CHAPTER TWENTY-TWOOne snowy Friday in mid-October 1974, Publisher Stephen Longstreet summoned Jesse to his office for a private meeting. Things had been going well for Jesse. His hitchhike series had been extremely well received. He was sure the publisher wanted to congratulate him on a job well done.
One step inside the office told Jesse this was not the case. Longstreet rose from his desk and motioned for Jesse to have a seat in the oak armchair across from his desk. Jesse realized the man was upset. His hair was graying around the temples, and his mouth and jaw were set in a tight grimace. He didn’t say a word. Instead, he turned his back on Jesse and stared at the wall as if he was looking out a window that wasn’t there. A deep chill ran the length of Jesse’s spine.
Longstreet had ne
