by SJ Hailey
‘I think that was a favourable assumption, but I would have appreciated discussing it first.’
‘I apologise for that, I did not want to risk exposure of other events.’
‘And would it be concerning the activities of Mr Arthur ‘Cody’ Jarrett?’
‘I cannot confirm or deny any involvement.’
‘I think we understand each other perfectly Robert, please continue without further interruption from me.’
‘Thank you Alexander. I will meet all your requests for funding and support with the infrastructure of your country. The development of energy resources jointly, to benefit your developing nation, and the needs of the United States in the future. ’
‘That is very generous of you sir, the details can be worked out later with our subordinates?’
‘Yes they can, on condition that you agree to certain conditions.’
‘I presumed you would have some. What are they?’
‘That all the meetings in New York never happened, you never met Cody Jarrett, and Chui Enzi was never carrying out any official work for you. Also any information on any activities of Mr Enzi or any other operatives you, or members of your security team may have encountered are handed over to me for destruction.’
Uncotto waited for additional conditions from President Hill, but none were forthcoming. Satisfied that he could speak without upsetting the formidable man he accepted.
‘That is perfectly agreeable Robert, I would be delighted to work with you to develop my nation. Once everything is confirmed and ratified in writing, you will have my full cooperation.’
‘And the events I mentioned never occurred?’
‘What events Robert?’
‘Excellent.’
The two men shook hands, not for a photo opportunity but an expression of trust and mutual agreement, the original intention for the gesture.
‘May I ask what has happened to Mr Jarrett?’
‘He has resigned his position due to ill health.’
‘How unfortunate, I hope he will recover to enjoy his retirement?’
‘I am sure he will. Would you like some dinner? I have an excellent chef.’
‘A delightful idea Robert.’
The two political leaders moved back down the aircraft to the dining room, and were joined by their aides and assistants to discuss the finer points over a sumptuous meal.
By the evening Uncotto was flying onto Washington D.C. to meet officially with the official International Development team that would be assisting him in the future.
FORTY NINE
New York City.
Cody Jarrett had not told his wife about the press release that was already prepared. Nor the ill health that he did not have, before he submitted his letter of resignation. He paced on his carpet as always, attempting to decide what action to take, glancing up at the clock, eleven am, she would not be back from her Pilates class before the announcement, he hoped she would not hear it in the car.
Normally when a man of his status and experience resigned or retired there was a list of companies falling over themselves to enlist his assistance and advice, for a substantial salary. He should have been consulting and advising every day, but he had no jobs in the pipeline. He knew why, the word was out, the Washington party faithful had probably trashed his reputation already. No emails or texts, nothing traceable, just a discreet whisper to destroy job prospects was all it took. Of course he understood this should not last forever, just until the farce of his tenure was forgotten, which would be shortly after the next election. He could take a few years off and use the money he had already accumulated from advising The Consortium.
He sat in his office and kicked off his black ostrich shoes, removed his socks, and buried his calloused feet in the deep freshly shampooed shag pile. He unlocked his desk, trusting his wife not to nose around, but the people she employed to clean the apartment were screened, but not known personally to him. He logged into his main offshore account. He had a healthy heart, but he thought it would stop when he saw the balance in his account, forty-seven dollars! It should be in the millions, where had it gone?
He checked the transactions and found no record of the numerous cash deposits or withdrawals, nothing was there. He checked the other accounts he had scattered around the shadowy banking institutions of the world, and found the same, nothing but a few dollars. He could not understand it, he called the number for his Consortium contact, it went to voicemail.
He started to pace the runner carpet, making fists with his toes in a vain attempt to relieve the tension flooding into his body, the movement not easing his worry. His cell phone rang in his trouser pocket, the screen showed caller withheld, he answered it anyway knowing the line would be secure, the voice familiar.
‘Hello Arthur, I thought you realised we were not doing business anymore?’
‘You made that clear, but I have concerns with my bank.’
‘Really? And how would that be my business?’
‘Because it is your business which filled them up, and now the funds are absent!’
His pacing had increased with his volume, he was now virtually stamping on the carpet.
‘Arthur it was not a payment we gave you, we saw it as an investment in the future, and you failed to deliver it.’
‘So you take the money back?’
‘Exactly, got it in one. We have left the amount you started with before our relationship, which is now over.’
‘You are just leaving me penniless?’
‘Yes, but believe me, we have suffered substantial financial losses also, which must be explained, justified and repaid.’
‘Do you expect me to pay for any of it?’
‘You already have Arthur, the assassin is the key.’
‘What of the assassin?’
‘He’s dead, but he has been for eight years, so no connection exists to us. However he was working for you?’
‘Now what made you suppose that?’
‘He was in a meeting with Uncotto at the Four Seasons, we have him passing security. I am sure the DSS have a record of him, and their investigation of the incident will show this.’
‘Even so, it is not traceable to me, so what is your point?’
‘It will come out that he was employed by you, to protect us.’
‘I will not, confirm any such allegation.’
‘Yes you will Mr Jarrett, or your wife will not return from her bridge night tomorrow.’
‘How dare you threaten my family!’
‘Calm yourself Arthur. You just have to cover our back, if it should come out. Of course it may not, or someone may leak the information to the press, which happens surprisingly frequently. Alfred took the liberty of recording all your conversations, and forwarding them to us. It is amazing what you can do with sound software today.’
‘What do you need from me?’
‘Now you understand. We just wondered how the Manhattan Heliport received a phone call about an attack before it happened? How the DSS field office received a call two minutes before that?’
‘I don’t know, I am sure they get calls all the time with threats.’
‘Yes quite. We just want to be sure there is no leak in our organisation, nothing that would compromise future plans. You understand our position Arthur?’
‘Yes I understand, just covering your bases?’
‘Now I have things to attend to, so don’t call this number again, and enjoy your office, Goodbye Arthur.’
The line went dead, and Jarrett threw his cell phone against the red wall, smashing the screen, and scattering the Chinese made components behind an antique bookcase. The demise of the device did not subdue his anger. He continued to pace the runner, feeling a slight tightness in his chest. He went to get some water from the small refrigerator in the corner, but his throat was also tightening, he loosened his tie gasping for breath, moving towards the panic button under his desk.
He crawled along the runner carpet dragging h
is body along, stretching to reach his salvation, the silent alarm. He could smell something on the carpet, was that seaweed strange scent to perfume a shampoo with? His mind was racing now, focussing on the red button, pushing it with his index finger and then rolling over to catch his breath, waiting for help.
The help never came, Arthur Jarrett was found dead on his office carpet before twelve noon, the press conference announcing his ill health went through as planned, and the following day his death was officially announced, the victim of a heart attack. That is because the saxitoxin he had absorbed, which never showed up on his autopsy. His wife was shocked and oblivious to the offer to replace the office carpet free of charge, to remove the remains of her husband’s body fluids she readily accepted, pleasantly surprised at the generosity.
The Consortium continued unabated, the faceless business that reached across the world at all levels, from building oil refineries and dams, to carpet cleaning companies.
EPILOGUE
3 Months later.
Jacob landed at airport in Kangerlussuaq, Southern Greenland, it was midday, although the weather did not reflect it, and was vastly different to Washington Baltimore International several hours before. There was a small storm coming in from the east and he had to rush to beat it. Once he had been grounded there for two weeks, and that was not a major storm. He had landed but still had a long way to travel. He was going to Qaanaaq the most northern settlement on the planet, nine hundred and forty seven miles from the North Pole.
Jacob had delighted in talking to the tourists on the flight in, informing them of the origins of the word Arctic, ‘It is from the Greek word arktos, meaning bear, which in turn refers to the constellation Ursa Major which appears prominently in the northern sky.’
The middle-aged lady next to him was taking a gap year, aged fifty-nine, she had decided to leave the house with her adult children who refused to move out, and wander the world.
Her name was Constance Fletcher, she was slender, elegant with silver hair cut in a neat bob, low maintenance she called it. He noticed her sitting next to him, dressed in classic black. Jacob had discussed her adventures so far, trekking through Europe, discovering the history she had read about, now having photos uploaded to her website for her children to keep checks on her. Constance had researched Greenland, and politely informed Jacob that Inuit for Greenland was Kalaallit Nunaat, he was impressed.
‘So how long are you staying?’
‘Two weeks, Disko Bay doing the full tour, icebergs, midnight sun going to walk on the Ilulissat Ice Fjord.’
‘You have really got things planned out.’
‘I know what I want, and want what I know.’
‘Very true, like my wife.’
‘She here with you, or staying warm at home?’
‘Well , she is dead.’
‘Oh I am sorry Jacob, I can tell it is recent, your manner.’
‘Is it that obvious?’
‘To me, lost my husband thirteen months ago, that’s what prompted me to travel.’
‘To forget, to deal with your grief?’
‘No not at all, quite the opposite, I did it to remember him. You see he was always Mr Safe, never took risks, always did the right thing, but never the best thing.’
‘And the travelling?’
‘He would never travel, never wanted to holiday outside the United States, Florida was as far south as I got. So I decided I would travel for both of us, for the places he never dared to go.’
‘Did you ever ask him why?’
‘Yes before he died, he said that he wanted to be here for the children, in case they needed him.’
‘That is a waste, if your children are grown up, there was no real need for him to stay home.’
‘We got stuck in a rut, he felt safe at home, avoided change, liked his routine. Which drove me nuts, but that did not stop me loving him, or missing him.’
‘So you are travelling to prove that you can do it?’
‘Yes something like that, realised that life moves pretty fast, if you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.’
‘Quite right Constance, I have been looking round for years, and my wife had the same idea, but we didn’t always do it together, she ran the ranch, while I saved the world.’
‘Saved the world? I did not realise I was sitting next to a hero?’
‘I think hero is a bit much, I just care about the world we live in, and attempt to save it a bit at a time.’
‘Very admirable, I’ll drink to that, I hope there are a few more like you around, cheers.’
The two of them drank the Jack Daniels measures from the expensive drinks trolley, and talked about their partners until the plane landed. He arranged to meet Constance in Upernavik in ten days, but for now his trip was further north to Qaanaaq and his old friend.
Archer and Katherine were enjoying the first peace in months. The ranch was the best place to escape, the main house was located some distance from the working part of the ranch. Anita liked the isolation. Katherine had flown them there from the nearby airport, leaving Debra to run maintenance on the Global Surveyor with her new helper Juan Garcia Moreno. The Ecuadorian had found a sudden interest in engineering, Katherine thought it was more likely to be the engineer, and invited them to join her in a few days.
Archer was calmer in his old home, every corner, beam and door invoking pleasant childhood memories. She was more at peace, knowing that her mother was more than she could have ever imagined, and missed her more than ever. She knew that the man responsible for her accidental death was no more, and would never bring such horror and heartache to any other person.
The events of the past few weeks had left their mark on Archer. The death of his mother, like any child leaves an open wound, whether the parent was good or bad. The fatigue that can be caused by grief must be fed, with explanations and understanding, to help the people left behind to process the loss. He had not taken the time to deal with her passing, and jumped to conclusions about his parent’s relationship, without fully understanding it.
What child truly knows their parents, and in some cases what parents truly know each other. He had discovered that although the exterior displays he could remember, sparked thoughts of isolation and abandonment of each other and family. The actual relationship was very deep, a linking of two kindred spirits, who relied on each other for support, even though they were quite capable of surviving anything. He thought that had his mother and father spent every day together like many others, they would have divorced before he was born. They welcomed their space and independence, but embraced the time they had together treasuring it more because of its fleeting rarity.
Many couples did not take the time to just be truly together, thinking that just sitting in the same room, watching TV was sufficient. Anita had never allowed a TV in the house, until Archer lost his brother, then she bought one, to allow him to escape for a short while. Of course she only allowed him two hours a day, so he was selective with what he watched. However, she never set limits on reading, or riding, or adventures around the ranch with her, Katherine or Kevin. She let all the children live, let their imagination flourish ensuring they kept in touch with who they were, or were to become. She always thought that the best start you could give. A child that enjoyed their childhood, got a true childhood. No loss of innocence can ever be undone, or replaced.
Archer was done with fighting for now, informing Briggs that he had resigned his position, Briggs accepting and wishing him well, letting him know that he had nothing to do with Mastasson’s actions in Mabalia or Panama, which Archer accepted.
Jacob called, ‘Hey Archer, how are you?’
‘Well Dad I feel truly rested, and you?’
‘Just landed in Greenland, I will see you in a few weeks.’
‘You take care up there.’
‘I will, and you take care of the ranch and Katherine, how are you two getting on?’
‘I will tell you when
I see you, or you can ask her later?’
‘Maybe I will. Listen about your mother; she left a message for you.’
‘Have you seen it?’
‘No, she left separate ones for each of us, they are all private, Katherine has seen hers already. Do you want to see it?’
‘I am not sure, but do you think it will help?’
‘Well my boy, you get to see your mother talking to you again; that cannot be so bad.’
‘No you’re right, where is it?’
Jacob gave Archer directions to the location of the memory card containing the message, and hung up.
Katherine came back into the room, the smell of horses still on her jumper and jeans, ‘Who was that?’
She brushed her hair and looked at Archer, ‘What?’
‘Nothing, just forgot how beautiful you are.’
‘Thanks Archer. I love you. You know that.’
‘I do, I think I always did.’’
‘Listen I have to watch my mother’s message, do you mind if I have some time alone?’
‘No take all the time you need, I will be in the stables if you need me.’
‘Okay I will come and get you later.’
Archer kissed Katherine lingering just long enough to convey his love for her. He held her after they had stopped, savouring the moment.
‘There is just one more thing I need to know.’
‘Anything Archer?’
‘Why do they call you ROBBIE?’
‘I am going to kill my brother!’
‘Come on, it can’t be that bad.’
They walked out onto the porch. ‘Kevin and I were riding bikes in town, and we got into somewhere we should not have been. The owner came out to chase us away and we climbed over the barbed wire fence. Well I….snagged my underwear on the fence, tore it right off. So I have to ride back home in just a skirt. Kevin decided to call me Robbie after that.’
‘So it stands for?’
‘Alright, alright. Rides On Bikes Butt Is Exposed.’