him with questions and comments about their new employers.
“Ten million dollars, Charles. That’s our fee,” Nikki said. “We don’t plan to keep a penny of it for ourselves. I hesitate to ask this, but: What happens if something goes wrong? What happens if we fail? I’m not saying that’s going to happen, but I want to know, since we’re the ones taking all the risks here. Just chalk it up to the lawyer in me.”
“The money is yours, win or lose. I made that clear to our guests even before they arrived. They were in agreement with everything with one exception. Should things go awry, there is to be no mention of the World Bank or their visit here. I assured them of confidentiality. I knew you’d want to be philanthropic about it, so accounts have been set up offshore, in the Caymans and Switzerland. This was also done before our guests arrived. At the moment, dear ladies, that is the least of our worries.”
“We want to know what they didn’t tell us, Charles,” Kathryn said, fixing him with a steely gaze.
“I’d wager quite a bit. People tend to be reticent when discussing matters such as ours. I just need a little time to figure out what it is. I will find it if it’s there to be found. Right now, that is not the issue. As we all know, nothing is as it seems at first blush.”
“Taking on the World Bank is about as serious as it can get,” Kathryn said. “I can’t even comprehend one billion dollars, much less twenty billion.” Her voice turned ominous when she said, “People kill and get killed for money like that.”
Myra looked at the women, and said, “Greed is the most powerful motivator in the world.”
“Do we have any indication that Zenowicz suspects anyone is onto him?” Yoko asked.
“From what I was told, it appears not. He’s carrying on his…uh…interesting lifestyle as though he doesn’t have a care in the world. This is going to be a very big blow to the administration if it gets out,” Charles said. “If you are successful, and there is no reason to think you won’t be, when the administration gets wind of it, we won’t be able to count on any…help from them. Just so you know.”
“Who’s next to succeed Zenowicz if he resigns? And all those White House people he surrounded himself with—they’ll have to resign, too, won’t they?” Yoko asked again.
Charles nodded. “It’s a presidential appointment. I’m told there are several names on a short list. Ideally, the appointee should be an economist with experience in development. Someone who can work with the staff that Zenowicz has managed to alienate over the past few years. The institution has to be brought back together so it can function normally without any hint of scandal.”
“And we’re going to make this happen? How?” the ever-skeptical Kathryn asked.
Charles looked over the top of his glasses at the women seated at the table. “Correct me if I’m wrong here, but haven’t you all said, on more than one occasion, that you’re women, and you can do anything?”
Kathryn’s feathers were ruffled. “Actually, Charles, what I said was we’re women, we kick ass and take names later.”
Charles tried not to smile. “That will work, too. Now, let me get back to work so I can map out a strategy to accomplish your objectives and keep you safe at the same time. I’m sure you’re all going to want to bat this around, think of ways to…uh…punish the culprits.”
“Guess that means we’re dismissed,” Alexis said, getting up from the table. “I’m going for a swim. Anyone want to join me?”
The others walked off, leaving Annie and Myra, the two oldest of the group, lagging behind. They opted for a walk through the pungent forest, Murphy and Grady at their heels.
When they were out of earshot of the others, Annie turned to Myra. “I find this a bit…frightening.”
Myra looked at her old friend in stunned surprise. “Frightening? Is that what you said? And you didn’t think getting up on a stage wearing a G-string and pasties frightening at our age?”
“That was fun, Myra. Well, it was until our latex started to melt. Taking on the World Bank is a Federal thing. That means a Federal prison if things get out of hand.”
“Annie, Annie, Annie! The last issue of Forbes that I read had you listed as the richest woman in the world, richer than Bill Gates. That means you have more money than the World Bank. Which in turn means you could take over the World Bank if you wanted to,” Myra said, her thoughts all over the map.
Annie’s jaw dropped. “Do you think?”
“Absolutely.”
“Will I be broke then? Destitute?”
“Except for maybe twenty billion or so.”
“Oh, okay. I didn’t know you kept such a sharp eye on my finances, Myra.”
“Not me, Forbes. I just read about it. You know Charles, Forbes and the Wall Street Journal are required reading.”
“Whatever would I do without you, Myra?”
“God only knows,” Myra responded as she wondered if He would punish her for egging her old friend on but, as Charles always said, “if you don’t take risks you’ll never know.”
Chapter 3
Liam Sullivan, editor in chief of the Post and Ted Robinson’s boss, stood over his employee’s cubicle watching the reporter sleep. He whistled sharply and was pleased to see Ted jump to attention.
“Since when do I pay you to sleep on the job, Robinson? You’re on shaky ground as it is. You’re back one week, and already you’re taxing my patience. I can send you to the unemployment line in a heartbeat if that’s what you want,” Sullivan snarled.
“No, that’s not what I want. Look, boss, I’ve been kicked to the curb, kidnapped because of those damn vigilantes; my girl bailed out on me; you give me the shit detail; my cats won’t come near me; and I’m not sleeping at night. I know that’s no excuse, but that’s the way it is. Can’t you cut me a little slack here?”
“Your problem is you’re obsessed with those vigilantes. You need to forget about them. You’re making this paper a laughingstock in the industry. If it’s any consolation to you, I miss Maggie, too. Being as smart as you are, you should realize women are fickle. By the way, I want you to go over to the Post’s apartment and pack up her things. I owe her that much. One of these days she’ll come back and want her belongings.”
“I can’t do that, boss.”
“Ted, I wasn’t asking you to do it, I was telling you to do it. In other words, it was an order. I am your boss. I make sure your paycheck gets signed every week.”
Ted sighed. “What do you want me to do with her things?”
“Put them in storage. Take them home. Just clear out her things. We have a guest arriving tomorrow whom the Post needs to accommodate.” His demeanor softened a little. “Didn’t she send a note or say good-bye?”
Ted turned off his computer and rolled down his shirtsleeves. “No. She just fell off the face of the earth. Her cell phone
