10:31 p.m. New York City

Virginia didn’t have a choice. Get the Interview. The alternative was unacceptable. Unthinkable. All attempts to meet the Apostle had been rebuffed by the witch Drysdale. Her head ached. To add insult to injury, Drysdale had called Perry, thus destroying the last shreds of Virginia’s credibility.

She glanced around the tiny ABN office, seeking inspiration. And got perspiration. Near her, the phone waited, hot and damp from use. She refused to touch it.

Plan B. “Gotta have a Plan B, Gina,” her old man used to say. Despite her desperation, she smiled. His life was Plan B.

A garbage collector in a small Connecticut town, her dad never saw much of life beyond the gaping back hole of his truck. Sometimes, he would bring home presents for her mum. A busted chair. A dead radio. Sadie was the love of his life, even after she crashed their car, killing their eldest daughter, Olivia. Even after the guilt and despair destroyed her.

Virginia was certain that Olivia watched her. Heavy make-up cracking in disapproval. Well, too bad about you, Liv. You bailed years ago.

She shook her pounding head. Chewed aspirin. Tried to concentrate. Perry would be at her door any moment to discuss the logistics of the Interview.

Think, think, think!

When the knock came, Virginia had eaten more medicine. Head still throbbed, but the old man would have been proud. She had a Plan B.

“You’re going to do what?”

“You heard me!” Virginia snapped, irritated that her confidence had eroded so quickly. Worse, Plan B was losing its luster.

Perry unwrapped a fresh stick of gum. Virginia gritted her teeth. “Lemme get this straight,” Perry said, between chews. “You’re abandoning the interview with John the Apostle to become one of his Moonies?”

“They’re called Passionates and no, I’m not becoming one for real. Just pretending for the story.”

“What story? The interview’s what we want.” Perry clicked her gum. “The interview you swore you could provide—how’d you put it?—simple as ABC.” Perry spat the gum into Virginia’s recycle basket.

At that moment, Virginia was ready to shove her boss in with it.

“That’s why you were hired. Temporarily. Not for some half-baked undercover BS. Listen.” Perry’s eyes locked hers. “Without it, you haven’t got a prayer at this or any other network. Get that interview or get out.”

Virginia wanted to rip Perry’s head off. Instead, she breathed deeply. Turned on her trademark megawatt smile. “Look, every Tom, Jay and Ellen’s doing interviews these days. Why not be different? Picture it: the inside scoop and poop on the world’s most reclusive evangelist. I mean, just how many stigmatics are there, anyway? You could fit ’em all on the head of a pin.”
She was on a roll. “Besides, you don’t think you’re gonna get any kinda dirt by holding a camera in front of the horse’s mouth, do you?”

Perry eyed her.

Emboldened, Virginia plunged ahead. “Look, I know it can’t be done before Easter. After all.” She forced a laugh. “I’ll need a few days to seduce the guy. But I’ll have it right after.”

Her boss peeled another stick of gum.

Yes, yes, yes! Fingernails in her thighs, Virginia waited. This was her chance. Her Holy Grail. She knew she could do it. Come on, say it. Yes!

Finally, Perry said, “I want to make this very clear, Virginia. You’re on your own in this. ABN doesn’t condone what your going to do. Understood?”

Virginia held her breath.

Perry chomped, then added, “Just don’t forget…our deadline’s four p.m., Easter Monday.”

Yes!