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The Perican Brief
34c
グランサムは社の編集部に戻った、けど、ダービーからの電話はまだ無い。他社の新聞をみたけど、ガルシアのこともマティースのことも掴んでないらしい、なにも書いてない。
グランサムは尾行されているようなので、家の電話は使ってないと、言っている。
302page
SHE HADN’T CALLED by nine when Gray arrived at his desk in the newsroom. He’d read the Times and there was nothing in it. He spread the New Orleans paper over the clutter and skimmed it. Nothing. They had reported all they knew. Callahan, Verheek, Darby, and a thousand unanswered questions. He had to assume the Times and may be The Times-Picayune in New Orleans had seen the brief or heard about it, and thus knew of Mattiece. And he had to assume they were clawing like cats to verify it. But he had Darby, and they would find Garcia, and if Mattiece could be verified, they would do it.
At the moment, there was no alternative plan. If Garcia was gone or refused to help, they would be forced to explore the dark and murky world of Victor Mattiece. Darby would not last long at that, and he didn’t blame her. He was uncertain how long he would last.
Smith Keen appeared with a cup of coffee and sat on the desk. “If the Time had it, would they hold off until tomorrow?”
Gray shook his head. “No. If they had more than The Times-Picayune, it would’ve run today.”
“Krauthammer wants to run what we’ve got. He thinks we can name Mattiece.”
“I don’t follow.”
“He’s leaning on Feldman. His angle is that we can run the whole story about Callahan and Verheek getting killed over this brief, which happens to name Mattiece who happens to be a friend of the President’s, without directly accusing Mattiece. He says we can be extremely cautious and make sure the story says Mattiece is named in the brief, but not named by us. And since the brief is causing all this death, then it has been verified to some extent.”
“He wants to hide behind the brief.”
“Exactly.”
“But it’s all speculation until it’s confirmed. Krauthammer’s losing it. Assume for a second that Mr. Mattiece is in no way involved with this. Completely innocent. We run the story with his name in it, and then what? We look like fools, and we get sued for the next ten hears. I’m not writing the story.”
“He wants someone else to write it.”
“If this paper runs a pelican story not written by me, the girl is gone, okay. I thought I explained that yesterday.”
“You did. And Feldman heard you. He’s on your side, Gray, and I am too. But if this thing’s true, it’ll blow up in a matter of days. We all believe that. You know how Krauthammer hates the Times, and he’s afraid those 私生児.偽物.粗悪品bastards’ll run it.”
“They can’t run it, Smith. They may have a few more facts. Look, we’ll verify before anyone. And when it’s nailed down, I’ll write the story with everyone’s name along with that cute little picture of Mattiece and his friend in the White House, and the fat lady will sing.”
“We? You said it again. You said, ‘We’ll verify it.’ ”
“My source and I, okay.” Gray opened a drawer and found the photo of Darby and the Diet Coke. He handed it to Keen, who admired it.
“Where is she?” he asked.
“I’m not sure. I think she’s on her way here from New York.”
“Don’t get her killed.”
“We’re being very cautious.” Gray looked over both shoulders and leaned closer. “In fact, Smith, I think I’m being followed. I just wanted you to know.”
“Who might they be?”
“It came from a source at the White House. I’m not using my phones.”
“I’d better tell Feldman.”
“Okay. I don’t think it’s dangerous, yet.”
“He needs to know.” Keen jumped to his feet and disappeared.
つづく
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