Limiting Liabilities: Book Two - The Martinique Files

by Colette Alaine

  “Okay.” Billy is extremely calm and Tawny is a little uncomfortable with his explanation about Rebecca’s early leave.

  “She says she has very little going on but has her files on her desk for you to review. Once you finish those files, come to my office and I’ll get you involved in my new case. Ken Shelton is the engineer heading it up and you two got along so well that you’re a natural for it.”

  “Wow, that’s great. Thanks, Billy. I’ll go check out her files right now.” She pauses as she moves her briefcase back under her desk. “Um. . .anything else I should know about Rebecca.”

  “No.”

  “She’s not in trouble or anything, is she?” Tawny is really suspicious now.

  He stares at her for a long minute. “I don’t like gossip and if I could keep this from you, I would. Without going into details, letting you leave work last week without informing me was a huge mistake.”

  Tawny covers her face with her hands. “Oh no, I got her into trouble. It was my fault. I didn’t have anything to do.”

  “Tawny.” She is upset and blaming herself for something she has no control over and Billy is not going to let her take any flak. “Tawny, she knows better. She’s dealing with personal issues and you only did what your manager told you to do. You certainly bear no fault in this. Like I said I would’ve never told you but everyone knows I blew up at her last week and so the talk will be fierce.”

  “I feel so badly.” Her heart is in her throat. This is painful for her to hear.

  “Don’t. I’ve told Linda to keep her mouth shut. She’s becoming more of a problem than a help. I’ve had a word with her as well. I don’t much like supervising but I’m certainly not going to be supervised so I’m stuck dealing with it all. I don’t need you to be a problem too.” The subtle hint is there but while Tawny hears it she doesn’t understand it.

  “I’ll do whatever you say. Please don’t fire her over me. I’ll make up the time if that’s the issue.” Tawny is very concerned for her manager. Without her job, Rebecca really has nothing.

  “I know you feel badly and I hate that you do. You’re too big-hearted. This is Rebecca’s issue. That’s all the conversation we’re going to have on the topic. Now come with me. We’re all meeting in my office.” He turns toward the door.

  When Tawny enters Billy’s office, Nick and Mark are already there. They look a bit shaken, and with Tawny, the three of them resemble the three little pigs facing the wolf. No one says anything as Billy sits at the table and looks at each of them.

  “I don’t know what will happen with Rebecca but whatever does will play out in time. We’re not discussing her. What we are discussing is a new hire. You’ve probably heard rumors about this for some time, even though I tried to keep it quiet. I needed another partner to help me with my cases. Nick and Mark, this doesn’t change your partnership tract one bit. You’re both in line for partner and Nick, I know yours was scheduled for last year but with the economy the way it was the partners decided to wait a bit longer. It should be soon but you didn’t hear that from me.”

  Nick visibly breathes a sigh of relief. They all know that ever since he had to stay back from the big case last year because his wife was giving birth, he has been afraid of losing the partnership he worked so hard to attain. Because the baby was overdue and Mark couldn’t travel, Billy had to take Tawny on the case of his career. Fortunately, it worked out but Billy is slow to forgive and when he did not make partner at the end of last year, Nick panicked. The only consolation was that no one else was made partner either. Mark is just as relieved since he too was responsible for Tawny working the big case.

  “Brandon Harper is joining us. I think you know his name. He’s a well-known partner at Monson and Swanson. He starts work in a month and will be working with me as well as some of his own cases, if his clients follow him. He’ll hire an associate when he’s settled in and he’ll be using all three law clerks this summer. If Rebecca returns, she’ll also be using the law clerks for most of the mundane work that Tawny is doing. Tawny will work with Brandon some and with me some. Mark and Nick, you’re stuck with me. Any questions?”

  They all have some but they know not to ask them now. They all knew something was going on because Billy’s been in the office. He does not spend much time behind his desk like most attorneys. He gets by with it because his cases bring in millions of dollars in fees. He is the highest producer of revenue when he hits big and no one questions his work ethic.

  With Billy being in the office they all know he is not going to be pleasant and now that they’ve learned he is dealing with HR issues, he is certainly not happy. Nothing could be more distasteful to him than personnel problems. Nick and Mark know to leave him alone and keep quiet. If they are upset with the new partner coming onboard, they will share it with their boss later. More likely though, they will accept it and move forward. Billy has never slighted them and they trust him. It is Tawny who is on pins and needles right now.

  Tawny’s resume was sent directly to Brandon Harper. If she did not know before that Brandon had told Billy, she certainly knows now. As Billy spoke Brandon’s name he looked directly at her to see the reaction. She is sure he was not disappointed.

  “Okay then. That’s all the news I have for today; hopefully for the next year. Get back to work you two and Tawny, I want you to stay a few minutes. Mark, close the door on your way out,” Billy directs the senior associate.

  Here it comes. She can feel it. This is not how she wanted to end her day. She would do anything right now to sit in front of her computer with her boring case and research through the night. Instead, she has to face Billy.

  When the door closes, Billy pushes back in his chair and looks at her. He is not going to make this easy. “How many resumes did you send out?”

  “Six,” she admits.

  “You thought it would be easy to change jobs and getting drunk Friday night was your way of celebrating.” Obviously, he saw her.

  “Do you blame me?”

  He shrugs. “You can party all you want. It’s your reputation.”

  “You know what I mean. My cases are easy. My workload is so light I could read a novel in-between the research. You won’t talk to me, much less let me work on your cases. I mean, what was I supposed to do?” Tawny defends her actions by turning the tables on Billy.

  He shoots back at her. “If you leave, it comes down on me. They’ll say I chased you away because you’re a female attorney and I don’t like to work with female attorneys. My department is out of hand I’ve been told. My other partner lets associates leave work because she can’t keep them busy and I won’t let you work on my stuff.”

  “Is everything always about you? Gee, and you wonder why I mailed out my resume.” Tawny knows she is not paying proper respect but she has just about had it with Billy only looking out for himself.

  “Yes, it is about me. I’ve worked hard to get where I am. You’re working as hard as I did and I see so much of me in you. Too much,” he admits.

  “Please don’t tell me that scares you.”

  “Not at all. It’s fantastic. If you were a guy or even an ugly girl, I could deal with it. We’ve had this conversation before and I know it’s not fair. I’m sorry that I’m the way I am but if you’ll just hang with me a little longer, I’ll try to make it right,” Billy almost pleads with her.

  “I’m always an issue for you.” Tawny falls back into the reception chair. “I just want to be a good associate working my way up the ladder, respected for my work but living as I please. Why do I have to get stuck dealing with all your. . .stuff?”

  “Because we hired you. Okay. That’s the only reason I’ve got. You know you’re good. Now I’ve put you on another of my biggest cases, leaving Nick and Mark out. They don’t know it yet and they may hate you when they find out. But I’m going to use Ken Shelton as my excuse. You really saved him last year and he wants you on this case. I do too.” Throwing back her head, she shows him that she truly
does not believe it. He responds in an attempt to reassure her. “Really, I do. I’m hoping to avoid all the personal run-ins of that case but…”

  “Personal run-ins? That’s what you’re calling our relationship!” Tawny retorts.

  “We were in very unusual circumstances. I mean we had to sleep in a tent on a beach surrounded by poisoned water. A mad scientist was creating clones to kill us on his own tropical island. These are not everyday incidents, Tawny. Climbing trees and chopping up boa constrictors draws you closer to those you’re with. We were both way over our heads and we united in that nightmare. Reality showed us as we really are.” Billy’s rehearsed this defense a few times, she assumes as it comes off a little too stilted.

  “That is such a flowery way of calling yourself a cad.” Tawny pulls no punches.

  “Well I don’t much like that word.”

  “At least I get to work with Ken and hopefully not much with you.”

  “Ken is the best in the business. You’re privileged to work with him.”

  “I guess I owe you that, huh?” Tawny retorts sarcastically.

  “I think so. He’d say the same about me.” He smirks but she is not amused.

  “I’m certain it’s much different being your client than it is being your associate. . . or the girl of the hour that you date.” The reference to their relationship is a biting one but she can admit it now; he really hurt her.

  “You will have to work with me some. It’ll be just business. You and I don’t mix well romantically. I’m sorry for what I did to you but we need to move forward. I want you at this firm, not just because the other partners will pulverize me if you leave but because you’re very good at your work.”

  “I won’t save you again. You’ll have to rescue yourself if you get into trouble. I know it irritates you that I don’t bow down before you like everyone else but I’m not ever going to do that for you. I’ll leave before I do that.” Tawny has had it with his lack of respect for her. No way is she going to suck up to him.

  “I know. Just pay me the proper respect whenever anyone else is around and we’ll be good. You do that now and I’ll live with the rest.” Billy knows not to ask for anymore. She will leave if he pushes her too far.

  Tawny shrugs and leaves his office. Going into Rebecca’s office, it takes only an hour to review her files. There is not much she can do with them. Most of the work is completed and it is almost like her mentor was stalling to end them so that she had something to do. It is nothing that cannot be completed over the next few days.

  Leaving for the night, she runs into Billy again at the elevator. Wanting something to say, even though she does not know why she feels compelled to say anything at all, she blurts out her findings on Rebecca’s cases.

  “Good because I can put you to work on Ken’s case right away. It’s going to start with a lot of research; your specialty.”

  Saying goodnight, they both head to their cars and drive home but she cannot stop thinking about Billy.

  As Billy slides into his Mercedes, he is doing everything possible to not think about Tawny.

  CHAPTER 3

  I t is still dark at five o’clock in the morning but the air is unusually cooler than the standard eighty degree heat and high humidity this early in April. But Nwankwo does not notice as he secures his AK47 while his cohorts hold tight to their RPG-7’s, their AKMs, AK47s, TT-30’s and other semi-automatic pistols. Two skiffs are filled with fifteen camouflaged-dressed bandits, some hiding their faces under dirty bandanas, while others shamelessly display their defiant faces. These young thugs are quicker and crueler than their more senior predecessors. The youngest is only sixteen but his oldest comrade just reached twenty-three. Although brought up in poverty, these gangsters have not turned to piracy because they lost their livelihood. No, they simply want what is not theirs to have and to get it as fast as they can.

  Their forefathers are fishermen. Trolling the Gulf of Guinea for salable sea life to feed their families and stock the market, they were forced to leave the only employment they had; using the only skills they knew when the mistakes of Somalia entered their own world.

  When the Somali Ministry of Fisheries and the Coastal Development Agency set up agricultural and fishery cooperatives for the artisanal fishermen in the early 1980’s to promote the vast stock of unexploited marine life, they envisioned success for their people. Then the Somali Civil War left the area undefended when the Somali Navy disbanded and foreign trawlers stripped the locals of their catch.

  While this theft was bad enough, it was accompanied by the infusion of toxic waste dumping by large multinational companies and foreign governments looking for a site to rid themselves of dirty waste far from their own shores. The marine stock of tuna, shrimp and lobster in the Gulf of Aden became so depleted the local fishermen turned to piracy to recoup the money lost from their fishing.

  They began by kidnapping the crew and holding them prisoner until large ransoms for their release were paid. When the money stopped flowing, these misplaced fishermen swiped the goods from cargo ships moving oil, chemicals and anything else that would fetch a good price.

  International help eventually relieved the problem as foreign countries sent defenders to combat the modern pirates. Somalia is still a waste dump, stripped of its great marine potential but when the price of oil is challenged, the first world countries will step up to the plate and make a difference.

  Now the same thing is happening on the Western coast of the great African continent. The surge is especially prevalent in the Gulf of Guinea off of the shores of Nigeria. Piracy has found new life while replacing a hard day’s work of local fishing since hijacking large freighters is much more lucrative than casting nets.

  The petroleum rich Nigerian soil is plum for drilling and exportation but capturing large cargo ships and stealing the refined oil is easier. Younger pirates are getting in on the action. Awakening early in the morning, they band together on the mothership, usually a stolen vessel that houses several smaller boats called skiffs. Quietly, they board the small motorized water boats and head toward the open gulf.

  Today is no different as the group of fifteen gets ready to hijack a large American freighter entering the pirate area. Nwankwo gears up for his fourth attack this year. Recruited in early February, when the rainy season is just beginning in the southern tropical land, the pirates have ample time to claim their share of goods before the monsoon winds pick up full steam in June.

  Nineteen is a prime age for a pirate to begin his career and Nwankwo is ready to lose his life in order to gain all the riches that he has heard his government’s officials enjoy. Those commanding and governing the foliage rich nation with its abundance of oil, lush vegetation and a diverse variety of crops that grow all year long lavish themselves with more luxuries than an American movie star.

  Nwankwo wants to be a star. Not in the movies but on the high seas. He is a pirate and he intends to be the best. Poverty is his excuse but survival and wealth are his aim. He does not care who gets hurt as long as he thrives. He has adopted the attitude of the Nigerian leaders without the clout to back it up.

  Nwankwo is on his fourth savior mission. Instead of labeling himself an ocean robber he prefers to be a savior of the waters, a rescuer of the centuries old profession of the common fisherman. If only he shared his take with his fellow man, he could justify his actions. But he won’t think about that now. His leaders do not dwell on such morality, so why should he?

  The skiffs keep up a speed of twenty-five knots until they draw near the American ocean liner. The American cargo tankers have been particularly difficult to capture as of late. Staffed with armed guards, they resist the pirates better than the others. But it is the American tankers that haul the biggest cargos of oil from the area so they are the best risk to take.

  Dawn is approaching as the skiffs slow their speed but steadily sail toward their goal. Reaching the stern of the ship at the same time, the pirates tie up as silently as ghos
ts. Using a small ladder, one at a time each pirate climbs aboard the massive boat. As the last of the pirates sets foot on the tanker floor, the Americans come out prepared.

  Armed as well as the pirates, the Americans demand they leave immediately. The pirates did not plan this attack to just turn hide and run. Oh no, they are here to take their oil.

  With pirates carefully slipping into nooks and crannies on the boat, each one is able to nab a hostage from behind. Nwankwo has his man and he is as scared as a little girl meeting her big brother’s bully. Nwankwo shoves his AK47 into the man’s ribs and forces him to his knees. On the ground, the man begs to be spared. Nwankwo has yet to kill another and does not plan to end this man’s life but he decides to play with his emotions nevertheless.

  “Face to the floor. . .or I shoot you in de heart,” Nwankwo threatens the young man.

  “Please. I have a new baby. My wife and I are married only two years. She needs me.” The frightened man nearly cries as he speaks the words.

  “Vhat is dat to me?” Nwankwo prefers to show no mercy but cannot help having a conversation with this pale-faced Westerner.

  “You’re young. Someday you’ll understand. You’ll fall in love, want a family of your own.”

  “Hah. Ve don’t tink like you Americans. You have your silly dreams. Ve have our reality. Ve are more interested in eating dan in a brick house vith a vhite picket fence.” Nwankwo refers back to an American staple he heard from a missionary proclaiming salvation if Nigeria opens its heart to Jesus.

  “Love is universal. It’s not just for Americans. Love is hope. Hope for you. Hope for Nigeria.” The young man seems to find his courage.

  “Shut up! You talk nonsense.” Nwankwo has heard enough and is awaiting orders from his leader. The young American quiets down but openly prays with his hands folded and his lips silently moving.

  “Bind dem and bring dem to me.” The twenty-three year old leader commands his small army but his youthful charges do not follow directions as well as they should.