were in decline。 It was quartered downtown； in an entire high…rise； which it owned and which covered one city block。
Strictly speaking； the Los Angeles Post was not even in Los Angeles。 It occupied an aging four…story building in Sun Valley； near the Burbank Airport； within the metroplex but not within the L。A。 city limits。
Instead of a multiple…level underground garage； the Post provided an open lot surrounded by a chain…link fence topped with spirals of razor wire。 Rather than a uniformed attendant with a name tag and a weling smile； a sullen young man； about nineteen； watched over the ungated entrance from a folding chair under a dirty café umbrella emblazoned with the Cinzano logo。 He was listening to rap music on a radio。 Head shaved； left nostril pierced by a gold ring； fingernails painted black； dressed in baggy black jeans with one carefully torn knee and a loose black T…shirt with the words FEAR NADA in red across his chest； he looked as if he were assessing the parts value of each arriving car to determine which would bring the most cash if stolen and delivered to a chop shop。 In fact； he was checking for an employee sticker on the windshield； ready to direct visitors to on…street parking。
The stickers were replaced every two years； and Joe's was still valid。 Two months after the fall of Flight 353； he had tendered his resignation； but his editor； Caesar Santos； had refused to accept it and had put him on an unpaid leave of absence； guaranteeing him a job when he was ready to return。
He was not ready。 He would never be ready。 But right now he needed to use the newspaper's puters and connections。
No money had been spent on the reception lounge： institutional…beige paint； steel chairs with blue vinyl pads； a steel…legged coffee table with a faux…granite Formica top； and two copies of that day's edition of the Post。
On the walls were simple framed black…and…white photographs by Bill Hannett； the paper's legendary prize…winning press photographer。 Shots of riots； a city in flames； grinning looters running in the streets。 Earthquake…cracked avenues； buildings in rubble。 A young Hispanic woman jumping to her death from the sixth floor of a burning building。 A brooding sky and a Pacific…facing mansion teetering on the edge of ruin on a rain…soaked； sliding hillside。 In general； no journalistic enterprise； whether electronic or print； built its reputation or revenues on good news。
Behind the reception counter was Dewey Beemis； the bination receptionist and security guard； who had worked at the Post for over twenty years； since an insanely egotistical billionaire had founded it with the naive and hopeless intention of toppling the politically connected Times from its perch of power and prestige。 Originally the paper had been quartered in a new building in Century City； with its public spaces conceived and furnished by the uberdesigner； Steven Chase； at which time Dewey had been only one of several guards and not a receptionist。 Even a megalomaniacal billionaire； determined to prevent the dehydration of his pride； grows weary of pouring away money with the tap open wide。 Thus the grand offices were traded for more humble space in the valley。 The staff had been pared down； and Dewey had hung on by virtue of being the only six…feet…four； bull…necked； plank…shouldered security guard who could type eighty words a minute and claim awesome puter skills。
With the passage of time； the Post had begun to break even。 The brilliant and visionary Mr。 Chase subsequently designed numerous striking interiors； which were celebrated in Architectural Digest and elsewhere； and then died in spite of his genius and talent； just as the billionaire would one day die in spite of his vast fortune； just as Dewey Beemis would die in spite of his mendable variety of skills and his infectious smile。
'Joe！' Dewey said； grinning； rising from his chair； a bearish presence； extending his big hand across the counter。
Joe shook hands。 'How're you doing； Dewey？'
'Carver and Martin both graduated summa cum laude from UCLA in June； one going to law school now； the other medical；' Dewey gushed； as if this news were only hours old and about to hit the front page of the next day's Post。 Unlike the billionaire who employed him； Dewey's pride was not in his own acplishments but in those of his children。 'My Julie； she finished her second year on scholarship at Yale with a three…point…eight average； and this fall she takes over as editor of the student literary magazine； wants to be a novelist like this Annie Proulx she's always reading over and over again…'
With the sudden memory of Flight 353 passing through his eyes as obviously as a dimming cloud across a bright moon； Dewey silenced himself； ashamed to have been boasting about his sons and daughter to a man whose children were lost forever。
'How's Lena？' Joe asked； inquiring about Dewey's wife。
'She's good。 。 。 she's okay； yeah； doing okay。' Dewey smiled and nodded to cover his uneasiness； editing his natural enthusiasm for his family。
Joe hated this awkwardness in his friends； their pity。 Even after an entire year； here it was。 This was one reason he avoided everyone from his old life。 The pity in their eyes was genuine passion； but to Joe； although he knew that he was being unfair； they also seemed to be passing a sad judgment on him for being unable to put his life back together。
'I need to go upstairs； Dewey； put in a little time； do some research； if that's okay。'
Dewey's expression brightened。 'You ing back； Joe？'
'Maybe；' Joe lied。
'Back on staff？'
'Thinking about it。'
'Mr。 Santos would love to hear that。'
'Is he here today？'
'No。 On vacation； actually； fishing up in Vancouver。'
Relieved that he wouldn't have to lie to Caesar about his true motives； Joe said； 'There's just something I've gotten interested in； a quirky human interest story； not my usual thing。 Thought I'd e do some background。'
'Mr。 Santos would want you to feel like you're home。 You go on up。'
'Thanks； Dewey。'
Joe pushed through a swinging door into a long hallway with a worn and stained green carpet； age…mottled paint； and a discoloured acoustic…tile ceiling。 Following the abandonment of the fat…city trappings that had characterized the Post's years in Century City； the preferred image was guerrilla journalism； hardscrabble but righteous。
To the left was an elevator alcove。 The doors at both shafts were scraped and dented。
The ground floor…largely given over to file rooms； clerical offices； classified ad sales； and the circulation department…was full of Saturday silence。 In the quiet； Joe felt like an intruder。 He imagined that anyone he encountered would perceive at once that he had returned under false pretenses。
While he was waiting for an elevator to open； he was surprised by Dewey； who had hurried from the reception lounge to give him a sealed white envelope。 'Almost forgot this。 Lady came by few days ago； said she had some information on a story just right for you。'
'What story？'
'She didn't say。 Just that you'd understand this。'
Joe accepted the envelope as the elevator doors opened。
Dewey said； 'Told her you hadn't worked here ten months； and she wanted your phone number。 Of course I said I couldn't give it out。 Or your address。'
Stepping into the elevator； Joe said； 'Thanks； Dewey。'
'Told her I'd send it on or call you about it。 Then I discovered you moved and got a new phone； unlisted； and we didn't have it。'
'Can't be important；' Joe assured him； indicating the envelope。 After all； he was not actually returning to journalism。
As the elevator doors started to close； Dewey blocked them。 Frowning； he said； 'Wasn't just personnel records not up to speed with you； Joe。 Nobody here； none of your friends； knew how to reach you。'
'I know。'
Dewey hesitated before he said； 'You've been way down； huh？'
'Pretty far；' Joe acknowledged。 'But I'm climbing back up。'
'Friends can hold the ladder steady； make it easier。' Touched； Joe nodded。
'Just remember；' Dewey said。
'Thanks。'
Dewey stepped back； and the doors closed。 The elev