I don't promise this will get any cleaner. There is another story in my life demanding attention. Thanks for being patient with me.

Chapter Twenty-Four:

Episode Nine:

Lonely Hearts: The Producers Tell All

Macy Tomlin and Faye Richards appear sitting in chairs angled toward Drake Rolland.

"Ladies and gentlemen, it is a rare treat to lift the curtain reveal to you the wizards behind the curtain: Macy Tomlin and Faye Richards."

"Thank you, Drake," Macy said.

"Thanks," Faye said.

"Now let's clarify the roles you have on the show," he said. "Both of you are credited as executive producers yet your roles are different. Would you care to explain, Macy?"

"Certainly Drake," she said. "I am responsible for the vision of the show. I have less to do with the day-to-day operations and more to do with marketing and signing off on budgets. Faye is responsible for managing the show. She works with production to create the dates, pick the contestants, and most importantly create a relationship with the Heart."

"Now Faye you were the one who picked Spencer right off a park bench in DC," Drake said. "Describe how that came about."

"Well, I was in town for my sister's wedding and walking across the mall when I saw him," Faye said with a smile. "I knew Macy didn't like any of the hearts we had chosen so I had to think quick. His appearance was different from anything we had had on the show. I introduced myself and said I wanted him to be our next Lonely Heart."

"He hadn't heard of the show, had he?" Drake said.

"He hadn't, which made him all the more appealing. The more reasons he gave for not being on the show the more I wanted him."

"What did you say to make him change his mind?"

"I challenged him," she said. "I dared him to take a risk and search for love while he was at a crossroads in his life. I didn't know for sure that I had him at the end but I know I gave the best argument I could give."

"Rumors have circulated among the tabloids that because of that, your two became romantically involved."

She laughed. "During one of our first conversations before shooting started was about my husband. I like to guard my privacy tightly. I don't wear rings because I'd rather be hit on than have someone know about my husband. But he figured it out just from our conversations."

"Let's jump ahead a couple weeks in the season," Drake said. "You were personally threatened by Ava and Mel. When was that?"

"I was taking the back entrance to Spencer's living area to discuss the vineyard date with Star. They claimed they were undercover FBI agents sent to protect Spencer. They needed to be the final two to guarantee his safety. They threatened to charge me with obstruction of justice and blackmail me if it came to that."

"What did you do?" Drake asked.

"I called Macy and we activated our Deep Throat protocols."

"What is that Macy?"

"It was a coded message system designed in the event we felt our show had been compromised. It was originally intended in the event a reporter became involved but we changed to fit the needs of Spencer."

"So, what did you do?"

"We had a discussion at a private location and then invited Agent Jennifer Jareau. She explained to us these were not undercover agents but agents who had been terminated and had formed a mercenary group with the intent of recruiting Spencer."

"The FBI trusted you to take down a possible terror group?" Drake said.

"We had agents in plain clothes among the crew at all times," Macy said. "Spencer's life was never in serious danger."

"How did you contact Spencer?"

"We used a couple different sources that are part of the magic of TV," Macy said with a smile. "You'll find out in the next couple episodes."

"Ladies, thank you for joining us in this candid interview," Drake said. "I don't know about you America, but I can't wait to see what happens next."

"It wasn't always fun, but it was never boring," Macy said.

"In the end, I'm just glad we did right by Spencer," Faye said.

"Can you drop any hints for the audience?"

"It is going to be a wild ride," Macy said.