“Plenty,” Penny said, “but they’ll keep until morning. There’s just one thing I want to ask you. Are you in need of a good male reporter?”
Mr. Parker came instantly to life. “Just lead me to him,” he said. “I’m desperate.”
“Then why not hire Ben Bartell?”
Mr. Parker’s face lost all animation. “I couldn’t do that,” he commented.
“Why not?”
“He’s not the type of reporter I want on my paper.”
“Exactly what do you mean?”
“Oh, Penny, I don’t like to go into all this with you. Ben has a bad reputation. He’s hot tempered and unreliable.”
“Because he got into a fist fight with Jason Cordell?”
“Yes, and he foments trouble among employes. I have enough problems without adding him to the list.”