The Crawford Chronicles - Book 1

by Clayton Conrad

  “I went to the 12th grade and then joined the Marines. Oh, I went to college all right, but found it to be boring. What I don’t understand is how come it took you so long to find me out. I’ve been here three years.”

  “Oh, I’ve known for some time Arthur, but you are so good at what you did I just let it slide, more or less. No, its a little game I play. You see, I like to have a little something on everyone I work with. Most everyone has something they would rather not have known. And if there is anything at all, and make it my business to find out what it is. I don’t use any of it for blackmail, now I just file it away in case I should ever need it sometime in the future. Like now.”

  “And you need it now… because?” Arthur asked.

  “Because, well I have a favor to ask of you. It’s no big deal really. I’m not asking you to embezzle or anything like that, you know. No, nothing major at all. I don’t even know for sure if it’s against the law. What I need from you is for you to fudge on the books a little so that it looks like clay has been skimming a little off the top for his own personal use. Nothing big, mind you. No big amount, I don’t want to board members to get so upset that they demand a criminal investigation.”

  Arthur sat there quietly, nodding his head from time to time, but saying nothing in his own defense.

  “See what I want Arthur, is for the board members to vote him off the board. Then I can step in as president and run this company the way it should be run. Oh, he will still on the company, but just won’t have any say in it, as to how it should be run for the direction it should take. And that’s fine with me. You get to keep your job and I move up as president and chairman of the board. Everybody’s happy, well, except for poor Mister Crawford, who doesn’t need the job anyway. I’ve been reading the newspapers and heard on TV where he has come into several million dollars.”

  “So, what say you Arthur? Do you keep your job and come on board, or do you walk down the street to join the unemployment line?”

  “It could be tricky, you know, so as not to leave a trace, because he will surely demand an audit.”

  “Well, I’m sure with your experience and your expertise you are up to the challenge. By the way Arthur, did I tell you that you would be moving up in the company? I think you would be needing a much bigger office and with keys to the executive dining room. You would likely need a new company car every year. And let’s not forget all those stock options, and maybe the use of the company jet from time to time. Now what do you say Arthur?”

  “It will be a piece of cake Mister Holt. I see no problem whatsoever.”

  “Good then. And Arthur, just call me Tim.”

  Chapter 23

  It was almost lunchtime when Henry picked him up, as he was leaving the ivory tower. They decided to go to Mama’s for a bite to eat. On the way he dialed Rachel’s number. It had been two days since their last encounter and he wanted to touch base with her to see if she survived. He was still a little sore.

  She answered on the fourth ring. “Hey, what you doing these days?” She said. “I thought you left town or something.”

  “Very funny, very funny,” he answered. “Why is it that everyone thinks I’ve left town? Wishful thinking, maybe.”

  “Now, honestly, it’s just that I thought I might have scared you off the other night. I’m glad to see you’re a man who doesn’t frighten easily. How about dinner at a real nice place tonight, say about seven?”

  “Sounds like a plan. Where are we going so I’ll know how to dress?”

  “Can’t tell you on account of it being a surprise, but dress casual.” Clayton could hear the smile in her voice.

  “Sounds like a plan girl, sounds like a plan. I’ll be looking forward to it. What you doing now?”

  “I’m just sitting in my office between clients. I guess I’ll go down to the lounge and get a sandwich or something.”

  “I’m on my way to Mama’s Restaurant. 12 o’clock in California is what we call being time. And what’s good enough there is good enough here.”

  “What on earth are you talking about?” She said. “What’s this being business anyway?”

  “I don’t know, just a poor joke. Not to change the subject, but you being a lawyer and all, do you know of a man who goes by the name of Poindexter? Perceval Poindexter?”

  “Why yes, do you know him also?” She asked in a surprising voice.

  “Not really, but you could say that we met. How is it that you know him anyway?”

  “Well silly, he works for my father.”

  “Oh shit!” Clayton said, half befuddled and very perplexed.

  “Why, what’s wrong?” She asked, with concern in her voice.

  “What does he do for your father? Are we sure we are talking about the same Poindexter? He’s rather tall, well over 6 feet. Dark brown hair, but graying at the temples. His face has pockmarked sonnet from acne when he was a child.”

  “That’s him all right. How do you know him, as he done work for you? He’s not in litigation against you or is he? Are you being sued by anyone?”

  “No, no not that, not anything like that. This is impossible, what are the odds on this one?”

  “What you talking about now? This isn’t just another one of your bad jokes is it? You’d better tell me Mister, before something bad happens to you.”

  “I can’t tell you right now, maybe tonight. I just need some time to work this out. But what would you say if one day we should find ourselves on opposing sides of an issue?”

  “Hell, I don’t know. I guess it would depend on the issue. But I can tell you this much, I may be a tigress in the bedroom, roaring lion in the courtroom, and I love nothing more than a good challenge.”

  “Good,” Clayton said, “because you just might have one. So see you tonight at seven, right?”

  “Right, and drive around to the back of the estate. I have a separate cottage there that I had built so I can help privacy now and then.”

  Clayton was quiet, contemplating what he should do about this new development.

  “What’s up?” Henry asked. He noticed Clayton’s change of mood.

  “What would you say the odds were that that ass hole Poindexter was employed by none other than Rachel’s father?”

  “Wait, before I answer that I’ll have to consult my Jeannie and right now her bottle is in the trunk. Get it? Jeannie, bottle, get it to you?”

  “Yes Henry, I get it,” Clayton said pensively, as he stared out the window at the pedestrians walking down the sidewalks. “You know, it’s right at lunchtime and I bet Mama’s will be packed.”

  “No, I called ahead and reserved us a table. After all, are we not privileged people and special guests?”

  When I got to Mama’s it was packed with a line at the door. “So much for being privileged people and special guests,” Clayton teased.

  “Yeah, well I’ll just go inside and have a quick look around,” Henry said and headed for the door.

  A much bigger man wearing a red shirt and tan slacks stopped him, “and align shiny,” he said, in a not so friendly voice.

  “Just be a minute, okay guy?”

  “I said end of the line, didn’t I?”

  At that Clayton decided he’d better intervene or this could get ugly. “You’re right Mister, and I’m sorry for the trouble we may have caused.”

  “Who asked you for your two cents anyway?” The man in the red shirt and tan slacks said. “What are you, a pansy? Hey, look everyone, we have a couple of little pansies here, don’t we?”

  “Let’s go get a hot coffee and some fresh donuts at the bakery, Henry, before this jerk makes me mad.”

  “What did he say? You threatening me, ship for brains?” The man in the red shirt and tan slacks said.

  “No Sir, but by law, at this point I’m required to warn you that I hold a third degree black belt in the art of corrective, and if you don’t cease and desist in this nonsense one of us is going to the hospital and I can guarantee it won’t be me.�
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  “Yeah, well anyone can say anything, that don’t make it so.” The man in the red shirt and tan slacks said.

  “You’ve been warned friend, now let us pass.”

  The man in the red shirt and tan slacks thought for a moment, then decided discretion was the better part of valor, and stepped aside.

  “You should have let me punch that big creep out. I never told you I boxed a little in the Army, did I? I was Golden gloves in college to. I woulda had him on his back in no time flat.”

  “Yeah,” Clayton chuckled, “yeah you could have jumped up and punched him a good one, right in the kneecap.”

  They both laughed at that, and Henry sobered for a minute. “Geez, he was pretty big, wasn’t he?”

  After lunch, another stop at the same florist, but a different arrangement this time, that on to Rachel’s for another date with a beautiful woman. Clayton thought it couldn’t get any better than this.

  Henry drove around to the rear of the estate as directed, and there behind the huge tension, set in back in a small stand up dogwood trees, all in bloom, was a picturesque little cottage with a batch roof. It had white stucco walls and was trimmed in forest green, with a white picket fence, just like in the storybooks.

  “I won’t be needing you tomorrow Henry, so you can take the ex- to lunch or something. Take her to the race track, I know she will like that.”

  “That’s a good idea to,” Henry answered. “I’ve got this feeling again, you know, sort of like a sixth sense. I might put a couple thousand on it for you to.”

  “Well, whatever you do, have a good one,” Clayton said, as she climbed out of the car.

  He walked to the door, whistling softly to himself and rang the doorbell. He waited for only a minute, when the door opened and low and behold, Rachel stood before him in all her glory, completely nude from head to toe.

  “Holy smokes!” He said out loud. “Holy smokes!” He repeated, his eyes as big as saucers, his mouth open with surprise.

  “Well, don’t just stand there gaping,” she laughed. “A girl could get cold you know,” and reached out, took him by his shirt and gently pulled him inside closing the door. She embraced him and kissed him full on the mouth, her tongue exploring his.

  “Wait, wait a minute will – wait,” he sputtered. “Damn girl, give a guy a chance, will you?”

  “I can’t wait and my daddy says you got to strike while the iron is hot, and this iron is hot indeed. So get those clothes off, or I will hurt you!”

  “Holy smokes!” he said again and started to remove his shirt. It was a pullover and she grabbed it and whipped it off over his head and was unbuckling his belt before he knew what was happening.

  “Wait a minute, will you?” then he started laughing. The whole scene was really very funny to him.

  By then she had his pants down around his ankles and she reached out and pulled down his shorts, kissing his stomach and tender flesh around his groin, while caressing his genitals. He stopped laughing.

  “Geez lady,” he said, “you got more balls than Santa Clause. Ok, Ok, what’s a poor guy to do?”

  Later that night, as she lay curled in his arms, she listened to his soft easy breathing. “Are you asleep?” she asked. “Hey, are you asleep?” she whispered.

  “Yes,” he answered in a sleepy voice.

  “The things you do to a woman should be against the law. You make me want to crawl inside of you, to be a part of you, yes even to possess you. Is that wrong? I want to be a part of your very soul. I’m being very open with you now, so don’t think me silly. I never felt like this about anyone before.”

  “Wait a –“

  “No, hear me out first, then you can talk. I have a fire deep down inside of me that consumes me. This ache I have in my belly that feeds the fire of my passion for the need of you, for more and more of you.”

  “Take two aspirin and call me in the morning,” he said in the same sleepy voice.

  “You’re bad,” she said and punched his arm. “I’m serious.”

  “You know, don’t you, when all this mess is over, I mean about Michelle, that I’m flying back to California?”

  “We will cross that bridge when we get there,” she answered. “You want to hang out with me for a while?”

  “I thought that’s what we were doing?”

  “Yeah, pretty much looks like it,” she said.

  “Pretty much,” he admitted.

  “Do you love me?” she asked.

  “Don’t know.” He answered. “I know when I’m with you and holding you in my arms I feel like I died and went to heaven, like now.

  “You love me.” She stated, then cuddled closer and they both fell asleep in each other’s arms.

  Early the next morning, after a long hot shower together, they dressed and then went to the kitchen where he helped her fix breakfast. He made the toast. She fixed him a big plate of steak and eggs, hash browns, coffee and orange juice.

  “Now,” she said, sitting at the breakfast table, “tell me about Percival Poindexter.”

  “Let me tell you a story first. There was this elderly lady, in her 70s I’d say, who had this little restaurant. Nothing lavish by any means, but a nice little place that supplied her with an adequate income. Then along comes this huge conglomerate, some big corporation that wants to buy this lady’s business. Well it isn’t for sale and she tells them that in no uncertain terms but they don’t take no for an answer, and make are several good offers. Still, she refuses to sell. The little restaurant is all she has and she won’t sell it. So now they resort to open threat and try to have the place closed down by the Board of Health. They tried to take her little restaurant away from her by any ways and means required.

  And Poindexter is the man making all these threats. He’s going to have the place closed down; he will have the whole building condemned if necessary. Now I find out that the same Poindexter works for your father.”

  “Well that sounds like my dad, all right. I love him like crazy, but I’ve got to tell you, he’s a ruthless businessman. He doesn’t like to be told no and he is a poor loser. Plus the fact that he’s got several millions of dollars behind him. He can buy and sell that little restaurant a zillion times over. So I’d say the little old lady you mentioned is in deep trouble. How did you get mixed up in this, anyway?”

  “That’s funny, someone else asked me that same question not long ago.”

  “I can tell you this much, if my dad has set his mind on owning the restaurant, there is nothing that will stop him, short of murder that is. He’s got the money, he’s got the power and he’s got the influence. What I can’t understand is why he’s even interested in something so small. There has to be more to it than that. I’ll look into it for you and let you know, that is, if it doesn’t hurt my father’s chances of success.”

  “I wouldn’t ask you to turn on your father, but you can see where this is all wrong, can’t you?”

  “No Clayton, it isn’t wrong it’s just business. Nothing is personal, there’s no right and there’s no wrong. It’s just high-stakes business, and you want to be careful of Poindexter. I know he doesn’t look like much, but he’s a carnivore, a shark if you like. He takes no prisoners. That man place for keeps, straight to the jugular. He would make a bad enemy so watch out for him.”

  “Oh sure, now you tell me,” Clayton joked.

  “Why? What happened?”

  “Nothing really happened. We had a few unfriendly type words over all this. Screw him; I don’t think he likes me anymore. And by the way, who is your father to have that kind of juice, like you said?”

  “Have you ever heard of Downing Aircraft?”

  “Yes, now I can place that name. I just knew I’ve heard it before. That name was emblazoned on the leather seats in the jet that brought me from California.”

  “Well, that’s my dad’s. Downing Aircraft, Downing Industries, Downing Communications…you know, some kind of satellite stuff. Downing Networks TV and Radio
, Downing Development, and so on.

  “You know once he wanted to buy an island in the Atlantic, somewhere near the Bahamas. It belongs to France, or maybe it was the Dutch, I can’t remember. Anyway, the deal was made and everything was looking good and the government backed out at the last minute. You know he sued the government and walked away with a tidy sum.”

  “If I were you I’d do a little researching. There is definitely something else going on here. And now, I have to dress and get ready for work. I’m just a working girl you know, 9 to 5, that’s me.”