The Last Day

THIRTY-SIX

While Ward watched Natasha dressing from the bed, his cell phone rang. It was his uncle Mark.

“Morning, Unk,” Ward said.

“How are you and Natasha feeling?” Mark asked, his voice rife with concern.

“That would depend on your definition of ‘feel,’ ” Ward replied.

“This is all temporary, kid. I know you were set up and the FBI will figure that out real soon. You gotta keep your chin up. Your father never let the bastards get the better of him, and you're a McCarty.”

“Thanks, Unk. I appreciate your faith in me. I wouldn't have been successful without your support and experience. That's a fact and I hope you know that.”

“Thanks, kid. But I'm just an old car salesman with a great product line.”

“You've always been there for me. I know it and I appreciate it more than I can say.”

“You're gonna make an old man cry. Listen, the other reason I called is that I got a call from Flash Dibble a few minutes ago,” Mark said. “He asked me to tell you he's as interested as ever to buy the company. He says this virus thing is all a load of crap and he knows you aren't responsible and he is sure you'll be cleared. He thinks that once the company changes hands, its reputation can be salvaged. He also told me that the FBI is going to interview him this morning and he's going to tell them it's a bum rap. His words. He and your father go way back. They were never friends, but they had respect for each other. It's Trey that's the douche bag. Flash is just an astute businessman.”

“So how much less you figure we're worth to him now?” Ward asked.

“He didn't say anything about reducing his last offer. We could have Gene feel him out on that. You want, I can talk to Gene.”

“It seems like the timing on this scandal is sort of providential for Dibble, doesn't it? I'll be interested in seeing if his new offer is a bit reduced.”

“Ward, we both know that at the present, our clients are vulnerable to all of our competition. Being our customers is a potential public relations problem for them, too. This is NASCAR, and moral rectitude, even though it's in short supply, is still a big issue with the fans.”

“It's more than a public relations nightmare for me,” Ward said, angrily. “You want vulnerability? How about a few years in federal prison? Or being a registered sex offender for the rest of my life?”

“We all know this is a setup of some sort. Flash is one hardskinned son of a bitch, but if it ends up he had anything to do with this, he'd be destroyed, and the man has hundreds of millions at stake. Even if he wanted to do it to force a sale, I just don't see him risking getting caught doing this.”

“There's Trey,” Ward said. “I think he's capable of doing something like what happened.”

“He's one mean, not-too-bright shit-for- brains. And those are his best points. Still… Ward, I don't think he's behind this.”

“He wants the company as much as, or more than, his father does. If it wasn't for Trey, Flash could certainly have already bought a company like ours for a lot less. If I get locked up, Trey would get some sort of twisted revenge because I said no to him.”

“Ward, this had to have been planned well before you told Trey to his face the deal was dead.” Mark asked, “Way I figure it, what can it hurt to keep the options open?”

“Sure,” Ward said. “Talk to Gene. I'm curious.”

“By the way,” Mark said, “we're open again. The servers are clean, and Gene said the feds have what they need. We gotta start doing some damage control. I'm seeing Lee Blackwelder in Charlotte at two. He's expensive, but public relations disasters are what he does best. I'd be right there with you and Natasha, but I think it's best you stay home for a day or two. You need anything, and I mean anything, you call me first. I'll be checking in with you, and I'll call if anything comes up. In the meanwhile, I'm going to be talking to any client who'll take my call.”

“I'll call Gene about the Dibble thing. I have to talk to him anyway.”

“Your call,” Mark said. “I'll follow your lead, boss… nephew.”

Ward hung up.

He wouldn't sell the company to Dibble for himself, but he had other people to think about. Flash might agree to institute some form of profit- sharing and to not fire employees for a certain period of time. There was also a chance this would somehow work out and Ward would be cleared. All it would take was proving who had come after him. Maybe Todd Hartman could work that miracle. He dialed Gene.

“No news is good news” was how his friend and attorney answered the call. “Wiggins is going to meet with us this morning at tenthirty He's informed the assistant federal attorney that if he wants to see you, he will bring you in. Any interviews from here out will only be conducted in his presence. Even so, the FBI may pick you up. You can't trust the bastards. If they show up and want to take you in, call me, or have Natasha do it and I'll call Wiggins. It's likely they'll take it slow and easy and make sure they have their ducks lined up before they move. I get the feeling the prosecutor doesn't have much confidence in the case so far, but that could change at any moment. There's a big commotion to get somebody charged for this…”

“What's Wiggins costing me?” Ward asked.

“Twenty thousand retainer for starters. That a problem?”

Ward paused, then forged ahead. “Nope.”

“Then bring your checkbook. That pays up through arraignment and plea. The rest depends on what he has to do. This goes to trial, a hundred thousand easy.”

“A hundred thousand dollars? Listen-Unk told me that Flash Dibble still wants the company. Flash called him. If you want to, you can see if the offer stands, but if he tries to drop it, it will make me wonder if he's involved in bringing down the value. Keep me posted.”

“You change your mind?”

“No, I haven't. I don't know. Let's just say I want to do what's best. And maybe there are other potential buyers.”

“Who'd offer less and sell to Flash,” Gene said. “By the way, Todd Hartman making any progress on this?”

“I haven't talked to him today. So far, his people have kept the press away.”

“See you at ten- thirty Ward.”

“Sounds good.”

Ward called Todd's cell phone. It rang four times and went to his voice mail.

When Natasha came in, he filled her in on his conversation with Gene.

When his cell phone rang a minute later, Ward looked at the caller ID. It was Todd Hartman.

“Todd,” he said. “We need to talk to you. Something's come up that might be important.”

“I was coming to see you with good news. I'll be there in ten minutes.”