Satan's Breath

Chapter 2-2

Savannah

Greg Brannigan felt sick as he sat looking at a pimply, nasal-sounding youth sitting across from his desk. He had interviewed exactly six students from the local broadcasting school, and as desperate as he was, he couldn’t use even one of them.

“Where the hell is Donald Duck when you need him?” he mumbled to himself while giving the young man a stressed-out smile.

None of them has had any experience outside the classroom, he thought as he stared down at the application in front of him. And not one seems to be able to carry on a normal conversation. The plain truth was, they were stupid.

He recalled the first of these juvenile broadcasters that came parading through his office. He was a kinky-headed youth that grabbed Greg’s hand and tried to pump it off while boldly selling himself as a new wave in broadcasting. The next was a laughing freak. He sat there hugging his knees while rocking back and forth, laughing at everything Greg said. And some, like the one he was looking at now, were too timid. If they couldn’t talk to him, they sure as hell couldn’t talk to a city full of people.

“What in hell is happening to the future of broadcasting?” he muttered, just before the phone rang. He looked up at the young hopeful and smiled thinly, excusing himself. Picking up the phone, he breathed a sigh of relief. He didn’t care who it was. He was just thankful for the interruption. “Greg Brannigan speaking.”

“Yes, Mr. Brannigan. This is Scott Sanders in Los Angeles. You called a couple of days ago inquiring about Blaze Alexander.”

Greg perked up suddenly, turned from the pimpled face that was making him sick, and hovered over the phone while speaking softly. “Yes, Mr. Sanders, I remember.”

“I just called to find out if your offer still stands.”

Greg slid his gaze over at the face full of red, blossoming zits and saw the boy biting his nails and scanning the decor of his office with interest. “Yes, yes, it does, Mr. Sanders. Most definitely.”

“Well, then, I’ve got good news for you. It seems since I talked to you last a few changes have taken place. Ms. Alexander says she would be happy to accept your offer. When do you need her to start?”

“On the tenth,” he said, his voice full of dread. “I know it’s asking a lot, but my deejay didn’t give me much notice, and I’m hard-pressed to fill the spot. Do you think she would object to such an early starting date?”

“Well, I don’t know, but I’ll see what I can do.”

Greg squirmed in his seat. “I’m sorry, Mr. Sanders, but I need to know something now. I wouldn’t press you, but if she can’t be here, then I have to get someone to fill the spot until she arrives.”

“I see. Well, I’m putting my head in the noose here, Mr. Brannigan, but I’ll make sure she’s there on the tenth. Is that satisfactory?”

“Yes, sir! By the way, are the terms we discussed all right? She didn’t add anything, did she?”

“Only a new car, a new apartment, and a live-in lover.”

“What?”

Scott chuckled. “I’m just kidding. No, everything meets with her approval as it stands. Be sure and have the contracts drawn up and ready for her signature.”

“You can count on it,” Greg said gratefully. Just as he was about to hang up, he noticed Scott’s hesitation to end the call.

“Mr. Sanders,” Greg said curiously. “What’s wrong?”

“Actually Mr. Brannigan, I feel I should warn you about something.”

“Oh, God, this sounds like bad news.”

“No, not really, but since Blaze is going to be working for you, it’s only fair that I tell you a few things about her so you can be prepared.”

“Yeah?” he said, his skeptical tone of voice apparent. “Like what?”

“You’ll remember that I mentioned bad memories?”

“Yes,” Greg said, “but that doesn’t matter now does it?”

“The truth is, I’m not sure. You see, Blaze had a terrible childhood, Mr. Brannigan, and I’m afraid it’s left her badly scarred.”

“Oh, my God, I haven’t hired Norman Bates’ sister, have I?”

Scott chuckled. “No, it’s nothing like that. It’s just that she’s rebellious, headstrong, and reckless. She’s got a mouth on her that would make a sailor blush. Because of what she went through with her uncle, she’s anti-men.”

“What the hell happened?”

“She was raped repeatedly by her uncle.”

Greg was stunned. “My God!”

“It began when she was twelve—”

“Please,” Greg said, interrupting quickly. “Please, spare me the details.”

“I understand. But as I said, it’s left her very bitter. You just look at her wrong and she’s liable to yank your balls off. Don’t touch her, don’t give her any hint that you even think of her as a woman. I know that sounds strange, but my advice is to give her plenty of space. Under normal conditions, she’s great, but believe me, when she needs to be, she can be as hard as nails.

“She’s leaving the L.A. station because she claims the station manager put his hand up her skirt. She’s a real beauty, and you’ll be tempted, but just keep your distance. She’s on the petite side. You know, kind of cuddly looking, but don’t let that fool you. She’s got red hair with a temper to match. She’s hot stuff, Mr. Brannigan, but just keep in mind if you get too close to this flame, you’re going to get burned.”

Greg was silent.

“Have you changed your mind?”

“No. No way. I’m just a bit overwhelmed, I guess.”

“Well, good luck.”

Greg replaced the receiver, and was silent for a moment when he thought about what Scott had told him. Then remembering that he had Blaze Alexander, he jumped up, and let out a hoot and a holler that sounded all through the small station. The broadcast student looked at him with wide, frightened eyes, then cringed a little as Greg rushed up to him and explained that the job had been filled.

When Wade heard the sound, he walked over to Greg’s office and peered in. “What in hell are you yelling about? Don’t tell me that one of these geeks actually measures up.”

“You’re so cold, you’re spittin’ icicles, my friend. I just got off the phone with Scott Sanders in L.A., and guess what? Blaze Alexander accepted our offer!”

Wade’s mouth fell open. “Get outta town!”

“It’s true, and I owe it all to you, good buddy.”

Wade’s eyes lit up. “Is now a good time to ask for a raise?”

“A raise? What the hell is that? I’m surprised I don’t have to give her part of my salary.”

“Will she be here by the tenth?”

“According to her agent, she will.”

“Man alive, are you in for a big one.”

Greg’s smile fell, and he looked at Wade with a frown. “A big what?”

“Surprise. A really big surprise.”

Greg’s face suddenly became dark. “I don’t like surprises, Wade. Surprises are for birthdays. Birthdays where someone jumps out and says boo! You’re not going to jump out and say boo, are you? Or oops? Because if you are, I might just say something silly like, ‘You’re friggin’ fired!’”

“What the hell are you yelling at me for? You were willing to take a stranger off the street.”

Greg came out from behind his desk with murder in his eyes. “You told me she was good, Wade,” he said as he advanced on the sound engineer.

“She is.” Wade tried to hide a snicker while backing up.

“In fact, you said incredible!” Greg kept advancing.

“And I didn’t lie.” Wade suddenly thudded into the wall behind him.

“Then what’s the problem?”

“Did I say there was a problem?” Wade folded his arms over his chest while working hard to adapt a sublime, innocent look. It wasn’t working too well.

“Wade!”

“How are ratings?” he asked a little too quickly.

“Holding steady. Not bad, but could be better.”

“Well, let’s just say you’re gonna get a reaction out of the good people of Savannah the minute Blaze Alexander’s deep, sexy voice goes out over those airwaves.”

Greg’s eyes narrowed on him, and his voice became breathy while fantasizing murder. “Oh? What kind of reaction?”

“It’ll be in waves, man. Shock waves. You know, up and down, up and down.”

“What the hell are you saying, Wade? Did you hook me up with a bum steer?”

“Not at all. All I’m saying is, look for a baby boom in about nine months.”

He managed to hold onto his composure while sliding along the wall to the door, but the moment he rounded the threshold, he let go and burst out with laughter.