� ���"You've read about Estelle Klamath, then?� �� �
He snorted. � ���"The CEO of the travesty behind this charade? Why do you think I'm here? Before she was elevated to head shark, that creature ran herd on the call centers they're trying to staff up with this operation. She's a bloodless vampire, that woman is.� �� �
Margot took a picture. � ���"Mind if I quote you on that?� �� �
� ���"Be my guest. I actually spoke with her once, you know. Of course she was a lot more accessible when she was simply the highest level of management willing to deal with an irate customer. Or the relative of one,� �� � he corrected himself. He rattled the sign in his hand. � ���"This is really about my dad.� �� �
A wave of disturbance coursed through the protest as two things happened nearly at once. The first was the arrival of a second local video news crew, which was immediately surrounded by a good third of the protesters, for whom the story had now grown to include the corporate sidelining of the first one. The second thing was the arrival of quite a few armed and uniformed police officers from a different direction. One of them reminded Margot of Mr. Fischer, but when she looked back towards where the mall-walkers had been standing, they were nowhere to be found.
� ���"Hey!� �� � a voice called out over the din, � ���"leave them alone!� �� �
Sensing news in the making, Margot quickly excused herself and zigged through the loose crowd towards the disturbance. The police officers had started corralling some of the protesters, putting plastic cuffs on them and escorting them towards the exit. But the couple they were presently intent on adding to their haul weren't here to protest.
Mrs. Fischer looked terrified as she stood there with her arms tied behind her back, and her husband had just raised his fist in a foolish bid to protect her. � ���"Just what the hell do you think you're doing?� �� � he said loudly enough to stir an echo.
Almost without thinking, Margot raised her camera. She'd only had enough time to take two shots of the Fischers and one of the arresting officer when a firm hand gripped her shoulder.
� ���"Hand me the camera, ma'am.� �� � The baritone from behind her was an inflectionless monotone.
She craned to look. It was the corporate goon who'd pushed his cell phone at the first TV reporter. � ���"I'm with the press, sir. The camera stays with me.� �� �
He shrugged. � ���"It's your choice.� �� � Then he twisted her free arm behind her and pushed her towards a nearby police officer. � ���"This one, too. Oh, and hold the camera for us. Our lawyers will want to see it.� �� �
Margot clutched her camera and glared at the officer. � ���"You're not taking this camera.� �� � Then she turned to face the goon again. � ���"And where do you come off giving orders to the police, anyway?� �� �
He laughed. � ���"Where do you think, cutie? They're off-duty. It's our dime.� �� �
� ���"Hired?� �� � She quickly glanced around at the officers, and then squarely faced the one she'd been pushed towards. � ���"Then you can't arrest anyone, can you?� �� �
The officer shook his head. � ���"No ma'am, but we can detain you until an on-duty officer arrives to arrest you, or ask you to leave the premises.� �� �
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