Secret Prey

FIFTEEN

JIM BONE HAD HIS HEAD IN HIS REFRIGERATOR WHEN the phone rang. He picked up the kitchen extension and Kerin Baki said, Mr. Bone, this is Kerin.

Jesus, Kerin, its five-thirty. Have you been to bed?

No. Too much to do. She sounded wide awake. Nancy Lu just called me. McDonald called Brandt out at his farm, and Brandts asking for an emergency board meeting at ten oclock. Weve got to be ready. Nancy Lu was the board secretary.

Bone had been drinking milk out of the carton. He swallowed and said, All right. Do they want the pitch today? Whatd she say?

No pitch. They just want to sort things out. But I think youve got to go for it today. If you wait, things could get out of control.

Bone scratched his head: I dont think theyd give it to me today, but we might kill McDonald off.

There was a second of silence, and then Baki said, Try to be more careful with your language. You talk that way all the time, and it could cause trouble.

Bone grinned at the phone and said, Yes maam.

Bring in your blue suit with the thin chalk lineis that clean?

Yes…

And the red-horsey Herme`s necktie and the usual shoes and so on. Also, wear jeans and one of those mock turtlenecks and the black leather motorcycle jacket and your cowboy boots. Im not sure which you should wear and we have to talk about that. Dont shaveyou still have that electric razor in your office bathroom?

Yes.

Good. Mr. Bone, I think you should leave your apartment in ten minutes and meet me at the bank in fifteen. You should be here before anybody else.

Ill be there. And listen. Call Gene McClure and tell him to get his ass in there. Weve got to start looking at what Susan was doing. If theres anything about the murder in her computers, weve got to know about it. Ive been thinking about it all night.

Yes. Thats good.

Fifteen minutes, he said. He hung up the phone, looked at it for a moment, said, Whoa, and headed for the shower. No shave? Motorcycle jacket and cowboy boots? Wonder what that was about.

BONE CARRIED THE SUIT AND TIE WITH A WHITE shirt and a pair of black dress loafers into the elevator, and was met by Baki on the twelfth floor.

Good, she said, taking the clothes. She was dressed in a tack-sharp blue suit and her hair was perfect. Gene McClure is on the way in. He should be pretty quick. I scared him a little.

Good. Get him to me as soon as he comes in. Now: Whats this about the boots and jacket? He looked down at himself.

We may want to reflect the image of a man who has been working all night to keep the bank going. Nobody else is in. I checked on McDonald, and he hasnt been in, so as far as anybody knows, weve been working all night. Not even McClure knows youre just coming in. I told him you were out for coffee.

I see… Listen, you gotta start calling me Jim.

Not yet, she said. Go get your computers up, and get ready for McClure. Ive got to mess up my hair.

Here… He reached out and pulled a few strands over her eyes, a couple out at the sides: My God, you look different, he said. And he thought that in the six years shed worked for him, this was the first time hed ever touched her, in any way. But youve got to try to look a little tired.

I am tired, she said.

MCCLURE ARRIVED TEN MINUTES LATER, WEARING A rumpled suit over a clean shirt; the skin on his face was a scuffed pink, as though hed scraped off his beard with an emery board. McClure was technically ODells second-incommand, although his position was bureaucratic rather than executive, and he had not been part of her inner circle. Pushing sixty, he was simply waiting for retirement and enjoying himself. But as ODells technical second-incommand, he was now running her department, if only for a few days.

Jim. Kerin told me about Susan. My God… Bone peered at him and realized that he was really shocked. He liked that.

Murdered, Bone said. Im as upset as you are, but weve got some things to get straight. Weve got to balance everything out, tear through everything Susan was doing. Weve got to make sure she wasnt up to something… unusual.

Shouldnt we wait for the board? McClure asked doubtfully.

No. Theres an emergency board meeting this morning at ten oclock, and theyre gonna need this information to put together some kind of response, Bone said. Baki walked into the room with a piece of paper in her hand. If theres anything unusual in the record, theyre going to want to know ASAP.

All right, McClure said. Ill get some of the computer cowboys on the way in.

Theyre on the way, Baki said, lifting the sheet of paper so they could see a list of names. All of them.

MCDONALD WAS SHAKEN OUT OF BED AT EIGHT forty-five; Audrey was up with a cup of coffee.

What?

Board meeting at ten. Nancy Lu called an hour ago. I let you sleep as long as I could. Youve got to be good, she said.

Coffee?

Yes, she said. You go get cleaned up. Ill get your suit… the charcoal one, I think, since ODells dead. Wouldnt that be appropriate?

Whatever… And he staggered off to the bathroom.

THE POLARIS BANKS BOARD OF DIRECTORS MET AT EXACTLY ten oclock in emergency session. All the members were present, plus Bone and McDonald. Bone showed up at the last minute wearing jeans, a motorcycle jacket, and cowboy boots. Wilson McDonald raised an eyebrow at the costume, and turned to see if Brandt had gotten it.

Before anyone else could say anything, Oakes blurted, What in the Sam Hill is going on here? Jim? Wilson? Anybody?

Wilson McDonald steepled his fingers: Theres no reason to think that the ODell incident is related to the bank. I understand drugs were discovered in her apartment last night…

Drugs? Brandt buried his hands in his face. Sweet bleedin Jesus. Is the press gonna find out about this?

I would think that the police would make every effort to keep this private. However, I think theres a good possibility that Susan, as with any drug user, was involved with very unsavory people…

Bullshit, Bone snapped. He was chewing on an unlit cheroot, scowling. Its gonna get in the papers. Id besurprised if its not out by tomorrow. And her dealer was a waiter at The Falls.

How do you know about this drug thing, anyway? Anderson asked querulously, looking from Bone to Mc-Donald. And to Bone: How do you know her dealer?

The police told us about the drugs, Bone said. Several of us were questioned last night. Another person told me who her dealer was. Told me in confidence.

We may have to know who it is, McDonald said.

If the cops ask, I might tell them, Bone said. But right now, nobody knows that I know, except the person who told me, and the people in this room. If it gets out of this room, itll hurt the bank and Ill want to know why it got out. He looked straight at McDonald.

What kind of drugs? asked Bose, toying with a string of pearls.

Just an old piece of hash and a little pot, Bone said. Nothing serious.

Nothing serious? McDonald said. This time his eyebrows rose almost to his hairline. Nothing serious? How can you say its nothing serious?

Because its not, Bone said.

Id disagree, McDonald said. I think this must be handled very carefully…

More bullshit, Bone said. He looked at McDonald over the walnut table, his eyes glittering. And Im getting pretty goddamned tired of your bullshit, Wilson.

Listen, pal, McDonald said, but Bones voice rode over his.

First, itsnotimportant, he told the board. If it were heroin or cocaine or crack or methamphetamine, itd be much more important. With this, its a misdemeanor, and we simply issue a press release saying that we were unaware of any drug use on ODells part, say it may have been related to her glaucoma.

Glaucoma, McDonald said. I didnt know she had glaucoma.

Neither do I, dummy, but by the time the newspapersfind out for sure that she didnt, nobodyll give a shit.

McDonald was half out of his chair: Youre asking to be hit in the mouth, Bone. Im no damn dummy and I want an apology.

Bone waved him down into his chair, closed his eyes: Im sorry, I apologize. But Ive been here half the night, ransacking ODells files with Gene McClure. Weve established that her department is apparently completely on the up-and-up. Everything is absolutely clean.

Brandt said, Good going. I worried about that all the way in from the farm.

And weve got to stay on top of it, Bone said. My assistant has prepared a press release… He opened his briefcase, took out a sheaf of papers, and started passing them around. Its all very standard, full cooperation with police, the glaucoma thing, an overnight review of her department with her top subordinates indicates exemplary management with no hints of any banking issues in the murder.

Brandt was reading the paper, put it on the table and said, Excellent.

Were going to have to tell Spacek at Midland, said Constance Rondeau.

I already did, Bone said. Kicked him out of bed at seven oclock this morning, briefed him. Hes issuing a press release that says that Midland is standing behind the merger proposal and that he has full confidence in the integrity of Polaris.

All right… all right, said Anderson.

Do you think, uh, any of the rest of us might be in danger? Bose asked.

Bone grinned at her and said, Thats the first question I asked when the cops came over last night. After a bit of uneasy laughter, he said, The police have nothing. I cant see any connection, and no threats have been made… but then, ODell wasnt threatened either.

You think we could use a vacation?

Bone shrugged. Thats up to you.

The board members looked at each other; then Brandt said, I really dont think thats necessary. But I do think its necessary for this board to talk privately amongst ourselves. We have some issues.

Several of the other board members nodded, and Bone pushed back from the table and said to McDonald, Wilson, I think theyre kicking us out. He looked down at himself. And I could stand a change of clothes.

Not kicking you out, Brandt objected. In fact, Id appreciate it if you both would hang around for a while. I know youre both tired, so well give you a call in a half hour or so. Get you out of here for the rest of the day.

In the hallway outside the room, McDonald said, You called me a dummy.

I apologized, Bone said. Baki was standing just behind him, prim with a bundle of papers.

Fuck apologies, McDonald said. Youre going down, you prick.

Yeah? Whats that supposed to mean? Bone asked. You walking around with a little handgun, Wilson? Bones voice was quiet, and he looked almost as if he might be joking. But McDonald could see his black eyes, and knew that he wasnt.

Kiss my ass, McDonald said; and Bone, in his turn, took a mental step back. This was not the hail-fellow he knew. Baki caught the hem of Bones jacket and pulled. No, she muttered, an inch from his ear. McDonald nodded at the two of them, then turned on his heel.

Fat fuckin…

Some other time, she said. Did it work out in there?

I dont know.

WHAT HAPPENED? AUDREY DEMANDED, AS SOON AS the door shut behind her husband.

I damned near punched Bone out in the hallway, the prick, McDonald said. Christ, I could use a drink.

Punched him? Audrey was confused, and her voiceturned shrill. Wilson, what are you thinking about? Punched him?

Ah, shut up, McDonald rapped. He peeled off his coat and tie. Board wants us to wait around until theyre done.

Are they going to pick someone? Were not ready. We were going to work on Bose this weekend.

The ODell thing spooked them, McDonald said. I think half of them are getting ready to leave town. Hide out until its over with.

But… Audrey was flabbergasted. They said next week…

I dont know. Wilson shrugged. He turned to look out his window, down at the street. Bone turned up looking like a motorcycle bum. He sure as hell didnt look like a CEO, so thats something.

Okay, she said. She folded her skirt beneath her as she sat down on a plush chair. So we wait.

THE WAIT WAS AN HOUR LONG, AND SEEMED TO TAKE most of the day. A few people came and went; McDonald stared at a computer screen while Audrey readVogue. Then Jack OGrady came down, smiled at Audrey, and said, Wilson, could you step back into The Room for a minute?

Audrey patted him on the back and Wilson followed OGrady out the door.

Going to the Gophers game? OGrady asked.

Always do, McDonald said brightly. Good year, bad year, I dont care…

But he trailed off when he walked through the door. Bone was already sitting at the long conference table, but this time he was wearing a dark bankers suit with a thin chalk stripe. And hed shaved.

Wilson, sit down, said Brandt, and McDonalds stomach turned. He sat down. Wilson, weve decided we need to get a new leader in place immediately; somebody who can handle the bank and give us a single voice to speakwith. Weve elected you and Jim Bone to the board of directors. Ill be taking over as the board chairman, and if youll accept the job, youll be vice chairman, as well as maintaining the presidency of the mortgage arm. Weve asked Jim to take over as president and chief executive officer. And weve directed him to continue with the merger plans.

Brandt looked at Bone, then back to McDonald. So thats it. Welcome to the board.

I, uh… McDonald shook his head as if hed been struck. Vice chairman: he was dead meat. I, uh, thank you.

BAKI MET HIM IN THE HALL, EYES WIDE, ALMOST VIBRATING with caffeine and anxiety, Bone thought, and demanded, Well?

He grinned. I got it. Brandt is chairman, for now, and McDonald is vice chairman. For now.

She smiled back and six years worth of frost melted for a moment: Im very pleased for you, Mr. Bone.

Jim.

Not yet, she said; she refrosted.

And we have to talk about that favor.

Tomorrow, she said. Ive got some more thinking to do, and weve got some work. I should call Spacek, and tell him that youre now the man to deal with on the merger.

Thats the first thing, he said. Second thing is, weve got to start talking about how to screw the merger.

Thats not entirely consistent with your previous position, she said, with absolute equanimity.

I didnt used to be the CEO, he said. So lets go. Were gonna need coffee and cookies. Weve got some minor receiving to do.

Down in your office, she said. I ordered everything well need this morning.