doorway. Grant only allowed the briefest of handshaking greetings before retreating behind his protective desk.
‘This meeting’s long overdue,’ announced the company president. ‘And mine’s the fault, for which I apologize. What you did about France was outstanding and I should have personally thanked you long before now. I told you at the seminar, I was expecting great things. I never imagined the proof would be so immediate…’ The man allowed the break. ‘And I also want you to know how very, very sorry I was about Ms Lang and what happened to you.’
‘Thank you,’ said Parnell.
‘I know you refused our legal representation. Your choice. But the offer that was passed on to you remains. Anything Dubette can do…’
‘That’s very generous and I appreciate it,’ said Parnell. ‘It’s France I want to talk about.’
‘You spoken to Dwight?’
Parnell shook his head. ‘Not since he came here. His office say he’s ill.’
‘On the very edge of a complete nervous breakdown, according to his doctor. And Dubette’s – Barbara Spacey as well – whom I’ve had see him.’
‘I had no idea,’ said Parnell.
‘None of us did,’ said Grant. ‘He’ll get every treatment, of course.’
‘Treatment?’ queried Parnell.
‘Hospitalization,’ said Grant. ‘Dwight’s seriously unwell. It’s going to take a long time. No one can predict how successful the recovery will be. He collapsed, apparently, when he got back from seeing me. A highway patrol found him talking to himself, on a lay-by, the car still running. They thought at first he was drunk.’
The mood switchbacks had always been unpredictable, but Parnell had never suspected Newton to be seriously mentally unwell. ‘There’s been nothing said… no indication… at McLean?’ Why, Parnell wondered, had Grant asked if he’d spoken to Newton if the man were as ill as this?
‘There’d been warnings, from his doctor. That’s what he came up to tell me. And to resign as research vice president.’
‘Resign?’ said Parnell.
‘He’d been with Dubette for more than twenty years. His contribution to the company is incalculable…’ There was another hesitation. ‘Can you believe, as sick as he was, coming up here to resign, he still managed to tell me of your concern?’
‘Yes I can,’ said Parnell, bringing himself back to the purpose – and the determination – of his being in New York. ‘I think it should be your concern, too. I’m not convinced the French mistakes have been cleared up. I tried to find out when I spoke to Henri Saby. He told me to talk to Dwight or to you. Dwight said it was still being recovered. Obviously there’s a lot still in circulation: thousands of doses, according to Dwight. There’s got to be a public statement, a warning. If there’s not and there are provable deaths, Dubette could be destroyed…’ Parnell checked himself, hearing what he was saying. ‘The deaths don’t have to be provable. People, children, will die if they take the medicines Dubette’s French subsidiary has put out on the market.’
‘I know,’ said Grant.
The simplicity of the answer – and the admission – deflated Parnell’s carefully prepared argument. ‘What’s being done?’
‘Newton said everything you’ve told me, although perhaps not as well,’ said Grant. ‘As I told you, I’m surprised that, as ill as he was, he managed to tell me anything. I’ve already spoken to France. They’re checking distribution. In any country from which there’s not been full recovery, a warning has been issued, through national governments to health authorities and quite separately, through national and local media outlets. Nothing’s going to be allowed to remain unaccounted for.’
‘You really mean that… promise that?’ said Parnell.
‘Do you have the presumption to question me?’ demanded Grant, affronted.
‘It’s not presumption,’ said Parnell, unintimidated. ‘It’s a very real and genuine concern.’
‘Which is precisely what’s motivating me. And why I’ve authorized the action that I have.’
‘I…’ said Parnell, seeking words ‘Thank you. For the assurance and for doing… Thank you…’
‘Is it conceivable that I wouldn’t?’
‘No. I’m still glad to know it’s been done.’
‘You’ve proved yourself, Richard. Not in the way I expected, but in a way for which Dubette will be forever grateful.’
‘I see it as one of the functions for which I am employed.’
‘Dwight won’t be coming back,’ said Grant. ‘He’s resigned, as I told you. He’ll hopefully recover – he’s going to get every care and treatment to ensure that he does – but he’ll never be able to resume the responsibility of research director.’
‘That’s… unfortunate. Sad,’ said Parnell, at once aware of his own hypocrisy. Practically from his first day at Dubette he’d lost any respect for Newton.
‘I want you to take the position,’ announced the president. ‘You’ve more than proved your ability. And your integrity, here today.’
‘I couldn’t be more surprised,’ Parnell managed.
‘There’ll be a salary increase, obviously. And stock options. The lawyers will have to work it out, like they have to work everything out. I’m thinking in the region of six hundred thousand dollars. There’ll be travel opportunities, too. I don’t want another debacle like Paris. Part of your increased responsibilities will be to visit the overseas subsidiaries – make sure none of them ever come up with such a half-assed idea ever again.’
Parnell shook his head. ‘As I’ve said, I’m totally surprised. Astonished. I need time to think…’
‘I don’t know why, but of course,’ said the Dubette president. ‘At the stockholders’ meeting I’m going to announce Dwight’s prematurely enforced retirement. I want to announce your succession at the same time. I don’t want any vacuums.’
‘ You said to call. ’
‘ What was it?’ demanded Grant.
‘ Forensics, like I said. My thumb print was on the flight number. ’
‘ What did you tell them?’
‘ About the lost shipment. ’
‘ Not a problem, then?’
‘ Clarkson doesn’t think so. ’
‘ What about the other two?’
‘ Clarkson won’t let me speak to them direct. He’s spoken to their attorneys. He says they’re standing up fine. ’
‘ The FBI want to talk to me. ’
‘ They asked me about you. ’
‘ What did you tell them?’
‘ That we talked from time to time. About security. ’
‘ Which we do. ’
‘ Yes. ’
‘ Newton’s sick. Collapsed. He’s leaving the company. ’
‘ What do you want me to do?’
‘ Nothing. Barbara’s seen him. Thinks the treatment will wipe his mind clean. I’m giving the job to Parnell. ’
There was a pause from Washington. ‘ That going to mean any changes?’
‘ We keep dealing direct, you and I. ’
‘ What about the surveillance?’
‘ Lift it.’
‘ Maybe we should talk, after you’ve seen the FBI?’
‘ Maybe. ’
As before, the line went dead without any farewell.
