Forecast (9 page)

“Much of the same in Oregon—Oregon—Ore …”

Rowie watched the monitor as she moved her arm around until she finally got it right.

“Oregon! And Washing—oops, there’s Washington. To think I topped my geography class at school. So, much of the same for Washington as this trough moves north … Oh, that’s south. North is … this way.”

She had it! This wasn’t so bad. She could do it. She grinned at the camera and then turned to acknowledge the imaginary map behind her … and tripped over her own feet.

“Owww!”

A collective gasp filled the studio … and then … silence.

No, no, no, no! Rowie lay sprawled across the floor, unsure how she could ever get up and face the camera again. Millions of people had just witnessed the most horrifying, embarrassing moment of her life. The seconds ticked by. The floor was icy cold, but she couldn’t bear to leave it. Shame wracked her body as she willed the floor to open up and swallow her.

*

The control booth was quiet. Everyone looked around at each other in shock. And then …

“Oh crap! Why isn’t she getting up?” Mac bellowed. “Get up! This is no time for a nap.” He watched in horror as Rowie finally peeled herself off the floor and straightened her skirt. “Go to a clip. Go, go!”

“Wait,” yelled Jess.

“No way,” screamed Mac. “Off, now!”

Jess noticed a change in Rowie. She looked embarrassed, scared, but seemed to be retreating somewhere she was sure of. She was moving into the same position she’d been in when Jess had first seen her outside The Grove. Jess was determined to go through with this. “Look, she’s doing something.”

Everyone watched as Rowie lifted her head upwards and her face became serene and otherworldly. Her lips, bow-shaped and pink, curved slightly in a smile that made the Mona Lisa appear obvious. Everyone in the tech-box fell quiet. The studio floor was still. Countless living rooms across America were hushed. Rowie had cast a spell and suddenly it didn’t matter that she’d messed up. She was just so beautiful to look at.

“What do you want me to do, Mac?” asked Taye.

Mac watched Rowie, mesmerized. “Fine, give her a minute … but be ready to pull the plug.”

Rowie spoke quietly, calmly, her nerves dissipating into a world she alone could see. “Torrential rain in the Philippines will cause flash floods. A heat wave is closing in on Northern Europe. It will be the hottest summer on record.”

“Oh, Christ,” moaned Mac, the spell shattered. “World weather? That’s a first. Michelle, find out if she’s right.”

Michelle jumped into action. “I’m on it!”

Taye spoke into Bill and Tina’s earpieces. “B&T, if she’s wrong we’re cutting straight back to you for damage control.”

Bill and Tina nodded in the control room TV monitors.

“Parts of Manila are already flooded,” said Michelle.

“What about Europe?” asked Mac.

“Temperatures in Germany and Denmark are off the charts.”

Mac turned to Jess. “She probably checked this out on the Internet earlier.”

“You know she didn’t.”

Mac and Jess watched as Rowie continued.

“Scattered storms over the Tri-State area today. Heavy rain over New York will pass within the hour. Skies will clear, but first …” She paused, as though confirming the information she was receiving, and then with absolute certainty: “But first a minor tornado will hit Manhattan.”

Mac looked like he was about to have a coronary.

Taye started to laugh, but stopped short when he saw Mac’s face. “Mac, have you got your blood pressure pills?”

Mac ignored Taye and turned to Michelle. “Is it possible?”

Michelle kept her eyes on the computer as she spoke. “The NWS hasn’t issued any warnings.”

“Does New York have tornadoes?” Jess wasn’t ready to dismiss Rowie yet. She couldn’t afford to.

Michelle searched for more information. “New York State, yes, but the city …?” Michelle tapped at the computer. “Yes, an F1 in Queens, October ‘85. Three on Staten Island: 1990, 95 and …”

“October, 2003, right?” Mac finished for her.

“Right.”

Mac’s eyes were steely. “Has there ever been a downtown tornado in Manhattan?”

Michelle gave Mac a look that said it all. “No.”

“Damn it, Jess. Another good idea.” Mac turned and watched Rowie finish up. She broke out of her trance and beamed at the camera.

“But don’t worry. The tornado will be small and won’t cause much damage.”

“How freaking fabulous,” mumbled Mac.

“I’m Rowie Shakespeare. Bill and Tina, back to you.”

Bill and Tina look stunned … and then recovered with big smiles.

“And there we have it. Might rethink that vacation in Europe, Bill. You know how you hate the heat.”

Bill raised an eyebrow. “More news after the break.”

Shin waved them out to a commercial and all hell broke loose. Tina stood and screamed at anyone who would listen.

“That really raised the bar on serious news broadcasting, Dorothy!”

Bill looked shell-shocked. “Who the fuck cares if it’s raining in Manila?” He turned to Shin. “Where
is
Manila?”

“Get her out of here. NOW!” thundered Tina. “I refuse to have my reputation sullied by that charlatan.”

Shin ran over to Rowie and unhooked her mike. “You’d better come with me.” He led her out of the studio. “Don’t worry about Tina. She’s a bitch to everyone. Are you okay?”

Rowie was shaking. “I don’t know. I think so. Was I that bad?”

“Tina will have to eat her words later when your predictions come true.”

“You believe me?”

“My grandmother is quite well-known around Tokyo for reading palms.”

“So you’ve been exposed to my sort of weirdness?” Rowie joked.

“Yes. Thankfully. Imagine being scared of it like Tina?” Shin rolled his eyes in mock-horror.

“Thank you, Shin,” said Rowie, grateful for his support.

“I’ve got to get back in there. Can you remember how to get to your dressing room?”

Rowie nodded. “I’m sure I left a trail of bread crumbs somewhere.”

Shin waved and disappeared back into the studio. Rowie heard footsteps and turned to see Jess marching down the corridor towards her.

“I’m sorry. I was awful, wasn’t I?”

Jess stared at Rowie, her eyes cold. “You had your moments. The world weather thing—you just knew all that?”

Rowie nodded. “Of course.”

“Surely you don’t actually believe a tornado will hit Manhattan?”

“I don’t know much about them. I just report what I see.”

There was an uncomfortable pause. Finally Rowie spoke. “I see. I’ll just get my things.”

Drew sat staring at the screen long after Rowie had finished. It was Jack who spoke first.

“I thought she was cute.”

“You would,” said Drew.

“She looks familiar. Really familiar.”

“Probably because you’ve met her.”

“Nah … it’s not that.” Jack gauged his friend’s mood. “You ok?”

“Why the hell didn’t someone mention the psychic thing?”

“Would you have listened? You were sold the minute you saw her.”

Drew lay back on his pillows and fought the urge to scream. “I approved her, Jack … without seeing a CV or a tape. I approved based on shapely legs and a gorgeous smile. Idiot!”

“You wouldn’t be the first man to succumb to such charms,” chuckled Jack.

Drew felt like he was going out of his mind, stuck in bed, unable to move. His life was falling apart around him and he couldn’t do a goddamn thing about it. He was trapped. He had pins drilled into his leg and was attached to a remnant from the inquisition. He was going crazy with worry, about his boat, his dog, and now that he’d seen Rowie at work, his job.

Drew’s work was important to him. Not the TV stuff, the fame and the money, but the actual science of it. He’d spent years trying to make meteorology accessible to the general public. And he’d never once used gimmicks.

Just last week, a teenage boy approached him outside the network. The kid was a science nut, totally enthralled by the weather. He told Drew he was going to be a meteorologist … just like Drew. The kid got it. He understood that Drew was a scientist, not a celebrity. He wasn’t at USBC for the perks or the fame. He was there for the weather, and USBC had the best reputation for delivering it properly. Until now. All his hard work was going to be shot down by one gorgeous redhead. He had every right to be upset.

“What am I going to do, Jack?”

Jack glanced at Drew’s leg and shrugged. “Not much you can do, Buddy.”

*

Angel turned the TV off and they sat quietly for a moment.

“Oh dear,” said Lilia. “Surely there’s something we can do?”

“It’s shocking,” whispered Petey.

Gwendolyn walked up behind Lilia and placed a hand on her shoulder. She knew how sensitive her daughter could be. “I’ve told you, when it floods in Asia, there’s nothing we can do.”

Everyone shook their heads in sympathy and agreed that they would all make a donation to Oxfam to help the flood victims.

Jess was on her way to Mac’s office for an emergency meeting when her cell phone rang. She checked the number and groaned. It was Drew. She considered letting it go to message bank, but he’d hunt her down. She knew him well … unfortunately.

She answered and tried to sound calm. “You obviously watched the news.”

His voice was low and measured. “I thought we didn’t use gimmicks at USBC.”

Jess paused and moved into an empty corridor. She didn’t need any more gossip about her and Drew. “Memo to Drew: weather forecasting is dull. All networks use gimmicks.”

Drew sounded genuinely shocked. “Not us. We take it seriously.”

“Don’t be naive. Why do you think you’re so popular?”

“Because I’m qualified.”

“Oh please! The viewers could give a shit about your credentials, Drew. It’s your pretty face that wins the ratings race.”

“Why her?”

“Correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t you approve her?”

“No one mentioned the Nostradamus thing.”

“So what
did
you base your approval on, Drew?”

Drew decided not to take the bait. He was the first to admit he’d been blindsided by the pretty red head. “Why didn’t you use Eva?”

“Because for some reason, I couldn’t get hold of Eva,” Jess seethed.

The light bulb went off. “Damn it, Jess. I thought we agreed it wouldn’t interfere with our work.”

All of a sudden, Jess felt guilty. Would she be treating Drew like this if he hadn’t dumped her? If he’d kept his zip shut with Eva? Probably not. “This has nothing to do with what happened between us,” she hissed.

“We’ve always been friends first, Jess,” Drew continued. “And I want to remain friends. I’ll do whatever it takes.”

Okay, let’s start by eloping to Vegas.
“What are you suggesting, Drew? Couples therapy?”

“I want us to work well together again,” said Drew. “You’re a great producer, Jess. It’d be shame if our ‘thing’ got in the way of your work.”

Thing?
“Don’t flatter yourself,” Jess snapped.

Drew was silent for a moment. Everything he said was coming out wrong. He tried a different tact. “Jess, I’ve worked my butt off to get where I am.”

“Haven’t we all?” Now Jess was pissed. She was the youngest of seven kids. By the time she reached all her milestones, there wasn’t a penny left to pay for them. Drew wouldn’t know struggle if it
bit
him on the butt, not compared to her, so how dare he speak down to her like this!

“I’m not saying you haven’t, but it’s my job and my ratings that are on the line here. A psychic weatherwoman? Geez, Jess … someone could have mentioned that one to me.”

“She came highly recommended.”

“But messed up anyway. Do you have any idea how it felt, being stuck in this bed, watching her screw up like that?” Drew was being as honest as possible. “I was a goddamn fool to get on that roof. It’s just I love my job. I only want the best. So watching that redhead tonight … it hurt more than my leg.”

Jess knew now was a good time to tell Drew that he wouldn’t have to watch Rowie mess up again … but she couldn’t say it. She didn’t want to admit she’d been wrong. Not yet, and especially not to Drew.

“Ask the doctors to up your morphine dose and it won’t bother you at all,” Jess baited.

It worked. Drew was riled. “Come on Jess, give me a break.”

“I thought you had one.”

Drew sighed. “Fine, if you could just keep me up to date … I’d appreciate it.”

Jess hung up and took a moment to pull herself together. Her hands were shaking. She refused to cry … she couldn’t. Not over him. Not any more. He had no right treating her like that. It was her job to get a replacement, and that’s what she’d done. If he’d refrained from playing chicken with a hurricane, then none of this would have happened.

Jess turned her phone off. She didn’t want him calling back during the meeting. The way she felt now, she didn’t want him calling back, ever.

*

Mac stood in front of the team and tried to contain his anger. This mess wasn’t their fault. Well, it was Jess’ but she was huddled at the other end of the table looking sufficiently sheepish. As much as he’d love to throttle her, he’d agreed to go the psychic weatherwoman route. An obvious moment of insanity on his part.

Besides, Jess was one of the best producers he’d ever worked with. She’d made some mistakes, but only because she’d taken risks. A lot of young producers didn’t nowadays. Everyone was too scared of losing their jobs, or worse, losing money.

Jess had guts. She could be a pain in the ass, but she had an edge he hadn’t seen for a long time. Her only weakness was that she obviously had the hots for Drew.

But then, show me a woman who hasn’t, Mac thought. “I want Eva Sanchez in place for tomorrow.”

Jess perked up. “Fine. But if I can just say, in my defense …”

Unbelievable! Didn’t the girl ever shut up? Mac cut her off. “If I were you, I’d zip it for a while.” Mac looked around the table. “Two options. We can pretend today never happened. Or we can hit all the network talk shows. Turn it into a national debate. ‘Psychic prediction—the big con.’”