by Tom Corbett
His private reflections were cut short by the ringing of his cell phone. He should have turned it off. Glancing at it, he saw a very familiar name, one that took him a bit by surprise. For such a public man, Christopher Crawford had the instincts of a hermit. He would prefer to unplug his phone and stay within his own thoughts. After all, there were many great thinkers who argued that reality was little more than an extension of our own consciousness. Perhaps he could shape what was out there into something that better met his expectations. But alas, he could never quite make the break, not when his younger sibling was calling.
“Kat?” Chris uttered with a slightly concerned tone.
“Yes, you got it right. It is your second favorite sister calling. Did I catch you at a bad time?”
Chris glanced at his watch and did a quick calculation. Why was the new titular head of the sprawling Crawford financial empire calling at this hour? It must have been the middle of the night in Chicago, or maybe terribly early in the morning. Still, nothing surprised him any longer about this sibling. As they grew up, she was the quiet one, almost invisible. He would tease her but very carefully for a guy whose wit rarely failed to take prisoners. In her case, though, he always feared that he might wound her vulnerable psyche. Yes, that was it, she seemed fragile as a young girl, with the most tenuous grasp on her own identity.
Time would prove that they all had miscalculated her. Unknown to him, and the others, she had been watching, absorbing, learning as the patriarch of the Crawford family, Charles Senior, appointed the eldest son as heir apparent to the family throne. She agonized as this ill-considered decision ended in tragedy and the rather predictable suicide of her eldest brother. All knew that Charles Junior, or Chuck, would break under the weight of this familial obligation. He was a poet, not a ruthless businessman. Kat remained closest to the eldest sibling while the twins in the middle had fled the family tensions in one way or the other, Chris to England and Kristen (or Kay) to a brutal medical career as an ER doctor in Chicago’s busiest public hospital. Kat remained physically close to the family and thus could see the Greek tragedy play out to its inevitable denouement. Inside, she seethed at the man she felt bore the true responsibility of Chuck’s suicide. Even the normal aspect of her father’s demeanor, his easy arrogance, grated her sensibilities, often repelling her outright. To her mind, it was as if Charles Senior had put a gun to her sweet brother’s head and blown his own son’s brains against the wall. The shock of Chuck’s passing did something to what had early on been a shy, retiring girl…the one whom seldom left a footprint in the family drama. After her eldest brother’s demise, Katerina ‘Kat’ Crawford emerged from her cocoon, rallied the remainder of her family around her and then seized control of the family enterprise. Chris had watched in amazement. He knew his younger sister much better these days. Her accomplishments no longer surprised him. One thing was certain: he knew that this would not be a casual call. Of that, Chris was sure.
“No,” Chris responded, “not a bad time at all. Just pursuing truth as usual, you know, unraveling the secrets of the universe to expose the face of God.” He chuckled inside at his clever turn of words which, he admitted to himself, he had stolen from his favorite television show: The Big Bang Theory. “There never is a bad time for you, I can always wait until this afternoon to solve the world’s most perplexing conundrums.” Chris’s weak witticism evoked a laugh on the other end of the line, which relaxed him. Still, he wanted to confirm his quick assessment. “So, I take it that nothing is wrong.”
Her tone remained light. “If it were something awful, I would have an underling call. I delegate all crap to my lackeys these days.”
“Bullshit,” he chuckled, knowing she would get serious in her own time. “I just find it fascinating that you are still up at this hour. I thought you were an early-to-bed gal?”
“Not so much when Ricky is gone, nothing to go to bed for. By the way, fair warning: I got a text from him that he is headed your way, might already be there.”
“Too much information.” Chris joked, “no need to fill me in on your sex life or to ruin my day with news that I may soon have to endure my brother-in-law’s attempts at humor, always at my expense I might add.”
“On the topic of sex,” her tone remained playful, “has Amar dumped you yet?”
“Hah, my devoted spouse worships the very ground I walk on. Her fawning adoration sometimes embarrasses me.”
Kat laughed aloud. “Dear brother, if you are embarrassed, it is because you finally understand that she settled for a loser with delusional thoughts about himself.”
“What?” He feigned shock. “She’s fallen for someone else?”
“Oh, sweet Chris, you’ve always made me laugh. I miss that. You’re not much good for anything, but you do make me laugh.”
“That is me, all the gals say I am one big joke. By the way, where exactly is my favorite brother-in-law? Is he really coming to merry old England?”
“That is what he told me. He has been traveling abroad for a bit to make the Crawford empire even more money. Heading back now but has time for a short visit with you.” She paused. “Maybe that was supposed to be a surprise. In any case, you do know that he’s very talented, and not just in bed. Why in heaven’s name did he befriend a loser like you, a mystery for sure?” Kat decided to switch topics before they descended into another round of good-natured insults. “And Azita, how is my favorite niece?”
“All I can say,” he now sounded rather serious, “is that if anyone told me being a parent could be so rewarding, I would have tried it earlier.”
“Hmm, and all I can say is that if a loser like you can do it so well, maybe I should give it a try.” Kat then cut off what she knew would come, his encouragement in that direction. “However, there are things to do before we go there, things to do.”
Chris sensed the change in her voice. “Ah, to the question, finally.”
“Soon. First, tell me where Azita is thinking of continuing her medical studies?”
“I assume here, in Oxford or London. She loves it, we all love it. You don’t have to worry about being gunned down in the streets by some whacko, you know like what happens all the time in Kabul or Chicago.”
Kat paused, Chris braced himself just a bit. “And speaking about Chicago, or America at least, has she considered coming here for her future studies? It would be an internship next, right?”
“Why in God’s good name would she go over there?” Chris waited for a response but heard none. He could not quite believe his sister was struggling. “Shit Kat, you have an agenda, don’t you? Come on, spit it out.”
“Damn, can’t fool you. Guess that is why you are the Rhodes scholar.”
“And you can forget the flattery. I already know I am perfect. What is it, Kat?”
He heard a heavy breath. “Jules was here, she just left in fact. Before you ask, just let me get this out. First the bad news and then, depending on your view, the worse news. The bad news is that she and her husband are splitting, taking time off as she says. It is supposed to be temporary but my instinct as a woman…”
Chris cut her off. “Why the fuck didn’t she call me if there were problems? I knew nothing. Fuck, I would…”
Sensing a small tirade coming, Kat broke in to stop him. “Rule number one, stop with the fucks. Your talking to a lady here. Okay, forget that lady thing. Listen, she just didn’t want to bother you, she feels you have your own life now, blah, blah, blah.”
“Oh fu…fiddlesticks. She’s been my best friend, like since forever.”
“Time to pull the ego in, kiddo, she hasn’t even told Ricky yet and he’s her goddamn brother. And don’t you go blabbing to him when he gets there, she wants to break it to him when he returns from across the pond. These things happen, there is no great drama as far as I can see. Frankly, I doubt the spark was ever there, not like you and her.” Kat stopped, realizing her error. “Erase that. It has been a long day.”
“It’s okay.
After all, she is the one that turned me down, more than once. Goddamn it to hell. And don’t say a goddamn word about my expletive, it made me feel better. Okay, there is worse news you say? Mother is still okay, isn’t she?” Chris momentarily panicked.
“Mother is fine, never been happier. This is a big picture issue. Remember when we fought the proxy fight and wrested control from Father?”
“How could I forget? Your finest hour.”
“Perhaps. Anyways, we thought he would fight like mad to get control back. And he did, for a while. There were law suits and we knew he was contacting major stock holders. But then he seemed to back off. That bothered me for a long time. Why? Why would this man who always went for the jugular seem to give up, apparently just walk away?”
“And the answer is…?”
“Simple really. He was still making tons of money after I took over, maybe even more because I took over. Then he realized something, I think. Why waste time fighting us when he could spend his time doing what he really wants to do?”
“Like abuse his children - has he tried to rape you again?”
“I suppose but in a different way, a way he can hurt us all, and by that I really mean all of us…everyone. He is all in on his right-wing crap, not just as an old man’s hobby but in a very, very dangerous way. And that is where Jules comes in again. You probably know that she continued to climb the ladder in the fascinating world of communications and what passes as journalism these days, from just being a smart and pretty thing reading the news to someone doing hard-hitting investigatory stories. I suppose I am somewhat at fault here, but I put a bug in her ear about Father, his causes and some leads into his money and connections to all these right-wing nut cases. She started running with it from there. Tonight, she came back with some feedback…and the separation thing.”
“I am almost afraid to ask.”
“It is still early, but she’s focusing on this Trump phenomenon. I know what you are going to say, that clown doesn’t have a chance. Sure, I know where all the smart money is but let me tell you, never underestimate just how moronic the typical American voter is. You know this better than anyone, the angst among the working class, stagnating wages and fewer opportunities, fears about rising competition from minorities and immigrants, automation and globalization demons everywhere. Bits and pieces are drifting in that some big money is going to his cause, or at least in support of his case. Not surprisingly, they are dropping big bucks on the usual Hillary is a serial killer crap. But they are also throwing money to 3rd party candidates like Jill and the insurgency of Bernie. If he sneaks in as the Dems’ candidate, they will bury his ass so deep that the average voter will think he is Lenin’s grandson. They see final victory here. And there is a lot of cyberspace chatter, misinformation and trolls working to sow discontent among the center and left. We think they are beginning to try out cyber-tactics for the upcoming general election.”
“Wait, who is they?” he asked.
“Not sure yet but there is a lot of foreign traffic, much from Russia. Jules mentioned the FSB and GRU.”
“Shit,” Chris whispered aloud, “FSB is the new KGB and GRU is their military intelligence.”
“See, you know this stuff.” Kat responded, “This is very serious, very professional hackers, but why and for whom? This is all very sketchy now, but I sent you an email with an attachment. It has some more details. Money, vicious attack tactics, control of voting protocols like voter suppression and gerrymandering. They have been at this for several decades now and they can taste it. This is bigger than Father, but I never would have paid as much attention if it were not from him.”
“All this from Jules?”
“Well, I don’t want to say much now but Beverly is snooping around.”
“Chuck’s widow? What?”
“Yup, do you know any others? Hmm, with your past, you might, but hookers are never named Beverly I bet.”
“Hah, hah!” he managed.
She cut him off. “More on all the details about the snooping later. For now, I think your native land, and you must admit that America is still your native land, is facing a huge crisis. The right is poised to take over.”
“I have never been a conspiracy-theory type but even I can see that. Still, why go with a buffoon like Trump? Why not someone with a brain?”
“You nailed it without realizing it, in part at least. Many of the true believers behind the scenes, not the ignorant base, but the big players, want him precisely because he is dumber than a bag of rocks. It will be just like Cheney with Bush the younger, that kid wasn’t smart enough to see where he was being led. The movers behind the scenes think they can lead Trump wherever they want and some of these characters are frightening. Check out Miller and Bannon, their pedigree will curl your pubic hair. And Putin would love Trump to advance his agenda. If the rumors are true, they own his family jewels. There are backroom loans, money laundering, sex tapes, and God knows what that they can use to get leverage over his silly ass.”
“My God, you’re right. Trump is the perfect unwitting Russian asset, too stupid to know that he is being played. Still, that is a dangerous game,” Chris insisted. “I mean, sometimes an asshole you think you have in your pocket gets to the top and suddenly starts thinking about what is best for the country or, in this case, himself. Damn, if this guy is as deranged as he seems, why worry? I mean, why worry just because he is a stone-cold sociopath who only adores money and his own penis? Want to know my greatest fear? He doesn’t know how dumb he is, which is very dangerous. That shit-for-brains could do crazy shit thinking he knows more than anyone else. I have heard business people I respect talk about him, not pretty at all. I am positive you have heard the same stories.”
Kat emitted a very tiny chuckle. “Of course. You would think that would be a problem with most, but many on the right believe they will have his balls totally in a vice. He will have no wiggle room. That asshole has more skeletons in his closet than an anatomy professor in a medical school. The real danger, as I see it, is that you are spot-on right.”
“Really, and you are admitting it?”
“Yes, about him being an idiot. He is so dumb and yet he doesn’t realize it. My God, he believes himself to be a genius; how could anyone be so blind? Like you, I have chatted with quite a few business peers who know him well. Besides being your basic conman, he endorses some economic ideas that would get him flunked out of econ 101.”
“Oooh, cleverly put but never forget that Von Papen and Hindenburg underestimated Hitler. They thought he was a clown that could be controlled.” Chris wasn’t sure he wanted to get deep into this but sensed there was no escape. Still, he tried a weak deflection. “And when did you start talking like a longshoreman?”
“My vocabulary improved when I started butting heads with sharks in the business world. Remember how you always said they were a sorry-ass bunch? Well, you were right, more correct than even you knew. Just listen now, okay? Forget his women and his bankruptcies and his stiffing of creditors and workers, he probably will lie and bully his way past that stuff. However, there’s another concern festering just out of sight. This guy is toxic to American banks. He now shops overseas for capital, like Deutsche Bank, but really is keeping afloat with help from the Russians in particular. These Red oligarchs know he is a terrible business risk, so why back such a loser? Again, not a great mystery. They are making a big bet that he can win the brass ring. Think how great for Putin to have his man in the White House. And don’t say no way. If Americans could figure out their self-interest, we would not see today’s Republican party in charge of Congress or running most states. Look at the worst states economically, they are all deep red. Kansas went big for right-wing orthodoxy and have wrecked their economy. They need to close schools early and eviscerate the most basic of services. It is a total mess. But people don’t get it. They will probably reelect the same assholes.”
Chris interjected as if struck by a thought. “I am beginning to get one
thing. As you were talking, I struggled with the notion of Father working in concert with Russia. How would that be possible? He so hated the Reds. But, of course, they are no longer communists but an oligarchy of the uber-wealthy. They don’t have democracy but that is not what he wants either. He is in love with control. And that is what Putin is about most of all: an authoritarian with the state and corporate interests intertwined…the very definition of a fascist state.”
Kat chuckled again. “You do realize you answered your own question?”
“Of course, who better? Anyways, I always teach that the far right and left have much more in common than the extremes have with the center. The extremes are different sides of the same coin. It is a little like magnetic poles flipping left and right - or is it up and down? Okay, I’m now convinced of my own brilliance.”
Kat responded drily. “And I always said you were slow, I apologize. The thing is that we cannot, or Jules cannot, quite get at the money flow behind all this. International finance is a swamp, more a cesspool, as you can imagine but she is working hard on it and I assigned some of my finance people to help her.”
There was a pause. Then Chris asked in a more subdued voice: “Is this dangerous for Jules, for you?”
“You think Father could lash out?”
“Well?”
“I did worry for myself after we ousted him. Kept looking over my shoulder. He is a son-of-a-bitch but…”