Payback

by Morgan St. James

  The air in the living room seemed to grow heavy with a morbid excitement. It was happening again. We had front row seats to something that promised to be big, but this time we did the right thing and brought in Nathan, his team and the FBI before we plunged into hot water. At least, that was the way we felt at that moment. I’m a firm believer in the theory that you never know what lies ahead, and in this case we all felt it could be more than we bargained for. Women’s intuition, I guess.

  Anyway, she said Nathan told her to keep up her pretense and interview the other ten suspects. He agreed with the Director’s opinion that Stephanie Kagel, the woman most recently hired, could be the mole.

  With that settled, I suggested maybe we could put our heads together and figure out what I could do to retaliate for the attacks against me and my firm.

  Suggestions were all over the board, but the one I liked the best was to just bring it into the open. I’d take a few hours tomorrow to go up to Reid/Cunningham’s office and confront Tyler Cunningham while Kim was doing her thing and Kate was meeting with the movie people. After careful consideration, I decided what happened with the adulterated posters was more likely his style than Jonathan Reid’s. Tyler was crude and Reid was more of a sophisticate. An attack by Reid would have been somewhat, if not completely, disguised. Besides, as far as I knew, the agency was Cunningham’s only business. Reid was far wealthier and had his fingers in many pies, so to speak. I figured a tawdry stunt like the posters would be beneath him.

  So, the following morning, I selected a very professional-looking black pinstriped Donna Karan business suit, cream silk blouse, plain black pumps and understated gold jewelry. I was literally dressed for success. I didn’t even stop at my office, because I didn’t want any of my people to know I was in the building. In retrospect, that might not have been the wisest move.

  Just as I was entering the Reid/Cunningham reception area, Jonathan Reid pushed past me like he was late for an appointment or rushing somewhere. He barely gave me a nod, although he should have been shocked to see me there. From the scowl on his handsome face, it was clear something was definitely in the wind.

  Suzanne, the same receptionist who had been with them since my days with the firm, manned the impressive reception station. She looked surprised to see me. Obviously, the bad blood between my firm and theirs was no secret.

  I summoned my most engaging smile. “Hi, Suzie.” I had always called her Suzie, and saw no reason to change that. “Is Mr. Cunningham in and available?”

  She tried to look unruffled, but the shock in her eyes betrayed her. “Um, he is here, Cami. Let me see if he will make time to see you. I know he’s been really busy this morning.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Uh, Cami. If he does see you, tread lightly. I know I shouldn’t say this, but after all, you and I were friends for several years. A little while ago it sounded like he and Jonathan had somewhat of a dust up. I don’t want you to walk into a firestorm unprepared.”

  I gave her a genuine smile. “Appreciate the heads up. Any idea what it was about?”

  Her tone lowered. “Sorry, I don’t. But there’s been some tension between them lately. Who knows? With the way things have been going, I’m afraid I may be looking for a job.”

  Was that a hint? Maybe after confronting Tyler Cunningham I’d have a better grasp of what was going on.

  She buzzed him and spoke into the receiver. “There is someone here to see you. It’s Cameron Harsen. Should I show her back?”

  From the expression on her face whatever he said wasn’t pleasant, but then she relaxed and said, “Okay, I’ll tell her.”

  “Like I said, Cami, he’s in a bear of a mood, but I guess curiosity got the better of him. He said he could see you for a few minutes. I don’t know. It was a little strange, though. After he stopped ranting and raving, it actually sounded like he was gloating in a way—like he was going to drop a bomb on you or something. I know you’ve been after the Forever Young account, and he did meet with Joshua Bearstern the other day. However, I have no idea whether they will be renewing with us. In my opinion you would probably do a better job for them. But, of course, I didn’t just say that.”

  Hmm. Maybe I was right. It sounded like she was buttering me up a little—insinuating she would be delighted if I offered her a job with Harsen Advertising. Jonathan was a real bastard to work for. Maybe he thought she was getting “over the hill” as well. Suzie would be an asset to any firm, and in my case it even went beyond that. She had lots of inside knowledge, so if she reached out to me, I’d find some position for her in my firm, but I wouldn’t be the one to open the dialog.

  With that thought in mind, I walked down the hall to Cunningham’s office. It amazed me that some of the successful ad campaign posters decorating the corridor walls dated back to campaigns I designed.

  20

  NOTHING IN CUNNINGHAM’S office had changed since my time with their firm. That is to say, except for what appeared to be fairly new carpeting, everything else was familiar. The impressive antique mahogany desk and credenza, tan leather-covered walls, guest chairs upholstered in matching leather highlighted with a nail head trim—no, nothing had changed. Then I noticed that he did have a new contemporary executive chair and a large flat screen computer monitor.

  Time had not been kind to him. What was a fleshy face a few years back had turned to hanging jowls and a double chin. Instead of brown, his hair, now salt and pepper gray, had thinned and receded, exposing a wrinkled forehead and bald spot the size of a pancake. The cigar clenched between his thin lips looked like it had just been lit. Maybe that was for effect. His penetrating eyes were as cold as two slivers of flint.

  He removed the cigar from his mouth and rested it on an ashtray. “So, Cameron, you have a lot of nerve coming here. But then, you always did have a lot of nerve. Scouting around to see what other clients you can try to attract to your pitiful firm?” His lips twisted into a sneer.

  I decided not to rise to the bait. “No, Tyler, I decided to come here to see if maybe we can work things out like normal human beings. I assume it was someone in your camp who called my printer and had them changed to those ridiculous posters for Forever Young.”

  He feigned surprise. “What? What posters for Forever Young? They are my clients you know. Why would I ever think you were doing anything for them?”

  “Because people talk. I’m sure you know that they’re thinking of moving to Harsen Advertising. And, before you deny it, I happen to know that Joshua made no bones about the fact that your last campaign for them sucked. Like I said, people talk. So why don’t you back off and quit pulling stupid tricks. It’s beneath you. And as for Jonathan, that fiasco with the Coke was beyond ridiculous. Did you put him up to that, or did he think up that winner all by himself?”

  Unfortunately, what I’d hoped would be a reasonable conversation turned nasty quickly. First a hint of red crept from his neck to his face, then his eyes flashed anger and the shouting began. I’m sure he could be heard by most of his employees when he got up and came around his desk, fists clenched at his sides.

  “OUT! Get the Hell out of my office you Bitch.” He moved toward me in a menacing way, raising his right fist as he covered the distance. “Don’t you ever come back here or I’ll call security to haul you out of here, do you hear me? If you’re out to ruin us, that’s not going to happen. We have our ways.”

  The rant continued as I backed toward the door. Maybe the Gods would be listening and he’d have a stroke or something. No, that was not like me. I’d never wish that on anyone, but he was such an easy guy to hate. I’d really hoped we could make our peace as my friends had suggested, but before that could happen I had to let him know I was aware of what he was doing. Well, so much for a diplomatic solution. He had literally declared war, so war it would be.

  I headed down the corridor with him following and shaking his fist at me, and I must admit my voice had raised to a shouting level by then. “You have your ways?
Well, here’s a news flash for you! I have my ways, too, and we’ll see who prevails.”

  Suzie gave me a sympathetic look right before I slammed the entry door behind me. My heart wouldn’t stop pounding as a cold sweat slicked over me. I didn’t want to drive in that condition, so I stopped at the Century Cafe where I ordered hot chamomile tea for its soothing effect and a nice slice of Black Forest Cake for an equally soothing effect. I needed to settle down before picking up my car in the garage. In between sipping the tea and digging into the cake with gusto, I pulled out my cell phone to check my email messages.

  Word travels so fast these days. The first message was from Maggie. Suzie probably called her as soon as I stormed out of their office.

  I read, Hey Boss, from what I hear Mr. Cunningham is out for your blood. What actually happened and why didn’t you let us know you were in the building? Call me when you can. Another possibly interesting development.

  The next message just one minute after Maggie’s was from Suzie. Talk about speed, I’d still been in the elevator when both messages came in.

  Cami, so sorry about what happened. He is such a jerk. Let me know if there is anything I can do.

  I couldn’t help it. Listening to those two made it so clear that the loathing I’d hung onto for so many years had escalated into a genuine battle for supremacy. Something I wasn’t sure I had the desire to pursue, but I couldn’t let him win.

  21

  KATE’S REPORT ABOUT her meeting with the movie producers couldn’t have been more positive. Of course, there was still a lot to be worked out, but she asked if Milt could recommend an entertainment attorney. There was no way she would enter into an option without having the agreement checked and then rechecked by someone who knew the movie business inside out. A friend of hers in San Francisco had recently learned a costly lesson when buying a travel agency for his wife. The man was a doctor and had his own accountant evaluate all the financials. It was a total disaster.

  While everything looked fine to an accountant who specialized in the medical field, there were so many questionable transactions on the books that an accountant with travel agency experience would have picked them up immediately. What looked like a very lucrative business on the surface turned out to be a business hanging on for dear life. Bookings for the past year were in the millions, that was true. But commissions weren’t what they used to be years before and many agencies were now charging a fee to plan elaborate trips. Not this one.

  What looked like large bookings to an average accountant, were actually ones that paid a pittance to the agency. Not only that, but some of them were from big clients who either were no longer clients, belonged to freelance travel agents and would follow their agent to another home in a heartbeat, or represented open billings that were way past due. When he finally had an auditor who knew the business look at the books, professional scrutiny uncovered why the business was barely covering bills, but by then it was too late. His investment disappeared into thin air.

  “Of course I’ll have Milt recommend some attorneys and then you can choose the one you want to represent you. Anyone he turns you onto will be one of the best.”

  “Thank goodness I know someone with connections,” she teased. “But then, it’s to your advantage for me to get a good deal. Like I said earlier, I will definitely cut you and Kim in for a percentage on whatever it comes to. The production company is interested in my whole story, though, not just our one caper. They’re fascinated with how that one experience allowed me to build such a successful business and become a well-respected Fraud Buster. In fact, that’s the working title they want to use for the project. Fraud Buster. One possibility is to do it as fiction and create a mystery based upon some of the dangerous situations I’ve gotten into and solved.”

  She stopped and ran a hand through her auburn hair, tossing it in a sexy way. “Hmm. Maybe I need to get myself a superhero outfit with a big FB on the chest.”

  Kim joined in. “Well, don’t let it go to your head Fraud Buster Woman. There’s no ink on the paper yet, and even when there is, it has to go from option to actually being produced. Although if it makes it that far, it sure will be fun for people to see how three amateurs brought down some master embezzlers. Thanks for keeping us in the deal.”

  As soon as we finished getting pumped up over a possible movie deal, I laid out what had gone down when I burst into Tyler Cunningham’s office that afternoon. The more I told them, the more expressions of anxiety colored their faces. They couldn’t hide feeling afraid for me. Deep down I had a nagging feeling that Cunningham had someone with access to my office ready to pull another stunt.

  22

  AFTER KIM LEFT, WE brought a second cup of coffee and some cut up cantaloupe onto the patio. Except for Maxi and Minnie, all of the ducks had gone back into the canal and there was no more loud quacking. Maxi waddled over and rubbed against my pant leg, more friendly than I could ever remember.

  Kate said, “Look at that. I think he’s thanking you for saving Minnie. They sure are cute. You’re the only friend I know who has ducks for pets.”

  “They aren’t pets. They just know I’m good for handouts.”

  With that, the pair waddled out. Maxi hovered nearby Minnie as she limped to the canal and carefully launched herself into the water. I could think of a number of humans who could take lessons from them.

  Kate leaned back and put her feet up on the chair next to her. “You know, you’ve made a good life for yourself—a perfect blend. Fast-paced career, prestigious Century City business, successful boyfriend you really love, and to top it off, you come home to this paradise. I’m a little envious. It never really slows down in San Francisco. And, you don’t have to deal with those hills, either. That is unless you decide to drive over to the Valley and take a canyon instead of the freeway. But, those are a whole different kind of hills than San Francisco. Living right in town, I can’t avoid them.”

  “Look,” I said. “Our homes may be as different as night and day, but your Painted Lady is incredible. It’s kind of hard for me to imagine living in a house that’s over a hundred years old, but the woodwork, the ceilings—I could just go on and on about things that developers could never afford to put in the average home now. I really do love your house, so all I can say is it makes the hills worth it.”

  “You’re right, but there’s this goofy mental thing I have. When I’m at the top of a street like California, it isn’t unusual for me to feel like my car is cantilevered into space. It’s almost the same feeling I get when I step onto an escalator going down. Dates back to when I was a kid, but we won’t spend time on that now.”

  “I can relate to the escalator thing. By the way, has your agent said anything about your meeting with Marathon Productions?”

  “Not much. He said he thought the meeting went well, so now we hurry up and wait. From what I hear, the wheels in Hollywood turn slowly. In fact, I thought I might go home tomorrow, but then I had this sense I shouldn’t leave yet. I feel a deep responsibility to find out more about what Marjory was onto. Do you know if Nathan’s team followed through with placing extra surveillance cameras and mics at that bank?”

  I shrugged. “Not for sure, but what good would that really do? Remember Marjory said in her video most of the meetings or negotiations are held through the investment group’s attorneys, so no one seems to be able to give an accurate description of this mysterious Monnigan who appears to be the main guy. Even though he’s been a suspect so many times in crooked deals, nothing ever happens. He’s as elusive as the Scarlet Pimpernel. It was a fluke that Marjory happened to recognize the name from prior experience. Nathan told Kim there have been so many varying descriptions of him over the years, that it’s anyone’s guess what he really looks like, where he actually lives or if Monnigan or any of the other names he uses are actually his real name. Probably not. Marjory never saw him in person, either. The Feds can’t seem to pin a thing on him.”

  We talked about the cagey Kennet
h Monnigan a little more, and tried to figure out where he might fit into the current scenario. Kate was able to uncover a sketchy profile, but that was it. The Feds probably had more, but they certainly weren’t sharing. My God. She said he looked almost squeaky clean on paper and in databases. And, although Nathan confirmed he’s really a slippery character, at best, there were no arrests—not even a traffic ticket.

  I said, “Kate, Nathan told Kim he wants us to stay out of it. Maybe we should listen to him.”

  Kate isn’t one to give up easily, and she kind of bristled at that suggestion. Her shoulders squared and her eyes took on that frigid look I knew so well.

  “So he sends his wife to delve into a dangerous situation involving money laundering schemes, but he wants us to butt out of what got an innocent woman killed. Not in my book! She trusted me and in my book, I owe it to her. Not only that, but what if Nathan’s leaks and Marjory’s bank scam are tied together? It seems that money laundering is at the heart of both so it’s not that farfetched, you know. Sorry, but I’m keeping at it with or without you.”

  Okay, deep down I knew she was probably right. After all, ever since we met we’d always had the Three Musketeers’ mentality of all for one and one for all. Besides, it was really hard for me to resist the challenge of a puzzle or a mystery. I wasn’t at all sure what we could do, though. Besides, I still had my own problems. The words I’d shouted at Jason Reid the day he dumped Coke all over me taunted me: “The best place for you and your sleazy partner is DEAD.” Why the Hell had I said that, and in front of so many people? I prayed that there was no foul play involved.