The Initiative: In Harm's Way (Book One)

by Bruce Fottler

  “He's the one that Mr. Drake had a falling-out with?”

  “Yes.”

  “Why would he do this?”

  “We don't know yet,” Colin replied as he pulled out a picture. “This is a picture of Neil. I'd like you to take a look at it and let me know if you've seen him or maybe someone who reminds you of him. He'll be a little older now, but his features shouldn't have changed too much.”

  Sam took the picture and gave it a long look. “Sorry, I just don't recognize him. Did he order the bombing?”

  “We're not sure.”

  Sam again looked at the picture. His expression turned grim. “Can I keep it?”

  “Certainly. Maybe it'll jog a memory. It's possible you did see him at some point. He probably wouldn't have been too cautious around you because you don't know him.” Colin paused and studied Sam's expression. “Hey, this part is important. I need you to let me know if anything comes up. I know you're pissed, but don't be a fucking cowboy. You can't handle this on your own. Shit like this is way out of your league. Understood?”

  Sam put the picture on the end table. “I just don't want to lose anyone else over this.”

  “I know. We're working hard to make sure that doesn’t happen.”

  “You know, Mr. Drake thinks Sues is my sister. She might as well be.”

  Colin smiled. “I understand, and I also don't see a need to correct his memory about unimportant details.”

  “Thank you. She's very important to me.”

  “Call it professional courtesy, Sam.”

  Saturday, July 8, 1995

  Arlington, Massachusetts

  Sam sat patiently in a dim booth towards the back of a small restaurant off Massachusetts Avenue. He occasionally glanced to the front door for Susan. She was ten minutes late and he was still wondering why she had changed her mind about where to eat. It was an odd choice which left him guessing if one of her friends had oversold the restaurant. It was basically a hole in the wall that featured utilities that looked like they violated any number of ordinances. A lingering cigarette odor didn't help his appetite, and the limited menu didn't seem very promising, either.

  “Good evening, Sam,” a voice spoke out from behind. A tall, slender, older man slid into the seat opposite Sam. His once dark hair was now mostly gray and his eyes had an intensity that made Sam uneasy. It took a couple of seconds before making a chilling recognition. Sam took in a deep breath and started to wonder if that dim booth would be the last place he'd ever see.

  “You recognize me?”

  “Neil McLarin?”

  “It's really good to meet you, Sam,” Neil said in a calm and confident tone. “It's nice to finally talk to the new star protege of Blanchard these days. I've heard some very good things about you.”

  “What's this about?”

  “Oh, please relax, Sam. I'm just here to have a little talk with you.”

  Sam reached into his pocket and pulled out the picture that Colin gave him. He placed it on the table.

  “Oh, that would be from Colin Ross, right?”

  “Yes.”

  “That's an oldie. I should send him an updated picture.”

  “What do you want?”

  “Please don't be anxious. I'm not here to cause any trouble.”

  “But what about--”

  “Susan? Oh, don't worry about her, either. She's safe and not anywhere near here. You see, I'm the one who changed your monthly dinner date with her.”

  “You sent me the email?”

  “I did.”

  “Figures. First time I thought she used email and it really wasn't from her.”

  Neil chuckled. “We have a few minutes before you'll get a call on the restaurant’s phone. When the people up front call you to the phone, you'll have two choices. You can go answer it and act like it's Susan canceling, which will sell it to Colin's security team that's shadowing you outside. Or, if you don't like our conversation, you can try to run out, find them, and report me. I'll probably be long gone by the time they get back in here.”

  “What do you want to talk about?”

  “I need your help to arrange a sit-down with Colin and me.”

  “Why don't you just call him?”

  Neil laughed. “Because he and his people are very good at what they do. He's also being monitored by government intelligence assets.”

  “What do you need to talk to him about?”

  “Sorry, but much of it is way above your pay grade.”

  Sam's glare tightened on him. “Did you kill my girlfriend? She was a completely innocent bystander.”

  “Sam, I'm very sorry about Angela, but I had absolutely nothing to do with it. Nor did I have anything to do with the downing of the Dignosco test flight.”

  “Colin said that you hacked the company computer systems.”

  “He's right. I did, but it wasn't for them.”

  “Who exactly is them?”

  “That's something I really think Merrill Drake needs to tell you.”

  “He already did. He and the senator told me it had to do with corporate espionage of some sort.”

  “Senator? You must have met Senator Barlow. Merrill must really like you. I'm sure they put on quite a dog-and-pony show.”

  “So you're saying they didn't tell me the truth?”

  “More like spun it. It's a real shame, because after everything you've been through, you deserve to know the truth.”

  “What truth?”

  “I'd very much like to tell you, Sam, but I made a promise I need to honor. I'll just say that the rabbit hole goes much deeper than you've been led to believe.”

  “Why did you leave Blanchard?”

  Neil sighed and looked over to a clock on the wall. “Too long a story for the time we have left. I'll just tell you that while Merrill's really one of the good guys, he's the type who believes the ends justify the means. I hold a more stringent definition of what's ethical.”

  “Ethical? Then why were you spying on the company?”

  “I'll explain that to Colin,” Neil replied as he slid a small folded piece of paper across the table. “Please give this to him. It's a phone number he can reach me at if he wants to meet. It's important that you give it to him in person. If you call him on the phone, unwelcome company will be listening in. Now you're going to have to make up your mind if you want to give it to him or find your security detail and try to turn me in.”

  Sam looked down at the slip of paper and slowly picked it up.

  Neil smiled and stood up as a telephone rang towards the front of the restaurant. “Be careful when asking for the truth, Sam. You might deserve to hear it, but it could place a terrible responsibility on you.”

  Neil turned and exited through the back of the restaurant.

  “Is there a Sam here?” a voice called out from the front.

  “Here,” Sam replied as he pocketed the slip of paper.

  “There's a Susan on the phone for you.”

  Sam picked up the phone and looked back to the exit Neil had taken. He then looked out front past the picture windows and wondered which parked car, or maybe which patron was part of his hidden security detail.

  “Hi, Sues. Where are you?” Sam finally asked into a dead receiver.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Monday, July 10, 1995

  Blanchard Corporation- Chelmsford, Massachusetts

  “Sam Maxwell,” Colin smiled as he rose from his desk to offer a handshake.

  “Thanks for seeing me.”

  “Absolutely no problem. Please, have a seat. How have you been?”

  “Okay. I'd rather be at work.”

  “Yeah, and I'm sorry it's out of my hands. It's something Dr. Huston needs to clear you for. Is there anything else I can do for you?”

  Sam paused and reached into his pocket. “I assume since you're director of corporate security that your office is a safe place.”

  “Safe place?”

  “As in a private place to talk?”


  “Sam, anything you say to me is strictly between us. No one else is listening and nothing is being recorded.”

  “Good,” Sam replied as he handed Colin the piece of paper Neil gave him.

  “What's this?”

  “Something I was asked to give you.”

  Colin opened it up and his eyes grew wide. “You saw him?”

  “On Saturday. I was supposed to be out with a friend for dinner, but he showed up instead. He wanted me to give that to you in person, because he thinks your phones are tapped.”

  “Very interesting.”

  “So, what now?”

  “You need to go back to recovering. Forget this ever happened. I'll handle it and let you know if I need anything else. Thanks for getting this to me.”

  Friday, July 14, 1995

  North Chelmsford, Massachusetts

  “So, you haven't said anything since you picked me up,” Sam said to Colin as they turned into the entrance of Sam's townhouse development. Colin hadn't communicated with Sam since the note was passed to him on Monday. Then a phone call came from him on Thursday to arrange a visit to Sam's townhouse in order to collect personal belongings. In reality, it was to secretly meet with Neil.

  “Just a second, Sam,” Colin replied as he glanced up to his review mirror. A single sedan turned in with them but parked off to the side. “Making sure our security detail hangs back.”

  “Don't you want them to check the area first?”

  “We'd just bring too much attention on us if I had them do that. I'm only supposed to be taking you by your old place to pick up a few things before the reconstruction starts. Besides, Neil isn't the type of person to pull any tricks.”

  “What do you expect out of all this?”

  “To talk to Neil, then we'll see.”

  “So, you knew him when he worked at Blanchard?”

  “He and Merrill started the company. I was with them from the beginning.”

  “What kind of person is he?”

  “He's a genius that could probably out-invent Thomas Edison and Steve Jobs combined. He's also a good man, at least I hope he still is. We'll find out soon.”

  They pulled into a patched-up parking space in front of Sam's old unit. The front windows were boarded up and yellow caution tape was wrapped around both units. They sat and looked around. It was the middle of a hazy, hot afternoon and no one was in sight.

  “The insurance adjuster told me it's safe enough for a visit,” Colin said as they got out of the car. “The construction team is at another site today, so it'll give you enough time to pick out anything you don't want discarded. Be careful how much you take. I don't have a lot of room in the trunk.”

  “I don't think I'll have that much.”

  They got out of the car and approached the repaired front door. Sam got his keys out and unlocked it. He needed to give it a stiff shove to get it opened.

  “They cleaned up all the broken glass,” Sam commented as they stepped into the living room. “Looks like they began to get rid of some of my furniture, too.”

  “Some of it looks salvageable. Hell of a shame they have to throw it all away.”

  “It's part of the insurance settlement process. At least the money will help me to start over somewhere else.”

  “You don't plan to stay after they fix it up?”

  “No, I'm going to sell it. Too many bad memories here.”

  “Understandable.”

  “I agree,” another voice spoke out from the kitchen. Neil stepped out from around the corner. “Sam, it's good to see you again. I can't imagine what it must have been like to come across the scene that car bomb left. Judging by the damage I've seen, it's a miracle no one else perished. The blast was far more powerful than it needed to be.”

  “That was part of the message,” Colin added.

  “An awful one, at that,” Neil concluded with a frown.

  “Hello, Neil,” Colin said as he extended his hand for a handshake. “It's been a while.”

  Neil shook his hand with a smile. “Good to see you, Colin. You're looking well.”

  “Thanks. My wife cut off the cigars and booze.”

  Neil laughed. “About time. We need you around.”

  Colin turned to Sam. “Why don't you head upstairs and look around for what you want to take? I'll let you know when we're done.”

  Sam nodded and headed up the stairs. Colin walked with Neil into the kitchen.

  “He's a good kid,” Colin said as they stood by the old refrigerator, out of sight of the back windows that remained intact. “One hell of a mess this all is.”

  “When are you guys going to read that poor kid in, for real?”

  “It's out of my hands. He's in the five-year plan now.”

  “You could change that. He deserves better.”

  “Neil, what in the hell is going on?”

  * * *

  The meeting lasted about thirty minutes. Afterward, Sam walked out the front door with Colin carrying some boxes. Neil exited through the back and walked to the river trail in the humid afternoon.

  “So?” Sam asked after Colin opened the trunk. He didn't answer as he helped Sam place a couple of boxes full of personal items that were salvaged. As one of the boxes was put into the trunk, a red Matchbox Firebird rolled out. Sam put it back as Colin gave him an odd smirk. After closing the trunk, they got into the car. Colin started it and turned up the air-conditioner to full blast. He sat for a minute and let the cool air wash over him.

  “Is this something you're not going to be able to talk about?” Sam asked after a minute of uneasy silence.

  “He didn't have anything to do with it,” Colin finally said.

  “How do you know?”

  “Because he said so.”

  Sam paused and gave Colin a perplexed look. “Because he said so?”

  “If I had to choose between Neil and Merrill, I'd trust that Neil would always tell me the truth.”

  “But why did he hack our computer systems?”

  “Apparently, he's been in there for a long time now. He was just keeping an eye on things and helping out. He put a lot into the company and started most of the projects we're finally rolling out. Whenever our project developers hit a wall, he would quietly intercede and subtly coax them along.” Colin paused and laughed. “He found ways to get them to think they came up with his solutions. Even after walking away, he couldn't let go. I should have known. Typical for Neil.”

  “But how did the information get out to the spies?”

  “They found what he was doing and piggy-backed off his snooper programs. It wasn’t very deep, so they didn't get nearly as much information as Neil did. But it was enough. They recently erased their tracks and changed his software codes just enough to make it easy for us to find the snooper programs. They set Neil up to take the blame.”

  “But you can clear his involvement, right?”

  “I have no proof. It's all been erased. This is all on Neil's word.”

  “I thought you said he could be trusted.”

  “Of course he can be trusted, but it's what Merrill thinks that drives the decisions. There's no way he's going to blindly accept Neil's version of events. There's too much bad blood between them and Merrill's not the type who easily forgives. I think it best we don't mention this to anyone until I can think of a way to deal with it.”

  “So, we're keeping secrets from people who are keeping secrets? That's pretty messed up.”

  “Welcome to the shitty part of my job, kid,” Colin said with a cynical chuckle as he backed the car out.

  “We're all on the same side and don't even know it.”

  “Tragic how that worked out. Probably by design.”

  “A house divided,” Sam mumbled.

  “What was that?”

  “Something that popped into my head. A house divided against itself cannot stand. I heard it at church a while ago, but I think it was from Lincoln, right?”

  “Now you're scaring
me. Neil said the exact same thing to me earlier.”

  “Is anyone ever going to let me take a peek down this rabbit hole?”

  “I'll try to take that up with Merrill, but be very careful what you wish for.”

  “Neil gave me the same warning.”

  “You should listen to him. He's a very smart guy.”

  Wednesday, July 19, 1995

  Cambridge, Massachusetts

  “Nice place,” Sam said to Susan as he sat down at a table near a picture window at the front of an Italian restaurant.

  “It was Emily's recommendation. She's anxious to hear what I think of it.”

  Sam looked around the agreeably decorated room. “She has good taste.”

  Susan stretched her right arm out across the table and gestured at Sam. He placed his hand into hers. “How are you doing?”

  “Better,” Sam replied with the most enthusiasm he could muster. “I finally got back to work on Monday. It's been helping a lot. Everyone there has been great about it.”

  “But how are you really doing?”

  Sam glanced down and sighed. A look of profound pain was in his eyes. While he was adept at being evasive with Kyle, he knew it was impossible to lie to Susan. “I'm not sure.”

  “You miss her.”

  Sam choked back his swelling emotions and tightened his grip in her hand. “I just get so mad at myself.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I loved Angela more than I knew. It always seems that something has to be taken away to understand how much I really valued it. Why does it have to work that way?”

  “You're not alone. I feel the same way.”

  “I should have spent more time--”

  “Sam, stop beating yourself up. You loved her and she knew it. Don't you ever doubt that.”

  Sam drew in a deep breath as Susan reached into her purse and retrieved a tissue. She handed it to him with a coy smile.