Dunne looked at some notes. He and the other agent sat there reading from them looking up at Don every few minutes to return to the document. After ten minutes of studying the file Dunne said, “This is special agent Roger Ruillio. First I’d like to ask if you plan on cooperating with this investigation.”
Don smiled, “Yes. A special broadcast was sent out to all people who you selected to interview. We were all told to truthfully answer all questions of fact, as best we remember and to provide you with any records or correspondence you ask for. However, we were requested not to volunteer any information and not to provide you with any opinions.”
Roger Ruillio, a heavy man in his late fifties rubbed his curly hair, “When did this, so called request get transmitted to you?”
“We received the transmission between the time that Mr. Dunne asked to interview us but before he was told that Dr. Haines was un-available.”
Ruillio stood, “Do you think you’re a smart-ass? Don’t you know that this is a federal investigation at this point?”
Don said, “The first question is an opinion, which I don’t think you want answered, and yes, you are federal agents.”
Ruillio started to pace, “Tell me, is this taping of the Vice President continuing? How did you do it? The room was searched for bugs before Chamberlain entered. That kid was searched too. We need the entire videotape you took. Do you have other copies?”
“Gentlemen, please. I’m cooperating fully with you. I’ll try to answer your questions. Now, as I told Mr. Dunne here before, I first heard about the tape today. I saw it first with him. No, I had no personal knowledge about the tape, or the taping, until today. I did not authorize it. Charlie said he did. Nor do I know how many copies exist or other taping that was done.”
Dunne asked, “Exactly what did he say.”
“As far as I remember, he said something like, ‘Show this file to Dunne. I made it when I thought that Chamberlain was planning to kill us so he could have our tanks.’ “
“Tanks?”
Don relayed the details of the earlier meeting with the Vice-President.
Ruillio leaning of the wall hotly said, “And you refused to assist your country?”
“Charlie said that having an unbalanced international power would make the United States more prone to terrorist attacks and to possibly invite a coup by disgruntled officers.”
Ruillio jumped from the wall to land with his hands on the desk, by his original chair. “Charlie said this, Charlie said that. What are you, some kind of fucking puppet? You’re the CEO of the most powerful company in the world.”
Don sighed. “Yes. That’s a great description of me, a flexible, smart puppet.”
Ruillio was about to make another outburst when Dunne put his hand on Ruillio’s shoulder, “Sit down Roger. Mr. Gardner, can you explain what you meant by that?”
“About being a puppet? Well that’s exactly what I am. I have no illusions there. Did you ever look me up? Before I became the CEO, I mean. I was a business major, with a minor in communication, but I spent my waking days at the college repertory company. I was an actor. I loved to act. However, it doesn’t take a genius to know that 95% of the actors earn less than twenty K a year. They take minimum wage jobs to eke out a living. Sure, some make it big for a couple of years, but they’re the exceptions. Me, I was planning to give up the grease paint for a junior exec position. I was a B student. Martin Klein interviewed me and told me about this job. I would play the role of the CEO, complete with a dozen bodyguards, initially for three million a year. I would be given my lines or allowed to ad lib if necessary, after being told my ‘motivation’ for any ‘scene’. However, in the middle of any ad lib, I might be told to change this or that. Nope, no illusions – a puppet.”
Dunne leaned forward with his mouth open, “You’re just a ham actor?”
“Actually, I do represent C H Electricity throughout the world. I meet and discuss policy with world leaders, a lot of which is pure extemporaneous ad libbing. At this time, I’m given only a few pointers about my motivation in any scene. Charlie’s a wonderful director and we have a great relationship. Plus I don’t have to sit up nights learning lines; I deliver them straight from the phone.”
Ruillio guffawed, “A know-nothing actor. Shit.”
Don sat up straighter, “I resent that. Actually, I’m at all the important meetings. But, know-nothing – hell no! It’s just that Charlie, is, well Charlie. He’s brilliant. When I first joined the company, I approached the board with business plans, plans to sell company stock, leverage loans, et cetera. I WAS a business major. Charlie said he had that covered. He came up with a plan to pay 25% for the first power plant in cash. The bank covered the rest. When the principle was almost paid off, he took the profits from the first and had the banks cover two larger plants. Then four plants, until his reverse Ponzi scheme was running completely on bank loans and profit from the older plants. The company is doubling in size every three months and that time is even decreasing. We now have triple-A ratings from Standard and Poor’s and we’ve passed six governmental audits.
“I started the highly successful program to convert gas and oil furnaces to electricity. Fossil fuel subscribers paid for the conversion on installments and they immediately saved money. It increased our subscriber base by 15% in the first year and another 25% in the second. We currently have 62% of the market and it’s growing. Its growth is rate limited by the construction of new power plants. This allowed us to pay out our bank loans two months earlier. I had low wage college kids visit each prospective home and business. It was also my idea to sell cars at a steep discount and to charge by the mile, the equivalent of fifty-five cents per gallon. We don’t use gas, of course, so that is pure post-sale, on-going profit. Our automotive line leases the production lines, but we make about seven thousand dollars per car with an extra hundred plus each quarter for mileage. People used to pay that every three weeks. The cars get updated GPS maps and improvements in programming. For our consumers this is a win-win deal, cheap cars, cheap fuel, cheap on-going improvements. The banks can’t wait to loan us the money. Our automobiles have taken over 82% of the market. Did I mention my idea about how we sponsored legislation to reduce truck tolls since they don’t chew up the roads anymore. Or my idea about increasing the speeds on the highways by having our cars and trucks float fifteen feet above …”
***
Dunne had been sitting grilling the Chief Financial Officer for the last 45 minutes. Dunne sat back and wiped his forehead. “So, let me get this straight. You worked five years as a junior accountant at a hardware lumber chain. Your most memorable achievement was instituting a better electronic QC process on billing. You are then asked to join the most powerful company in the world as their CFO.”
The heavyset man squirmed, moped his brow, and then answered, “Well, they weren’t that big when I joined them. They only had the two power plants operational. I was taking a big risk in joining them. But it paid off.”
“Yeah, I can see that with your seven figure salary.” Dunne said satirically. “So what do you do to earn this stuffed salary?”
“My biggest achievement is starting both computer and human checks on all branches of C H Enterprises and our venders.”
Dunne asked in a lilting voice, “And this is big because …?”
“It’s never been done to this scale before. Once every year, every branch of the company gets an outside auditor to review the books. That includes my office as well. Any branch who fails the audit faces disciplinary action. Listen, I know I’m only above average in intelligence. So, I hire teams of the best to come up with guidelines. Everything is automated. At any moment, and I mean moment, I can tell you anything about the finances of the company. Anything.”
Dunne straightened, “Anything?”
“Yup”
“Can you get me the net income of everyone in the
company? And all other expenditures.”
“Sure.”
“When can I have it?”
The CFO nodded, “Can I have my glasses and computer module.”
Dunne looked at the mirrored window behind him and nodded. Shortly Roger Ruillio entered carrying the devices.
The CFO put them on and said, “Computer: Alan please … Yes, I’m fine. No, they’re treating me well. Good. No, I haven’t seen him. Alan, I have a request. Can you get me a sorted list of salaries and expenditures? Yes, before bennies and taxes.” He looked at Dunne, who nodded agreement. He continued, “Do it per year and pay period, with name, title, branch of C H Enterprises. Also give me the same list sorted by branch and name. Uh huh. Uh huh. Yes. Yes, send it to the same gentleman who invited us down here.”
Dunne interrupted, “Include their address as well.”
The CFO nodded, “Get that Alan? OK. I’ll speak to you later. Bye. I love you too.”
Dunne asked surprised, “Your assistant?”
“No, my computer. It said the files have just been uploaded to your department’s external unsecured fileserver. They are encrypted with your personal ID, name, and ID again as a password, no spaces.”
“What, so fast?”
“Yup”
“Did that include donations to charities and money to the board?”
“Of course.”
***
Dunne and Ruillio were hunched over the list of employee salaries. They each had finished two cups of coffee.
Ruillio said, “It’s long, real long. But I notice only one entry for a Charlie Haines. It’s for a single dollar, with an address in care of Martin Klein.”
Dunne said, “One fucking dollar, unbelievable. What about Martin Klein? He was the sole stockholder at one time according to the IRS. He and his wife are still majority stockholders.”
Ruillio searched and located it. “Let’s see. Martin Klein, two entries. They list him as Assistant Medical Director, one hundred ten thousand a year. They also list him as head of the Board of Directors, twenty five thousand a year.”
“Un-fucking-believable, thousand not billion. Hey, they said they audit yearly, with outside auditors. Get someone to interview the auditor and check out all of Klein’s residences. Get a search warrant. What about the wife and kid?”
“David is listed as twenty six thousand and Martin’s wife Corey is one hundred forty thousand a year.”
“What are their job titles?”
Ruillio flipped back to David entry, “The kid is Junior Assistant for Special Projects reporting to Phyllis Klein. Hey, isn’t that the kid’s wife?”
“Check the addresses, but I think so. What about Corey and Phyllis’ title?”
“Corey is Senior Medical Director and Phyllis is Associate Manager for Special Projects. This Corey woman has a better title and salary than her old man. Hmm, that Martin must really hate his kid, saddling him with reporting to his wife. Sounds like the kid needs a babysitter. Hey, we should be able to play the kid off his old man. Call up that fake CEO and ask him about that David kid and what does special projects mean.”
***
Ruillio came back into the office that Dunne used to review the financial records. Ruillio said, “Not much luck. The puppet said that David and Phyllis are always around, but report directly to someone else not to him. He said they were on the books even before he was hired.”
Dunne looked up from the paper, and rubbed his eyes. He then asked, “Did you ask who they reported to?”
“Of course, he repeated not to him. I then asked how I could find out, he then asked which division the kid and his wife reported to, when I told him C H Enterprises. He just said ‘Charlie’.”
“Didya ask him what special projects meant?”
“He said he didn’t know and you need to ask Charlie that.”
Dunne picked up a piece of paper, “And Charlie’s not talking to either of us. Hmmm, twenty six thousand a year, and you said a small, empty, no-window office, sounds like a phony do-nothing job.”
Ruillio nodded. “My guess is that David and his ole lady were put on the books by his father, nepotism, pure and simple. But not necessarily illegal for a privately owned company.”
***
Martin was seated when Dunne and Ruillio sat down opposite him. “Mister Klein.”
Martin pursed his lips and squinted his eyes, “It’s Doctor Klein.”
“Yes, Doctor Klein, we’d like to ask you a few questions.”
“This is a witch hunt, an attempt to blame the victim. Your employers attempted to have me killed. I insist on my constitutionally mandated rights under the fifth amendment of the Constitution be kept. The Bill of Rights says, ‘No person shall be held to answer for any capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.’ I demand my lawyer.”
“We are from the Department of Homeland Security. Under the USA Patriot Act of 2001 we can rescind your rights, when we feel appropriate.”
“Only within a very narrow range of just-cause, none of which is applicable. Didn’t you hear what I just quoted from the Constitution? I demand my lawyer.”
Ruillio leaned forward, “What is your real name.”
Martin said, “Martin Klein, at 127 Talbot Trace, social security number 134-93-9335.”
“Our records indicate that Martin Klein is 53 years old. Who are you?”
Martin paused then said, “Martin Klein, at 123 Talbot Trace, social security number 134-93-9335.”
Ruillio quickly got up and stood behind his chair, “You’re only 19 years old, MAYBE 20. You’re lying.”
“It’s not illegal to appear young. I demand my lawyer. And Roger, please cut the bad-cop act. We both know its bullshit.”
“Did you videotape the Vice-President?”
“Under my protections under the fifth amendment I have the right from self-incrimination. I demand to see my lawyer.”
“Are you still videotaping the Vice-President or have illegally entered our federally secured army bases?”
“You didn’t hear me the first times. Let me save my breath – Fifth Amendment.”
After forty five minutes of not answering the questions Martin paused then said, “To save you and me a lot of time, I’ll agree to take a polygraph test, under certain conditions.”
Dunne smiled, “Go on.”
“I agree to the standard polygraph. You can measure my heart and respiration rates, my skin conductivity, and nothing else, the standard polygraph. However, you can only do the Guilty Knowledge test and only questions approved by my lawyer. That is, you can ask me only statements that a guilty person would know. For example, if I had killed someone and only the guilty person and the police knew that it occurred with a knife, you could ask me did I kill him with a gun, knife, candlestick, poison or rope. When I said you, I mean a trained interviewer who is ignorant of the crime, so I wouldn’t be led by the questioner’s voice. If I pass, no more of this good cop, bad cop bull and I walk. Deal?”
“What if your lawyer doesn’t allow all the important questions?”
“Would you agree if I get a lawyer who you can approve of? Someone you can trust as reputable?”
“That’s a big if. No partisan politicians though.”
“OK, we shake on it?”
Dunne and Martin shook.
***
David sat in a holding cell. They had taken his clothes and given him a poorly fitting orange jumpsuit. He was ignored.
**
*
Sandra Day O’Connor sat in her Office at the College of William and Mary. It had rich wooden shelves covered by books. Her secretary buzzed her, saying it was a call from Charlie Haines. Ms. O’Connor left her office and whispered to the secretary, “Really?” The secretary mouthed, “I think so.” O’Connor returned to her office.
“Doctor Haines it’s a pleasure to talk to you. How can I help you?”
“I hope you’re familiar with the current attempt on my life.”
“Yes, I heard about the missile attack.”
“Well we are close to solving the mystery of who is behind this immoral attack. To get to the point, one member of our board of directors is being harassed by the Department of Homeland Security. He agreed to take the guilty knowledge form of the polygraph test, and I need someone of integrity to ensure that the questions they ask him are appropriate.”
“You realize that the polygraph is not admissible evidence in most courts. However, the Guilty Knowledge Test is the fairest version of the polygraph test.”
“Oh yes. But the Homeland Security agreed not to harass us if he passed. Would you agree to review the questions, if I paid for your expenses, honorarium, and contributed to your college and any other charity, say a half million dollars each?”
“That is very generous. You just want me to review the questions?”
“We can talk about other representation if the need comes up.”
“Before I continue, what is he charged with and is he guilty?”
Charlie said, “He’s charged with illegally eavesdropping on the Vice-President who was plotting to kill me. Did he do it? No I did.”
“What?”
“I had strong reason to believe that Vice-President Chamberlain wanted to kill me and destroy C H Electricity for the benefit of the oil cartels. I just sent you a tape that was given to the Department of Homeland Security. After you look at it, you can appreciate why I can unequivocally say that Chamberlain and President Cooper are guilty of treason. If we were killed, the United States electrical power structure, then its economy would immediately come to a halt, as would most of our interstate transportation system. Although, in fairness to them, I’m sure they hadn’t thought things through. The people the Vice President talked to are the president of Sunoco Oil, General Mitchell, and President Cooper. Martin Klein, on our board of directors, has seen this tape also, but he didn’t produce it or have knowledge of its production.”
Counting Up To Infinity Page 22
