Wilson — Cambridge, MA
It took three calls for Wilson to track down the former head of covert ops for the CIA and founder of Greene Mursin International. After an exchange of pleasantries and a heads-up from Wilson about the telephone scrambler he was using, Hap Greene assured him that his end of the conversation was also protected. Wilson gave Hap a ten-minute summary of everything that had happened during the past few days. Then he asked, “How long will it take you to clear the decks?”
“Give me a week. I’ll meet you at the Bostonian Club next Thursday for lunch,” Hap said. “But I need to warn you, this could get expensive.”
“Not an issue. I’ll see you Thursday. In the meantime …”
Hap cut him off. “An advance team will arrive tomorrow to perform an initial assessment and begin surveillance. I’m also going to send you a package of surveillance busters. You’ll have them in the morning. And don’t move your father. My guys will keep him protected. I want to assess the entire situation first. Moving your father will send a message that you’re preparing for battle. We need to be ready before we send that message.”
“Just make sure nothing happens to him.”
“My guys will be there by morning. Don’t do anything rash. I can hear the anxiety in your voice. Focus on deciding what you’re going to do with Fielder amp; Company. Let me worry about protecting you and your family. If you need to reach me, call this number. Otherwise, my people will be in contact with you as soon as they arrive.”
When they hung up, Wilson left Brattle House to join his mother and sister who were already at the hospital. There still had been no change in his father’s condition. Dr. Malek was slightly more optimistic after the latest round of tests, but with a disturbing caveat: his father might remain in his present condition for years.
A reclining chair next to his father became Wilson’s bed, after his mother and sister left at midnight. Two police officers and two security guards from Weintraub, Drake, Heinke amp; Redd remained on duty all night, monitoring every medical interaction and procedure. This had greatly reduced Wilson’s lingering concern about not moving his father. At seven o’clock in the morning, as he watched his father breathe, Wilson began a one-sided conversation, expressing a flood of concerns and questions.
“Why didn’t you tell me about what you were doing at Fielder amp; Company? Thanks to your strict instructions, Daniel only gave me bits and pieces. And now, Carter’s doing the same thing. Everyone’s going to be dead before I figure it out. How can I correct your mistakes if I don’t understand them?” Wilson asked, frustrated at the impossibility of a response.
Suddenly, there was movement in his father’s left hand. Wilson squeezed his hand and cried, “Dad, it’s me.” But there was no more movement. He called for Dr. Malek, who’d just arrived at the hospital. He came within minutes. A battery of pupillary reflex tests was performed to determine any changes in his condition. The room quickly filled with nurses, policemen, and hired security personnel. But there was nothing. Only the almost imperceptible rise and fall of his father’s chest, his perilously shallow breathing. Wilson asked Dr. Malek to call him immediately if there was any further sign of movement or consciousness.
“We’ll keep him under close observation for the rest of the day,” Malek said. “This is a good sign though. I think he likes having you here. Did you say anything especially stimulating? Something he would definitely want to address?”
“I had an entire conversation with him about things he needs to address,” Wilson said nervously.
“He may have heard everything. But the slight movement in his hand was all he could do to communicate,” Dr. Malek said.
Wilson stared at the doctor, wondering whether his father had tried to encourage or restrain him.
An hour later, the door to his father’s room opened. One of the security guards informed Wilson that two men were there to see him. Wilson ran his fingers through his unkempt hair and tucked in his shirt as he got up from the chair. He met the two men in the corridor outside his father’s room. Both men stood over six feet and looked extremely fit, with eyes that seemed to take in everything. One was Caucasian, the other African American. These have to be Hap’s men, Wilson thought.
They introduced themselves as Driggs and Savoy, confirming that they worked for Hap Greene. Four other team members were already establishing a base of operations near the hospital. Hap had briefed them last night, but they wanted Wilson to give them some additional background.
Thirty minutes later, Wilson and Savoy left the hospital for Brattle House, where three packages of electronic surveillance-busting equipment were waiting for them. For the next two hours, Wilson and Savoy searched the house for electronic bugging devices using a handheld state-of-the-art surveillance buster, with enough detection power to ferret out any electronic bug within thirty feet of its sensory nodes. They found eight bugs distributed throughout Brattle House.
With Savoy’s concurrence, Wilson decided to leave each of the bugs in place, allowing the surveillance crowd to believe the devices had not yet been discovered. The only bug they removed was the one in the belfry library, carefully transferring it to the family room. The library would become the one secure room in the house, and just to make sure, they unpacked the most sophisticated piece of equipment that Hap Greene had sent. It was a hi-tech nullifying device that looked like a Sharper Image sound machine, five inches in diameter and five inches tall, with a nine-inch cube recharging base-much smaller than the one Carter Emerson had given Wilson the day before. According to Savoy, the nullifier could eliminate all possibility of voice detection or recording for a radius of fifty feet around the device. There were two nullifiers in the package. The last package contained four small telephone scramblers designed to prevent electronic surveillance on one or both sides of a telephone conversation.
When his mother and Rachel arrived at the house, having picked up Rachel’s husband Darrin at the airport, Wilson gave them hand-written notes. The notes advised them of the listening devices and directed them to the belfry library. The looks of anxiety on their faces were sobering. I have to protect them, Wilson said to himself. Anita, the house manager, took four-year-old Mary, Rachel and Darrin’s only child, to the playroom.
Once everyone was in the library with the nullifier on, Wilson introduced Savoy, informed them about the expanded surveillance, and described the equipment Hap Greene had sent. After angrily speculating about how, when, and by whom the bugs had been planted, they agreed that it must have happened when they were in Sun Valley. Wilson then told them about his conversation with Carter and what had happened earlier with his father at the hospital. His mother’s eyes widened as he spoke, but she said nothing.
Rachel broke the stillness that had descended on the room.
“How long are we going to leave the bugs in place?”
“At some point, they’ll expect us to find and remove them. But for the next week or so, we need to use their bugs to let them know that we’re worried enough about our safety to back off and leave them alone.”
Nodding his agreement, Savoy said, “You’re dealing with what seem to be very unpredictable and dangerous people. We need time to assess the threat and prepare an adequate defense. If they think their listening devices are working, they won’t be as likely to employ more sophisticated equipment such as thermal imaging, wall-penetrating cameras, and denullifiers.”
Just then Anita opened the door to the library. She and little Mary entered. “Sorry for the interruption,” Anita said. “There’s a Detective Zemke from Sun Valley, who wants to talk to Mr. Fielder. I asked him to wait in the study.”
“Thank you, Anita. I’ll take care of it,” Wilson said, surprised by Zemke’s presence in Boston, but even more surprised by the unannounced visit. Looking at Savoy in frustration, he said, “Guess we can’t use the nullifier, can we?”
“Not if you expect them to believe you,” Savoy said.
Seconds later, Wilson strode into his father’s Victorian-style study, furnished with cherry wood shelves and heavy drapes. “Detective Zemke,” he said as he closed the double doors behind him.
“Didn’t want to bother you, but figured you’d appreciate the latest update on our investigation. I know I would, if it were my father in a coma,” Zemke said as he shook Wilson’s hand.
“Thank you, detective. Can I get you something to drink?” Wilson asked.
“Oh no, I won’t be long,” he said as he gazed around the two-story study with its book-lined walls. Then he looked more closely at some of the titles. “Impressive collection,” Zemke said.
“My father has been collecting first editions of early American literature ever since I can remember.”
“Must be worth a fortune,” Zemke returned with a slightly sarcastic edge.
Wilson remained quiet, standing in front of one of the study’s brown leather sofas, waiting for Zemke to join him. The detective’s congenial curiosity contrasted sharply with the gruff disinterest Wilson had experienced in Sun Valley.
“Smart guy, your father. Guess he could buy anything he wanted.”
Wilson’s heart beat faster. He didn’t respond.
Zemke continued to look around the study for a few moments before he sat down on a matching brown leather sofa across from Wilson. He looked more official this time-light gray slacks and a golf shirt, the same color as his wiry hair, paired with a navy blue blazer. But the same cynical insolence radiated from his penetrating eyes, despite the outward pleasantness.
“We’ve uncovered a piece of new information since we last talked. The two executed women were daughters of one of your father’s business associates,” Zemke said, watching closely for Wilson’s reaction.
“From Fielder amp; Company?” Wilson blurted, shocked by the news.
“No. One of your father’s clients. Davis Zollinger, Chairman and CEO of Dutton Industries. Know him?”
“No,” Wilson said, his head was spinning. “Was he at White Horse?”
“No chance of that. Died six months ago. Apparent suicide. Boston PD’s looking into it again.”
Reeling with new questions about Zollinger and his daughters and what they had to do with his father, Wilson waited in anguish for Zemke to tell him more.
“Zollinger allegedly shot himself in the head with a.22 LR caliber pistol. Same type of gun used at White Horse. They found him the next day in his office on the twenty-ninth floor of the Dutton Industries Building, downtown Boston.”
“You’re assuming his death is related to the murder attempt on my father?” Wilson said, leaning forward.
“Won’t know that for a while,” Zemke said, maintaining his relaxed, authoritative position on the couch, but his bright blue eyes were actively probing Wilson. “There’s more here than I thought, especially after your father’s attorney was killed. We’re stepping up our investigation.”
“Good,” Wilson managed to say, but without much conviction.
“Boston PD is getting ready to close its investigation into the accident that killed Mr. Redd and Ms. O’Grady. With nothing at the scene of the accident and no charges from Fielder amp; Company or KaneWeller, there’s little reason to keep the case open. If we find a connection to what happened in Sun Valley, they promised to reopen the case,” Zemke’s sharp eyes were still trained on Wilson, watchful for any reaction.
Wilson’s grief and anger over Daniel and his cold-blooded murder, while in the service of Fielder amp; Company, returned with a vengeance, making him feel guilty and-irrationally-complicit in some way. But Wilson wasn’t yet ready to tell the police or any other law enforcement agency about Fielder amp; Company’s dark side. Daniel’s words rang in his head: There are better ways to find out what happened here. Ironically, following Daniel’s advice meant treating his death like an accident-at least until he could prove otherwise. Shaking his head in disgust, Wilson said, “I still can’t believe he’s gone-and in such a senseless accident.”
Zemke studied Wilson for several moments. “By the way,” he finally said, raising his chin and looking down his nose at Wilson. “I meant to thank you for the tip you gave me about your father hating guns and favoring his left hand-doesn’t make sense that he’d shoot those two women and himself with his right hand. We’re considering the possibility that someone tried to make it look like a murder-suicide.”
“I continue to believe he’s innocent, detective,” Wilson said as Daniel’s words reverberated in his head. At times like these, Wilson regretted his penchant for bully busting. The way he’d handled Zemke in Sun Valley had not only empowered the detective, but the Boston PD as well. It would only be a matter of time before they began investigating his father’s financial and business activities, he thought. “Do you have any other leads?” Wilson asked.
“Nothing right now, but something’ll break. Always does.”
“Thank you, detective,” Wilson said, standing up and waiting to escort Zemke to the front door.
Ignoring Wilson’s attempt to conclude the conversation, Zemke dug deeper. “Apparently, Davis Zollinger was a longtime associate of your father’s.”
“I wouldn’t know,” Wilson said, annoyed by Zemke’s persistence. “I haven’t been involved in my father’s business. I only know a handful of his clients and associates.”
“Your father’s firm helped Dutton Industries sell off some of its divisions. I don’t understand all those financial manipulations, but I’d wager that you do,” Zemke said, making no attempt to veil the accusation.
Wilson cringed at the detective’s tone and his choice of words. “I’m a management consultant, detective, not an investment banker,” Wilson retorted, feeling more vulnerable by the second.
“Has anyone ever tried to blackmail your father?” Zemke asked.
“Not that I know of, why?” Wilson said, sitting down again while keeping his eyes fixed on Zemke.
“Zollinger’s daughters tried to get the FBI to investigate their father’s death. Claimed their father was a member of some sort of secret society that was blackmailing him into siphoning money out of Dutton Industries. When their father decided to go to the authorities, he was killed.”
“What did the FBI find?”
“Not a thing. Pretty much closed the investigation after a couple of months. Lack of evidence. Considered it to be one more unsubstantiated conspiracy theory. According to friends of the family, the daughters went into hiding out of fear for their lives. Said they’d received a bunch of threatening phone calls.”
“That explains the phony IDs.”
“Sounds pretty farfetched, huh?” Zemke said, beginning to believe that Wilson indeed knew very little about his father’s business activities.
Wilson didn’t respond to Zemke’s probe.
“We need access to Fielder amp; Company’s files. Any problems with that?”
“Not at all,” Wilson pretended. “Contact Weintraub, Drake, Heinke amp; Redd. They’re the company’s legal counsel,” Wilson said, nervously questioning whether Bill Heinke would be able to restrict the scope of access to Fielder amp; Company’s files afforded to Zemke, the Boston PD, or the FBI. He wanted to prevent a full-blown, asset-freezing investigation into his father’s life and business practices. He needed to go through his father’s files at Fielder amp; Company before they did, cleansing them if necessary. Not because he wanted to obstruct justice, he just needed to slow things down until the estate was liquidated and his loved ones were protected.
“We’ll be in touch.” Zemke stood up abruptly. As the detective was about to leave the house, he turned to Wilson. “Before Boston PD closes the Daniel Redd case, do you have any reason to believe that his death was something other than an accident?”
“No,” Wilson said. Then, with feigned surprise, he asked, “Do you?”
Zemke trained his eyes on him like a hawk ready to snatch its prey, but Wilson didn’t flinch.
“Be careful, Mr. Fielder. Seems your family has chosen a dangerous business,” he said as he turned and walked away.
Wilson watched Zemke stroll to his car, troubled by what an intensified investigation might bring. When he went back inside the house, his mother was in tears. Rachel, Darrin, and Savoy were standing next to her in the foyer hallway. “What’s wrong,” he cried.
“She just received a threatening phone call,” Rachel said, her voice trembling with fear and anger.
“Do we have any idea who it was?” Wilson asked, putting his arms around his mother while looking at Savoy.
His mother shook her head. “No. Just a man’s voice.”
“My team initiated a trace, but the signal was bouncing. These guys are professionals and very serious,” Savoy said.
“What did he say?” Wilson asked.
“He said you were putting the family in danger. They want you to stop asking questions and stop helping the police. He said if you ignore his warning, our family will pay the consequences,” his mother said before bursting into tears.
Wilson could see the terror in her eyes. He wrapped her in his arms again, attempting to console her. But inside his anger was raging, as fifty-two avenues of retaliation flew through his head.
“I think we should call the police right now,” Rachel said, feeling powerless.
“No,” her mother said, emphatically. “Let Wilson do what he’s planned.”
Wilson continued comforting his mother for several minutes before excusing himself. He went to the library. Emily needed to come to Boston as soon as possible. He picked up the phone. The scrambler was attached but not turned on.
After two rings, Emily answered, “Wilson?”
“Yeah, it’s me.”
“Finally. I’ve been worried sick. How’s your father?”
Wilson gave her a brief description of his father’s condition. Then, after telling her to hang on a minute, he turned on the scrambler and said, “Don’t say a word. The phones are bugged. I just turned on a scrambler at my end so they can hear you but not me.”
For the next three minutes he told her about the surveillance, Daniel Redd, Hap Greene, and everything that had happened in the past few days, including the threat to his mother. He also told her about his plan to make the surveillance crowd think they were afraid and distancing themselves from his father’s business affairs. When he finished, he turned the scrambler off again.
“I’m back. Sorry. My mother’s not in very good shape. She received a threatening phone call a few minutes ago from the people who shot my father. They think I’m a threat, which is ridiculous. All I want to do is sell Fielder amp; Company and give my father the best medical care we can find. You and I have a lot to talk about. How soon can you come to Boston? I’d come to you, but there’s too much going on here for me to leave right now.”
Emily remained silent in utter disbelief, but she immediately understood Wilson’s dilemma. She wanted nothing more than to be with him.
“I’ve been so foolish, Em.”
“Oh God, Wilson. We’ve both been foolish.”
“I miss you. More than you know. ”
“You have no idea,” she said before promising to be on an airplane the day after tomorrow, once she’d turned her patients over to colleagues and wrapped up a few other loose ends.
As they hung up, he vowed to never again cause their separation.