Chapter 1
Favio Fearless, the notorious late-night TV host, was holding court in a bar close to the studio where he and his production crew had just completed recording his latest controversial, interview with yet another unsuspecting guest. The walls of the bar were covered in publicity photographs of celebrities, past and present, who had appeared on shows recorded in the same studio that Favio taped his shows. As was their want, once recording was completed, Favio, the producers and camera crew would retire to the nearby bar to discuss how well the recording of that night’s interview had proceeded. At 11:00 PM one of the previously recorded episodes of their show would be aired on the network. The bar they frequented had numerous TV screens and the group would watch the program alongside the patrons of the establishment and the team would gauge their reactions to the interviews. Favio was sitting on his usual bar-stool at the corner of the bar, nursing a double scotch on the rocks. He was surrounded by the other members of his team, all of whom were isolating various snippets of the interview that had recently been recorded, vying for the ones they felt were the best. Favio was smiling at the remarks being made and it certainly sounded like another successful evening’s work had been accomplished. Which was pleasing to hear, as his program had recently been syndicated which put much more pressure on him to maintain the standard. At precisely 11:00 PM, the chattering stopped, and all eyes turned to the various TV screens located around the walls of the bar. Favio was smiling in anticipation of positive reactions from the bar’s patrons. Favio was a well-built man, physically fit, 6’ 2” inches tall, sharply dressed in a made-to-measure suit, shirt and tie. He was a handsome man, dark blonde hair, blue eyes with sharp features that lent themselves to the small screen.
The familiar music, introducing the Favio Fearless show was played and Favio appeared on the screen to introduce that evening’s guest. His guest on this particular show, that had been recorded a few days earlier, was George Fleming, whose claim to fame was the various books, YouTube films, and blogs he had created regarding a Vegan lifestyle and his opposition to animal cruelty during the manufacture of foodstuffs and cosmetics.
The interview proceeded along, following a familiar pattern, simple questions leading to a general understanding of the guest’s background. Then Favio began to give plaudits to the man’s tireless campaign on behalf of defenseless animals, a cause that he himself genuinely supported until suddenly, he began to backtrack and went for the throat. As usual, the barb came in a way that the unwary guest did not anticipate coming. During this particular segment, Favio produced a checkbook and said that he wanted the audience to participate in a collection to be made right there and then. He would match the sum of the audience’s contributions and give it all to Mr. Fleming’s animal charities, plus any donation that Mr. Fleming was also willing to make. Not wanting to miss out on such a lucrative opportunity, Mr. Fleming produced his wallet, which was his biggest mistake of the evening.
The wallet that Mr. Fleming produced was one made of leather and that was used as a springboard for Favio to highlight the man’s hypocrisy. Obviously, Favio’s investigative team had researched the man’s background and knew not only of the wallet, but many of the man’s other possessions. Artifacts, clothing, accessories, and shoes owned by Mr. Fleming that were made from animal products. Then, of course, there was his sports car with the seats, steering wheel cover, and gloves, all made from leather. The patrons in the bar were relishing Mr. Fleming’s discomfort as Favio unleashed his typical verbal affront. Then he theatrically withdrew his checkbook and continued to admonish his guest.
At the end of the show, the patrons in the bar all cheered and applauded, some looked across at Favio’s team and raised their glasses in salute. Favio and his team knew then that it had been another successful interview. Favio finished his drink, picked up his coat and briefcase, bade his team goodnight and went outside where he was met by a chauffeur who held open the rear door of a limousine to take him home. On arrival at his apartment building some twenty minutes later, Favio left the vehicle and walked over to the security door where he used his access key to enter the building before walking over to the private elevator that would take him up to his penthouse apartment. He waved briefly to the two security guards who were seated behind a desk in the foyer and they gave a polite wave back. It was 1:30 AM and the security guards weren’t to know that they would be the last people to see Favio Fearless alive, except that is, for his killer or killers.
Thursday 17th May 2018
