“Come in and have a seat, Kwame,” DP said.
Over the years, he had come to trust his father’s closest friend and thought that he was the best man to handle his takeover plan.
“Can I get you a drink?” DP asked and smiled.
“Like I need you to pour me a drink,” Kwame said on his way to the bar.
“What you got for us, Kwame?” Milton asked.
“I had my people hit J.R.’s the night before.”
“And?” DP asked.
“Rain Robinson is dead.”
“That’s key,” DP said and pumped his fist. “What about Conversations?”
“I sent Martel and his crew. They shot up the place like you wanted, but they missed Jackie Washington.”
“How did that happen?”
Coleman shrugged his shoulders. “They said they had her, but she got away.”
“What about Carter Garrison?” DP asked.
“I haven’t heard from the men that I sent after him.”
Milton looked at DP. “I told you that he was gonna be a problem. Those men are probably dead now.”
“You might as well say that about Morris too,” DP said.
“He ain’t that big a problem. I’ll send more people after Carter. They’ll get his ass.”
“No. You can go back at him later.” DP got up and went to the bar. “The important thing is that Rain Robinson is dead. Stick to the plan.” He picked up a bottle. “You hit The Four Kings next.”
Chapter Eighteen
After reporting the murder of Richard Castor live on the six o'clock news, Carmen went back to the station. When she got there, Louis Carr, the station’s managing news editor was waiting to see her in the conference room. Carmen walked into the room, and was surprised and overjoyed at the same time that the entire executive staff wasn’t in there waiting for her like the last time.
“Have a seat, Carmen,” Louis said.
She walked around to the other side of the conference table and Carmen pulled out the chair directly across from him. The moment her cheeks touched the chair, Louis immediately tore into her about taking unnecessary risks. There was a line or two about the station’s liability and, of course, he had to ask her, between you and me, did you kill Castor? And then the tone changed as Louis slowly eased into the fact that she was getting results in her inve
stigation.
“So what are you saying, Louis?” Carmen leaned forward. “Do you want me to stop and go to Paris, or do you want me to keep digging?”
Louis sat back in his chair and allowed it to swivel a bit, as he considered his response. “The official line is to back off and go have fun for two weeks in Paris.”
“But.”
“The unspoken word from on high is keep digging, Carmen. Ratings are up … the live spots are great. You know what they care about.”
“Ad revenue,” Carmen chuckled.
“Exactly. Some people have quietly expressed concern about the police and whether they are going to charge you with manslaughter. Which, by the way, Gary thinks they are.”
“That’s reassuring to hear.”