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serious news people who earned
their chops covering a beat, getting their hands dirty and
clambering their way to the top as he had done.
    But he’d paid a terrible price for
that lifestyle.
    Long hours and late nights had wreaked
havoc on his marriage to his high school sweetheart Nancy. He was
rarely home and spent little time with his family. While she was
growing up, he missed many of Megan’s dance recitals, school plays
and concerts because of his work.
    Time passed so fast. Before he knew
it, Megan had grown up into a teenager. Then of course, she wanted
little to do with either of her parents, except for their
money.
    Finally, Nancy had enough of her
marriage sham. They separated seven years ago and divorced a few
months later.
    His ex-wife was now married to a
university professor at a small state college in Ohio. Nancy much
preferred the stable life as the spouse of an academic who was home
most evenings
    Megan lived with her mother until she
met a young man in the journalism school at the university. Romance
blossomed despite Nancy’s misgivings about her daughter getting
involved with a journalist, even the broadcast kind.
    Young picked up his jacket. “Well,
we’ll escort you down to the garage, Katie. It’s late at night and
I don’t want to take any chances with that Wolfman character
prowling around the city. He seems to have a personal interest in
you reporting on his exploits. I don’t want him to get any ideas
about getting too personal.”
    Young was referring to the fact that
Cannon had started receiving e-mails from the Wolfman following
some of her stories about the last few victims.
    The killer seemed enamored with the
publicity and notoriety Katie gave him. She even coined the term
‘Wolfman’, which was picked up by the other media, based on one of
the serial killer’s predilections.
    The news trio waited for the elevator.
The elevator doors opened and standing inside was the publisher,
Andrew Chase.
    “ Good evening, Mr. Chase.
You’re burning the midnight oil tonight,” said Young.
    “ Yes, paper business kept
me late tonight, Braden. I take it tomorrow’s edition has been put
to bed. Good evening, Paul and Katherine.” Chase nodded formally in
their direction. “What are the good citizens of this city going to
wake up to tomorrow?”
    “ Our top line story is
more on this Wolfman serial killer. The police don’t seem close to
capturing him.” Braden Young spoke enthusiastically about the
paper’s line-up. “Our second line story from our correspondent
Trevor Trevanian is about more suicide bombings in
Afghanistan.”
    “ So much death and
destruction,” sighed Chase. “Is it any wonder people say newspapers
are so depressing to read these days? Isn’t there any good news we
can report for a change?”
    “ Plenty,” replied Young.
“But it’s inside stuff. Despite what some people claim, it is the
juicy bad news that readers really lap up. That’s what sells
papers. And that is our business after all.”
    “ Yes, it is,” replied
Chase. “I suppose you’re right, Braden. But I sometimes wonder if
putting more good news on the front page wouldn’t ultimately sell
more papers and build us a stronger readership.”
    The elevator reached the basement
parking garage and the doors opened.
    “ Well goodnight to you
all. Thanks for all your efforts and dedication to the paper.”
Chase headed off to his Lexus in the executive parking
area.
    Braden turned to Katie Cannon. “Sure
you don’t want to change your mind and come with us for that
drink?”
    “ No thanks, Braden. I’m
ready to call it a night. Tomorrow could be another long day. Good
night, fellas. See you in the morning – or rather I should say
later this morning.” She looked at her watch, noting that it was
now 12:40 a.m. It had been another long day. There had been so many
lately.
    Cannon walked outside to the employee
parking area. It was sparsely populated with vehicles. Only those
from the night