*****
“Hello, Mr. Parker,” Downing said over the phone to the head of the company preparing the Beauregard for sinking. “Sorry to disturb you. I know you’re busy.”
“What is it, Mr. Downing? I am right in the middle of something, but I felt I needed to take your call,” Parker answered curtly.
“Well, uh, I’m sorry. I, uh, well the reason I called is, I just had a visit from an environmentalist who has been checking up on this project. She said she had just been out to the site where we are going to place the Beauregard and that it was actually an area of reef. I told her she must be mistaken, but I just wanted to confirm things with you.”
“She is clearly mistaken, Mr. Downing. I offered to take you to the spot for the sinking, but I believe you had a meeting with someone when we were going out there. The area is a barren patch of sand,” Parker said, sounding as patronizing as he could. Downing had had an interview with a writer from a national dive magazine about the project. Parker remembered exactly where Downing was that day, because he knew about the interview before he scheduled the trip to the site. He knew Downing would never pass up the opportunity to get his name in the press.
“Yes, I remember. And I told her that you knew exactly what you were doing and would never do something like that, but I just wanted you to know what was being said,” Downing said, backpedaling.
“So, does this environmentalist have a name? Do you know if she’s working with someone? Is anyone helping her?” Parker fired off, although he knew exactly who Andrea was and what she was up to. He had already checked her out and had his men talk to her. He was interested to know, however, if she was working alone or with some help. She had received some help from a man when Parker sent some of his workers to scare her off, but he didn’t know if that was someone helping her, or just a local with a knight-in-shining armor complex.
“Well, her name is Andrea Perez. She didn’t mention anyone local, so I think she must be alone,” Downing answered.
“Well, thank you, Mr. Downing for giving me the heads up about this Andrea Perez. Since we have nothing to hide, I’m not the least bit concerned about her, but I do appreciate the information,” Parker said, with a patronizing tone to a faithful servant. “I really do need to go now and take care of what I was working on.”
“Well, yes, of course, Mr. Parker. I’ll be by tomorrow to look over your recent progress. We’re very close and I’m very excited about diving on the Beauregard.”
“Yes, of course you are, Downing. We shall see you tomorrow.”
Parker hung up without listening for any further reply from Downing.