The Prime-Time Crime Read Online Free PDF Page B

furniture set on a lush blue carpet. On one wall were ten television monitors, simultaneously showing an array of network and cable programs. Whalen sat behind a large desk, leaning back in a leather chair as he chatted on the telephone. He was a blond, slender young man who looked to be in his mid-twenties. He was wearing an expensive-looking tailored suit.
    â€œBusy guy,” Frank whispered. “Must be talking with a producer or something.”
    â€œProbably talking with an accountant,” Marcy whispered back. “Ted cares a lot more about how much money the programs make than about what actually goes into them.”
    After a few minutes Whalen hung up the phone and turned to his guests. “Good to see you, Marcy,” he said in a clipped tone, without smiling. “What brings you up here at five-thirty? Working late, I see. I admire that.”
    â€œThanks, Ted,” Marcy said. “I just wanted to introduce you to Frank and Joe Hardy. They’re young detectives who’ve helped out here at the station before. I’ve asked them to assist us in finding Clarence Kellerman.”
    â€œOh, yes, Kellerman,” Whalen said, without changing expression. “Terrible thing. I heard about the note you found. Pity if something happens to one of our best talent properties.”
    â€œI’m glad to hear you say that,” Marcy said. “I’d heard a rumor that you were thinking of canceling Clarence’s show.”
    â€œIt’s under consideration,” Whalen said, nodding. “Clarence is popular, but the audience on ‘Scholar’ is a bit old for my taste. I’ve found that it’s mostly the parents of students who watch the show, not the students themselves. I’m sure we can find a role for Clarence, though. Perhaps he could host a music video show. There’s a nationally syndicated news magazine show we’d like to put in the ‘Scholar’ slot. Less production expense, more profit.”
    â€œI watch ‘Scholar’ every week,” Frank said. “So do all my friends.”
    â€œThen you hang out with an unusual crowd,” Whalen said coldly. He pointed to a thick stack of folders on his desk. “I have reports here from the best research firms in the country telling me who watches what, and ‘Scholar’ just isn’t cutting it with the youth market.”
    â€œDo you have any idea what happened to Clarence, Mr. Whalen?” Joe asked.
    â€œNot a one,” Whalen said. “But I trust the police to do a thorough job in finding out. And I don’t think”—he leaned forward and looked meaningfully at Frank and Joe—“that we need any extra help in the matter. So I don’t want to see you boys around the station anymore. Is that clear? Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to make some calls concerning the series we’ve been running on organized crime in the Bayport area. A couple of the sponsors want to pull out, and I’ve got to convince them that there will be big bucks in it if they stay with us.” He picked up the phone, dialed a number, and turnedaround in his chair so that its tall leather back faced the Hardys.
    â€œCome on,” Marcy said, leading the Hardys out of the office.
    â€œNice guy,” Joe commented, once they were in the hall.
    â€œYeah,” Frank said. “Think we should stay on the case?” he asked Marcy. “Whalen doesn’t seem to want us around.”
    â€œDon’t worry about him,” Marcy said, leading the Hardys down the flight of stairs. “Just report to me in the morning and tell me what you’ve found. Ted doesn’t pay much attention to what actually goes on around the station. He’ll never notice you’re here. And if he does, I’ll tell him you’re going to do some spots on our ‘Crimestoppers’ show.” The producer looked at her watch. “Now, I’m afraid