Page 26 of Kill Your Darlings

“She’ssonice,” Cherry agreed.

“Would you like a drink?”

Cherry’s eyes widened.“Sure!”

I nodded to the waitress, who came in for another landing.Cherry ordered a Cosmo.I ordered a second Red Herring, as a preventive measure.

Cherry told me all about her flight, and I nodded and murmured encouragement when she paused for breath.In the background I could hear the constant refrain of Hayes.

“And don’t get me started on these nostalgic callbacks.Noir isn’t a mood—it’s a mirror.If your story isn’t holding up a cracked reflection of the cultural moment, then you’re just dressing up trauma in a leather jacket and calling it edgy.”

Good luck getting a word in edgewise to anyone on a panel with Mr.Hartman.

What in the hell did Finnseein that guy?

But then again:insightful.

What did that evenmean?

Our drinks arrived.This round, I paced myself.

“I’m a little nervous,” Cherry confided, two sips in.“I’m not really sure what I’m supposed todo.”

“No, no.Don’t be nervous.That’s for authors.In fact, that’s how you need to look at it.You’re basically here as a liaison for our authors.I’ve emailed you a list this morning with every attending author, their assigned panel topic, and when their panel is.It’s your job to get in touch with them before the panel and make sure they have what they need—”

Her lips parted.I said, “They’ll have what they need, don’t worry about that.Well, maybe someone will need a safety pin or a pen or a shot of bourbon.”

She giggled.“Asafety pin?”

“A hat pin?”I winked.“I don’t know.Basically, you’re just letting them know that we’re here to support them.We appreciate them getting out and promoting the books, which is what a conference boils down to.The better they do, the better the books do, the better we do.”

“Am I supposed to go to the panels?”

“Yes.”

“Really?”She looked ridiculously delighted.Had she never been to one of these before?

“Yes.Really.”

“What if there are two different—”

“Split the difference.Unless we’re talking a top tier author.I won’t be able to get to Finn Scott’s panel, so you sit in on that one.He’s an old hand at this, but check in with him and make sure he’s got whatever he needs.He will.Don’t worry.”

“You’renotgoing to Finn’s panel?”Cherry looked astonished.

Finn and I had not been nearly as discreet as we should have been.

“No.Another thing, if during the Q&A, our authors aren’t getting questions, throw them a couple of softballs.That’s probably not going to happen.I think I’ve seen it once in fourteen years.Oh, and at the end of the panel, remember to go up and tell them they did a great job.”

“I can’t believe I get paid to go to panels!”

“Well, it’s the usual stuff as well.You’ll be checking my e—”

“Your email?”She nodded.

“Actually, no.Don’t worry about my email this weekend.Don’t worry about phone messages.You’ll have your hands full coordinating everyone’s schedules and meetings.”

“But I’myourPA”