Free Deadline in Athens by Petros Márkaris Page B

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    "How dare you talk to me like that? Who gave you the right? We will protest in the strongest possible terms to your superiors, and publicly too. You're living in the past, it seems." His voice was trembling as if he were shivering.
    "First of all, it's against the law to publicize a murder before informing the police. We're the ones who decide when to make it known to the public and what evidence to reveal. Secondly, when you make known at what time the body was found, you may be helping the murderer to escape and so, albeit unwittingly, become his accomplice. If you protest, all that will happen is that I will be severely criticized for not arresting you.,,
    "I'm a journalist and I did my duty. If Yanna were alive, she'd salute me."

    She'd not only have saluted him, she'd have rubbed her hands in glee because he'd put one over on us. That much I knew to be true, so I said nothing.
    "Why was Karayoryi due to appear on the late-night news? So far as I know, there was nothing new on the crime report."
    "She was about to make a startling revelation."
    "What kind of revelation?"
    "I don't know. She didn't tell me."
    I became irate again. "You'd better not be hiding anything from me, Sperantzas, just so you can reveal whatever it is and get all the credit. Because if you are, I'll have you hopping like a Muslim in Bosnia."
    "I'm not hiding anything. I'm telling you the truth."
    "And just what is the truth? That she came and announced to you she was about to make a startling revelation, without telling you what it was she was about to reveal and without asking permission from anyone? Are you saying that anyone can appear on your channel and say what they like, is that it?"
    "Not anyone. Yanna Karayoryi," he replied under his breath, at the same time looking over to where the cameras were, as though afraid he might be being filmed.
    "What's that supposed to mean?"
    He hesitated before answering. He found it hard to get the words out. "Yanna made her own decisions. She answered to no one." He bent forward and lowered his voice. "Listen. Don't expect to get it all from me. I can't tell you any more."
    Hiding beneath the tailored suit was a frightened and insecure little man. I was surprised to feel a sudden liking for him, and lost all desire to push him any further.
    "When did she tell you about this revelation?"
    "I was in the newsroom, having a final look at the bulletin. About half an hour before I was due to go on the air."
    "What time did you go on the air? Twelve?"
    "Three minutes past twelve. The program on before the news was running three minutes late, and we decided not to interrupt it. We let it go on."

    "Was she alone?"
    "Of course," he said. "Who would she be with?"
    "That's what I'd like to know." I got to my feet.
    "Where's the newsroom?"
    "Next to makeup."
    "Inspector." I was almost at the door, and I turned around. "There aren't too many in here who'll shed any tears for Karayoryi. Talk to Martha Kostarakou. She does the medical reports. She knows plenty."
    That said, he began rapidly to gather the papers on the desk, avoiding my gaze.
    "Come with me to the newsroom."
    "I've told you what I know. If you need me for anything else, I'm always here at the studio. But right now I'm going home because I'm beat."
    "Come with me." From his expression, it was obvious that he wanted to tear me off a strip, but he controlled himself. He picked up his papers and went with me.
    The reporters had all left, and the corridor was empty; we bumped into the director, so I didn't have to go looking for him. In any case, as it turned out, Manisalis knew nothing of any importance. After the news bulletin had begun, his girl assistant had come running in and told him that she'd found Karayoryi dead. He had taken a quick look from the makeup room doorway and realized that there was no point in going into the room. He'd gone on running the ads, but he hadn't rushed to the phone as Zoumadaki had told me. First, he had informed