07.27.2008 / EP. 26
I Admire You
The women coolly appraised each other. Milly summarized to herself what sheknew about Pam. The world obviously approved of her occupation, heapingsuccess on her in spades. Pam had made her first fortune in New York’sconstruction industry. This was a man’s world and Pam had learned to walkquietly, but brook no opposition. Pam’s husband ran a pharmaceutical company,which itself grew by leaps and bounds if the business section of the newspaperswere any guide. Pam wielded political clout through the Governor. Assuming Albert Brull became President, she could hope for a cabinet post orambassadorship. This was her second fortune, albeit prospective; she belongedto the inner circle of the next President. Her third was, Milly had to assume, anillicit drugs network. Pam wouldn’t describe the Resurrection and White Goldopportunities unless she controlled them. She was a boss and loved everyminute of it. She’d be the boss wherever she went. So why was she talking toMilly? It astonished Milly that she’d talked freely. In relative terms. Milly didn’tbelieve that Pam ever talked without calculation. Pam put her guard up in themorning and didn’t take it down till last thing at night. Possibly, but only remotely,Pam had guessed that Milly could multiply her revenue. But Milly supposed thisonly because she knew it was true. Pam herself couldn’t be aware of Milly’sprivate dealings and double life. Curiously like Milly, Pam had her feet firmlyplanted in the legal and illegal worlds. And she had the money to find outanyone’s secrets. Milly hesitated. Should she consider the possibility that hercover was blown?
While Milly turned over and around and peered at the enigma that was Pam,Pam examined Milly through a lens that also gave no clear picture. Therudiments were simple. Milly played second fiddle to Arthur in New York State’slegal department. Arthur made decisions and Milly followed his lead. But Millyhad jilted him. She was no shrinking violet. Moreover, they had run their romanceand Milly had drifted away, all without a breath of impropriety. Someone hadsteered an expert course through the bureaucratic, political and media shoals asthough scandal hadn’t been invented. Pam knew Arthur. There was no questionin her mind; the person with the brains and finesse was Milly. Pam didn’t quiteknow how Milly spent her evenings, but her investigators had lost her countlesstimes. That couldn’t be an accident. Milly never seemed to sleep. Arthur too crepthome an hour or so before dawn. There was a connection between Arthur andMilly that bore no relation to their day jobs. What it was, Pam could and didspeculate. The basis was Milly’s Carrera GT, a vehicle she couldn’t afford.Another foundation, less concrete, was the flash of strength and confidence Millydisplayed from time to time, apparently against her better judgement. The third,admittedly weakest, was Pam’s intuition. She felt Milly could be trusted, becausethey were alike. They might never be friends; that stretched hope into the absurd.But they might join forces, because they both avoided law enforcement. Putbluntly, Pam suspected that Milly and Arthur dealt drugs. She had no proof, butshe felt it. And Milly called the shots. Arthur would be the figurehead, nominally incharge, to take the fall if disaster threatened.
Pam knew the men who ran Rejuvenation and Immortality. If Milly and Arthurwere involved in a drug, it would be Young Again. Pam wasn’t sure of any of this,but it made sense. And within limits, she’d act on it.
“I think you know about Young Again,” Pam trailed a coat and swiftly abandonedit. “You had my particulars at your fingertips. That shows connections. Thepeople who run Young Again have political ties and are sophisticated. They also like secrecy. That describes you. And you fit the bill in another way. If a manwere in charge, ego would make sure that everyone knew it. There’s a woman’stouch about Young Again.”
“You knew this room is soundproof.” Milly stated this as fact.
“That’s why we’re talking here,” Pam answered. “You shouldn’t drive a Porsche.It gives away…what do I mean to say?…your need for excitement. And anextracurricular income. No, spare me; the car was cheap or you inherited it froma great uncle. Sure, whatever you say. But it reveals your personality. SherlockHolmes was fiction and we’re not, but he had it backwards. Women know thatyou look for the person capable of a crime. Then you sift the evidence.”
“You have a strong interest in crime; burglary, for example,” Milly countered.”You called me on my wedding night about it.”
Pam didn’t object to this diversion.
Milly told Pam that the investigation had divided. The police were probing themurder, the Governor’s security team the break-in. “Good,” said Pam.
“If we want them to fail.”
Pam didn’t answer.
Milly explained. Security knew what the police did, but nothing flowed the otherway. If information was water, security was uphill. A body without ID turned up inher office, throat slit. Security dumped it in the park before the police arrived. Arare doll had materialized with the body, and security disposed of it – Milly wasn’tsure where – also before the police came. The doll was hers; everyone knew it.”That empty case,” Milly gestured. “I bought the doll electronically through areputable auction house. The sale was public; nothing secret about it.”
“The body and doll,” Pam began.
“Planted to point to me. Security did absolutely the right thing. Brull has to avoidnegative PR. A murder in his office isn’t the publicity he wants. Moving the bodyand hiding the doll also did me a favour. Beyond the misdirection, it committedthe Governor to our side.
“The police think the break-in was some addicts needing cash,” said Milly. “That’sfine with the Governor. Carrie’s job is to keep that theory front and centre.”
Her cell vibrated. Milly mouthed “Arthur” at Pam and stepped a few feet away.Pam listened. Her hearing was acute. “He increases sales by ten percent or he’slame. Tell him.” That was the extent of Milly’s contribution.
“It’s no secret you deal Young Again,” said Pam. “We don’t target the same market. If we did, one of us wouldn’t be here now. You agree?”A decision had to be made. Milly chose. She’d cooperate with Pam. When Pambecame a liability, Milly would use the photo she’d taken of Pam firing into theparked car. She’d killed someone, and the body would turn up. The picture wouldskewer Pam like an ice pick.
“You’d be dead,” said Milly.
“You would, dear,” Pam retorted. “But with regret.”
“That’s touching.”
“The high isn’t the same. And, if I may speak frankly, Young Again is much more addictive. We don’t really compete.”"You’re saying we offer different deserts at the party.”"I couldn’t put it better,” said Pam.”And we can cooperate?”"In many ways.”Unless you’re luring me into a sucker punch, thought Milly.
