“You didn’t say that when she reported that you needed to get rid of some of your big hair.”
He automatically smoothed a hand over the side of his head. “She was right. I did have big hair when I arrived in Minneapolis. But the point is this. If KC misses the amorous anchors, the viewers do, too. They’ve come to expect that it’ll be the two of us doing the news. We’re the team they want to see. Just ask Bob.”
Kristen knew that Bob Yates as the news director had only one concern and that was ratings. If he thought another anchor could sustain those ratings, he wouldn’t care if Kristen ever returned from medical leave. The fact that Keith was over here encouraging her meant that so far Janey hadn’t done the job. That gave Kristen little comfort. Because if they were losing viewers, it meant another station was gaining them.
“You and I are like friends to many of those people who tune into Channel 12 each evening,” Keith continued. “They’re concerned about you just the way they’d be concerned for a friend who was injured. Just look at the stacks of mail over there.” He nodded toward the dining room.
Kristen knew what he said was true. In the five years she’d been at the station, she’d met many of the people who comprised their target audience. They were warm, friendly, caring members of a community she had grown to love.
“I’d like to say I could return next week, but...” She didn’t finish, knowing perfectly well that it would be a mistake to go back to work in her present condition. “I really don’t think I’m up to it.”
“You could always ease back into it. Actually, I’ve come up with a way for you to do just that.”
Suspicion began to creep into Kristen’s mind when she saw Keith’s eyes sparkling as if he had a great secret. “And what’s that?”
“I’ve talked Bob into giving me the okay to go ahead with a Profile in Courage.”
These profiles were special features the Channel 12 news team produced to highlight community members who had performed acts of extreme bravery. “So how do I fit in?”
“I want you to work with me.” He leaned forward, his face full of enthusiasm. “Guess who we’re going to profile.”
She gave him a blank look.
“Who is one of the most heroic men in the Twin Cities?”
Great. Now he was making it a guessing game. “I don’t know,” she said impatiently.
“It’s someone who’s important to both of us.”
Kristen couldn’t think of a single name.
“Tyler Brant,” he finally revealed.
“Tyler Brant?” she repeated, her heart skipping a beat. “Has he agreed to the interview?”
“Not yet, but I don’t foresee any problems in that area. Why would there be? We’re not doing an investigative report. We’re paying tribute to him. The viewers will love it!”
But would Tyler Brant? Kristen wondered. “He didn’t strike me as the kind who would want the attention.”
“Are you kidding? Every guy likes to be called a hero.”
“Maybe,” she said thoughtfully. She didn’t tell him that she had tried several times to contact Tyler only to be told he was unavailable. Even after she’d left her name and phone number, he hadn’t returned her calls.
“Not only is the man a hero,” Keith continued, “but he’s a well-respected member of the community. And there’s an added benefit. If we do a profile of the two of you, we’ll allow the viewers to see what you’ve been through the past couple of weeks and let them know that you’re on the road to recovery.”
“Wait a minute. You said this was about Tyler Brant. Why would you profile me?” she asked, uneasiness churning her stomach.
“Because he saved your life.” He looked at her as if he were telling her the sky was blue.
“I don’t want to be the subject of any show,” she stated firmly.
“Why not? You said you were upset with the inaccuracy of many of the reports on the plane crash. This would be a way to set the record straight.” He gestured toward the piles of mail in her dining room. “Just look at all those cards and letters. The viewers are worried about you. If we did a segment where we covered the crash, your hospitalization, your recuperation—”
“Stop right there,” she interrupted him, holding up both hands in protest. “You’re not thinking about bringing a crew here?”
“All we’d need are a couple of shots of you at home. We have plenty of video from the crash site. If we interviewed a few doctors and nurses at the hospital, then close with you in the newsroom, staying abreast of what’s going on, we can show the public that you’re still very much a part of the news team.”
Kristen could hardly believe what she was hearing. “You’re joking, right?”
“No. Why would I joke about your work?”
She stared at him in disbelief. “Keith, you can’t honestly think I’d want to be the subject of such a program?”
“Why not?”
“Because I don’t want my personal life broadcast to the world, that’s why,” she protested. “And I can’t believe you could be so insensitive as to even suggest such a thing.”
He looked like a little boy who had been told he couldn’t play baseball until after his homework was done. “It’s a news story, not an exposé,” he reminded her.
“It’s an invasion of my privacy. Do you know how many times I’ve had reporters banging on my door since it happened?”
“Because your story is news. You were heroically rescued from a plane crash that killed eight other people. You survived, Kristen. You’ve worked in this business long enough to know that your situation is exactly what interests the public.”
She knew what he said was true. And at one time she would have understood exactly why he was suggesting she be the subject of the in-depth segment. As a journalist, she was familiar with the attitude members of her profession had about the stories they were covering. After all, she herself had often stuck a microphone into the faces of grieving relatives, crime victims—people who wanted to be left alone. Now she was on the other side herself. And she didn’t like it.
“I’m not allowing anyone to come here and film my private life,” she said firmly.
“All right. You don’t need to have the camera crew come here. We’ll skip the personal angle and shoot it from a career perspective.”
“You won’t shoot it at all,” she assured him. “I mean it. I will not be the subject of any features—for you or anyone else.”
“You could have complete control over the content. Heck, you could even do the final edit,” he proposed reluctantly.
“No.”
“Will you at least think about it?”
“No.”
If there was one thing Keith was used to getting it was his own way. When he stiffened his shoulders and tightened his mouth, it was obvious that he wasn’t pleased with her refusal. Kristen discovered his handsome features weren’t so handsome when he pouted. Actually, he looked quite ugly. Funny how she’d never noticed it before.
“Obviously, this crash has affected you emotionally. Why don’t I give you time to think about it and call you later?” he suggested, rising to his feet, his hands automatically smoothing the wrinkles in his creased pants.
Kristen realized that his bringing the flowers and mail had simply been an excuse for him to come over and talk business.