Manic Monday (The Jake Monday Chronicles #1)

  Chapter 7

  All That Glitters

  Gary pushed his glasses back up on his nose. Jake knew he had struck a nerve. Gary was the closest thing he had to a friend, but his access to information was Jake's key to getting what he wanted. Jake would punch him around if needed. He hoped that it would not come to that. It would hardly be fair.

  "So, you think Lars dreamed up that Russian excursion for the company's benefit while scheduling this side trip?"

  "I am sure of it," Jake replied.

  "I don't know, Jake. It doesn't make sense. Sinegem is one of our clients. Why would Lars authorize a hit on one of their corporate spies?"

  "I have no idea," Jake lied. "I was hoping you would know. Any information on Darius that would indicate that they would resort to violence?"

  Gary shrugged. He was dressed in his Sunday leisure outfit: loafers, faded jeans, white t-shirt and a button-up sweater. He looked like he had just walked off the set of “Leave It to Beaver.”

  "Your usual stuff. Typical corporate greed: mafia connections, price hikes, bribing state corporation commissioners, cooked books, and ten cent overcharge per customer every month on average. Of course those audits are third party and unpublished. Other than that, they have had three lay-offs in the last four years while the CEO, the board, and the executive officers have received pay increases and bonuses. Welcome to America, right?” Gary picked at his sweater absently and crossed his feet.

  "So, then two other questions come up. Why does Sinegem want to buy them out so badly? And, why does Darius want to resort to violence to keep their business? What is so important?" Jake asked.

  "Perhaps it is something with their R&D department. Darius has been granted half a billion dollars in federal funds to develop new fuel substitutes."

  "Half a billion dollars?” Money was a foreign substance to Jake. When he needed it, he had it. He did not try to accumulate it and thought little of it other than to buy things. When words like billions came into play, it changed the perspective.

  "Oh, did I not mention the government lobbyists?” Gary asked. He smirked.

  Jake scoffed.

  "Have they discovered something that Sinegem wants, maybe?"

  "I don't know. It would be a good question to ask them," Gary responded.

  "Which begs another question."

  "You mean why are we meeting Darius personnel on Galbraith property if we are supposed to be in Russia?" Gary asked.

  "Exactly."

  Gary shook his head. His face was drained of color.

  "Look, I don't feel comfortable thinking about what we are getting into. I need this job and all, but I like my life. I don't have some sick death wish like you do," Gary said.

  "What do you mean?"

  Gary tried to avoid his eyes. He got off the couch and crossed to the bar separating his living room from his kitchen. He had his back to Jake.

  "You know. Lately, you seem to be taking more risks than when I first met you. It's not like you are losing your skills, it is like you are trying to find your limits. I don't know. Maybe I am just scared is all."

  Jake was touched by Gary's compassion.

  "Are you scared of getting fired?” Jake asked.

  Gary smirked. He shrugged.

  "Not really," Gary said. He took a drink from a large glass of orange liquid. Jake suspected it was a Mimosa.

  "When did we become detectives, Jake? I thought our jobs were simple. I do all the tech stuff to make what you do possible and you do what you do. Simple. Bing, bam, thank you ma'am."

  Jake turned and looked out onto Gary's terrace. His apartment wasn't as modern as Jake's but it had a certain charm and a great location. The furnishings were simple but expensive. For all his technical savvy and his youthful interests, it seemed Gary had an old soul.

  "Maybe our jobs just became more complicated. It isn't our fault our boss is moonlighting our services to the enemy. We have to decide who we work for: Lars or Galbraith."

  "Those are awful choices, Jake."

  "That is the world in which we live, Gary. We need to stick together, though. Can I trust you to back me up?"

  "Of course you can."

  Jake wanted to trust Gary. His gut told him that it would never be possible. Gary had a second sense when it came to self-preservation. If push came to shove, he would betray Jake. Jake did not hold that against him, but at the same time, he knew to be cautious.

  "Good. Then I propose we play along as far as we can. We go through the motions, take the assignment, do our jobs, and see how we can muck things up to get the best effect."

  "See? That's exactly what I was talking about," Gary complained. He pointed to Jake with his glass. A little dribbled out onto the carpet. Gary was still a little tipsy from last night, Jake thought.

  "If we take a risk now or refuse the job, then we tip our hand. The connection between Lars and Darius cannot be exposed yet. We don't have hard proof," said Jake.

  "When has that ever been a requirement? There is no Supreme Court, no jury. It goes to the top, and heads roll, regardless. No one is immune, including the whistle-blower."

  "Exactly. They are as likely to persecute the messenger as they are to heed the message. We're better off waiting for someone to get caught in public with their hand in the cookie jar."

  Gary frowned.

  "How are we supposed to do that?" Gary asked.

  "We are in dangerous territory either way, but technically, Sinegem has not fired Galbraith yet. Maybe I can seduce Giselle into convincing Sinegem into firing Galbraith on grounds of breach of contract."

  "You seduce Giselle? Don't you mean the other way around? She is too much woman for even you."

  Jake smiled at that. Gary was not wrong.

  "I trust you had a good time after I left?"

  "She talked about you all night. She wanted to know if you were really a killer for hire."

  "She doesn't believe I could be?"

  "Most people don't, Jake. That is why you are so good at it."

  He had not thought of that before.

  "Interesting," Jake replied.

  Gary finished his drink and sat back on the couch. He looked defeated. Deflated. Desensitized.

  "So, you think that we should go along with Lars' plans without questioning him. Don't you think he will find that suspicious?"

  "We can make it sound as though we understand what his motivations are. Perhaps we should ask for a cut of his take."

  "With what you make, he will just laugh at you. You have no room for greed."

  "Unless I want to own Galbraith itself, right?"

  Gary laughed.

  "So, what's in it for the Director? Why is he taking these risks running an operation against a client right under Mr. Galbraith's nose?"

  "It certainly isn't for money. Like you said, we are compensated well enough to extinguish all but the most avaricious. I understand that Lars has a son and that he is his contact within Darius. He must have a special bond with him," Jake surmised.

  "A son? I did not know that. This changes things. Where did you get this information?"

  “I have my sources. You never tell me where you get yours, so we’re even,” Jake said.

  “Fine. What do you know?”

  "I know he went to the University of Connecticut to study civil engineering. I know he was raised by his mother in upstate New York, know he was hired by Darius three years ago, and that is about it. I have tax returns, cell phone records, and Christmas card lists. Nothing points back to Lars. He supposedly hasn't seen the young man since he was five."

  "That doesn't make any sense. Why would he cover up his own son’s existence?" Gary pondered.

  Jake shrugged.

  "We know the contact exists, we just don't know the form. It doesn't matter. The best idea for us is to protect the interests of our employer. In the process, we can save our own hides,” Jake explained.

  "So, you expose this to Galbraith who in turn blows the whistle as if
they provided the information. That could work. The only thing is…"

  "You don't trust the whole team," Jake interjected.

  Gary looked at him, his face set.

  "Violet has it out for you, man. You embarrassed her. That doesn't set well. As communications director and liaison to Lars, she is in a position to hack your plan to pieces."

  "It's a chance we will have to take. Besides, Violet isn't the only one we have to worry about trusting."

  "Sam?"

  "No. Giselle."