"Maybe you want me to write my own obituary." "Don't try so hard to be funny. Excuse me." Overman cocked his head again and listened, then pulled out his microphone and barked: "All right, all right. Don't cry. We can't get them all. I'm not saying it was your fault. Report back in." "What's the matter?" McLeod wanted to know. "Harry Crippens is the matter. Remember Congressman Horner? That story yesterday?" McLeod recalled it vaguely. Something about Horner committing suicide unexpectedly. "Well, he didn't jump. The _World's_ Security Forces rescued him and got a scoop. Another wrongo for us, Darius. That's the second story Crippens bungled this month." "Maybe it wasn't Cripp's fault, chief." Crippens was a plump, owl-faced man with big, watery eyes swimming behind concave glasses. McLeod had always liked him. He was the grimmest, saddest, cryingest, most logical drunk McLeod had ever met. Wonderful drinking partner. "I didn't say it was. Just thinking, though." "If psychology flubbed a dub on Horner, you can't blame Cripp." "Not what I mean. The _World's_ prediction is vague, see? Who's a star reporter? How do you single the man out? Any big by-line guy will do, right?" "I guess so." "Crippens gets his share of by-lines, Darius." "Hey, wait a minute--" "Why spend the time protecting you next week if we don't have to? It's expensive and not a sure thing. We'd hate to lose you, Darius." "Thank you." "But Crippens is bungling. He ought to meet the _World's_ requirements. We do the job for them the first of next week. They get their story and we keep our number one man, alive. How does it sound?" "Rotten," McLeod said. "I'm not going to sit by and let Cripp take that kind of rap for me. What kind of louse do you think I am, anyway?" "Let it simmer, Darius. There's no hurry. I suppose His Honor has been around to use your crying towel?" McLeod nodded. "That's right." "I thought he would. It was your series of articles that got him elected in the first place. You saved my life, now support me. One of those deals. It was obvious the _World_ would try to show corruption after their own candidate lost." "Is the _Star-Times_ going to protect Mayor Spurgess' record?" * * * * * Overman jerked his head from side to side, the stretched, translucent lids blinking over popping eyes. "It's always easier to prove corruption than disprove it, you know that. We'd be backing the wrong animal, Darius. I've got it figured, though." "How do you mean?" "They won't have much of a story if something violent happens to the mayor between now and next month. I don't want to see it in LOOKING FORWARD, though. Just make it happen and get the scoop. See? We can't let the mayor resign. This is the surest way." "Anything particular in mind?" "It's your assignment, Darius. Whatever you do is all right with me." "That poor guy treated me like his father-image before. Well--"