The Story of Charlie Mullins

by Jim Wygand

  He got back to the apartment without incident. “Gina, I’m back!” he called as he entered the front door. Gina ran from the kitchen to meet him. She was beautiful in a sweatshirt and jeans and Charlie just looked at her for a moment.

  “What is it, Mullins? Spinach on my teeth, or something?”

  “No, baby, I’m just amazed at how beautiful you are. I can’t stop staring at you.”

  “Wow! What a great way to start a weekend!” Gina exclaimed, “you sure know how to charm a lady, you silver-tongued devil.” She laughed.

  Charlie smiled. Gina always had an answer for everything and he loved it. “OK, OK,” he said, “I was just being honest. Now, I need to speak to your uncle. Will he be at home?”

  Gina laughed out loud, “Where else would he be? If he goes out he always has some entourage of suits with him. He prefers that people come to him rather then going out. I’m sure he is home. You want to go over there?”

  “No, I think it is too risky to be going over there on a regular basis. Sooner or later something could go wrong. I’d like to talk to him over the phone.”

  “OK, but there is a ritual to be followed, Charlie.”

  “A ritual? What do you mean?”

  “I mean I will call and leave a message for him to call. Even though he makes sure his phone is not tapped, he is still very careful about telephone conversations. Try to keep your conversation general if possible.”

  Gotcha,” Charlie replied.

  Gina picked up the phone and dialed. She did not identify herself and she left a message with someone to have her uncle call. Ten minutes later her phone rang. Charlie heard her say that someone wanted to talk to Mr. French and she handed the phone to Charlie. “Be quick,” she whispered.

  Charlie spoke into the phone, “I just wanted you to know that all the formalities have been arranged. The search will begin next week. We’ll talk again over lunch.”

  Carlo Rizzo said only “Good!” and then hung up. Charlie remained holding the phone unit for a brief moment.

  Gina laughed, “Not used to those quick conversations, Mullins? My uncle doesn’t like telephones. He says that telephones should only be used to arrange a lunch meeting, and even then, without saying where.”

  Charlie smiled, “I have a lot to learn,” he said.

  XXXVI

  Warren Carpenter sat down opposite Phillip Shaw in front of a coffee table in Phillip’s spacious living room where a silver coffee set had been put out for them. They served themselves coffee. Warren started the conversation, “Phillip, I have the contract from the bank with me. It looks OK. They will charge a small success fee for any deals we close with companies they introduce to us. I feel good about the people doing the scouting for us. They are mature and discreet. Bill Cummins will be the point of contact with the bank’s representative assigned to the project. I’ll deliver the contract to them through Bill on Monday.”

  Phillip Shaw took the contract and read it carefully. “This looks OK, Warren. It’s pretty much boilerplate as I read it. Is there anything that could trip me up in there?”

  “No, I’ve been through it several times. It’s really a pretty good deal. The fees are more than reasonable because the bank is salivating at the prospect of working with Shaw.”

  “Good, that’s the way I like it.”

  “By the way, that Mullins fellow still hangs around with his friends from over in Shoreville. He filled me in on the questions they were asking about the expansion project. A lot of them were worried that the company would be offshoring jobs. I asked him to continue with his activities with his friends because they can offer important feedback on how the rank-and-file in the company are viewing events.”

  “Good idea, Warren, we need that kind of feedback. It wouldn’t do to have workers showing up in front of the company with placards and picketing to keep their jobs. That would be political suicide.”

  “That reminds me, Phillip, I’ve also brought the outline of a campaign strategy for you to review. The IPO will be the first step and we have to make sure it doesn’t look like you are selling out your employees for a political career. It has to look like you are responding to a higher calling as you leave the business world for public service.”

  “Can we lock in the buyers of the company for long enough to get me elected?”

  “I’m pretty sure of that. In the first place, the IPO limits them from “flipping” the stock immediately. Second the acquisitions will lock them in for a while at least. Third, I think we can stack the membership of the Boards of Directors of the acquired companies to ensure that we have inside information regarding the new owners’ plans and can block any initiatives we consider to not be in our interest.”

  “OK, I’m counting on you Warren. I don’t want to be going into a campaign with the opposition being able to say I sold out my employees.”

  “No problem, Phillip. I’ve covered some of that in the outline. Obviously, this is only a first run at a strategy. We have time to review and refine as we move forward with the acquisitions.”

  “Who knows about my plans to run for office, Warren?”

  “So far, just you and me, Phillip; unless you have told somebody. Neither Bill Cummins nor Charlie Mullins knows anything about it nor do they need to.”

  “Good. I don’t want this to get out, even as speculation, if it can be avoided. I want everyone to think the rest of my life will be with the company until I announce that I have been asked to run for office.”

  “Understood,” Warren Carpenter replied, “we want you running for political office by ‘popular demand’” Carpenter smiled. “By the way, are you going to the Eagles’ game tomorrow?”

  “Yeah, I will be in the owners’ box. I’m hoping the TV cameras will pick me up. Ideally, the game commentators will make some comment about my heart attack and the expansion plans for the company. I have to keep that iron hot.”

  * * * * *

  When Charlie Mullins arrived to the office on Monday morning he noticed that Fred Perkins was not at his desk. As he walked by Laura Metzer’s desk she looked up and whispered conspiratorially, “He’s with Phillip Shaw, Charlie. Phillip called down here as soon Fred arrived and called him to his office. Do you know what’s going on?”

  “I suppose it has to do with the expansion plans, Laura. Fred is the company treasurer. Phillip would certainly want his advice and counsel. He always has before.”

  “Oh God, I hope so. If Fred loses his job, whoever steps in will bring his own team and I could be out of a job. Unless of course, you were to be his successor, Charlie.”

  “I’m pretty sure he is not about to lose his job, Laura. Don’t worry.” Charlie patted her on the shoulder and walked to his office. He smiled to himself and made a mental note to walk by Fred’s office a little later just to see the man’s reaction.

  Charlie would have a full day setting up meetings with the heads of the operating departments. He would have to swear them to secrecy regarding his role in the expansion project. He did not anticipate any problems because all of the department heads had a vested interest in getting more investment funds and reviewing acquisition targets. None of them would be talking to Fred Perkins about Charlie’s work. In the first place they didn’t like Perkins and in the second, talking to him would probably only serve to squelch their projects. They would cooperate with Charlie, especially if they knew they could circumvent Perkins by doing so. Moreover, they would be able to save themselves a lot of work if Charlie screened acquisition targets or uncovered some for them. Finally, they would also be off the hook if any acquisitions turned out to be lemons. They could blame Charlie, and it was an unwritten rule that in corporate politics you took credit for the successes and blamed others for the failures. So, Charlie felt secure that his role would not be unmasked.

  After setting up a full week of meetings, Charlie headed out to lunch. As he walked by Fred Perkins’ office and he noticed that Perkins was sitting upright in his chair, his chest puffed o
ut. Phillip had made him his financial “deputy” in the expansion project. When Perkins saw Charlie walking by he barked, “Mullins! Step into my office for a minute.”

  Charlie entered Perkins’ space, “What is it Fred?”

  “I suppose I should not tell you this, it’s highly confidential, but I am going to have to rely on you to keep this department in order for the next several months.”

  Charlie smiled inwardly. Fred was about to tell him how important he was to Phillip Shaw’s new strategy, “Phillip Shaw called me into his office this morning. He wants me to work closely with him on the execution of his strategy to expand the company,” Perkins’ face revealed a smug self-satisfaction, “He has commissioned Bill Cummins to identify expansion opportunities and he will need me to evaluate them. I will have to work closely with Phillip and clearly won’t have time for the mundane tasks of keeping the office on an even keel. Can you do that, Mullins?”

  “I’m flattered and honored that you have asked me, Fred. And congratulations on being asked to help Phillip in this important task. You can count on me to do my best.”

  Perkins puffed up even more, “You can start this week. I’ve got meetings set up with Phillip starting tomorrow. If you do a good job, I’ll make sure Phillip knows about it. Just remember, this is all highly confidential. That’s all Mullins.”

  “OK, Fred, and thanks for your confidence in me.”

  “No problem, Mullins.”

  Charlie left Perkins’s office to catch an elevator to street level. He could hardly keep a straight face as he listened to Perkins’ pompous declarations. When he got to street level and outside the building he broke out laughing. “What an ass,” he thought, “I hope I can keep up this farce without cracking up in front of the idiot!” He had to hand it to Phillip Shaw, he knew how to manipulate Perkins. Perkins would think he was the one who would be instrumental in making the growth project a reality. He would strut and posture around the company making sure everyone knew that he had Phillip’s absolute confidence. Well, at least maybe he would treat Laura better – noblesse oblige, and all that.

  When he returned from lunch he walked by Fred’s office again. Perkins gave him a smug look and a nod that implied that they were now co-conspirators. He walked by Laura Metzer’s desk. “How goes it Laura?”

  “He’s a lamb, Charlie. After his meeting with Phillip Shaw he looked like he would actually smile. He didn’t say anything but he walked out of here to the meeting stooped over and looking like he was heading for the scaffold and came back all puffed up and with a spring in his step. What’s going on?”

  “I don’t know Laura, but remember, Fred has always been Phillip’s s-o-b. Every CEO needs one. Maybe he was told to whack somebody,” Charlie laughed.

  Laura smiled, “You’re terrible, Charlie. I just hope it stays this way for a while. What a relief from the past couple of months!”

  “Maybe he’s just mellowing Laura, just mellowing,” Charlie said jokingly.

  “Yeah, right, and the Pope is my uncle, Charlie!” Laura laughed.

  Charlie left Laura still giggling about her own comment. He laughed inwardly as he walked to his office. He couldn’t wait to tell Gina about this day.

  * * * * *

  The rest of Charlie’s week was occupied with meetings with the heads of the operating departments. Some of them had expansion plans filed away for the day that Fred Perkins would die of a stroke or otherwise be out of the way. They were more than pleased to show the plans to Charlie. Some of the plans even identified possible acquisition targets. Charlie wondered if some of the companies cited might still be viable targets. He would have Joey Esposito discreetly check them out. As he had expected, he had no trouble at all convincing the department heads to keep their meetings quiet. He assured them that Fred Perkins would only see their plans after the companies had been well vetted by Charlie and the company’s auditors. He told them that Phillip Shaw would soon announce that Fred Perkins would be nominated as Phillip’s deputy for the expansion project. They all knew that this meant Fred would do whatever Phillip said to do. They were quick to recognize that Fred had been effectively neutralized. Charlie, however, was equally quick to say that Fred’s role was an important one. He didn’t want it getting back to Fred that he had said anything bad about him or in any way had seemed to diminish his importance to the project.

  * * * * *

  He went to his weekly bowling league night and softball practice on Saturday. He noticed that Sharon Gallagher and Diane Simms were still hanging around his house and driving past the softball practice field whenever he was in Shoreville. They were stalking him in Shoreville but unable to devise a strategy that would allow them to follow him to Philly. He made a mental note to stay vigilant. Sooner or later they would try something again and he had to be prepared.

  Charlie’s relationship with Gina had evolved into a comfortable quasi-marriage and both of them were anxious to make things official. They did not go out as often as they would have liked to because they wanted to avoid the chance encounter with someone from Shoreville or to cause a lot of speculation among those who knew Gina. To the outside world they were best of friends. They were both happy but anxious to get on with their life together as man and wife. Gina was perhaps more patient than Charlie. She had lived all her life in the infamous shadow of her uncle and she knew the importance of discretion. Charlie, on the other hand, had lived a totally open life. Even the fact that he liked his privacy was a matter of public knowledge. In spite of his insistence on keeping his private life totally private, he really had nothing to hide. It was just his way. Gina did have something to hide. She had to protect not just herself but also her uncle. Those who knew her did not talk about her Uncle Carlo and she never commented to anyone about his life.

  So, Charlie was often more impatient with their situation than was Gina and he often talked to her about it. “Geez, Gina, I would really love to just walk away from all this bullshit and announce to the whole damned world that you are mine.”

  “Take it easy, Charlie. You have a lot to lose being publicly engaged to Carlo Rizzo’s daughter. I can wait. I’ve been waiting all my life. My uncle used to say to me that a big meal has to be eaten in small bites. You wouldn’t be happy if you lost everything and had to run a pizzeria to make a living. You could do it, I’m sure of that and I’m sure you would if it came to that. But you would not be happy. You might one day come to regret having made the sacrifice and we both would suffer.”

  “You’re right, Gina. It’s just that I would love for the whole world to know that we are together.”

  “Everybody will know soon enough Charlie and you might find that you wish they didn’t!” Gina laughed, “Do you have any idea what the press will do with our engagement and wedding? Do you have any idea how many ‘suits’ will show up. There’ll be more photographers than guests! I can see the headlines in the tabloids ‘Mafia Princess Weds’! There will be a big spread on my uncle and speculation that you are his heir apparent. So, just be patient Mullins. Your fifteen minutes of fame will come soon enough and you will wish it hadn’t. You’ve never had to live with this, Charlie. People can be mean and nasty when they set their mind to it. The announcement of our relationship will allow a lot of people to get their own fifteen minutes of fame at our expense and the expense of my uncle.”

  “I know you’re right Gina. This is a new kind of situation for me. I spent all of my life seeking privacy without really needing it. Now that I need it, I realize just how tough it is to actually have it. It’s like that old saying that you have to be careful what you wish for, you might just get it.”

  Gina laughed, “Exactly, Charlie. Why do you think I understand those wacky wives that are pestering you? I know what it’s like for people to want to shoehorn their way into your life so they can upset it. People feel threatened by what is different. They want to get inside you to assure themselves that you really are just like them. When they finally break into your privacy an
d find out that you are just like they are, they refuse to believe it so they look even harder. They ask stupid questions. They want to know if my uncle is really the way the press says he is. I’ve even had people ask me if I could have somebody killed if I wanted to. I have no illusions about my uncle, but he doesn’t walk around the house dragging his knuckles on the floor, but you would be surprised at the number of people who seem to think that he does.”

  “Well, beautiful, things are moving ahead. It won’t be too long before we can be together and our love a matter of public knowledge.”

  “It’ll happen, Charlie, it’ll happen. Just be patient and, of course, careful.”

  XXXVII

  Charlie followed his routine through the week. On Thursday he called Joey Esposito, “Joey, how ya’ doin’?”

  “Hey Charlie, what’s new?”

  “Listen, are you in the mood for a cheese steak lunch on Saturday? I have to go to softball practice and then I thought I would drive up to Philly so we can have lunch and see how things are going.”

  “Sure Charlie, you want to come by around two or thereabouts?”

  “OK, thanks Joey. I’ll see you then.”

  At softball practice Charlie noticed that Sharon and Diane were still stalking him. They drove by the practice field at least twice. He made a mental note to play close attention as he drove to Philly. But since he was going to Joey’s place he could repeat the routine he used the last time they followed him and head back to Shoreville.