by Greg Ballan
"Nobody is perfect, Erik," Denton said, his voice warm with understanding. "Good people don't go after innocents, Erik, and you're good people. Unfortunately, there are those people in higher places that don't play by the same rules you do. That's where we can help you. We are the most powerful law firm on the eastern coast. We have connections in Washington, all the way up to the President. We can protect you, your family, and your friends. I know how you feel about being your own man, and I understand and respect that. I would have made this offer to you months ago if I thought you'd accept.
"Even without your new capabilities, you're an asset. Now you're not only an asset, but you're going to be a target for every black ops military program with a budget or government agency with some scheme that would benefit from your talents. Sooner or later, they will come for you, and the government doesn't play fair. They'll use any method to take what they want, and they won't ask before they do it. Whether they go through your family or your lover, they won't stop until you capitulate. To them, you're an uncontrolled, unknown force – a threat to government security and, more importantly, a resource they wish to exploit."
"I have no wish to work for the government," Erik said forcefully. "Tell your black ops friends that, if I'm pushed, I will push back and they won't like it when I do. I can be just as dark and deadly as any government agency, Martin. If it comes down to a war, I'll give no quarter, government official or not. Bureaucratic bones break just as easy as anybody else's," the detective threatened. "If you really want to serve your Washington employers, you best tell them to back off and stay very clear of my world," he warned. "Or else."
Denton sighed. He'd anticipated Erik's stubbornness. "Let me finish, please. Think about what you're saying. Do you want armed agents raiding this place? Do you want the government issuing a warrant for your apprehension, if it comes to that? Maybe you can fight off the army and the government, maybe you're even more powerful than we suspect, but, Erik, you can't live in a vacuum, you can't spend every waking moment fighting the government," Denton implored. "Son, you're outnumbered by about a million to one. Also, how long until the Chinese, or the Middle Eastern factions get wind of what happened here? That's an entirely new kettle of fish. Do you really think you can take on the whole world by yourself? Is that what you really want: To spend the rest of your days fighting and fretting?" Denton asked in a reasonable tone.
Erik exhaled heavily as he considered Martin's words. The elder gentleman had an annoying way of putting things into perspective. Erik knew he was right. Alone he could probably engage any force, but he wasn't alone, he had a child and he had other relationships. As powerful as he was, he couldn't protect them all. Denton was offering him a possible way out, a solution to a problem he hadn't fully considered yet. Working for the government left a foul taste in his mouth. Taking orders and simply being a lackey wasn't his idea of a life, especially since he'd spent most of his adult life avoiding this type of situation.
Erik cracked his knuckles and shook his head, frustrated. He felt trapped, caged by events beyond his control. He had no way out. The government, apparently, would waste no time in coming for him.
"So, what exactly are you proposing?"
Denton smiled, obviously encouraged by Erik listening to reason so quickly. "If you join the firm, we'll make the appropriate contacts to see that you're undisturbed. Also, you get the benefit of a steady, rather large paycheck, whether you're on active status or not. You will no longer have financial problems and you'll have more time, effort, and equipment to help those that come to you, the little person who really needs the help," Denton added as a further enticement. "Hell, even if you don't join the firm, I'll do everything in my power to keep you appraised of what's coming your way. I like you, and I respect you." The old man paused. "I'd also like to consider you a friend as well as a business associate."
Erik was tempted, but also suspicious. The offer was nothing like he'd anticipated. In fact, it was almost too good to be true. "It's a very generous offer, but what's in it for the firm?"
"Fair question," Denton answered. "We get the benefit of branching out into human interest cases. I won't lie to you. There is a degree of self-interest here. We want to bolster our favorability rating in the marketplace. Branching out into smaller human-interest cases will allow us better position in public relations. The firm plans on growing into this market slowly, one man at first, then eventually grow that one man to a team leader of three or four investigators. We've gotten the reputation as a 'rich man's' firm. I admit we haven't done ourselves any favors with some of our clientele, but there are those on the board of directors who feel we could benefit from some good PR.
"Plus, there's the other side of the issue, the larger cases, the kind of things that we do in the dark for dear old 'Uncle Sam.' I already know you're familiar with those, because we've used your talents on these in the past. Only now, we see the ability to use you on more sensitive cases that would benefit from your unique talents," Denton answered honestly and bluntly. "I won't lie to you. Seventy to eighty percent of the time, you'll be doing your own thing, being your own man as you prefer, with the exception that our firm will be diverting a small number of small private clients to you, in addition to the clients you glean yourself.
"The other times, we'll need you – 'we' being the firm and the feds – on our more … sensitive projects. There'll be times when we may pull you from a small case to handle something of a delicate nature for us. We'll place an outside specialist to pick up your case load in your absence. You have the firm's solemn word that your clients won't suffer for your removal if that occurs."
Erik leaned back in his chair. Denton's offer was appealing. He refused an offer long ago, and it had cost him his marriage and nearly cost him his daughter. "You make a compelling case, Martin. As long as you can assure me that I'll still have my own business, and am my own man most of the time, I think we can come to an agreement."
"You have Martin Denton's solemn word." The man extended his hand.
"One thing first, something I've been sitting on and could use your help with."
Denton raised an eyebrow as Erik walked away from his outstretched hand toward his wall safe. Erik tapped several keys on the safe's code pad and the small steel door swung open. He reached into the wall unit and produced a black leather binder. He approached Denton and tossed him the binder. The old man opened the binder and leafed through its contents. He looked at the young investigator incredulous.
"Mineralogical reports, mining core samples from Hopedale Mountain," the elder lawyer remarked. "That's conservation land, nobody should be doing anything up there, let alone conducting a mining operation." He placed the folder on Erik's coffee table. "I gather you obtained this from the site during your escapade last month."
Erik nodded.
"Pendelcorp is a tough nut. If I recall correctly, the CEO is married to your ex-wife," Denton observed. "This wouldn't be a personal vendetta, would it?"
Erik looked over at the old man, his eyes burning. "Martin, if I wanted to deal with Richard, I'd handle it in a more subtle manner. This document puts his corporation at the site where those creatures were. I saw abandoned mining equipment in that tunnel, as well as several corpses. They unearthed those monstrosities, broke into their chambers, and unleashed them upon this town. They're responsible for the deaths of at least a dozen men up there, as well as indirectly accountable for the death of forty or fifty soldiers, and possibly two pilots and choppers. I don't have enough horsepower to go after Pendelton directly with this, but with your firm, and your reputation, you could begin the process of exposing those weasels. I'm not an attorney, so I don't know how to go about building the right kind of case against them. This is the kind of thing you specialize in. Can you help me?"
Denton leaned forward, picked up the bound pages, and leafed through the binder again. The dated reports and studies were incriminating, but the firm would need more to go on than one man's word and a binder. Plus, the governm
ent already released its report on what occurred up on Hopedale Mountain. Trying to prosecute this now would undoubtedly catch the interest of certain federal agencies that would rather the matter be kept quiet. Denton knew that to pursue this without further evidence would be pointless, and to hunt down further evidence would only involve the same bureaucracy that wanted this story buried forever.
"Let me be frank," he began cautiously. "In order to effectively build the kind of case you want, we would require more evidence to implicate any company in wrongdoing. Do you have any further proof? You said there were bodies up there, can they be recovered?"
"No," Erik whispered. "That damned helicopter blew everything to kingdom come. It fired some very powerful short-range cruise missiles and caved the whole tunnel in and wiped out the entire campground. The only thing up there now is a big smoking crater and some burnt trees and vegetation. The final rocket barrage scattered any smaller debris to the four winds. Whoever wanted that stuff eliminated was quite thorough," Erik lamented.
Denton tossed the black binder back at Erik. He caught the book and placed it back on his desk. "Without something further, I'm afraid that there's little we can do. If we start poking around with no specific direction, we'll alert every fed that wants this story buried. Also, if we wave that around, someone will get enough common sense to impound it via legal chicanery, and that will leave you with nothing. My best advice to you would be to hold on to it and wait. Time is the key factor right now. This is still too big a sore spot. Give the wound time to heal over before you start picking at it. The more you pursue this matter now, the more attention you draw to yourself and those you care about. I know it's difficult, but for now, let it go," the elder man confessed. "Look, Erik, I'm sorry. I know that's not the answer that you wanted to hear, but anything else would be a lie, and I won't lie to you."
Erik sat in silence for a few moments, considering the lawyer's words. "I appreciate that, Martin, really. It would have been very easy for you to feed me a line, but you didn't. That says a lot. I think we'll make a good team, assuming I will be answering to you when my services are needed."
Denton looked perplexed momentarily as he digested Erik's reply. He again extended his hand. This time Erik stood up and shook his hand firmly. "Welcome aboard, Erik. You've made the right choice, young man."
"I know," Erik replied. "I had an opportunity once that I let slip by, I won't make the same mistake twice."
Denton smiled. "I'll make the appropriate calls and inform the firm that you're on the team. For now, I'm happy to give you this as a token of our new business arrangement." Denton reached inside his jacket pocket and handed Erik a thin envelope.
He opened the envelope and was stunned to see a bank check for 50,000 dollars. Erik's jaw fell as he studied the number.
"Eliminate your debts, buy your young lady some luxurious gift, and give yourself a fresh start, Mr. Knight. Everybody deserves a second chance," Denton added as he headed toward the office door.
Erik watched as Denton and his guard drove away. He stared down at the large check. This would more than wipe out the string of debts he incurred over the past years and leave him plenty for his savings account. He pocketed the check and picked up the Pendelcorp mining report. He took the binder to his small copy machine and duplicated several random pages. Erik folded the pages and placed them inside his pocket and put the binder back in his wall safe. He grabbed his keys and headed out. If he hurried, he could still make it to the bank before it closed, and then to the jewelers. It was time to pay a visit to Richard Pendelton. The two men had several things that needed to be discussed. He may not be able to prosecute that pompous bastard, but there was still a way he could utilize his new arrangement.
* * *
Margaret Pendelton was relaxing in the hot tub when she heard the door chime ring. "Figures!" she whispered as she picked herself up from the comforting warm water. She covered her shapely form with a terrycloth robe and headed toward the door. She was surprised to see Erik. Her ex never stopped by unannounced.
"Hello, Erik," she began. "What brings you here?"
"I need a few words with Richard. He and I have some business matters that need to be discussed," he answered evasively. "It's quite important, and he'll be most interested."
"Come in," she replied, escorting him to her husband's office. Margaret knocked on the large door. "Richard!" she shouted through the thick wood barrier. "You have company."
Endless seconds seemed to pass before the large door opened and Richard stepped out into the marble-laden foyer. His eyes widened when he spotted Erik.
"Ah, Mr. Knight, what brings you up from the bottom feeders you're so fond of?" he asked condescendingly.
"I have some papers that relate to a case I'm working on. I'd like to get your opinion on them. I'm not sure what to make of them. I figured before I went to the authorities, I'd get a businessman's perspective." Erik paused momentarily. "Would you mind?" he asked innocently enough, doing his best to put Pendelton at ease.
"Why not!" Pendelton answered in a smug tone, gesturing for the detective to enter his office.
Margaret looked at the two men as the door closed, knowing something more was going on than either would admit.
"Play nice, you two," she said to both men as the door closed.
* * *
Richard walked over to his bar and prepared himself a large drink. He made a great deal of noise examining the various liquor bottles at his disposal.
"So much good vintage," he spoke aloud as he selected a bottle of gin. He began mixing himself a cocktail while studying Erik who was seated quietly in one of the spacious leather chairs facing his large mahogany desk.
Richard had finished mixing his gin and tonic, and sat behind his desk, leisurely sipping his drink. "I'm actually glad you stopped by." Pendelton couldn't help himself and decided to bait his favorite foil. "Margaret and I were just discussing the adoption proceedings for Brianna last night. I'll have my attorneys send you copies of the forms for you to sign. They're not very complicated. I'm sure you'll be able to figure them out by yourself." Pendelton awaited Erik's reaction of panic and outrage. The detective simply sat there, staring at him, his blue eyes burning with inhuman intensity. Pendelton cleared his throat and quickly changed the subject. "What did you want me to look at, and of what possible interest could it have to me?" he asked, looking away from Erik's stare.
Erik reached into a pocket and tossed the folded papers onto Pendelton's desk. The man picked up the bundle and began to leaf through each sheet carefully.
"Where did you get these?" he demanded.
Erik just continued to stare at him, his eyes burning a hole into Pendelton's guilt-ridden soul. "I was up there, remember. I'm the one who got my daughter and the other children back. I saw the bodies, I saw the base camp, and I saw the machine you used to free those creatures from their tomb," he answered very softly. "You're responsible for a number of innocent people dying, Richard," Erik accused. "Not to mention tunneling and mining in protected lands. That alone will cost your corporation some hefty fines, the prior will land you in the federal pen," Erik stated softly in a deadly whisper.
Richard controlled his emotions carefully, trying to keep some advantage. "This is all very interesting, Knight, but how can you tie this to me? Anybody could produce these documents with any commercial grade equipment. For all I know, you manufactured these yourself. From what I've heard, and what you said yourself, everything was obliterated up there, nothing remained," Pendelton countered as he took a long swig of his gin and tonic.
Erik grinned. "You're right, this alone won't convict you in a court of law, but I'm sure someone would find it very interesting. You, the man who claims to love his step daughter, can be linked to the very thing that endangered her life. Plus, if I told her what I found up there, who do you think she's liable to believe. Even if she doesn't believe me completely, which I highly doubt, she'll never trust you again, you'll never get the family
you want, and she'll, in all likelihood, turn away from you completely." Erik paused. "I win, Richard. Game. Set. Match," Erik said in a note of finality as he reached over and took a sip of Richard's drink and then spit the contents back into the glass. "Yuck, how can you drink that stuff? It'll kill your liver."
Richard took the glass and walked over to his wet bar. He casually emptied the glass into the small sink and rinsed it. "You blue collar naïve," Richard began, "do you think you have what it takes to challenge me?" Richard screamed. "You have nothing but some pieces of paper, no real proof. Margaret will never believe you. She'll think you're out for vengeance, nothing more. Margaret is firmly in my camp. She likes the things I have to offer. She'll believe me. You see, lowbrow, what it boils down to is simply your word against mine. In that arena, I win; game, set, and match. Your puny act doesn't scare me one bit. You just try something, buster, and I'll have my lawyers sue your blue-collar, lowbrow ass into non-existence for libel. Margaret loves me. She'll listen to me, not you," Richard said forcefully, struggling to control himself.
Erik slowly stood up from his seat and walked over toward Richard. He stopped directly in front of the man's face, and looked him right in the eye. "Who said anything about Margaret?" he whispered in a deadly tone. Erik turned, heading back toward his chair.
Richard knew that the bond between Knight and his daughter was unbreakable. He was a silver-skinned God in her young eyes. Whatever he said, the young girl would take as gospel. She would never accept him if Knight spoke outright against him.
Richard acted impulsively, reaching out and grabbing Erik by his shoulder. As the detective turned, Pendelton threw his weight behind a solid right cross to his face. Erik caught the man's fist in midflight in a grip of iron. Slowly and continually, he increased the pressure on Richard's balled fist until his fingers and knuckles crackled. Pendelton winced in agony. Erik twisted his grip, forcing Pendelton to his knees.
