Let’s Talk Terror Read Free Page B

you know. Not many want to take a chance on a talk show exclusively for young people. Even though my show seems successful—oh, no,” she said, interrupting herself. “The Tribune! They wanted that photo this afternoon!”
    â€œI’ll get the photographer to print another one and send it to the paper,” Susan suggested.
    â€œGood thinking, Susan,” Marcy said, then added, “Why is this happening to me?”
    â€œMarcy, we really need to talk to you,” Nancy said.
    â€œLet’s go into my office,” the talk show host said quietly. “It’s more private there.”
    Susan had already picked up the phone on her desk to call the photographer. “I’ll be in soon,” she said. “By the way, Marcy, Vic Molina called and wanted you to call him right back.”
    â€œVic Molina, the television producer?” George asked.
    Marcy’s face brightened for a second but then collapsed. “I almost forgot he’s threatening to sue me,” she said, going into her office before Nancy could ask her about the lawsuit.
    After replacing the pieces of the photo in the envelope and stuffing the whole thing into her bag, Nancy joined the others. Inside the office,Marcy picked up the phone and punched in a number. “Excuse me while I handle this,” she told Nancy and George.
    Nancy listened with one ear as she glanced around the office. Marcy’s desk was positioned so that someone could be at the desk but not be seen from the corridor, she noted.
    Marcy didn’t say much on the phone until she blurted out, “Vic, you’re out of control! You’re really losing it!” She slammed down the receiver. “You’d think he’d be too busy producing ‘Southern Star’ and ‘Miller’s Dream’ to bother me, wouldn’t you?”
    â€œThose are the two most popular dramas on TV,” George remarked.
    â€œThe guy’s twenty-nine years old, and he’s already done more than most fifty-year-olds,” Marcy said, her face softening slightly. “I guess you could call him driven.”
    â€œWhy is he suing you, Marcy?” Nancy asked, settling in a director’s chair next to her desk.
    â€œOh, it’s really stupid,” Marcy said, running her slender fingers through her hair. “You see, Vic was my boyfriend until six months ago. In fact, he was the one who first suggested I create a talk show. But when I did do it, he got jealous, and we broke up. So I went to the Sterns to produce the show, and, well, Vic went nuts. Now he’s claiming the show is halfhis, and he’s suing for fifty percent of the profits!”
    â€œMaybe he’s the one who tore up your photo,” Nancy suggested. “He sounds pretty angry.”
    â€œBut, Nancy, how could he have gotten in here? Security is so tight,” George said.
    â€œOh, he could have,” Marcy said reluctantly. “ ‘Southern Star’ is taped here in the Media Center, up on the fifth floor. Still, it wasn’t him, Nancy. I’m sure of it.”
    â€œWhat makes you so sure?” Nancy asked.
    Marcy gave Nancy a startled look. “Because I know him,” she insisted. “His feelings are hurt now. That’s why he’s striking out with this stupid lawsuit. But basically he’s a good person.”
    â€œIt sounds like you think a lot of him,” Nancy observed, making a mental note to check the sign-in sheets in the lobby to see if Vic had been to the Stern Productions offices that morning.
    â€œWe’ve been through a lot together,” Marcy explained. “I know Vic still likes me—deep inside.”
    â€œMarcy, can you think of anyone who might have made these threats?” Nancy asked.
    Marcy frowned and glanced at her watch. “Well, I know a certain bad-girl singer who’s pretty upset with me,” she said, aiming aremote control at a TV across the