Switching it up a bit, with some background chapters laying the foundation for different plot twists later on. thanks for reading, guys. This has been an amazing ride only two days in!
A fierce rapping on the studio's door sent an assistant running apologetically to Thaddeus Bradley's side, wincing as the man gestured angrily to cut to a commercial break, before turning to the nervous young man. "What is it?"
"Sir, the FBI is here, at the door. They'd like to speak to you."
"Lovely." At a clap of Bradley's hands, his crew scattered, and he took a moment to adjust his fedora in a nearby mirror, before nodding for the assistant to lead the way. Indeed, as he approached, a furious rapping was sounding on the glass lobby doors, and Bradley resisted an eye roll. That laughingstock agent again, no doubt, with his pretty French arm candy who'd probably never even passed under a loop of crime tape to investigate a scene yet.
Lazily hitting a few keys and waiting for the beep of acceptance of his entry code and ensuing automatic opening of the high-tech doors, Thaddeus folded his arms, feigning a casual air and hiding a smile as Agent Rhodes toppled into the building, pressed as he had been against the doors. The visitor in question cleared his throat, straightening his coat and glancing behind him to make certain Agent Dray had followed him in, which she had, much less clumsily. He then nodded a greeting to Bradley. "Mind if we have a little chat about tonight's episode, Thaddeus?"
Bradley glanced at his watch. "We're only halfway there, Agent Rhodes, isn't this a little premature?" But he waved them after him as he started down the hallway leading to his office. Once everyone was inside and the agents had been waved to chairs, he remained standing, leaning against his desk and playing idly with a rubiks cube he picked up from the glossy surface. "What can I do for you?"
"We would like to speak to your guest tonight, Mr. Bradley," agent Dray began, ignoring the miffed look Rhodes sent her that she had taken control.
Rhodes cut in. "We have some important questions for her concerning the sudden emptying of Mr. Arthur Tressler's bank account."
"I'm afraid that's impossible, Agents." At their blank looks, Bradley grinned, setting the rubiks cube down and rubbing his hands together slowly, awaiting the next dumb statement that would inevitably come from Agent Rhodes.
"We do get television at the office, Mr. Bradley," the male agent began in a sardonic tone. "We can clearly see the Horseman Henley on your sound stage or whatever."
"Ah, but she isn't here. In fact, I've no idea where the charming lady is. You see, I don't have a guest tonight, per se. Rather, I have some guest footage that is being streamed to me live, and subsequently aired." He could envision the palm-to-the-face Rhodes was mentally giving himself.
"Could you explain a little more, Mr. Bradley, about where this is coming from and from who?" Dray took over again, a delicate brow arched as she questioned further.
"Well, I received an anonymous email asking me if I would enjoy reaping the benefits of a high-ratings episode that was guaranteed to garner viewers. Naturally, I was interested, and this person sent me everything I needed, assuring me the footage I needed would be streamed at the right time. I simply wrote up myself an opening monologue and some other tidbits, and the show went on. Is going on." He corrected, eyeing the wall clock again. Only five minutes had passed, and hopefully the show had ended commercials smoothly, with some guest narration to fill in his absence.
A minute or two of silence followed, and he had to stifle a bark of laughter at the look on Dylan Rhodes' face. He decided to throw him a bone. "You're welcome to examine our green room, agents, if you'll allow me to get back to my live show." At their mute nods, he snapped his fingers, and another assistant appeared to lead them away. Releasing a quiet sigh, Thaddeus Bradley straightened his hat again, striding briskly back to the airing control center.
Sometime later, Dylan Rhodes was nodding in resignation, uttering a thanks to the agent who had called him, confirming the signal that was airing Henley's footage was pinging off of several foreign countries, and tracking it had been met with a digital dead end. Even Agent Dray uttered a low "Merde" in frustration, and it was back to the drawing board. It appeared Bradley had no involvement in the Horseman abruptly appearing on his show to have her reputation destroyed, and almost certainly not by choice.
Thanks for reading, as always ~Bon
