Free Frames Per Second by Bill Eidson Page B

the press can run into in the course of doing our jobs. Ben, see if your new friend at the FBI can secure an interview for you and Sarah.”
    “Sure.”
    “Sarah, you’re going to be the lead on any new investigation of both Jarrod Johansen and Jimbo McGuire. Ed, you’ve already started the prison ladies’ story, and I’ve got another assignment for Lucien, which I’ll get into.”
    Prison ladies, Ben thought. Peter’s term, Peter’s irreverence. It sounded forced coming from Kurt.
    “So, first thing, go establish yourself with the cops,” Kurt said to Sarah. “If they don’t come through, we’ll write it as a slice of one reporter’s life and we’ll leave open the door as to which story killed him … if it was any one of these. Obviously, it’s possible that it was something in his past. The police are leaning toward the possibility that it was someone after Ben because of Johansen.”
    Kurt shrugged and looked back at the list. “But this is what we’ve got for now. All right, how are you doing so far on the prison ladies, Ed?”
    “I’m taking each woman’s story a case at a time,” Ed said. “Some of them should probably get out. Others, it’s not so clear.”
    “The police forming any opinions about their husbands’ families or friends in regards to Peter’s death?”
    Ed smiled. “The police don’t tell me all their opinions. But my impression is that they’re looking into it without a hell of a lot of interest. Most of the guys these ladies killed didn’t sound smart enough to set an alarm clock, never mind a bomb. I think the cops are assuming the same of their friends and family.’’
    “Well, keep on it. Ben, you coordinate with Ed when he’s ready for you to go in. I’ll be looking for group shots and individual portraits.”
    “All right.”
    “That assumes you’re not too tied up on these other three angles. If so, let me know and I’ll send someone else out to the prison.” Kurt went back to the flip chart. “On Johansen, Lucien, I’d like you to share your notes with Sarah.”
    Lucien’s face flushed, and Ben and the others looked away, embarrassed for him. Everyone had stories pulled away from them from time to time, but it was never easy to take.
    “What about me?” Lucien said. “You said there was another assignment?” The plaintive tone in his voice was so clear Ben was again embarrassed for him. Ben looked at Kurt, as the others did, wondering if he was going to land on the young reporter with both boots.
    But Kurt was smooth. “I’ve been looking for an opportunity for you to expand your political coverage. Therefore, I’m going to have you cover Senator Cheever.”
    Lucien sat a little straighter. “That’s cool. What have we got?”
    “Not much. I had met with Peter on Wednesday and he brought me up to speed then.” Kurt slid out a sheaf of photos and Ben, Lucien, and the others swung around to his side of the table to look. Sarah stood well back from Lucien, clearly letting him take the lead. There were over thirty prints of what were essentially three scenes.
    Kurt didn’t try to hide his frustration. “Peter said he dinked around with your camera, Ben, and set the motor drive onto high speed and didn’t know how to stop it. He essentially took about ten to twelve shots each of what should have been only three photos before blasting through a roll of film. By the time he figured out how to rewind and reload the camera, there was nothing worth taking.”
    Ben felt his stomach drop.
    “You should’ve insisted Peter take another photographer,” Kurt said. “I can’t believe an operation like ours is being hobbled by ego like this. Peter was a great reporter, but too damn secretive for his own good… . In any case, this is what we’ve got through the window of Cheever’s town house on Beacon Street. Him sipping wine with an attractive young woman up in his office in the daytime with her clothes on.”
    Indeed, there were three sets of