Dead Air Read Free Page B

weren’t.
    That particular realization had been the last straw. It forced him to move somewhere life was a little slower-paced, more routine. Where he had family. The small town where his great-aunt Beulah lived, Mystique, Mississippi, had seemed to fit the bill.
    Until a man had been murdered and another left unconscious.
    “Knock, knock. May I come in?” Eric hovered in the doorway.
    “Sure.” Clark waved the station manager to one of the chairs facing his desk. “What can I help you with?”
    Eric slouched into the seat. “I just wanted to talk with you about the station a bit, if I may?”
    Clark tented his hands over his desk. “What’s on your mind?”
    “Look, I didn’t know about the sale, and really don’t care. It’s none of my business.” He shot Clark a sly grin. “Unless you plan on firing me, of course.”
    Clark smiled. “I don’t intend to fire people. Especially key personnel.”
    “Good. That’s a relief.” Eric sat a little straighter in the chair. “I need to rearrange some of the airtime schedules to cover Howard’s time slot. That is, if you want me to.”
    “Please. For the time being, continue to do your job as you normally have.”
    Eric nodded, but didn’t rise. Everything about his demeanor told Clark the man had something else eating at him.
    “Something you want to tell me?”
    Eric met his stare. “I wanted to tell you that nobody will blame you if you backed out of the deal.”
    What? Clark sat forward and studied the young station manager.
    “I mean, I’m sure you have a clause in the contract if you don’t want to deal with all this.” Eric spread his fingers. “The murder’s already hit the gossip mill. Sponsors and advertisers will probably pull their money out of the station. It’d be a bad business move on anyone’s part to continue with the sale.” He shrugged. “I’m just saying no one will blame you if you walk away.”
    The argument Clark had yet to have with himself, despite the urging of his business logic. “I honestly don’t know what I’m going to do just yet.”
    Eric nodded. “It’s a hard call.” He stood. “I just wanted to tell you there’d be no hard feelings if you packed up and hauled it back up North. Everyone would understand.”
    Haul it back North? A not-so-subtle hint that he didn’t fit inhere? “I appreciate your candor. I need to call my attorney and discuss the situation with him.”
    “Yeah, I get that. He’ll probably tell you to run as fast as you can.”
    Clark chuckled, picturing his straight-laced attorney. “Probably.”
    “In the meantime, let me know if you need anything.” Eric gave a mock salute and strode from the office.
    Clark glanced out the window. The manager was right—he should get back to Philly and forget all about KLUV and Mystique.
    But something strong inside urged him to stay put.
    He shook his head. He’d figure it all out later. It was possible the sheriff would solve the case in a matter of days and then this whole mess would be behind him. That would be ideal.
    Closing his briefcase, he made his way to the front door of KLUV. The police had finished their evidence-gathering and Clark had a locksmith come and repair the back door. Even so, he preferred to use the front entrance.
    He waved at David Gray in the deejay booth. The kindly, laidback man wagged fingers in return. Clark locked the front doors behind him, then headed to his car. Even though it was barely six-thirty, the sun had already set and the streets were quiet—a big contrast to the hustle and bustle he was used to. Eric was right about one thing. He didn’t fit in here, yet.
    Maybe once everyone knew he was now a local business owner, they’d be a bit more friendly. Not that anyone had been rude, never, but he caught the sideway glances and raised brows. They were polite to him now because of Aunt Beulah. But maybe once he became known in the community, he’d actually be accepted. On his own merit.
    At least now he