The Long Winter #83
Media Blitz part one
For the first time in her life Leah was thankful for her far too public upbringing. As media professionals (and some not-so-professionals) descended upon her and her friends the day following Ralph's final attack she knew almost instinctively how to handle them. She stepped in front of a floundering Maddie and protected her from camera flashes and spotlights. She shielded Nagisa from probing questions and critical eyes. She knew many of the faces present and greeted them warmly, if without a smile.
“Give us some time,” she said to them as their voices quieted, “and we’ll set up a conference and give you all some of that time back.”
“How do we know you’ll be true to your word?”
“Some of you know me and are familiar with my family. They can trust me, and you can figure out who each other are and trust each other. Now, if you’ll excuse us…”
Leah led her friends through the throng of shouting reporters and once they were back in the hall of the girls’ wing of the dormitory she stopped and turned towards them.
“I’m going to make a few calls,” she said, amazed at how steady and strong her voice was. “I’ll get things arranged for a press conference, probably in the theater in Miller Hall, and we’ll sit on the stage and they can ask us questions in a more organized manner.”
“Who are you going to call?” Maddie asked.
“My father, his assistant Bethany, one of our lawyers, and my driver.” Leah’s lips ticked up at one corner in a half smile. “In that order.”
“Right. Should I be calling anyone?”
“Your parents.” Leah looked at Nagisa. “You too, I think. They’ll probably have people to prepare a statement for you, you’ll read that, and then we can open it up to questions from the press.”
“Is this a good idea?” Nagisa said, glancing over her shoulder towards the stairs and the common area beyond.
“It’s a better idea than letting them pester us for the next month or two. This way they can all get the material they need for their stories and move on. There will be a Gragus story or an Evil Corporation story or some grand social injustice soon enough. There always is.”
“I guess it is kind of a big deal. A magic attack here at Gravenreuth? Pretty big deal, right?”
“Where is Penny?” Nagisa asked, looking up and down the hall.
“She disappeared before we were released,” Maddie said with a shrug. “Probably something to do with her fancy diplomatic immunity.”
“Lucky…”
“Totally.”
They both looked at Leah.
“I’ll see if she wants to be a part of it, although I’m betting she does not.”
Maddie nodded and left with a friendly goodbye for her room. Leah and Nagisa entered theirs and Leah left her to sit on her bed and start her phone calls.
“Hello Father.”
“Leah, it’s good to see you. Unusual, but good.” He smiled down into his phone, his big, joyful face framed by a well-trimmed beard.
“Do you have a few minutes? I can call you back later if you don’t.”
“I always have time for you, especially since you ask for so little of it,” he answered with a laugh.
“Thank you. I’m sure you’ve heard what happened to us here at the Institute—“
“Yes, yes, a terrible thing. I can have Dr. Song visit you if you need it—“
“No, that won’t be necessary. Rather, I want to hold a press conference. We have a lot of reporters up here since they know it’s me, and apparently Maddie and Nagisa are important in their own ways.”
“Right, I see.”
“Is Bethany with you? Maybe she can help.”
“She’s already on her way north,” her father directed his gaze somewhere off camera and nodded. “Christoph is up there, isn’t he?”
“So are Judy, Lewis, James, and Erica. I’ve seen some of other faces I recognize too, but I don’t remember their names.”
“Oh, I’m surprised at you, you remember everything, you have a memory like a steel trap, something I admire.”
“You’re a flatterer, father.”
“It comes naturally. Are you calling Anita or do you want me to?”
“I was planning on calling her.”
“Actually, don’t bother. Just send Bethany a detailed email about what you plan on talking to the press about and she’ll see to it that they arrive together.” He was looking away again. Bethany was never far from his side. “I’ll send Gregor, too.”
“I was planning on calling him.”
“He’s going to stay up there for the rest of the year. I might leave him there for you all next year. It’s hard to find worthwhile work for him without having you to chauffer around. Are you sure you want to keep living in the dorm? I can find you a place, on a lake or a hillside, or whatever you like. I hear the black flies are terrible in the summer, so I wouldn’t recommend the big lake—“
“I like it here on campus,” Leah said. “I liked my old roommate and I like my new roommate, and next year I know I can room with someone I like, too, so I want to stay here.”
“Excellent. Anything for you, your mother’s precious jewel.”
Leah smiled at him and they ended their call. Bethany was already calling her.
“Leah. I’m having Anita meet me at the airfield. Has anyone caused you any problems?”
“No. I handled it fine.”
“Good. I knew if anyone could it would be you. How are your friends?”
“They’re fine.”
“Good. Anita and I will want to prep them all for this. We’ll set it up for 11 tomorrow morning. I’ll arrange catering while I’m in the air. Oh, and you need to call your mother. She’s been asking about you.”
“I called her yesterday…”
“Yes, but that was yesterday. In her words, “An eternity has passed since I last spoke with my precious jewel.” Please call her.”
“I will. Thank you.”
“See you soon.”
Bethany’s face disappeared and Leah called her mother.
“How are you doing this fine day after such a terrible event?”
“I’m still fine, Mother. Thank you.”
“I wish you had stayed with us. I wish you would not have to deal with such a terrible event. Your friends are fine, as well?”
“They are unhurt.”
“Good, good. Tres bon, in fact. You are returning to me for spring break.”
“That doesn’t sound like a question.”
“It is not. You are.”
“I might bring a friend.”
“Bring who you wish.”
“Even if she’s from Port Matthew?”
“Oh la la, la PM-euse. Mais oui, if you so wish. You can bring your Japonaise friend and the construction heiress as well, as I understand you are spending a great deal of time with them.”
“I’ll be sure to let you know who decides to come.”
“Gregor will take whoever you wish along with you.”
“Thank you.”
Her mother stopped and smiled sadly at her.
“I am so worried about you and this terrible event. But you seem to be able to handle these things so well. So much better than Tommy. He would be a wreck.”
“I don’t know about that.”
“I do. He takes after his grandmere, and you know what she is like.”
“He always took care of me.”
“He pretends well, but trust me, I spend far more time with him, time I would gladly trade for more with you.”
“I’m sorry…”
“No, no. No sorrow. I am pleased you are happy there. I am pleased you are finding a life in which you are happy. We will have more years to spend together, and believe me, I will make it a point to needlessly pester you and whoever you choose to inflict your companionship upon.”
“Inflict?” Leah’s eyebrows rose of its own accord.
“But of course, my precious jewel. You are already most troublesome and worrisome. But that is part of your charm and anyone will be glad to have it to him- or herself.”
“Herself? Is there something you know about me that I do not?” A frown devoured the surprise on Leah’s face.
“I am certain I do not know. Yet.” Her mother smiled at her, grinned like the Cheshire Cat. “Be well, my precious jewel. Please make Bethany’s life hazardous and difficult, and call me again soon. You have all my love!”
“I love you, too, Mother. Goodbye.”
The screen went blank as her mother vanished in a fit of girlish giggles and Leah flopped backwards on her bed. Nagisa appeared in the doorway with a timid knock.
“Please excuse,” she said. “You are finished to talk to your mother?”
“I am.”
“She is helping the interview?”
“No. My father is sending us some people to do that. They’ll be here tonight. My mother invited you to spring break with us. Do you have plans?”
“No, no plans. Just read a book. I hate read a book.”
“You can read a book on vacation with me. We’ll ask Penny and Maddie to come with us.”
“Oh, I am exciting! Where… where go we? Where go us?” Nagisa grumbled to herself and scrubbed her black hair. “We will go to what place?”
“We’ll decide together. Come on. Let’s go find Maddie and Penny. We have things to do first…”
***
Bethany agreed to let Anita take the lead during the press conference on the flight up to the Institute. The older woman had far more experience in front of the cameras and knew the lawyers employed by the other girls’ families. Together, they had everything organized before the plane touched down. As Gregor drove them to the Institute they called ahead to inform the proper authorities of their imminent arrival.
“I’m going to let you do most of the talking with the girls,” Anita said, putting her phone back into her bag. “Leah knows you better than me, and I’m assuming she trusts you more, so perhaps that will be best when we first arrive.”
“You’re still delivering the opening statement with the press.”
“I already have Rodney ready to ask the first question.”
“The others won’t like that.”
“That’s fine. I don’t like them much, either.”
The older woman had a smile on her face, softening her somewhat severe features. Bethany did not smile back but nodded knowingly. Gregor announced their imminent arrival and Anita pulled a knit cap back over her very dark hair. Bethany had let hers hang loose (she did not like it up on flights) but wrapped her scarf back around her head as Gregor parked and got out to open their doors. He helped them both out and escorted them up the walk to the Institute’s dormitory. When he showed them in through the doors another professional-looking woman in a tailored pants-suit Bethany knew too well greeted them.
“Welcome to the Institute,” Miss Paula said with a gracious smile. “How nice to see you again, Bethany.”
“Paula,” Bethany accepted her hand and gave it a stiff shake. “I should have known you would end up here.”
“Yes, it’s fulfilling work, if occasionally a little boring. You’re still picking up Mr. Stewart’s laundry and taking out his trash?”
“I’ve graduated to record-keeping and troubleshooting. Paula, this is Anita Blakesly, legal counsel for the Stewarts. Anita, this is Paula Bunt, residence director at the Institute.”
“A pleasure,” Anita said, shaking Miss Paula’s hand.
“The same. I’ll show you to Miss Stewart’s room. I believe the girls are gathered together. Preparations are underway to use the arena for the conference—“
“We were supposed to use the theater,” Bethany stopped them before they reached the stairs.
“The theater is booked. The arena is free.”
“That’s not what I was told an hour ago.”
“I believe Dr. Collins told you we would verify the availability of our locations before we committed to anything. We can’t guarantee the theater, since classes will be ongoing in the same building and the music school uses it for practice, but the arena is unbooked and the lighting will be better for everyone.”
“Understood.”
Miss Paula showed them to Leah’s room. She excused herself after the three visitors were inside, then Gregor stepped aside to stand guard on the door. She and Anita took stock of the girls before them. She knew Leah well, of course, recognized the conservative sweater but hid her surprise at the shorter skirt and knee-socks she wore, quite a daring look for the girl. Madison Carter, heiress to her father’s contracting and architecture firm (or at least his fortune), sat on the other end of the couch, her blonde hair pulled up into a ponytail with her legs crossed and a curious expression on her face. Between them sat Leah’s Japanese roommate Nagisa Utagawa, quite a hellion when she was younger now looking as prim and proper as anyone she had ever seen with her knees together and her hands resting atop them. But—
“One is missing,” Anita said. “Where is the PMer?”
“She didn’t want to be a part of this,” Leah said.
“They’re going to have questions for her. I’d really rather she was at least here in case they try to hunt her down outside the conference.”
“She didn’t have anything to do with what happened,” Maddie said. “Ralph, the guy who attacked us, he barely even knew she was alive.”
“That may be true, but it would really be better for us if she were here, especially since she's a PMer,” Bethany said, trying to sound a little softer than Anita. “Please call her.”
Leah glanced at Maddie and they sighed. Leah opened her phone and sent a message. Her phone blinked back on right away.
“She’ll be right here.”
“Good, thank you.”
Bethany watched Anita round the couch and move to the window where she stared out over the icy lake. She could feel Leah’s eyes on her and smoothed her hands down the front of her tailored pants. Then she could not stop herself from looking at the girl.
“How’s Father?”
“You spoke to him more recently than me,” she said. “He was still on the phone with you when I left.”
“He’ll be able to manage on his own for a few days?”
“He’s with your mother. They’re flying out to Charleston for the weekend.”
“Really.” Leah’s eyes widened.
“I’m told to get a response from you regarding your plans for spring break. I won’t be able to leave without it.”
Leah glanced at her friends. Maddie opened her mouth to respond just as someone banged on the door. Leah stood and opened it and the PMer stumbled in. Lean and petite and hiding it all under a hoodie and baggy exercise pants, she had an uncertain smile on her face and her short hair fell back over her face even as she brushed it back again and again.
“Sorry! I didn’t think you wanted me here.”
“Please have a seat,” Anita turned back from the window and smiled at her.
Penny nodded and squeezed herself down beside Maddie.
“Now that we’re all here, let’s go over your statements and talk about the scheduling and flow of the conference…”
Bethany found the girls more receptive to her words than Mr. Stewart ever was. They stared up at her with their big, inquisitive eyes, smiled when she made particularly clever remarks, and nodded at appropriate times. They read their statements, Maddie reciting hers by heart, and then she stared for a long, awkward moment at the PMer.
“I… I don’t have one. I’m not going to the press conference.”
“I would still advise you to attend, they’re going to want to ask you some questions as well.”
“I didn’t have anything to do with the… with the incident, though.”
“I was under the impression that Juliet, who was once a member of The Best Defense, was here at one point due to this incident,” Anita said.
“She was.” Penny did her best to meet Anita’s eyes, but the older woman was so severe.
“And they’ll know that. They’ll want to know more.”
“They can…” Penny cleared her throat. “They can talk to my embassy.”
Anita nodded and smiled. “Good.” She looked at the other three in turn. “Then if anyone asks we’ll be prepared to answer with that.”
“I saw Christoph out there,” Leah said. “I’m not sure he’ll be satisfied with that.”
“I’ll talk to him,” Anita said, glancing at Bethany. “But only if anyone brings it up. Juliet’s movements aren’t as closely watched as they were when she first retired. She’s been in Florida for nearly three years, she’s old news.”
“No one will care,” Bethany agreed. She looked down at the PMer. “We’ll coach you a bit tonight about how to act if anyone approaches you outside the conference. We’re here to make sure you’re all prepared.”
“Thank you,” Leah said.
“My dad is pretty glad you’re here for this,” Maddie said. “He does his best to keep us out of the media…”
“My father loves the media, and they love him,” Leah said, earning part of a smile from Bethany and a whole one from Anita. “We’ll get you through this.”
“I’m excited about it! I’ll bet Sandra would be too, if she was still up here.”
“This is a different kind of excitement,” Penny said, casting an anxious look at Anita. “I don’t like being on camera or in front of people like this.”
“Yeah, I guess you wouldn’t be,” Maddie touched Penny’s knee in sympathy.
“This would be in reference to…” Anita frowned down at the girls.
“Revenge porn incident,” Bethany said. “Leah was distressed about it at Thanksgiving.”
“I recall,” Anita’s face softened, becoming almost motherly as she looked down at Penny. “I had a similar thing happen to me during law school, a friend filmed me with our two boyfriends and then we had a fight over it. She ended up sending it to everyone not just at the law school, but to the entire university. Our boyfriends dumped us, she was expelled, and I was forcibly transferred to a lower-tier law school. In my first job I was known as “Miss Piggy” because pigs get spit-roasted. Sometimes I think Mr. Stewart only hired me because of all that, but I’ve never been able to prove it.”
“I’m… sorry?”
“It’s fine,” Anita laughed. “I suppose the moral of the story is you learn to live with it. But every once in a while someone new finds out.” Anita shrugged and smiled. “Oh well. C’est la vie.”
Bethany kept herself from gaping at Anita, but she did stare.
“Yes?”
“I didn’t know that about you.”
“Interesting. And you know everything about everyone.”
Bethany glanced at the girls.
“I’m sure you know everything there is to know about them.”
Leah stood up. “We should have dinner.”
“I made reservations,” Bethany said.
“So efficient,” Anita said, helping Penny to her feet.
“Is there anything to cover afterwards?” Leah asked.
“We’ll keep it more casual for dinner since we’re beginning to share very personal stories of ourselves,” Anita said. “And then we have a few more things to go over. Come. Gregor will drive us.”
The driver opened the door for them as they stepped into their shoes and shrugged into their coats. She and Leah were the last out, falling in step behind the rest of them.
“Father sent the Lincoln?”
“Yes.”
“Where is he planning on spending spring break?”
“They’re talking about it this weekend. That’s part of why he sent me away.”
“Mother will be glad to have him to herself for once.”
“He is all hers.”
“She still suspects you.”
“She can suspect all she wants. Your father has never once looked at me the way he looks at her. I can only imagine someone looking at me that way.”
Leah looked at her and Bethany wondered what this child was trying to do. Still, she did not look away, playing with the idea of actually doing with the daughter what she was accused of doing with the father. She touched Leah’s back, low, down near her bottom.
“Come on. We’re falling behind.”
They rushed out after the others into the cold northern air. She followed Leah into the third row of the SUV and shared a private smile while the others chattered away, Anita instantly discarding her serious lawyer role and the two-or-so decades’ worth of experience to become one of the girls. And in the back, Bethany pretended not to think about Leah while forbidden passion flickered to life deep in her heart.