Shadow of Power by Steve Martini Page A

It’s absolutely shocking. I can’t even imagine. We were expecting to see Mr. Scarborough as a guest here on the air that day, the day he was killed. You can imagine the surprise when we heard the news. Do the police have any idea who might have done it?”
    Bonguard: “Right now, as you can imagine, everything is a bit sketchy. From what I understand the cops are still in the hotel room as we speak, looking for evidence. They’re being very careful. I don’t think anybody knows exactly what happened or why, at least not yet.”
    Leno: “Except for the murderer.”
    Bonguard: “Well, yes.”
    Leno: “It’s just crazy. Do you have any idea why he might have been killed? Do you think it had to do with the book?”
    The host props up a copy of Scarborough’s book on the desk as the camera focuses in. Perpetual Slaves: The Branding of America’s Black Race. The camera cuts to the author’s photograph from the book’s dust cover.
    Bonguard: “Certainly I think the police have got to be looking at that possibility. There had been a great deal of controversy over the work. I know that Terry had received death threats in the mail.”
    Leno: “Really?”
    Bonguard: “Oh, yes. Anytime you write a book that involves politics or social controversy, you’re bound to get some hate mail. But in this case it was more than usual, mostly anonymous.”
    Leno: “Those would have been turned over to the police, right?”
    Bonguard: “Oh, I’m sure. Most of them were in the hands of the publisher. But they would be turned over, if they haven’t already been.”
    Leno: “It’s certainly a very important book. I read it last week before all this happened, and it’s stunning. I mean, I’m not a lawyer, but I never realized that the language of slavery was still right there in the Constitution. I’m sure most Americans don’t know that. I’m surprised that somebody hadn’t brought this to public attention before this.”
    Bonguard: “Terry thought the same thing. He was surprised that it had never been exposed in this way. Of course, that’s only part of it….”
    “This is the good part,” says Harry. “Listen to this.”
    Bonguard: “There was more. He was going to do another book based on a historic document that went right to the core of the controversy over slavery. He didn’t write about it in this book because he was planning a follow-up, a sequel. He was preparing to expose some kind of deal that was cut at the time the Constitution was first written. According to what Terry told me, it involved slavery and a number of prominent historic figures, men who were involved in crafting the Constitution.”
    Leno: “A deal? What kind of deal?”
    Bonguard: “That, I don’t know. That’s why this letter was so important.”
    Leno: “Do we know who wrote this letter?”
    Bonguard: “Well, I don’t know that I can say too much more at this time—other than to say that the letter was important to an understanding of the history of slavery in America.”
    Leno: “Well, that would be pretty important. How did your client, Mr. Scarborough, get this letter?”
    Bonguard: “Again, I can’t say.”
    Leno: “Do you have this letter?”
    Bonguard: “No. In fact, I’ve not seen it. Terry referred to it several times in conversations that we had. According to what I understand, he had it in his possession, or at least a copy.”
    Leno: “He had it with him when he was killed?”
    Bonguard: “I don’t know.”
    Leno: “So I assume the police must have it now?”
    Bonguard: “I don’t know.”
    “Wow.” Leno turns away from his guest to look directly at the camera. “Well, you heard it here first, folks. A real bona fide murder mystery. You will keep us informed?”
    “Absolutely,” says Bonguard.
    Leno rises from his chair and shakes Bonguard’s hand. “We’ll have to have you back.” There are a few muddled words exchanged between the two of them. The audience begins to applaud as the screen