Mitchell’s expression did not change, as though he were a waxwork, his mouth the only moving part and his voice a monotone rumble that seemed strangely soothing and threatening at the same time.
‘Ours is a small unit and we do not have the resources to pursue an individual across the country. It would appear that Meyer and his family are smart enough to understand how to stay off the grid. Without a paper or digital trail we are as powerless as anybody to find them.’
‘And what if they go public?!’
Seavers slammed a clenched fist down on the table between them, surprising himself at his anger in front of the formidable man sitting before him. Mitchell did not blink at the sharp crack nor appear even mildly concerned at Seaver’s fury.
‘It will take Meyer time to construct another device, and in order to prove its worth it would have to go public in one way, shape or form in order to once again attract attention. As soon as he does, we will be upon him.’
‘And if that’s too late?’
‘That’s your problem,’ Mitchell said finally.
‘It’s my problem?’ Seavers uttered. ‘The last time we spoke you suggested to me that covering this up would not be an issue.’
Finally, Mitchell moved. He leaned forward and folded his massive hands before him as he spoke in a voice so deep it sounded as though he were underwater.
‘The issue has been covered up,’ he growled. ‘Three hundred people have been silenced at great expense to the people I work for, your mining claims will face no further opposition and you have required our assistance to make it all happen. There are limits to what we can do, and thresholds to the risks we are prepared to take on behalf of others.’
Seavers clenched his fists and replied through gritted teeth, unable to understand why Mitchell was failing to grasp the problems that he was facing.
‘If Meyer’s device ever reaches the light of day my company will become worthless overnight. The cost of paying redundancies, dismantling equipment and environmental rehabilitation programs in the areas we have already begun excavating will leave the business completely crippled.’
If Mitchell was capable of showing any sign of emotion, Seavers could not see it.
‘Your business practices are your concern,’ Mitchell replied. ‘My superiors have far wider global affairs to concern themselves with. Their part in this bargain is complete, and anything else that stands in your way will have to be dealt with by your own people.’
Mitchell stood up and turned to walk toward the aircraft exit. Seavers fumed in silence for a moment before he called out.
‘Wait!’
Mitchell stopped walking but did not turn back to look at Seavers. Huck stood up from his chair and closed his eyes as he spoke, feeling every bit the man who was walking blindly off the edge of a cliff with the certainty of doom before him and yet unable to stop his legs from moving.
‘What would it cost to ensure the complete removal of any risk to my company’s future?’
Aaron Mitchell turned on the spot, his hands in his pockets.
‘That would require your complete control of Meyer’s device, would it not?’ Mitchell said.
Seavers felt a sudden pulse of excitement as he considered this new and novel approach to his problem. An alliance instead of enmity with Meyer. Seavers cursed himself for not thinking of it before, and then he saw the look on Mitchell’s face.
‘This is what you wanted,’ he said finally.
‘What I want is irrelevant,’ Mitchell replied as though disgusted. ‘But it is clear to those who govern these factors that the fossil fuel era is at an end, and that every company that does not move on as swiftly as possible will be doomed to extinction. My superiors require a vehicle to ensure that their interests are aligned with those of the companies that control the supply of power to the people. Your company can be the part of that alliance, or it can be history. The decision is yours.’
‘The price?’ Seavers repeated.
‘The controlling share, of course,’ Mitchell replied. ‘Seavers Incorporated will become the property of Majestic Twelve.’
‘The controlling share?!’ Seavers almost shouted. ‘You want to control my company completely? They could fire me overnight as soon as the deal is done!’
‘And you would be a very wealthy man for the rest of your life,’ Mitchell pointed out, ‘as you are now. Compare that with the consequences of not complying … ’
Mitchell turned away and strode from the aircraft before Seavers could reply, leaving the man standing alone and facing either complete ruin or the loss of a family business almost half a century in the making.
In the wake of Mitchell’s departure Seavers looked at his watch and the date upon it, and made a decision. The Bilderberg meeting was due to start tomorrow and Seavers knew he had little time left to waste.
As Mitchell vanished, so Seaver’s wife and children boarded the jet. Huck got out of his seat and forced a smile onto his face. His wife, Andrea, saw through him like glass as she looked over her shoulder out of the jet’s entrance.
‘Who was that?’ she asked. ‘What’s wrong?’
‘Nothing!’ Huck boomed as he hugged his children. ‘Everything’s going to be great!’
VIII
‘I guess this is what you get for a lifetime in fossil fuels.’
Lopez looked up at the glossy, immaculate headquarters building of one of the most powerful energy companies in the country and removed her sunglasses to better absorb the affluence on display.
Chrome, glass and marble dominated the foyer of the building, which was built using purposefully unnatural angles, all sloping roofs and angular outcrops of marble and glass. Ethan had imagined that an oil company or similar based in Kentucky would have wanted to blend in somewhat with the folksy nature of the state rather than construct something as ugly as the building before him now and slap it in the middle of Lexington.
‘I saw at least three limousines in the parking lot as we pulled in,’ Lopez said as they walked toward the foyer entrance.
‘We’ve seen this sort of thing before in New Mexico,’ Ethan pointed out. ‘Generally, the more money there is to be made, the more corrupt the people behind it will become.’
The foyer’s glass doors opened automatically as they approached with a soft hiss, and Ethan walked inside with Lopez to be confronted with marble floors, more glass and a single reception desk. A young woman sitting behind the desk welcomed them with a broad smile that actually looked as though she meant it.
‘Good morning, how can I help?’
Ethan affected an equivalent smile as he strode up to the desk.
‘Good morning, we’d like to speak to Huck Seavers to determine whether he was responsible for the disappearance of three hundred people from the town of Clearwater, Missouri.’
The receptionist’s studied smile slipped a little as clouds of confusion passed behind her eyes.
‘Um, our CEO is not in today and I don’t know anything about a town called Clearwater. Do you have an appointment?’
‘No, we don’t,’ Lopez admitted. ‘However, it’s important that we speak to Mr Seavers. We understand that his company was involved in a mining application close to Clearwater and that the town was involved in a legal battle to try to prevent him from beginning operations. Every single person in that town has vanished, and we need to know why.’
‘As I said, I don’t know anything about a town called Clearwater, but I’ll make contact with Mr Seavers and see if he is able to meet with you in the future.’
‘Where is Mr Seavers?’ Ethan asked.