Paradise Burning (The Virtagwalla Series Book 2) (15 page)

              Rove had his own thoughts. It had been something he and Ray had talked many times about before. He agreed with Boggiano fundamentally. Government meddling with the press spelled a disaster. Yet he also understood why the government and the newspaper didn’t want to create more panic amongst the people. He attempted to rationalize, “Maybe they are attempting to protect the people-”

              Cutting him off, “Protect us from what? They should be protecting us from the government,” she leaned forward and stared at Rove in his eyes, “I have to tell you Mr. President, you and Hampton Ray are practically the only two people I trust in here anymore. I feel like after every step I take, I need to look over my shoulder. Extorting the media is pretty bad. Collapsing organizations that are here to protect us – that’s real bad. And for what - money, security, power? This whole Aurum thing with the University’s land juggles, and now they are buying gold shares off of the floundering MFS? It just doesn’t make sense to me.”

              Rove leaned forward, “I am right there with you. I feel as though I am part of a game of dominoes, in that all the pieces are lining up and I’m attempting to figure it all out before the finger comes to knock them all down.”

              Boggiano looked around and then back at Rove, her face as serious as he has ever seen it. The tension in the room escalated, and she sighed, “Mr. President I am about to share with you a theory that I have been harvesting for a while, but I just didn’t know who to trust with it,” she paused and judged the face of Rove for a few moments. After getting confirmation he desired to know, she explained, “Sir I have this theory that our financial woes are not simply a reaction to global panics but something much more, uh, local – something much more dubious. Starting with the bankruptcy of the Republic Power Company the entire economy of this nation has practically collapsed. The controlling interest in nearly every skyscraper in this city has been purchased by outside investors, and even the shares in the gold company and other massive companies on this island have been resold and consolidated so many times I can’t keep them straight. Then the Parliament takes power from Villaggio for the first time in history, the bail out of a corporation, and then it was as if the rug was pulled out. Company after company began collapsing. Then the University, miraculous, coming to the Parliament on their hands and knees after nearly a century of a solid endowment, suddenly now without money. Where did it all go? And the gold. A hundred years with plenty of gold, and then all of a sudden it all dries up?” she paused. Rove had leaned forward his eyes getting bigger, “I don’t know how Aurum fits into this, but that name has been tied to too many things recently. And the Parliament’s sudden desire to do nothing when before they couldn’t stop themselves from handing out money and passing regulation after regulation.”

              Rove nodded, he hadn’t looked at it from such a macro level. He had become so tied up in the everyday affairs of his office he was missing the big picture. Rove remarked, “But why the MFS? What would compel the Parliament to pull the plug, literally, on the one insurance policy we had on this place from literally falling apart?”

              Boggiano sighed, “That I haven’t figured out yet, either.”

              The room fell into silence, when after just a few short moments the door to the office was flung open and Hampton Ray came barging in. Stopping at the sight of Boggiano, he turned his focus to Rove, “They have found a body in the jungle. A young woman.”

              Xavier stood up, “It was Tanya Handel. Wasn’t it?”

              Ray shook his head, “Yes, it was,” his tone petered off, and silence clung for a moment. He then piped up, “But there is some good news. They have a significant lead on who they think her murderer was, and more interestingly, they think it’s the same person that murdered James Kompco. The National Guard was just deployed with a warrant for his arrest.”

              Boggiano was exceptionally confused, “Who is Tanya Handel?”

              Rove turned to her and said somberly, “A bright yet easily influenced young girl, who made some fairly poor choices, and paid the ultimate price for them,” he sighed, and the room was plunged back into silence.

30

When Rachel Rove arrived at Larynx Central Station it was by far emptier than she had ever seen it. The hustle and bustle was no longer as prevalent as she once remembered, and the smiling faces of families traveling throughout the city were nowhere to be seen. In fact, a smiling face was becoming a rare commodity on the island nation. She dashed up the grand staircase in route to the corporate offices – specifically that of the President of LLR. As she dashed she picked up the latest addition of the newspaper from a panhandler-attempting make a buck.  Opening it up she found nothing positive: more layoffs, more foreclosures, and more civil unrest. Folding the newspaper under her arm, she opened the large wooden doors that lead to the office of Eric Larynx.

              Larynx’s administrative assistant, Susan looked at Rove and gave a knowing smiling, “I am sorry Ms. Rove, I meant to call you, but he is very busy this afternoon. I don’t know if your meeting will be able to take place.”

              Rachel scanned her watch. Realizing she had nothing else to be doing she said sitting down, “Oh I will just wait. I’m in no rush.” Unfolding the newspaper she began reading about how the National Government, in conjunction with the Finance and Interior Ministers had worked out plans to sell off the fleet of government owned fleets, limit hours at the libraries, and that the postal service would be reducing service to just Monday through Thursday as opposed to their traditional seven day a week service.

              After sitting in the lobby and listening to Susan whisper into the phone inaudible gossip and sporadically checking Eric’s door, it finally opened and three men walked out, all dressed in long black coats and carrying black briefcases. Rachel watched as they, stern facedly, walked through the lobby, nodded good day to Susan, and left through the massive wooden doors. Waiting a few moments, Rachel picked up her purse and moved quietly into the office. The room looked like it had just experienced a small battle. Papers were all over the place, books were off the shelves and seemingly haphazardly thrown about the room. Eric was staring out one of his windows, eyes turned down towards the main terminal. His silent gaze was broken only by the sound of Rachel closing the door.

              Turning and saying nothing instantly, he slowly walked over to Rachel and hugged her. She nuzzled into him. It was apparent that Eric was struggling internally to verbalize the pain he was feeling. They continued to hold; yet nothing came. The hug lasted for more than fifteen minutes, and only broke when Larynx began to quietly cry. Pulling him away Rachel looked at him. Her heart melted. Something was crushing the man she had come to love.

              Taking a deep breath she asked him, “Eric?”

              He put his head down, “Those were the attorneys for the corporation. The Board of Directors met this morning, and has approved a resolution for bankruptcy and dissolution of the Larynx Light Rail Corporation, effective in 18 days time.”

              Rachel’s eyes darted back and forth, “What? I didn’t know the LLR was in that bad of shape. I can’t believe it,” her mind raced, stoked by confusion and concern, “What does that mean for you?”

              He pulled away and began violently picking up the papers, “It means that the company I spent my life building, the company that helped to usher in a great economic boom for this nation, the company I dreamed about for years, has failed and will be no longer in existence after Saturday,” he turned to look at her, a gaping sense of loss filling his eyes.

              “Is there nothing you can do?” Rachel asked not moving, still stunned by the news.

              “You don’t think I have tried everything! You don’t think I fought as hard as I could for this place?” Larynx seethed with fury, “Even with the layoffs and the changed schedule the company doesn’t have the money to payback its debts, and banks don’t have the money to loan us. It seems the entire world is in a credit freeze,” he growled continuing to clean up his office.

              For a moment, Rachel mauled in her mind what he was explaining, “But what if you were able to get a loan, could you keep the company up and running for at least a little while longer?”

              He stood up slowly from picking up a book, “No bank will loan us the money. I guarantee you.”

              “But what happens if you could get the money from somewhere else?” Rachel asked walking closer to him.

              Staring at her, and attempting to deduce what she was hinting at, “Even so I don’t think it would really matter. We might be able to keep the doors up a couple more weeks. And then the inevitable happens? The economy isn’t going to turn around soon enough, or fast enough for us to make a good play for it,” he walked to the window and pointed, “Did you notice when you walked in that no one is in the station down there. No one. This place used to have thousands of busy people bustling through, everyday, every hour. Now its like a no man’s land down there,” he paused again, “And have you looked even beyond these walls. The people of this nation are struggling to put food on their table, and pay their mortgages. This nation is falling apart piece by piece. They can’t afford to ride the LLR, not now, and certainly not any time in the foreseeable future.”

              Rachel stopped and stared at him, “But what if you could get the money, would you take it?”

              Larynx stopped and stared at her, “What are you thinking? I know that look. You are up to something.”

              Rachel smiled, “Well, I am married to the President. And he is kind of in charge of the government of this nation.”

Larynx’s face slumped a little, “No I can’t let you do that. Plus he’s got more important things to worry about than saving this company. He’s got thousands of people starving, homeless, and gathering all around the Capital tower. Violence is skyrocketing too. I just don’t see it happening.”

She walked up and kissed him, “Why not try? What’s the worst they are going to say to you…I’m sorry but we just aren’t going to give you the money. Fine, then at least you know you have tried everything you could to save this place. Don’t let it die in vain, give it a shot,” she winked at him, “I’ve got a good feeling about this one.”

He kissed her and rubbed her shoulder tenderly.

31

              “Odell, can you believe the news about the economy?” a member of the National Guard asked another as they exited an elevator.

              The National Guardswoman, Odell, looked at the other guy, “I know. It is just a shame what is going on out there.”

              The guy nodded analyzing the door at the end of the hallway, “Or what is going on in here? I can’t believe Lieutenant General Carson, personally, asked us to question this guy. Isn’t this guy suspected of killing that poor girl and that Kompco fellow?”

              Odell looked at the guy, “Well that’s what we are supposed to get out of him anyways,” she laughed, “Say, Parker, aren’t you up for a promotion soon?”

              Stopping outside of the door, “Yes, tomorrow I go for my boards.”

              “Do you think you are ready?” Odell inquired placing her hand on the door handle.

              “We will see after this, now won’t we?” Parker sighed.

              Odell paused for a moment and then said, “Now, look, we are about to walk into the highest security questioning chamber on this island. The cameras will record everything, meaning that everything you say or do will also be filmed. Furthermore we are permitted to say nothing, until we report everything this man says back to the Lieutenant General. Is our mission clear?”

              Parker nodded, “Ready when you are.”

              Odell said a silent prayer and turned the door handle, swinging it into the room. The chamber was brightly lit, and the walls were sterile and white. Unlike any other interrogation room on the island, this one had no observation window, no other exit, no window, and contained within only three chairs and one table. It was stark, and barren, and Parker, who was less experienced than the senior Odell, could sense the intensity and importance of their task.

              The man in the room was shaggy, his long dreads and unkempt facial hair made him look more like an animal than a member of society. The man’s wrists and ankles were bound and his head kept in place by wings on the headrest of the chair. The table was stainless steel, and the chairs in the room went with its industrial feel. Odell opened up the folder she was carrying as the two interrogators sat down in their respective chairs. Parker had been taught that no matter what the prisoner says to upset him to just let it go, and he was adamant he was not going to let the perpetrator get to him.

              Odell thought to herself while evaluating the man, ‘This is going to be a cakewalk.’ The man’s face was that of pure horror. His eyes never stopped darting around the room. The suspect’s body was shaking in fear. Folding her hands on the open folder and staring straight at the man she took all of her usual judgments: his facial expressions, eye movement, breathing, the way his hands were moving, and his overall body posture. She could clearly tell that he was confused and lost, and wanted nothing more than to get out.

              Starting slowly, “Good afternoon. My name is Major Odell, and this is Master Sergeant Parker,” she pointed to her companion and the man’s eyes finally slowed to focus on the two of them, “And we are here as official representatives of the National Guard and the Nation Government. We are going ask you a few questions. Do you understand?”

              The man swallowed and nodded his head. Giving a small smile Odell plowed forward as if routinely, “Mr. Tory, are you aware of the charges you are being accused of?”

              Again he shook his head affirmatively, “Great, and do you have anything to say about these charges.”

              The man’s eyes suddenly grew and became incredibly focused. He growled, “He said I would never get in trouble. He said I would never be known. I was told to kill that man at the power station and that I would be done. Then a couple weeks later he said all I had to do was drop that girl off in the jungle and I would be finished. He told me all I had to do were those simple tasks and that I would get my paychecks. I’ve got my paychecks.”

              Odell’s mind doubled back. She hadn’t heard anything about this being a paid job. Leaning forward onto the table, “The man and woman you mentioned killing, were these people, Harry Kompco, and Tanya Handel?”

              The man shifted his head back and forth, side to side, “I, I killed that man but I was told I wouldn’t get in trouble. He said he would protect me! He told me he would save me. And then I got paid. I cashed the check. My family needed it for food. We needed to eat! My kids, they were so hungry. And then he said he had another job. He said if I just took that girl into the jungle and left her he would pay me more. And he did. Again he said he would protect me. He would save me!” he ended howling at the top of his lungs.

              Odell sighed not wanting to dig in more than she needed to. Her and Parker were under strict orders to get the man to confess, by name, of killing both Kompco and Handel. So she attempted another approach, “Tory, do you know the names of your victims?”

              “He referred to them as threats,” the man in the fetters continued to shift his head back and forth, “He said that I would be doing the nation a great service. He said I would be removing the liabilities. He said all I had to do was take care of them. He said I would be a national hero. That he would save me!”

              Odell was becoming irritated. Sighing she tried again, “Mr. Tory, stop it!” she snapped her fingers and he focused on her, “Now, Mr. Tory, can you please just give me the names of the two people you killed?”

              The man swallowed again and then continued to panic, “He told me to kill that Kompco guy in the jungle. So I did. He told me I would be safe. He told me he wouldn’t let them catch me. He then told me to drop that Handel girl off in the jungle. That I would be safe after I did it. That my family would be safe! He told me I would be okay!”

              The man was practically bellowing, while seizing against his constraints. Before Odell could wind up the interview deeming that she had enough information the man screamed, “But the money wasn’t enough! My family is starving! My kids go to bed hungry every night! So he came to me and told me to kill the old president. He told me to shoot him in his home. But I couldn’t. He was with his grandchildren. They looked so happy. I couldn’t kill him. He told me if I didn’t shoot the old president he wouldn’t protect me anymore. He told me if I didn’t kill the old president I wouldn’t be safe anymore,” he paused and then screamed, “I just couldn’t kill him, though! He was with his grandchildren. They were happy and playing. I just couldn’t kill him!”

              Odell’s mind stopped. She stared at the man shocked by what he had just said, “You were also planning the assassination of former President Grover Chipulta?

              The man began to sweat now and pull harder on his restraints, “I couldn’t kill that poor man. He was hated when he was president. Now he is happy with his grandchildren. They were laughing,” his voice was sounding strained and desperate, “I couldn’t do it. Because I couldn’t do it I wasn’t safe. They caught me. He said they would catch me. He said if I didn’t kill the old president he would catch me. I would be dead,” he paused again. His eyes locked on the woman, “I don’t want to die.”

              Odell’s heart picked up and she could tell her partner Parker was beginning to fidget out of nervousness. Attempting to bring calm to the situation, “Mr. Tory please calm down, you are not going to die. No one is going to hurt you in here. I promise you.”

              The man’s eyes grew and he began to scream wildly, “He said I would be safe! He said my family would be fine. I don’t want to die! I don’t want my kids or my wife to die for what I have done!”

              Not being able to take it any longer, Parker quickly asked before Odell could stop him, “Who is this He you keep talking about?”

              Odell snapped her eyes at him. She hadn’t felt that question was necessary, as she had assumed Tory was likely referring to his deity, his God. She had seen it many times over her fifteen years of being an investigator. Many people feel compelled to bring harm to others, all in the name of their God. However the name the man said shocked her, and made her instantly uncomfortable. He paused and calmed. The man’s insane eyes focused and he said in the most crisp of English, “The Prime Minister said I would be safe. Artimus Zhang promised me my family would be safe. He said he would protect me!”

              The two National Guardsmen didn’t move. Parker’s head was spinning, ‘What a first time around?’ he kept thinking. While Odell’s head was spinning for other reasons, ‘This man is crazy. He is accusing the Prime Minister, the honorable Zhang of hiring this low life to kill that slimy CEO and that sleazy girl. Not to mention President Chipulta.’

              The room was silent for a few moments, outside of the soft whimper of the man in the chair. There was a knock on the door, and the two guardsmen stood. Walking out the door they found Lieutenant General Zantha Carson standing with her arms crossed. The two subordinate Guardsmen shut the door.

              Carson asked in her typical harsh style, “Did you get this fool to confess?”

              Odell nodded, “Yes ma’am. He has confessed all right. But he has also said something I think you might find of interest.”

              Carson’s black eyes focused in on Odell’s young face, “And what is that Major?”

              Odell stared right back and confidently explained that he has accused the Prime Minister of hiring him to kill the two victims. Then went on to explain that he was also hired to kill former President Chipulta, but couldn’t do it. Carson’s eyes grew more and more narrow as Odell told her story. Carson turned to the man standing next to Odell, “Master Sergeant, is this all true?”

              Parker nodded his head, “Yes ma’am it is.”

              “Very well then,” Carson lunged for the door, and threw it open. Walking into the room, she walked up to the man in the chair. He previous squirming escalated to full on convulsions, and his screaming for help escalated. Turning the chair to face away from the door, Carson stood above the man powerfully. She instructed the two subordinates to close the door and lock it. Removing her gun from its holstering, she pointed it at Tory’s forehead. He began to whine even more.

              “You good for nothing piece of shit. Tell me, did you say you were hired by Prime Minister Zhang to kill those people?” Her fury was nearly palpable.

              He began sobbing. His fear was horrifying to Parker who, himself began to shake. Never before had he seen such fear in someone. Even Odell thought the situation had grown to an unnecessary level. Cocking the gun, Carson yelled, “Tell me!”

              The man stopped shaking, and he looked up helplessly, “Yes Artimus Zhang hired me.”

              “Do you have any proof of this?” Carson growled.

              The man shook his head, “Yes I have the emails printed off at my house, and along with the check signed by him.”

              Carson pressed the gun further into the man’s forehead, “Anything else you want to say for yourself?”

              He began to scream again. He yelled for his life. He yelled for his wife, for his children. Odell wanted to step in, get involved, but she knew she couldn’t. The man wouldn’t stop yelling. All he was saying was “He said he would save me. He said I would be safe. He said my family would be safe.”

              Carson fired her gun, and the man’s body instantly went limp. Parker’s stomach collapsed, and he instantly had an overwhelming urge to escape.  Odell too wanted to get away from the situations. She thought of the cameras. She attempted to say something to the Lieutenant General. However she turned too quickly, her gun still loaded and now aimed right at them.

              “Have either of you two told anyone else outside of this room what you have heard this evening?” Carson’s eyes were ablaze now.

              The two of them nodded negatively. Carson’s mouth turned into a wicked smile. That was the last thing both Odell and Parker would ever see.