Let’s Talk Terror Read Free Page A

hurts everyone. Some even say it’s immoral! What do you think?”
    Nancy realized Marcy was zeroing in on her. “I don’t know about immoral,” Nancy said. “To me, it’s—well, kind of silly.”
    That comment drew an unexpected laugh from the audience, and Nancy found herself blushing.
    Feeling herself out on a limb, Nancy explained, “I guess I basically don’t think it’s great when we treat people as bodies, and not as individuals.”
    â€œHmm.” Marcy walked over to a young man on the other side of the aisle. “What do you think about that?”
    Nancy was struck by the ease with which Marcy handled the opinions of the studio audience. When her theme music came on to signal the end of the show, Marcy signed off to enthusiastic cheers.
    â€œYou were all terrific!” Marcy told the audience as she walked among them, greeting them. Several fans asked for autographs, and Marcy busily scrawled her signature for them.
    Just then Nancy tugged on George’s sleeve. “There’s Susan,” she said, making her way down the aisle.
    Susan was standing between Jack and Brenda Fox, who were all smiles. “Good show, wasn’t it?” Brenda was saying.
    â€œSusan, can I speak to you for a minute?” Nancy asked, approaching the small group.
    â€œSure,” Susan said, stepping away from the others.
    â€œCan we look at that photo again?” Nancy asked. “And take a look around Marcy’s office?”
    Susan led them to the backstage doors. “I heard the show on the loudspeaker,” she said. “You sounded terrific.”
    â€œYou mean you couldn’t hear my heart pounding?” Nancy asked with a laugh.
    Susan stopped at a small cubicle just outside Marcy’s office. “This is my work area,” she explained. “I put the photo in my desk.” After unlocking a drawer with a key she took from her pocket, Susan pulled out the envelope and handed it to Nancy.
    â€œJack Cole was in Marcy’s office when we were,” Nancy said as she dumped the pieces of the photo onto Susan’s desk. “But he left when we did, right?”
    â€œRight,” Susan said. “And in that next five minutes anyone who works here could have gone in and ripped up the photo. Besides, I don’t think Jack could possibly be a suspect. He’s been friends with Marcy since they were kids.”
    Nancy stared at the pieces of the torn photo. “Right now,” she said, “everybody’s a suspect. Hey, look,” she added excitedly, “there’s writing on the back of these pieces.”
    Working quickly, Nancy pieced the phototogether like a jigsaw puzzle. The writing, done in thick magenta marker, began to form words.
    â€œI didn’t see that before,” George noted.
    â€œI was afraid it might be something like this,” Nancy murmured. She stepped aside so the others could read the note.
    â€œGet the message, Marcy? Quit the show—or die!”

Chapter

Three
    W E’D BETTER show this to Marcy right away,” Nancy said, shuddering slightly.
    â€œShow me what?” Marcy’s voice came from the doorway of the small office. She approached the desk with an anxious expression on her face.
    Nancy pointed to the message and frowned. “This.” Then she noticed something she hadn’t seen the first time. “Check this out,” she said. “The marker was running out of ink at the end.”
    â€œâ€Šâ€˜Quit or die?’ ” Marcy read out loud, her voice catching on the last word.
    â€œMarcy,” Nancy said, gently touching her arm, “this is a real death threat. I think it’s time to contact the police.”
    â€œBut I hate to do that, Nancy,” Marcy said.“If my producers or the network find out about this, they might think twice about extending my contract. I had a hard time finding sponsors for this show,