"Frank, if you just could talk to her for a few minutes. That is all I am asking, just a few minutes. Is that really so much to ask? It's important," Jane asked.
Frank glared back at her across the WNBC studios and shook his head. "Look, I know Sofia was good for our ratings last night, and I appreciate that and all, but—"
"—It's more than just our ratings, Frank. If Sofia is right, a woman's life is in danger. A woman she is convinced is your daughter. You can't tell me this doesn't give you pause."
Holding up his hand, Frank said, "Let's not start believing our own bullshit here, Jane. This is just a show, remember?"
"It is not bullshit! It is real. If you could have seen the look of terror in Sofia's eyes this afternoon, you wouldn't be so flippant about this."
"Well..., Sofia is a master of self-promotion, I will give her that. And there is nothing more dramatic than having a life hanging in the balance," Frank said with a smile. He laughed as he sarcastically said, "Cue dramatic organ music. Tune in next week and see if our plucky heroine escapes the clutches of the evil—"
"—This was no act, Frank. It was just the two of us here alone this afternoon. She was only talking to me, privately, in my office, so why would she make this up? She has nothing to gain by coming back to talk to me. I think this is—"
"—I know this act," Frank said. "Sofia's a smart woman. She knew things went sour last night between us when her little dramatic parlor trick backfired big time. I guess she figured if she won you over, and convinced you her stunt was real, you would then work on me." Frank winked and added, "It appears her plan was half right, at least. You seem to have grabbed the Kool-Aid jug and swallowed it down all in one big gulp."
"Frank, I am no fool," Jane said. "But Sofia convinced me. She told me things there was no way she could know! I mean, for instance, how on earth could she have known you were from McKee Kentucky? No one knows that! Hell, it is only an accident that I know that!"
"I have no idea; she must have done her homework," Frank said. "That festering shithole I grew up in doesn't have a lot of people in it, but, I am sure a few of them remember me from years ago. Hell, spread a little cash around, especially in that Podunk town, and who knows what people will say. It wouldn't be that hard to find this information out. And after all, as you know, the best mediums always are the best researchers," he continued as he laughed. "Not an accidental correlation, I am sure. But..., listen Jane, you have been doing this job for a long time. Don't tell me that now, after all of these years, you have suddenly become a true-believer in all of this bullshit! I mean, you know it is a trick, right?"
"This is no trick, Frank, it is real. I know it. And she was very specific too. Mediums don't give full names like that. I know the old, 'did you have a relative with an R in their name trick'. It wasn't like that. She gave a specific name, Jenny. Did you know a girl named Jenny from McKee?"
"Jane, you are skating on thin ice here," Frank growled. "I suggest we drop this."
"I can't. I know this is important, and your reaction is proving me right. I can see it in your eyes, Frank. That and the fact that your whole body has tensed up tighter than a drum is proof to me that this name is recognizable to you," Jane said. She laughed as she added, "You know, you would be a terrible poker player. You have very loud tells."
"So, you aren't going to let this go are you?"
"Nope."
"Well, if you must press on this, I will tell you what I know. But only with the promise that we never speak about this again."
"Deal."
"All right," Frank said as he sighed. "I did know a girl named Jenny from my hometown. But, I have not heard from or spoken to her in twenty years."
"Did you..., uh?"
"Fuck her?" Frank blurted out. "Is that your question, Jane? No sense sugar coating it. You wanted to press this matter, so let's go ahead and press it to the fullest and go all in. That is what you are asking, isn't it?"
"Well..., I would have put it more politely, but..., yes. I guess that is my question." Jane frowned and added, "Look, I have never pried into your private affairs before, Frank, but, I really do think this is important."
"True enough. So..., the answer is, yes, I fucked that girl. And, her name was Jenny, but that was a long time ago. I met up with her when I was..., well, the last time I was back in McKee, but, I can assure you, we didn't have a daughter together."
"When was the last time you heard from this Jenny?"
"I haven't heard from her for decades now, so it is a mystery how Sofia would draw her name from the hat. But hey, who knows, maybe Jenny contacted Sofia and this is some sort of elaborate shakedown! I fully expect to have a request for a check come through any minute."
"I don't think so, Frank. Sofia hardly needs to resort to that. She seems to be doing quite well on her own."
"Perhaps..., but, now you know all that I know, which isn't much. Can we drop it now?"
"But, aren't you curious Frank? I mean, that call was pretty crazy."
"It was, and, the radio host side of me loved it. I know it was a big hit, but, like I said last night, and I will repeat now. I do not fucking like to be surprised on the air! I don't know what Miss Arcos' game is in this charade, but I know this. I don't like it or appreciate it, and, I don't care if she is a rock star in the world of the occult, that was a bridge too far."
"I get that, but, that bridge is one we can't burn, Frank. The affiliates are over the moon about her appearance."
"Yes, I figured as much," Frank said. "And that is the only reason why I didn't toss that Romanian bitch out on her ear." He grinned and added, "I was cordial was I not?"
"Cordial enough, I suppose," Jane said. "But, I really do think you need to listen to her. She is very insistent that something really awful is about to happen. Something awful that you can prevent."
"Something awful about my daughter, right?" Frank said as he raised his eyebrow. "See Jane, that is the kicker. That is where this whole façade collapses. That is where the castle of bullshit she has constructed collapses under the weight of its own nonsense. I told you about this mysterious Jenny, and I can assure you. I don't have a fucking daughter. But now, because of her publicity stunt last night, that is all people are talking about!" Frank's face flushed as he added, "I have been asked about it at least thirty times today, everyone from my maid to the security guard in the lobby to random people at Starbucks! That shit burns my ass up, you know. I don't like people fucking around in my personal business, Jane. I hate that crap!"
"I know you do, but, don't you think there is something to what she was saying? I mean, how do you explain that call last night. You know, if you haven't talked to this Jenny in twenty years, it is possible that—"
"We need to drop this! It's going to take more than a fucking phone call to convince me I have a daughter, Jane. A lot more!"
"So, that's it then? Your mind is made up?"
"Yup."
"So, Mr. Knight," Jane said sarcastically. "What do you want me to tell Sofia? She begged me to convince you to talk to her, Frank. We certainly can't afford to piss her off, so I am going to have to tell her something."
Frank smirked, and said, "You'll come up with something. You always do." He frowned as he added, "But hey, why would she be pissed off anyway? We have put her up in the best hotel in New York, at no small expense mind you, and I guarantee the publicity from last night's show is going to sell a ton of books for her. It is not like she is just some sort of poor misunderstood woman here. She made out bigtime on this deal."
"Yes, but, she seems very sincere about helping this phantom woman, daughter of yours or not. I think she just wants to help."
Frank shook his head and scowled, and said, "So..., who is our guest tonight? Thank God I saw from the roster it is a call in! I have had my fill of in-studio entertainment for a while."
