She could be cold and demanding one instant, and soft and vulnera
ble the next. One thing was for sure—Nancy would definitely press Hal for more information about the vindictiveness he referred to in his letters to Marilyn.
She found Hal in the news studio, sitting at the studio anchor desk, reading over some last-minute copy. When she told him that she wanted to talk about Marilyn, he covered up his microphone with his hand.
“You never know when you might have an open mike—anyone could be listening,” he explained in a low voice.
Hal refused to give any details about Marilyn’s behavior, though. “It goes against my gentleman’s code of honor,” he explained. “Suffice it to say that she was very difficult at one point, but all that blew over a while back.”
A harried-looking floor director rushed over to Nancy and thrust a pile of papers at her. “Are you the new intern?” he asked. “Good,” he continued without waiting for her reply. “These are the scripts for the show. I want you to tape them together end-to-end so that we can run them through the TelePrompTer.” He gestured toward a machine directly in front of the anchor desk.
Nancy found a roll of tape and quickly pieced the script together. When she returned the script to the floor director, she asked, “Are they taking extra precautions for the news shows tonight?”
“Yes,” the director said. “We don’t want a replay of last night’s incident.” He raked a hand through his wiry hair. “I hate having a guard around, though. It puts everyone on edge—especially me.”
While he placed the script next to the TelePrompTer, Nancy walked over to the security guard. “Mr. Liski asked me to find out whether you’d seen anything suspicious so far,” she said to him. Although the producer hadn’t asked her to check, Nancy felt she would have a better chance of getting information if she used Mr. Liski’s name. The guard didn’t seem to hear her. “Hey!” she said more sharply, tapping him on the arm.
The guard looked startled. Then he removed a pair of tiny headphones from his ears. “What? Sorry, I was just listening to the radio,” he apologized. “It gets kind of boring, standing here for hours on end.”