Terminal Compromise

Unfazed, h.o.m.osoto rose slowly and started for the door.

"Where do you think you're going? Hey, I asked you where you're going? I'm not finished with you yet. Hey, f.u.c.k the deal. I don't want the G.o.dd.a.m.ned money. We'll stay private and wait for someone honest to come along." Pierre was speaking just as loudly with hand, arm and finger gestures. While not all of the gestures were obscene, there was no doubt about their meaning.

h.o.m.osoto spoke gently amidst Pierre's ranting. "I will give you some time to think about it." With that, he left and shut the door in Pierre's bright red face.

Three days later DGI stock would be officially unleashed upon the public. Actually inst.i.tutional buyers had already committed to vast amounts of it, leaving precious little for the small investor before driving the price up. That morning Pierre was looking for Max. They had a few last minute details to iron out for the upcoming press conferences. They had to prepare two types of statements. One if the stock purchase went as expected, sold out almost instantly at or above the offering price, and another to explain the financial bloodbath if the stock didn't sell. Unlikely, but their media advisors forced them to learn both positions, just in case.

His phone rang. "Pierre, Mike Fields here." Fields was DGI's financial media consultant. He worked for the underwriters and had a strong vested interest in the outcome. He didn't sound like a happy camper.

"Yes, Mike. All ready for tomorrow? I'm so excited I could burst," Pierre pretended.

"Yes, so am I, but we have a problem."

Pierre immediately thought of h.o.m.osoto. "What kind of problem, Mike?" Pierre asked suspiciously.

"Uh, Max, Pierre, it's Max."

"What about Max?"

"Pierre, Max is dead. He died in a car crash last night. I just found out a few minutes ago. I gather you didn't know?"

Of all the possible pieces of bad news that Mike Fields could have brought him, this was the farthest from his mind. Max dead?

Not possible. Why, he was with him till after 10 last night.

"Max, dead? No way. What happened? I don't believe it. This is some kind of joke, right?"

"Pierre, I'm afraid I'm all too serious, unless CHiPs is in on it. They found a car, pretty well burned up, at the bottom of a ravine on I280. Looks like he went through a barrier and down the, well...I..."

"I get the idea, Mike. Who..?" Pierre stuttered.

"It was an accident, Pierre. One of those dumb stupid accidents.

He may have had a blow out, fallen asleep at the wheel, oh...it could be a million things. Pierre, I am sorry. So sorry. I know what you guys meant to each other. What you've been through..."

"Mike,

"Wait, Pierre," Mike said gingerly. "Of course we're gonna put off the offering until..."

"No. Don't." Pierre said emphatically.

"Pierre, your best friend and partner just died and you want to go through with this...at least wait a week...Wall Street will be kind on this..."

"I'll call you later. No changes. None." Pierre hung up. He hung his head on his desk, shattered with conflicting emotions.

He was nothing without Max. Sure, he gave great image. Knew how to do the schtick. Suck up to the press, tell a few stories, stretch a few truths, all in the name of marketing, of course.

But without Max, Max understood him. d.a.m.n you Max Jones. You can't do this to me.

His grief vacillated from anger to despair until the phone rang.

He ignored the first 7 rings. Maybe they would go away. The caller persisted.

"Yes," he breathed into the phone.

"Mr. Troubleaux," it was h.o.m.osoto. Just what he needed now.

"What?"

"I am most sorry about your esteemed friend, Max Jones. Our sympathies are with you. Is there anything I can do to help you in this time of personal grief." Cla.s.sic j.a.panese manners oozed over the phone wire.

"Yeah. Moral bankruptcy is a crime against nature, and you have been demonstrating an extreme talent for vivid androgynous self gratification." Pierre was rarely rude, but when he was, he aped Royal British sn.o.bbery at their best.

"A physical impossibility, Mr. Troubleaux," h.o.m.osoto said dryly.

"I understand your feelings, and since it appears that I cannot help you, perhaps we should conclude our business. Don't you agree Mr. Troubleaux?" The condescension dripped from h.o.m.osoto's words. The previous empathy was gone as quickly as if a light had been extinguished.

"Mr. h.o.m.osoto, the offering will still go through, tomorrow as scheduled. I a.s.sume that meets with your approval?" The French can be so caustic. It makes them excellent taxi cab drivers.

"That is not the business to which I refer. I mean business about honor. I am sure you remember our last conversation."

"Yes, I remember, and the answer is still no. No, no, no. I won't do it."

"That is such a shame. I hope you will not regret your decision." There it was again, Pierre thought. Another veiled threat.

"Why should I?"

"Simply, and to the point as you Americans like it, because it would be a terrible waste if the police obtained evidence you murdered your partner for profit."

"Murdered? What in h.e.l.l's name are you talking about?" Crystal clear visions scorched across Pierre's mind; white hot fire spread through his cranium. Was h.o.m.osoto right? Was Max mur- dered? Searing heat etched patterns of pain in his brain.

"What I mean, Mr. Troubleaux, is that there is ample evidence, enough to convince any jury beyond a reasonable doubt, that you murdered your partner as part of a grander scheme to make your- self even richer than you will become tomorrow. Do I make myself clear?"

"You b.a.s.t.a.r.d. b.a.s.t.a.r.d," Pierre hissed into the phone. Not only does h.o.m.osoto kill Max, but he arranges to have Pierre look like the guilty party. What choice did he have. At least now.

There's no proof, is there? The police reports are apparently not ready. No autopsy. Body burned? What could h.o.m.osoto do?

"f.u.c.k you all the way to h.e.l.l!" Pierre screamed at the phone in abject frustration and then slammed the receiver down so hard the impact resistant plastic cracked.

At that same instant, Sheila Brandt, his secretary, carefully opened the door his door. "Pierre, I just heard. I am so sorry.

What can I do?" She genuinely felt for him. The two had been a great team, even if Pierre had become obsessed with himself. Her drawn face with 40 years of intense sun wors.h.i.+ping was wracked with emotional distress.

"Nothing Sheil. Thanks though...what about the arrangements...?" The helpless look on his face brought out the mother in her even though she was only a few years older.

"Being taken care of...do you want to...?"

"No, yes, whatever...that's all right, just keep me advised..."

"Yessir. Oh, I hate to do this, but your 9AM appointment is waiting. Should I get rid of him?"

"Who is it? Something I really care about right now?"

"I don't know. He's from personnel."

"Personnel? Since when do I get involved in that?"