by Mark Lemke
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After Nick left, Hector turned to Prichard.? "Who is this guy, exactly?? All I know is that he's a contract firm that tests security.? I also know that this is just the public version.? I have to say again, allowing him to come on site armed really has my team upset.? And flying a helo in here . . . I'm not sure that's even legal.? What gives?"
Both Hector and Dave had legitimate issues that, if they went to the regulator or to the media, would cause Prichard a lot of problems.? Hector was clearly agitated and didn't like the use of contractors.? Prichard knew that and gave him a little attitude latitude, but only to a point.? He didn't feel a need to explain himself to Hector but realized this wasn't the time to pull Hector up short.? To help soften things, he decided to offer some background on NeXus.? Perhaps it would defuse Dave and Hector enough to let things settle down before they took any next steps.?
"Nick used to be in Special Forces.? I came across him in D.C. a while back, when I was at a meeting for industry executives and federal agencies.? We were there to discuss security issues, and Nick was there.? A couple of Washington types approached me about him and suggested that I might want to use him."?
Prichard got up and poured himself another cup of coffee from the thermos on a sideboard.?
"Anyway, I had an opportunity to have dinner with him and I was very impressed with him and what he could do for us."? What Prichard didn't say was that Nick was also very well connected.? How high that went, even Prichard didn't know.? But he knew enough to know that Nick wasn't going to get into any serious trouble for flying a helicopter in to test his defenses, and so, neither was he.? Prichard looked at his security staff.? They were listening, but he could tell they were still upset.?
"Based on what we saw here in the last couple of days, I'd say this guy is very good at what he does, and we'd do well to pay attention.? It's money well spent.? Personally, I find it hard to argue with Nick's observations-or tactics, for that matter."
While Prichard didn't like the risk involved with the helo, he'd known in advance that Nick was going to use one.? He and Nick had discussed it the day before the drill.? He wanted Nick to take any heat that might develop for that aspect of the drill, and Nick had agreed.? As vice president, it provided him with plausible deniability.?
Turning to address Rob, he said, "I suggest we worry less about who Nick is and concentrate on what he's telling us.? I'd like your assessment of the drill and his report by the end of the week.? You can pick it up from Cathy on your way out."
Hector looked as though he wanted to say something, but Rob cut him off.? "We'll have the report looked over and get you our analysis by close of business Friday."
"Good.? If there isn't anything else . . .?"?
The group correctly took that to mean the meeting was finished.??