The End of an Article
Jonathan opened the door and there they sat. Anna behind her wooden desk that ran the length of the editor’s office; Crawford was sitting in one of the guest chairs facing the door. Jonathan sat down in the empty chair unsure of who to align his shoulders with—his mentor or his boss. Crawford looked to Anna, she nodded solemnly, “We can’t run the story. We suggest you take on something new.”
Jonathan knew this was coming. The way Crawford avoided him in the morning and the general silence of the seventh floor. A story like this would have been talked about if people knew about it. Since the start of the day he had an argument ready: “You’re not giving me another story! This is what I need. This is the story that will take the wool off everyone’s eyes. People don’t know it but they need it, Crawford, you have to have my back here.”
Crawford had his hands resting on the arms of his chair. Before he spoke he raised them up and laced his fingers together, making a steeple below his face. “Jonathan,” he sighed, “I’ve been here a long time. I have found stories likes this that I thought would change the world. I’ve been in your shoes before and nothing changes.
“Stories are microcosms of the world, and I have been so wrapped up in my own, still to this day, that it becomes my world. That’s the beautiful flaw of journalism: we dissect and scrutinise this little particle of the city to share and try to emphasise the impact it will have on the world. But no one wants to have their eyes opened this way when they read the paper-”
Jonathan slapped the arm of his chair, “Historically this is unheard of, it has to be taken seriously! Ray Liago is using people like his ancestors had before him. He needs to be stopped. It’s our duty to tell people about this.”
Crawford slid forward in his chair and calmly continued, “In all fairness you’re right and if I had this piece when I was your age I would feel the exact same way as you.” Jonathan was starting to nod, “But this is a different era, it’ll be spoofed, validated, satirised, and replicated until the facts are completely distorted.”
“To add onto what Mr Powell is saying,” Anna interrupted, “There is a glaring hole in your story. No woman matching your description was found in Mr Liago’s mansion when the police searched. Even with a recording of him stating it, lawyers will say it is not admissible because he’ll claim he was inebriated.”
Jonathan rolled his eyes, thinking of the drunk and pathetic businessman, “Because he killed her.”
“Stop speculating, Mr Bayer. That’s not what we do here.” Anna reminded him.
“Regardless,” Crawford continued. “This story is juicy, and that’s not good. It’s almost too unbelievable to be true. Everyone will be on this. And the more it replicates the more questionable the story itself will become. Liago isn’t poised enough to be knocked down like this. People are already talking about him: his wife is leaving him and his children don’t like him. He isn’t very good at his day job either.”
“I don’t care. I’m running the story. Even if it’s somewhere else.” Jonathan said staring at Anna as she read on her screen.
She looked up at Jonathan, “Mr Bayer, we feel that given the circumstances surrounding the Chronicle and this piece, it would be best if the Chronicle wasn’t associated with your story.” She paused to make sure he was following, “By which we mean if you were to publish this under your name, you would be asked to resign.” Anna looked at Jonathan with her grey eyes, “If you were to refuse we’d have to fire you.”
Johnathan looked at Anna then Crawford, who was staring at the floor. Jonathan looked back at Anna, ready to jump out of his skin. Uncovering a man harbouring a slave in the 21st century and they didn’t want a piece of it. Then he thought back to what Crawford had said. This story is just the beginning, he thought to himself, the actual story is the end of Liago. The thoughts in his mind spread out like a spider web. Jonathan blinked and focused back to Anna. “You won’t have to do that,” he said with a narrow smile.
The Leafs!
Big ups to Auston in the skills competition. It was a busy week I didn't get to watch any actual games. They're 1 point back of Boston and third place with 5 games at hand. There are a lot of good teams that are still behind us that can go on a streak so I'd be happy if we kept up this pace even if we didn't make the playoffs. Here's to settling.
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