his arm and guided him to his office.
Once inside Harrison’s office Elizabeth remained cautious to keep her distance. Now was not the time to state even her feelings to Harrison. Harrison sat behind his desk and stared blankly out the window. “You know the police think there’s been foul play?” Harrison said, never looking directly at her. “I’ve heard rumors but didn’t want to ask,” she replied as she slid into a chair across from him. “I had to okay an autopsy just in case she was drugged or something. Can you believe that? That someone would have drugged her prior to running her off the road.” Harrison turned to directly face her. “I don’t believe it. I think Jeffrey Taylor is finding out whether she was drinking. But why would he give a damn whether she was drinking?” Elizabeth just sat quietly looking at Harrison. She knew from many discussions with him when he wanted an answer and when he was using her as a sounding board. “If that son-of-a-bitch does anything to smear Mary’s name I’ll make sure he regrets the day he was born.” Elizabeth waited a moment before speaking to allow Harrison to calm himself. “We have potentially another problem.” “What is that?” “Thomas Kirkland is trying to rally support to convince the board to remove you from your position.” “What! I should have known. That little bastard has wanted my job ever since he arrived.” Thomas Kirkland was a vice president with McKay & Johnson. While he was adequate at his job, he took any opportunity to move up the corporate ladder. Harrison had kept an eye on him and knew of his ambitions and conniving ways. He should have figured Thomas would try to attack Harrison’s position when he was the most vulnerable. “What have you heard?” “Rumor is he is talking with several other vice presidents under the guise you probably need time off to handle the unfortunate events of Mary’s death.” Elizabeth tone was sarcastic showing her dislike for Mr. Kirkland. “Like he gives a damn what I need. Keep me informed of everything you hear.” With that statement Harrison turned his chair around and faced the wall. “I want to know everyone who calls,” he said in a tone which informed Elizabeth she was no longer needed. “Yes sir,” Elizabeth stated as she rose and left the office.
Sitting there Harrison realized the one benefit of Mary being unable to have children. He did not have to face telling a son or daughter their mother was dead. It was the one thing Harrison didn’t find out about until after their marriage. Mary had gotten pregnant when she was fourteen. Not wanting to face a scandal, her father took her out of State for an abortion. The doctor botched the procedure and only when Mary and Harrison tried to have a child did they find out the result. In all their years together he could not think how Mary being barren was a benefit until now. “I guess it is true. Every cloud has a silver lining.” Harrison never spoke about his and Mary’s desire to have children after they learned she couldn’t, except when Mary’s father questioned him about when he was going to become a grandfather. Harrison told Mr. Richards he was not going to have grandchildren. He instructed Mr. Richards in no uncertain terms not to bring up the subject with Mary. When Mr. Richards pressed the subject further, suggesting Harrison and Mary could adopt a child, Harrison told him that was not an option. Harrison stated the only child he would ever have would be his. He blamed Mr. Richards for Mary’s condition as he made the decision for Mary to have the abortion. Mr. Richards wanted to fight back but knew there was truth in the words Harrison spoke. Mr. Richards made the decision because he didn’t want anyone to know his daughter was pregnant. At that time it was considered taboo for a fourteen year old to have a child. The problem was Mr. Richards’ decision came back to haunt him and, more importantly, his daughter. The confrontation placed a wedge between the two men which never closed. Harrison spent numerous occasions with the Richards afterward without a meaningful discussion with Mr. Richards. Now the only thing connecting the two was gone.
The day was uneventful business-wise, which was unusual at McKay & Johnson. Most of the calls were from associates, clients and politicians wanting to voice their condolences to Harrison. Harrison spoke to none of them, choosing to let the messages pile up on his desk. Elizabeth quickly learned this routine and would have the message in hand when she came in to announce the caller. Harrison did speak to one person to Elizabeth’s surprise. When she informed Harrison the call was from an Anthony Fontana, Harrison immediately spun his chair around and picked up the phone. Motioning her away with his hand he turned back around as he begun to talk. Elizabeth was not familiar with the name and assumed it was an old friend Harrison had not heard from in a while. As she was leaving the office she could hear Harrison stating he was doing as well as could be expected and had made it through his trip to the funeral home. “Yes, it’s an old friend,” she thought.
Around quarter to five Harrison emerged from his office and headed toward the elevators. He spoke to no one as he passed the reception desk and stopped only to wait for the doors to open. Mrs. Thompson, an older secretary who had been with the company for some thirty years, had been standing at the elevators prior to his arrival. She had the day’s mail in her hands and was on her way out for the day. When the doors opened she entered the elevator with Harrison and stood beside him. After the doors closed and they began their ride downward she looked at Harrison. “When my husband died people told me everything would be okay and you know what? They were full of shit! Every one of them. He’s been gone six years and not a day goes by I don’t think of him.” That said she turned back toward the door and stood quietly until the elevator stopped at the lobby. Harrison just stood there staring at her in disbelief. No one had been that honest and frank with him all day. Mrs. Thompson exited the elevator without another word and headed toward the post office drop box on the corner. Harrison stepped out the elevator and stood watching as she walked away. What else can happen today? He thought.
John Daniels was the last person to enter the meeting. His clothes were rumpled like he had slept in them. “It’s about time you decided to show.” Everyone in the room turned and looked at Natalie Johnson who was impatiently staring at John as he entered. Dressed in a dark blue business suit she didn’t even unbutton the jacket. Natalie Johnson was obsessed, to say the least, with the case against Harrison Michaels and she let her feeling be known. “What did you find out?” she queried before John could even reach his seat. “Nothing,” he said, combing his fingers through his hair and adjusting his tie. “Nothing! What do you mean nothing?” Natalie was tapping her pencil against the empty pad of paper on the table in front of her. “Lord, Natalie, his wife died. He arrived at the islands, didn’t even get to unpack and came back. What did you expect?” John was clearly annoyed with Natalie’s rudeness and didn’t care she was a senior agent with the Bureau. The other members present sat quietly for several moments before someone decided to speak. “I understand the district attorney’s office is investigating his wife’s death.” The comment was enough to turn the conversation to a lighter tone. Pointing to John, one of the other agents stated how the FBI agents could not get a free vacation even when they were assigned to follow Harrison Michaels to the Cayman Islands. John’s attitude changed during this time period and he even joked how they did not get his luggage off the plane before he had to come back. Natalie’s mood seemed to ease also but it was still obvious she was not happy.
Shortly thereafter Natalie brought everyone’s attention back to the task at hand. The FBI had decided to investigate Harrison Michaels following a series of suspicious money transfers to banks located in the Caymans. Natalie had gotten the job as chief investigator because of her financial background. In fact Natalie Johnson could as easily have run the largest banking concern as head an FBI investigation. She had graduated from Harvard at the top of her class with a degree in management and finance. She had every qualification necessary to rise to the top of the business world. However everyone, including Natalie, knew that would never happen. A woman would never be accepted at the helm of a large financial ship. The glass ceiling is always in place. This realization only added to Natalie’s tenacity and effectiveness in business investigations and convictions.
It also did not hurt that Harrison Michaels was one of the most powerful men in the world. A conviction here would certainly be a major feather in Natalie’s cap. She began this investigation with aspirations of obtaining a Deputy Director’s job and knew a major kill would all but secure the position. Harrison Michaels was as major as they get. In FBI jargon he was a lion, the
