The Runaway Reporter (A Police Procedural Mystery Series of Crime and Suspense, Hyder Ali #3) by Thomas Fincham Page A
Authors: Thomas Fincham
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a photo, decided not to, and went in.
The interior was air conditioned. It provided a needed reprieve from the relentless heat. Hyder allowed himself to cool down before he took the elevator all the way up to the thirtieth floor.
When he got off, he paused in front of a large sign. It read: THE FRANKLIN HERALD.
The Franklin Herald was now the second most read paper in the city of Franklin. It had been established almost three decades ago to compete with the Daily Times . But during that period, it had gone through several publishers and owners, was hit with numerous corruption charges, had to settle or fight many libel suits, and struggled with mismanagement. The Franklin Herald would have been bankrupt and out of business had it not been for a wealthy sheikh from the Middle East who had made it his pet project. He was now funnelling in a fortune to revive it.
The first thing the sheikh did was move the operations to a building he already owned. From there he fired almost everyone at the management level. He then proceeded to hire the best minds in the business. Even the Daily Times had lost some great reporters and editors to the Herald .
After Hyder had graduated and was looking for work, he had seriously considered joining the Franklin Herald , but his heart had always been attached to the Daily Times . The Daily Times had a great history, one Hyder wanted to be part of. But more importantly, it was because of his father, Karim Ali.
Mr. Ali died of a sudden heart attack when he was just thirty-eight years old. Hyder was too young to remember much of his father, but he did remember seeing him sit at the dining table with a newspaper in his hands. That paper was the Daily Times.
Somehow that image had become so ingrained in his brain that years later, he wanted nothing more than to be a newspaper reporter. Whatever the reasons, with his mother’s prayers, he had fulfilled that dream.
His thoughts were broken when a woman approached him. “Can I help you?” she said. She was young, with blond hair, black glasses, and she wore red lipstick.
Hyder looked at her, but then understood that she must have seen him staring at the sign of the Franklin Herald . “I work at reception,” she explained.
“I’m looking for Irving Richer.”
“Is he expecting you?” she asked.
“Um… probably not,” Hyder said, regretting his decision to come here.
“Your name, please?” she said.
“It’s Hyder Ali.”
She looked at him and smiled. “I knew I recognized you. Don’t tell anyone here, but I’ve read all your stories.”
Hyder didn’t know what to say except, “Thank you.”
“I’ll let Mr. Richler know you are here, unless he’s too busy to see you.” She then gave him a wink as if to say, “Mr. Richler will drop everything to see the Hyder Ali of the Daily Times .”
Two minutes later, the receptionist led Hyder down the hall.
Irving Richler pulled off his reading glasses and stood up from behind his desk. He came over and shook Hyder’s hand. Richler was far taller than Hyder had expected. Hyder had to crane his neck just to meet his eyes.
Hyder had heard many stories about Richler. That he used to work for the New York Times and as a beat reporter had covered some of the most important stories in the last half century. He was also tough as nails. He had made even the most hardened reporter cry. Apart from his determined exterior, Richler was extremely intelligent and was passionate about his profession. Even those that he fought with spoke highly of him.
Above all, Irving Richler was deeply loyal and protective of his reporters.
Hyder wasn’t sure if he would have lasted a month under Richler, but he still found himself in awe of the man.
“Have a seat,” Richler said.
Hyder took one and Richler went back to his. Behind his desk, Richler was less imposing.
“What brings you here, Mr. Ali?” Richler asked.
“Call me Hyder, and… I wanted to
The interior was air conditioned. It provided a needed reprieve from the relentless heat. Hyder allowed himself to cool down before he took the elevator all the way up to the thirtieth floor.
When he got off, he paused in front of a large sign. It read: THE FRANKLIN HERALD.
The Franklin Herald was now the second most read paper in the city of Franklin. It had been established almost three decades ago to compete with the Daily Times . But during that period, it had gone through several publishers and owners, was hit with numerous corruption charges, had to settle or fight many libel suits, and struggled with mismanagement. The Franklin Herald would have been bankrupt and out of business had it not been for a wealthy sheikh from the Middle East who had made it his pet project. He was now funnelling in a fortune to revive it.
The first thing the sheikh did was move the operations to a building he already owned. From there he fired almost everyone at the management level. He then proceeded to hire the best minds in the business. Even the Daily Times had lost some great reporters and editors to the Herald .
After Hyder had graduated and was looking for work, he had seriously considered joining the Franklin Herald , but his heart had always been attached to the Daily Times . The Daily Times had a great history, one Hyder wanted to be part of. But more importantly, it was because of his father, Karim Ali.
Mr. Ali died of a sudden heart attack when he was just thirty-eight years old. Hyder was too young to remember much of his father, but he did remember seeing him sit at the dining table with a newspaper in his hands. That paper was the Daily Times.
Somehow that image had become so ingrained in his brain that years later, he wanted nothing more than to be a newspaper reporter. Whatever the reasons, with his mother’s prayers, he had fulfilled that dream.
His thoughts were broken when a woman approached him. “Can I help you?” she said. She was young, with blond hair, black glasses, and she wore red lipstick.
Hyder looked at her, but then understood that she must have seen him staring at the sign of the Franklin Herald . “I work at reception,” she explained.
“I’m looking for Irving Richer.”
“Is he expecting you?” she asked.
“Um… probably not,” Hyder said, regretting his decision to come here.
“Your name, please?” she said.
“It’s Hyder Ali.”
She looked at him and smiled. “I knew I recognized you. Don’t tell anyone here, but I’ve read all your stories.”
Hyder didn’t know what to say except, “Thank you.”
“I’ll let Mr. Richler know you are here, unless he’s too busy to see you.” She then gave him a wink as if to say, “Mr. Richler will drop everything to see the Hyder Ali of the Daily Times .”
Two minutes later, the receptionist led Hyder down the hall.
Irving Richler pulled off his reading glasses and stood up from behind his desk. He came over and shook Hyder’s hand. Richler was far taller than Hyder had expected. Hyder had to crane his neck just to meet his eyes.
Hyder had heard many stories about Richler. That he used to work for the New York Times and as a beat reporter had covered some of the most important stories in the last half century. He was also tough as nails. He had made even the most hardened reporter cry. Apart from his determined exterior, Richler was extremely intelligent and was passionate about his profession. Even those that he fought with spoke highly of him.
Above all, Irving Richler was deeply loyal and protective of his reporters.
Hyder wasn’t sure if he would have lasted a month under Richler, but he still found himself in awe of the man.
“Have a seat,” Richler said.
Hyder took one and Richler went back to his. Behind his desk, Richler was less imposing.
“What brings you here, Mr. Ali?” Richler asked.
“Call me Hyder, and… I wanted to
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