Read Online Deadline by James Anderson - Free Book Online Page A

his
travels. He was an ardent bibliophile and art
connoisseur.
    “ Always a pleasure talking
to you as well, Andrew,” replied Nelson. “I just wish I had better
news to pass on to you.”
    “ Oh come now, Rob. Don’t
tell me you’re turning down our loan request. We’ve been good,
solid customers over the past three years.”
    “ No doubt about that,
Andrew. I presented your financial restructuring proposal to our
loans committee yesterday. They gave it a thorough review being
that you are one of our major clients. Unfortunately a majority of
the committee is opposed to your plan. The committee feels a $50
million extension of credit is too great a risk and would put us
out on a limb here.”
    Andrew felt exasperated. “Rob, you
know the paper is worth the investment. I will even put up some of
my own personal financial resources as collateral if
necessary.”
    “ Sorry, Andrew the loans
committee won’t budge on this. But all is not gloomy. In view of
your status as a top client and your good financial background, we
are prepared to offer you a $20 million loan on top of the amount
you already owe us. Perhaps that will keep you afloat.”
    “ For a while, Rob but it’s
not enough. I need time for our restructuring efforts to pay off
and for the initiatives to boost advertising revenue to gel. I need
that $50 million that would keep us going for another five years at
least and hopefully the paper would be in the black by
then.”
    “ I’m sorry, Andrew. The
committee feels it’s too risky. I did my best coming to bat on your
behalf being the charming, persuasive rake that I am. But charm
only carries so far with these guys. These are hard-line moneymen
who live for the bottom line. I’m afraid many think you are doomed
to fail. Perhaps you should consider putting the paper up for sale
and getting out before she sinks.”
    “ I have no intention of
allowing the Daily Express to sink, Rob. I think it can be a viable
operation given the right financing and business plan. I already
have a serious offer to buy, but I would prefer to ride this crisis
out. I am not a quitter and this paper was a lifelong dream of
mine. Perhaps I’ll look elsewhere for financing.”
    “ Well, I wish you luck,
Andrew. But I think you’ll find it a hard sell in the marketplace
just now. Just give me a call if you decide on the $20 million and
I’ll draw up the papers. Goodbye.”
    Chase slowly replaced the phone
receiver. He felt depressed. The weight of the world was on his
shoulders. Time was running out. He needed new financing right away
or he would have no option but to sell.
    Right now Rupert White’s offer seemed
the only hope.

Chapter 22
    Daily Express Newsroom
10:37 AM
    KATIE CANNON sipped a can of Coke Zero
as she transcribed her notes on the latest Wolfman
killing.
    His e-mail was unnerving, but she was
not unduly worried. She could not see how he possibly could get at
her. There was no way he could know where she lived and she spent
most of her time at the paper. It was a busy place and there were
always lots of people around.
    Detective Moon offered her police
protection, but she didn’t want to be followed around by a
bodyguard. It would only crimp her style as a journalist and hamper
her efforts. Cannon had always been very strong-willed and
independent minded.
    As a child, when people opened doors
for her she would stubbornly insist on using another one. She could
bloody well open her own doors. She’d been a tomboy as a child and
often preferred playing with the boys than hanging out with the
girls.
    As Katie matured, she found the boys
even more interested in being with her, but for different reasons.
She learned rather early on that her striking physical assets could
be a plus in getting her way. She found it easy to wrap boys and
later men around her finger.
    But it proved to be a double-edged
sword because she had difficulty getting men to respect that she
also had a brain.
    Katie was as smart as a whip