“We will go to our own Nathan Oswalin for our next story. He had the chance to interview a world-renowned graffiti artist,” Janet said with a professional smile. 

She could hear Nathan in her earpiece as the story cut to him and the graffiti artist. A moment later, the director motioned to cut. 

She quickly pulled out her water and took a swig. It was five minutes before she’d be back on the air. A television played just off stage. 

“That’s right, Janet. Channel Nine News was lucky to catch up with the world-renowned graffiti artist Regan. Miss Regan, thank you for taking the time to interview with us,” he said, holding the microphone to the artist. 

Janet watched the woman push back her black hair. Her hand left a trail of vibrant colors into her raven locks. The artist smiled prettily at the camera. “The pleasure is all mine. I was working on my latest piece in town and would love to discuss it.” 

The camera panned to the wall outside the newly built bakery. Regan was not just a graffiti artist; the mural she painted had a variety of colors, landscapes, faces, and hints of random hobbies. But it all swirled around a single name, Derek. 

“It’s an interesting piece. What made you paint it?” Nathan asked.  

Janet wanted to roll her eyes. It was such a rookie mistake. Had he done any research on this artist before conducting the interview? 

Regan didn’t look bothered by the question, but there was a slight twitch in her eye. “The reason I paint is to bring voices to those that have been silenced. There are too many missing people in this world. This mural is dedicated to Derek. He was a great man who loved his family, coffee, and visiting the tropical states whenever possible.” 

Janet stood and walked over to the television to get another look at the piece. The faces painted on the brick must be his family. The hobbies must have been his favorites. The tropical paradise in the background must have been his paradise. 

“Are you worried about the weather and the wet paint?” Nathan asked. 

Regan laughed. “Oh no, it’s dry as a bone. I was helping the owner paint inside. I try to do my best to help the community despite how busy I get,” she said with another smile. 

“Isn’t it odd?” A cameraman asked beside Janet. 

“What? The woman is working to boost her fame and get more attention on missing people. What’s odd about that?” She asked. 

The cameraman stuffed a small sandwich in his mouth, and Janet’s stomach rumbled. She skipped breakfast this morning by running late to work. 

“That’s all fine and what not…” he said, licking the mustard off his wrinkling fingers. “By why is she referring to him in the past tense?” He asked. 

Janet arched a sculpted brow. “Because he is missing? Missing people rarely end up being found alive. You’ve been here long enough to see how many stories we do on it.” 

“Live in two minutes, Janet,” the voice called over her earpiece. 

The cameraman shrugged and watched the little woman smile and sweetly talk about the missing man. “There’s something off about this story. I feel it in my gut.” 

She tapped his shoulder. “Maybe lay off the mustard, Frank. Then your gut won’t feel so bad,” she chuckled before sitting under the studio lights. 

Just off to her right, she watched Stew straighten his tie before the green screen. He caught her eye and winked. 

“Live in 5, 4…” Janet heard in one ear as Nathan finished the last line of his story. 

“There you have it, Janet. This lovely artist uses her talent to bring attention to the most needy. Back to you,” he said. 

Instantly, Janet’s teleprompter started scrolling. She smiled. “Thank you, Nathan, for that colorful report. What will this weekend bring in terms of the weather? Well, get to that in a moment. But first, a love story from the mayoral office to the altar. How two opposing candidates found love on the campaign trail.” 

Janet waited a moment before the prerecorded story started rolling. She didn’t leave her seat this time but watched from the news anchor’s desk. This interview had been one of her favorites. 

Both Frank and Stew watched as well. It was going to get her the end-of-year bonus. Who didn’t like a story about a Republican and Democrat putting aside their differences and falling in love? It taught coexistence and unity. Wasn’t that the American dream?  

Meanwhile, all her co-anchor had to show was an artist making murals. It was a nice story but didn’t hit like the way hers did.  

The story ended and cut to Stew. He stood before the green screen, pointing at a few spots. Janet was always impressed he knew what he was pointing at.  

“There is quite a storm brewing over the area tonight. This may be the last big summer storm before we can expect the fall weather to set in. Back to you, Janet,” he concluded. 

Janet smiled. “Thank Stew, I’ll be sure to bring in anything that could blow away with a storm that strong stewing,” she said, improvising a bit. 

No one laughed, and she pretended the joke didn’t fall dead. Instead, Frank picked up another sandwich and ate it behind the camera. Janet was sure he was doing it to spite her. 

Just as the day was winding down, Nathan returned to the studio a few hours later. The first rumbles of thunder started to shake the building as he arrived. They both watched as Stew and his team suited up. They would be going out into the storm to report the damage. 

Janet walked past Nathan towards her dressing room. “Your interview was nice but not nice enough to secure the bonus.” 

Nathan stopped outside his dressing room door. “We’ll see about my story. Yours was cute, though. I’m sure it gave the viewers all the warm and mushy feelings.” 

Janet scowled. “My story was the perfect showcase of politics and heart. It’s not something usually seen in today’s culture! It could be the start of a turning point in our nation!”  

Nathan arched a brow. “It was a mayoral election for a small town. It’s not going to change anything except maybe the town’s slogan. That’s not going to snag you the bonus.” 

Thunder rumbled. 

“And your story will? It was about a graffiti artist and some missing people. I wouldn’t call that earth-shattering.  

“I’m a betting man, Janet. And something tells me to trust my gut on this,” he said with a wink. 

Janet stared, dumbfounded. “Have you been talking to Frank?” 

“Of course, why wouldn’t I?”  

“I wouldn’t trust Frank with my lunch. Let alone the story that could get me my bonus,” she said, shocked. 

Nathan shrugged and walked into his dressing room. Janey followed suit. She might be able to get a quick nap before she had to get back on air. 

Summer storms were always hard to guess. Sometimes it was nothing. She would take a nap and then drive home. At other times, she was in the office reporting any news from Stew’s team. What would today bring? 

Janet idly played with her phone as she walked into the dressing room. It would be better to catch a nap while Stew’s team got into position. But the way the thunder shook the building, the storm was coming in faster than any of them believed. 

An intern frantically knocked on her door. Nathan zoomed past them towards the anchor desk. “Sorry to both of you, but they want you on set.” 

Janet didn’t bother to wait and pushed past the intern. She wouldn’t let Nathan make it look like she was late. She was glad she didn’t try to take that nap; it really would have made her late. 

Janet and Nathan got to the news desk as they finished prepping the set. Stew’s team must have been in position. 

“Alright, you two, we have the teleprompters ready. Let’s get this party started,” the director said. 

Janet and Nathan took their seats and plastered their smiles onto their faces. The lights came on, and she watched the countdown as the people around them quieted. Frank turned the camera to them. 

“Good afternoon; we are interrupting your programming today to bring you the latest on this brutal summer storm,” Nathan said with a dashing smile. 

“That’s right, Nathan, we have our storm chasers on the ground, ready to tell us what is happening. How are things looking out there, Stew?” Janet read from the teleprompter. 

The feed cut to Stew as he stood before Regan’s mural. Janet looked over at Nathan. Was he genuinely trying to get more action on his silly art story? He hadn’t even researched it before the interview, and now Stew used it as the background. 

Nathan saw her glare and shrugged. 

Stew was in his blue rain jacket, and she could hear him explain what was happening over the wind and the rain. Summer was giving them one last dozy of a storm. She and Nathan watched the screen as they turned the camera away from the mural to show the park with the mighty oaks swaying heavily in the wind. 

“We will be heading inside in a few moments as the storm is strengthening and making the perfect conditions for a tornado. Our weather team at the station will keep us updated as things progress,” Stew said before a loud crack sounded over the microphone. 

A look of shocked horror crossed his face. Janet and Nathan could only watch as he dove out of the way. A giant oak snapped and came crashing into the newly finished mural, just missing Stew. Brick crumbled under the impact, destroying the mural. 

Janet smirked. “There goes your story.” 

Nathan rolled his eyes as they waited to see if Stew was alright. 

Stew stood, clearly rattled, as he clutched the microphone. “As you can see, being out here is very dangerous,” he said, looking behind him at the broken wall. “What is that?” he asked suddenly. 

Both he and the cameraman moved to the wall. The mural had crumbled to showcase a cemented body in the wall. Janet gasped. It wasn’t a worker taking cover. This person had been entombed in the wall, and from the looks of it, it had been for a while. 

Stew jumped back, but the cameraman zoomed up on the tattered shirt. The once blue button-down shirt had the name tag sewn onto it. A single name glistened in the rain and lightning: Derek.  

Janet’s jaw dropped open, and they looked at Nathan. He gave her a grin as they received a countdown in their ear. Janet forced a smile but inwardly cursed. She couldn’t understand how he went from covering a silly artist who painted the names of missing people in murals to this. The missing man had been found in the wall of his memorial piece! It would also break headline news in the town and at a national level. 

Frank stood behind the camera and caught Janet’s eye. He patted his stomach and gave her a grin. She scowled but fixed her face as Nathan started thanking Stew and asking if he was alright. Janet watched him with a smile but wanted to tear out her hair. She lost the bonus to him because of his low-profile story and one freak summer storm.