Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: SLANDER (09/07/17)
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TITLE: Talk @ 8 | Previous Challenge Entry
By Graham Keet
09/14/17 -
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“John, we have Anonymous on the line who says he has something to tell us that every citizen of this city should know.”
“Sound good; put him on. Good evening, Anonymous, what’s on your mind?”
“I want everyone in this city to know the truth about our leading citizen, Mayor James Baron.” The voice over the phone had a metallic ring with an echo effect; obviously the result of an application to disguise the caller’s true voice. “Mayor Baron is campaigning for re-election, but I want everyone to know there are two sides to the man they see kissing babies and opening flower shows. He’s actually a disgrace to the office, in fact I …”
“Just hold it there for a moment, Anonymous.” John Briscoe cut the transmission as he noticed his producer, Martin Grewar, signaling through the window from the room next door. “Martin, do we carry on with this?”
“Sure, just give the usual warnings; this could be what we need to boost our ratings.”
“Sorry about the interruption—Anonymous, please carry on, but bear in mind that you may have to prove your statements to avoid possible prosecution.”
The hollow voice continued. “You want proof—there’s plenty of proof. There’s two young women working in the mayoral office that are too scared to testify about what our good councilor gets up to when he forces them to work overtime. And then there’s his wife, Emily. I’m sure I’m not the only person to have noticed the bruises on her face that her make-up doesn’t hide. The man’s a sadistic pervert.” There was a click on the line and the call was terminated.
“Wow, that was quite something,” said John Briscoe, trying to sound upbeat. “I must remind the listeners that the views expressed on this program are not necessarily the views of the station or of its presenters. “Let’s take the next caller, Evelyn?”
The show had not yet ended when Mayor Baron was on the line to Grewar. “Invite that caller to call back tomorrow, but this time have the call traced—I want that person brought to book for those lies he brought against me.”
Grewar called through to Briscoe and told him to invite Anonymous to call back.
The next night the hollow voice was again heard. “I hear that our beloved mayor is unhappy about what I said yesterday. Too bad. I don’t take any of it back, if fact, I have a very serious ultimatum for him. Either you resign and hand yourself over, or by this time tomorrow you’re a dead man. This is no idle threat.”
Immediately Briscoe cut the link. Grewar summoned the station’s legal team and the police, and a plan of action was decided upon. An hour later the police admitted the call trace had ended at a throw-away cellphone.
The following night Talk @ 8’s outdoor unit moved into place outside the Baron’s residence. As Briscoe and his broadcast team arrived, he was met at the door by plain clothed detectives. “We’ve got men both inside and outside the house. We want you to conduct an interview with Mayor Baron and his wife; the mayor wants to speak to the citizens himself.”
The broadcast paraphernalia was set up in the spacious lounge and James and Emily sat opposite Briscoe. Briscoe could see that Emily’s make-up was not quite hiding a dark patch under her left eye, and that she was wearing a polar necked shirt, even though it was a warm evening. Briscoe began to explain the broadcasting protocol to the Barons while their young Ukrainian maid, Darina, brought in a tray of tea. She poured three cups and placed one on a small table beside each armchair.
The interview had barely begun when James Baron suddenly started convulsing. He stood to his feet momentarily, then collapsed to the floor where he lay gurgling, white froth coming from his mouth. Briscoe shouted for someone to dial 911, while Emily bent over the now still body shouting, “James, talk to me. What’s wrong with you?”
Darina entered the room and caught Emily’s eye. Emily nodded slightly. Darina noticed Baron’s hands now folded across his chest. Those hands will no longer strike a woman, nor will they wander where they shouldn’t.
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It was difficult to determine who was telling the truth.