Chapter 69: Count Volkonsky

The Soviets now approached the open vestibule door. The leader was a tall and very handsome man, impeccably dressed in an obviously expensive suit and holding his hat in his hand. He reached the door but everyone was still chattering about the girls and the queen kissing me.

He stood in the doorway and cleared his throat once to get someone’s attention.

“A-hum,” he said. “Is this the Wagner Industries train?”

“Boh-dan-n-n!” came Anna’s voice from behind me.

She rushed forward and hugged the tall Russian.

“Anna? What are you...” he started. Then pausing a beat he said, “I mean, hello Doctor Carter. What a pleasant surprise to find you here.”

“It is I, who’s pleasantly surprised, Count Volkonsky,” Anna replied.

“Michael, this is Count Bohdan Volkonsky,” she said as she introduced the Russian.

“The Count and I met in London last year,” she added without explaining any further. I scanned her and found that Bohdan was more than a casual acquaintance, but not on intimate terms. Anna and he had spent a considerable amount of time together last summer in London, but she never let it get anywhere because he was married.

“Thank you for coming on such short notice,” I said to him. “Welcome aboard.”

I then introduced him to Uncle Harry and Wally, before leading him to where Nancy was seated.

“You’re not by chance related to Nikolai Volkonsky, are you?” Nancy asked him.

Bohdan smiled. “I haven’t seen my uncle in two years. He went to San Paulo, Brazil, and fell in love with the place and has never returned. My mother heard from him at the new year, and said he was doing well, though.”

“If you see him, give him my regards, and tell him I hope he’s well,” Nancy said.

“Most certainly!” Bohdan replied. Then turning to me, he introduced the two men with him who were still at the door. I welcomed them aboard.

“Mr. Wagner, I was wondering if I could see the five gentlemen...?” he asked.

“Certainly!” I replied. “Anna, would you escort the Count to the Dining Car?”

Kip and Anna had untied the five spies and taken them to the Dining Car after the others had left to go shopping. Kip and Pete were still there guarding them as they fed them breakfast.

“Count Volkonsky, if you’ll give us a few minutes, I believe we will have some news for you,” I said as the train began to move. “But it looks like I may have to arrange transportation for you from Bridgeport, as that is our next stop.”

“That will be no problem. We took that possibility into consideration and have a car waiting there,” he replied.

After Anna led the three Russians to the Dining Car, I turned to Catherine and nodded.

“Well, I guess it’s time to call this meeting back to order,” she said.

Everyone settled into one of the plush chairs in the observation car near Nancy. Catherine waited until they were settled and said, “For the record, Jeff is acting as recording secretary, and both John and Jeff have proxy votes for their wives. I have Liz’s as well. If there is anything that requires their presence we’ll simply table it until they are here,” she explained. “Also, a point of order. While Michael has the right to voice an opinion, he does not have a vote. At least not yet,” she added smiling at me quickly.

“Who invited the Russians?” Harry asked.

“Michael did,” said Catherine. “He asked Penny to arrange it through the FBI last night.”

“Why?” Harry continued. “It seems highly irregular.”

“I know, and I’m sorry you weren’t informed earlier. We were not sure they would come, and then, as you saw, it has been pretty hectic around here this morning,” Catherine explained.

“I understand, but maybe you should explain exactly what you have in mind, Catherine,” Harry said.

She did. As the train rumbled through New York, Catherine began to lay out the whole story of the Cherry Ridge fuel process, the Russian interest, the assassination of mom and dad, and my resulting coma and amnesia. She explained how the whole family had to go into hiding, and what had happened to Liz’s home, and finally the attempted kidnapping on board the train last night.

There were multiple interruptions and expressions of disbelief and incredulity at how far the Russians had gone with this. They had heard of my amnesia but had forgotten it until now. And of course, expressions of consolation at our near misses, and the loss of her son and daughter-in-law, and even Liz’s loss.

“I believe we understand why you are going to such drastic measures, Catherine, but in the interest of the company, do you think Michael is ready?” Wally asked.

“I have two answers for that question Wally, and I can’t decide which to give you, so I think I’ll try both,” Catherine replied seriously. “First, I have been with Michael constantly, since he woke up. And while he doesn’t remember a lot of his past, he has exhibited a new maturity and caring for others that is beyond his years,” she looked at me and smiled as she said that.

Catherine proceeded to tell them how I had helped the young nursing assistants, and the leukemia victim, and then Julie and Jennifer and the rest of the cousins. She told them briefly about Dr. Carter, and Sarah and Debbie, then finally Vickie and her mom.

Then she asked Jeff to tell them about the investments. Jeff cleared his throat nervously as he began, “Well, it seems Michael has an intuitive sense about the stock market. He gave us several tips that, quite frankly, amazed John and me, coming from a teenager. But so far, he has netted the company just under $3,000,000 in profits from his investment advice alone. I expect that number to more than triple by the end of the year.”

Nancy and Harry and Wally were amazed and all started asking questions at the same time.

“I guess I should let Michael explain,” Jeff said dodging the very direct line of questioning.

They all turned to look at me, waiting. I just shrugged my shoulders in typical teen fashion and looked to Catherine. I’ll be damned if I know how to get out of this corner that I had been painted into.

“I’m sure Michael will go into detail later, but I’d like to finish my thoughts if I may?” Catherine told them.

“As the chairman of the board of Wagner Industries, I have asked myself the same question a thousand times over the last three weeks, can he do it? Is he ready to lead Wagner Industries? And the candid answer is ... not by himself. He has much to learn before that can happen.” She paused letting her words sink in. “But, with the right help, I think he can become the leader we need. And I think that we are the ones who must help him.”

Nancy was nodding her head. Harry and Wally both had thoughtful expressions.

Catherine continued. “The idea of emancipation was actually Michael’s idea. He came up with it as a way to protect his family. Since, by the stipulations in the will, we will be doing the same thing in twenty months anyway, I felt his idea had merit. And I can see several advantages for the company by moving the timetable up twenty months. But, and I’ve already discussed this with Michael, if I were to agree to this, then he must agree to oversight by this board. At least for the next twenty months. And in accordance with any other stipulations in the will.”

“So you’re saying that nothing will change from a management perspective? At least for another twenty months?” Wally asked.

“Yes. Except the company could proceed to implement some decisions that have been obstructed while we have been waiting. Such as the acquisition of the Henderson land parcel in California,” Catherine pointed out.

The Henderson parcel was a development idea that had been in the works for years. It suddenly became available three months ago with the passing of the elderly gentleman. Now his family was ready to deal in order to settle the estate, but the company had been about to lose out because of the ‘no acquisition’ stipulation in grandfather’s will.

Wally and Harry immediately saw her point. However Nancy asked a new question.

“Catherine, you said you had two answers about Michael being ready to take over. What is the second one?”

Catherine looked to me for a minute, then she said, “My second opinion is more as a grandmother, than a Chairwoman of the Board.”

She paused and drew a deep breath.

“Since he awoke from the coma, he is a totally different young man. He is not the same Michael I held on my knee and watched grow up. As a teenager, the old Michael was self-absorbed and cared little for others. He seemed to make decisions that were only self-serving. He showed little respect for his parents or his sister, not to mention the rest of the family or the company.”

I smiled encouragingly at her. I knew this was the hard part for her. She wanted them to understand and support me, but couldn’t tell them the whole story.

“But the Michael that I have watched and studied since he woke up is loving, kind, and respectful. On many occasions I have witnessed him sacrificing himself for others. I have seen first-hand his concern for his sister, his cousins, and others around him, and it reminds me so much of Greg.”

“Oh!” Nancy let the word slip out. I could sense her agreement with Catherine’s opinion as she looked at me. She was relieved that she wasn’t the only one that thought I was a lot like my grandfather. Turning to Wally, Nancy said, “I’ve heard enough, and I’m getting tired. Have we enough members present for a vote?”

“Wally, I’d like to let just you and Uncle Harry and Nancy vote on this one. I think I speak for the rest of the family in saying we have already decided,” Catherine said as she looked to Jeff and John, both of whom nodded their agreement. “If any one of you has reservations, well, then we’ll just have to come up with something else. Because we’ll have to be all together in this, or it won’t work. Michael will need each of us over the next few years.”

“What kind of timeframe are we looking at?” Harry asked.

“The emancipation hearing is the twenty-second. If the judge signs the petition, we can schedule the rest of the probate on the will after that,” John informed everyone.

“Then I move we proceed based on that approval and the reading of the remaining portion of the will. How’s Friday the twenty-fifth for everyone?” Harry asked.