The Efficient Journalist

 

The story-- "The Efficient Journalist"

"Go, Amanda, and cover the event of Will's criminality. And one more thing. Keep in mind that the news will be published in the Morning Herald tomorrow," Mr. Dawson, the Managing Director of the leading daily newspaper.

"Of course, sir, I'll abide by the deadline," answered Amanda.

 

She was a veteran journalist having lots of sources. For a long time, she had been working with the Morning Herald, and so, she was a reliable employee of the publication house.

 

Still, such an endeavour was for the first time in her life, since Will was a hardened criminal. His criminality knew no bounds. He was missing, yet every murder and every criminal offence was performed with his razor-sharp intellect and his age-old experience. Every crime was committed in the wink of an eye in utter silence.

 

"I've got to do this," Amanda motivated herself. But how would she perform the duty in time? There was no trace of Will, and at the same time, the matter of the deadline dropped her in great dilemma.

Lighting a cigarette, she again began boosting herself up, “I’ve got personal sources as well. I’ll give a phone-call to them all one by one.”

 

She took out the cellular phone from her bag, and was about to call her first source. Right then, it was like a bolt from the blue. She received a text message from one of her sources – “Found Will’s trace. Meet me behind the office. Can’t say anything more now.”

Amanda walked surreptitiously to the allotted place for more information. She found that it was Mr. Terry. She was delighted to meet him, but did not express it. She was indeed a furtive worker.

 

He, with his forefinger, made a sign to follow him. She did so in bated breath.

 

They both went to a distance beyond the view of the others.

 

He told Amanda, “By some tricks and sources, I have come to know that Will is in the Hill’s Cave right now. He has concealed his identity. However, he has fallen sick now........seriously sick. Dr. Abraham will take care of his treatment, but trying to keep the matter secret in the people’s eyes. The doctor has been threatened by Will, ‘If you, man, try to get clever, you’ll, for sure, be slaughtered.’”

 

Then Amanda asked, “How did you know all these?”

 

Keeping silent for a few seconds, Mr. Terry replied, “Don’t ask me anything more, for Will’s subordinates are mingled amongst the people everywhere.”

 

Lastly, he gave her a piece of paper and said, “Unfold and go through it in secrecy.”

 

Amanda, under a tree, in perfect solitude, unfolded the paper and found that Dr. Abraham’s contact number along with his name was written there.”

 

Giving him a phone-call, she settled an immediate appointment with the doctor.

She went to his chamber, talked with him regarding the matter, and finally asked for his help.

 

After a long time of her appealing to him, he agreed to her proposal.

 

“But will you go with me right now?”

 

Amanda replied, “Why do you ask this? I’ll act as your assistant or as your compounder.”

 

She got dressed up as his compounder and grabbed her cell phone.

 

They both headed there in the caves. Will asked Dr. Abraham, “Who is she?”

 

“My compounder.”

 

Will got an acute wound while going to murder the tenth man.

 

Both Amanda and Dr. Abraham came to know everything about Will gradually and slowly but surely.

 

Everything was known, but how would she send the report to the office?

 

It was two hours more to touch the deadline. Amanda and the doctor had already planned what to do. The doctor said, “Please give me the stimulating injection.”

 

 Amanda handed over, as per their pre-plan, an anesthesia of high dosage. Actually, the label was replaced by the doctor beforehand. Dr. Abraham pushed the injection. The injured right leg of the criminal became numb.

 

After realising this, while Will was about to shout, the doctor tied Will’s hands. Simultaneously, Amanda tied Will’s mouth in haste.

Wasting no moment she found a momentary safety. She began to type the news and sent it immediately to her Managing Director.

Will was not a man to yield to Amanda. He intentionally fell down and his bulky body created a great noise.

 

The accomplices came in and shot both Amanda and the doctor dead.

 

The next morning, the news was published with a big by-line of Amanda, but the gem was lost forever.

 

After knowing everything through the source of police, Mr. Dawson applauded Amanda’s selfless efficiency at the cost of her own life.