‘You know what’s creepy?’ she said. ‘It’s learning that we were being watched – photographed – without knowing it. It’s like being… being violated.’
‘And I was supposed to be taking extra care, watching my own back all the time!’
‘I’m sick to my stomach at the possibility of there being no prosecution for Rebecca’s murder!’
‘I’m even sicker.’
‘What are you going to do, if there isn’t a prosecution?’
‘I haven’t decided.’
‘What about immediately? The vice-president offer? I thought you had to decide before the stockholders’ meeting?’
‘I told Grant today that I’ll take it.’
Beverley was silent for several moments. ‘I’m surprised.’
‘I’m sure we’re going the right way with a SARS vaccine. And I don’t want to give up on avian flu, either.’
‘I’m still surprised.’
‘For surprised should I read disappointed?’
‘Yes, after what the FBI lawyer told you,’ she said, bluntly.
‘We don’t definitely know that there isn’t going to be a prosecution. If there is, I have to be here. If I’m definitely told nothing’s going to happen, I’ll think some more about it.’
Beverley took her hand from his and turned away from him in the darkness.
Thirty-Six
‘I knew you’d accept,’ said Edward Grant.
‘I needed to think,’ said Parnell.
‘Of course you did,’ patronized Grant, at the penthouse window looking out over the financial heart of the world. ‘And you came to the right decision.’
‘I bought some shares, to qualify for the stockholders’ meeting, before you invited me.’
‘Then you bought in cheap. Got a good deal.’
‘I hope it turns out that way.’
‘The board have agreed the terms I offered you.’ said Grant, turning back to a package on his desk. ‘There’s your new contract, setting out the salary and the stock options for your lawyer to look over. Ours already have. All you’ve got to do, if your guy agrees, is to sign it.’
‘It’s all happened very quickly.’
‘We’ve only got one priority now – restoring confidence. Your name – your publicly being here – is important in beginning that process. And maintaining it.’
‘You know I’ll do what I can.’
‘There’s going to be a media release, to coincide with my announcement of your appointment. Not just here, worldwide.’
‘I spoke to Wayne Denny, about Dwight,’ said Parnell. ‘Thought I might go out to see him. Wayne said he didn’t think he was well enough.’
‘He isn’t,’ said Grant, at once. ‘Won’t be, for a long time. I’ve got a lot to say about Dwight later.’
‘That’s good.’
‘You’ve been through a hell of a time too, Dick. And come out well.’
‘It’s dragging on.’
‘You really sure, about suing those two sons of bitches?’
‘My lawyer thinks I’ve got a good case. I’m doing it on his advice.’
‘I’m thinking about Dubette. All the publicity it’ll stir up again.’
‘I hadn’t thought about it from that point of view.’
‘Think about it over the next little while,’ urged the president. ‘You know what I’d like, for us all? I’d like an out-of-court settlement offer, a public apology from the Metro force, and for that to be the end of it, all forgotten in a week. It would go a long way towards the healing process, restoring the confidence I was talking about.’
Parnell shrugged. ‘The offer would have to come from the other side.’
‘Your attorney could suggest it to theirs. That’s how these things are done. I’d really appreciate it – Dubette would really appreciate it.’
‘I’ll talk it through with him.’
‘Tell him that’s how you want it to be. He’s working for you, remember.’
‘OK.’
‘Let me know how it goes.’
‘OK.’
‘That’s how it’ll be, from now on. You and I talking together. Direct.’
‘I’ve got a lot to learn.’
‘I wouldn’t have offered you the position if I hadn’t thought you could hack it.’
‘I hope it doesn’t cause any resentment at McLean.’
‘You’re the man there now. Complete control, my complete confidence. Whatever you need to do to establish yourself, do it. You want some words of real wisdom?’
‘Please.’
‘No one likes the man in charge, because he’s the man in charge and everyone else thinks they can do his job better. Never worry about not being loved. Enjoy being disliked and proving them all wrong.’
‘I’ll remember that.’
‘I thought about bringing you on stage, when I make the announcement. But I don’t think that would be right.’
‘I don’t think so either,’ agreed Parnell. ‘Particularly not in the circumstances… Dwight, I mean.’
‘But I’ve had a place kept, near the front. When I announce the appointment, I’d like you to stand up… be recognized. There’ll be some media there.’
‘Good job I’m not wearing the yellow sweater.’ Parnell was, in fact, in a conservative blue, Ivy-League suit, the first he’d bought at Brooks Bros.
Grant’s face clouded, then cleared as the recollection came. ‘That’s a long time ago. A misunderstanding. You’re part of the family now.’
‘Part of the family,’ echoed Parnell.
‘There’s an invitation-only reception after the meeting. You’re on the list, of course.’
‘I’ll see you there.’
‘There are some people I’m looking forward to introducing you to.’
‘I’m looking forward to meeting them,’ said Parnell.
It was a stop-start journey up a traffic-clogged Sixth Avenue from Wall Street, but Parnell was still among the first to arrive. The acceptance had been enormous, because of the publicity and its effect upon the stock valuation of the company, and the ballroom had been taken over. Parnell shuffled forward in the queue, the formal admission ticket his stockholding allowed him in hand. As soon as his name was recognized he was escorted to a reserved aisle seat in the fourth row from the front. The noise increased as the room gradually filled behind him. Once, Parnell swivelled, trying to estimate how many people there would be, but gave up trying. There was a central aisle, against which he was sitting, with two passages on either side of the seated area. In each were already established men with cordless microphones for when the meeting was thrown open to questioning from the floor. One was directly in front of the temporary stage, beneath a podium. Parnell ignored the prepared reports awaiting him on his chair. He considered opening his contract package but decided against that, too. Three tiered rows of seats were set out on the stage and he guessed the rear two were for the members of the overseas subsidiary boards, almost immediately confirmed when the raised area began to be occupied and he recognized Henri Saby from the Washington seminar.
Edward C. Grant led the parent board on to the dais, looking expectantly out into the slowly silencing hall. He did not sit but strode at once to the podium-mounted microphone, his prepared speech – which was not among the already distributed papers – in hand. There was an abrupt blaze of camera and television lights and Parnell was instantly reminded of his court appearance and the midtown press conference.
Grant arranged his papers in front of him on the angled stand, but made no attempt to start, staring out into the room until it became totally quiet. When it did, he smiled and said: ‘Good morning and thank you all for coming.’
He did not look down to his speech, appearing not to need it. Dubette had endured a turbulent year, due to circumstances beyond anyone’s control. A respected and admired member of staff had been savagely murdered, another briefly wrongly accused, about neither of which he could comment, because of ongoing investigations and possibly impending court actions. The adverse publicity had severely affected stock value, which he understood to be the concern of everyone in the room. There was no need for that concern. Dubette, as an international pharmaceutical conglomerate, remained as strong as it had ever been, and he was confident it would recover its value in the coming year. As an indication of that confidence the dividend this year would be an increase of five per cent upon the last, the funds coming from their more than adequate reserves. There were to be important changes within Dubette. It was with great personal as well as professional regret that he had to announce the premature retirement, on health grounds, of Dwight Newton, who, as vice president responsible for research and development, had made an incalculable contribution to the commercial success of Dubette Inc. over the past twenty years. He was sure the meeting would join him in wishing Newton a speedy recovery and contented retirement.