lords.
He’d only been fooled the first time, he reassured himself, because Charles had dropped in without warning.
They arrived fifteen minutes early for the start of the movie. His choice, Eva told him, whatever he wanted to watch. Then she raised her eyebrows over the flick he suggested-a brawling, manly epic filled with battles and slaughters-and argued for a different film, one that had received rave reviews, a blockbuster she coyly described as a warm old-fashioned western with a minor twist, called
They settled on a compromise, a forgettable romantic comedy with a pair of even more unexceptional stars. “So, how was your day?” Eva asked as they settled into their seats.
It was a weeknight. The crowd was sparse, so they had two prime seats all to themselves in the middle of the front row. They had come straight from work and met at the theater.
“Long, interesting, extremely profitable,” Jack said, noisily rummaging through a large box of popcorn poised on his lap. He’d missed dinner and this would have to suffice.
“What did you do?”
“Drove around town mostly. Bellweather has plenty of friends.” Very few of which they had met at their places of work, Jack might have added, but didn’t.
Bellweather and Haggar had given him an enlightening tour of the city’s hole-in-the-wall restaurants, splendid places to conduct illicit business in plain sight. By day’s end, Bellweather was suffering a murderous case of heartburn. Haggar twice had bolted from the table to contend with bouts of diarrhea. Making illegal deals apparently wasn’t for those with weak stomachs.
“Washington is a small town, at least among those that matter.”
Jack laughed. “So I’m seeing.”
“You sound disenchanted.”
“Then I’ve given you the wrong impression.”
“Have you?”
“Yes, I’m having a ball. It’s a side of democracy I never imagined.”
This was their second date since Eva dropped by his house that first time: they were beyond the getting-to- know-you phase, not quite at the I’m-very-comfortable-in-your-presence stage. After a moment, Eva said, “The rumors around the office are that you’re going to salvage our annual earnings.”
“I wouldn’t know about that.”
“It’s a very big deal, Jack. They say Bellweather is spreading around a lot of cash to set this up.”
Jack looked away. “Rumors like that are dangerous.”
“Oh, you know accountants. We always need something to discuss at the watercooler.” After a moment, Eva asked, “Is it true?”
“I wouldn’t know,” Jack lied. It was more than a lie, it was a mountain of untruth. To the best he could tell they’d spread around promises of nearly twenty million that day-seven to Earl Belzer, five to an obnoxious, boastful, crotchety senator on the Senate Armed Services Committee, then another eight distributed judiciously among a variety of think tanks and reputed watchdog groups, in return for vigorous vows to tarnish and smear the GT 400. Jack lost count of all the promises, all of the handfuls of cash to be laundered through third parties, then doled out to the usual array of PACs and 527s, the capital city’s equivalent of money laundering. Haggar, with his passion for numbers, made careful notes after each meeting.
At one point, Bellweather bragged to Jack that CG had a highly respected specialist in such matters, a magician who could make money disappear off the corporate books, then reappear in politicians’ pockets without a trace of its source.
Jack was too amazed to be shocked. They made it look so easy. No, it was easy. In only a few short hours Bellweather and Haggar had bagged two of the Hill’s most powerful legislators and arranged the almost certain sabotage of their most threatening competitors. At the bargain price of only twenty million bucks, they would rake in billions. So little capital for such a mammoth gain.
After a moment of tense quiet, Eva put her hand on Jack’s. “If I’ve gotten too personal, Jack, I’m sorry.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
“I am worried, about you.”
“Why should you?”
“Because I like you.”
“I mean, why worry?”
“This town is rough, maybe rougher than you think. Don’t let the smiles and backslaps lull you. You might be getting in over your head.”
Jack smiled. “In New York people cross the street when they see me coming.”
“Do they?”
“There are warning signs all over the city-watch out for big bad Jack. Mothers threaten their kids to be good or Jack will get you.”
“Oh, you’re
“Do you think they’re trying to hurt me or set me up?”
“I didn’t say that. No. As long as your interests are aligned with theirs you should be fine. It’s just that I care about you. I don’t want to see you get hurt.”
“Eva, this country prints billionaires like postage stamps. Why shouldn’t I be one? Besides, this polymer will save the lives of hundreds or thousands of soldiers. If we have to cut a few corners to get it into the field, so what?”
“Be careful. That’s all I’m saying.”
“I’ll start wearing body armor tomorrow, thank you.”
“And I’m offering my services,” Eva added, gripping his hand a little tighter. “I know these people, Jack. They’re sharks. Confide in me and I can help.”
“If I need a watchdog, you’ll be the first one I call,” Jack promised vaguely, but not the least bit unfriendly.
The movie was even worse than its reviews.
14
Morgan took an anxious step out of the cab and onto the curb at the corner of 10th Avenue and 53rd Street. He checked his watch-7:20 p.m. right on time. Charles had been abrupt and very demanding on the phone. Arrive by taxi, Morgan was told in a tone that brooked no objections. Don’t be a minute late. Come alone; no trailers, no wires, no funny business.
If Charles so much as suspected his instructions weren’t being obeyed to the letter, Morgan could stand on the street corner till the cocks crowed. Charles swore he would disappear, not to be heard from again.
Rivers and Nickels, the TFAC reinforcements, had landed as scheduled on the four o’clock shuttle at LaGuardia. They arrived hauling a briefcase stuffed with cash as well as a stern reminder from O’Neal not to screw this up. Martinelli and Tanner, the two snoops who had spent the past three weeks trolling the Wall Street firms, were also ordered to assist.
Five men. Four highly trained former government agents to back up Morgan, four hardened pros to make sure they learned a little more about Charles and his fabulous claims.
Morgan drew up the plan. It was well thought out. There were no objections from the other four. The idea was to trail Charles after the meeting, or, barring that, get a usable fingerprint, or at the very least a few good photos. Somehow, whatever it took, they needed to learn his real identity and the nature of his relationship to Jack.
The four backups were littered around the surrounding streets in a variety of poses and disguises. They arrived an hour early and picked out their positions with exacting care. Martinelli and Tanner were parked in
