Hard News (Rune 3)

"A what?"

"A drum. Dark blondish hair. A moustache ... What's that? Sure, I'm positive about the moustache. And sideburns. A light jacket. Powder-blue."

Rune said to Sutton, "That's Jimmy. The man who picked up Randy and drove him to New York."

Sutton frowned and waved her silent.

"Why didn't you go to the police?"

"I told you."

"If you could tell me again. Please."

"I was afraid--of retaliation. Of publicity. I was very wealthy. I was scared for me and my family. Anyway the killer was caught and identified. That woman downstairs identified the man, and I read that the police caught him practically red-handed. Why would they need me?"

"I'm going to show you a picture of someone.... Could you tell me if this is the man you saw in the courtyard?"

"Who? This skinny fellow? No, that wasn't him at all."

"You'd swear to it?"

"Sure I would."

Click.

Rune kept staring at the monitor, a proud schoolkid waiting for the teacher's praise.

But Sutton's only comment was a breathy "Damn."

Rune tried not to smile with pleasure and unadulterated pride.

Sutton looked at her watch, then added, "I'm late for a meeting with Lee. Did you make a dupe of that tape?"

"Sure," Rune said. "I always make dupes. It's locked in my credenza."

Sutton said, "We've got a story conference on Friday. Bring your proposed script. You'll present to both of us and be prepared to defend every goddamn line. Got it?"

"You bet."

Sutton started to leave the office. She paused and said in a soft voice, "I'm not very good at praise. Just let me say that there aren't many people who would've stuck with it long enough to do what you did." Then she frowned and the old Sutton returned. "Now get some sleep. You look awful."

"THIS IS THE STORY OF A MAN CONVICTED OF A CRIME HE didn't commit unjustly...."

Uh, no.

"... of a man unjustly convicted of a crime he didn't commit..."

Well, sure, if he didn't commit it it's unjust.

"... the story of a man convicted of a crime he didn't commit..."

Words were definitely the hard part.

Rune spun around in her desk chair and let out a soft, anguished scream of frustration. Words--she hated words. Rune saw things and she liked seeing things. She remembered things she saw and forgot things she was told. Words were real tricky little dudes.

"This is the story of a man convicted of a crime he didn't commit, a man who lost two years of his life because ..."

Why? Why?