Chapter 48

Dan Cashman landed at the Van Nuys Airport and let Malcolm Leven exit the aircraft. Their flight from Carmel had gone smoothly. Thankfully, the problem with the magneto was only a loose wire. When everyone was clear of the aircraft Dan taxied away from the ramp. After receiving instructions from the tower he was soon back in the air for the short flight to Oxnard. After he was released from the tight airport control Dan asked Julian, “How about a summary of this company we’re going to see.”

“Sure. Adam Clark began West Coast Wire in the early fifties. It specialized in wire for power companies and was very successful. About twelve years ago it added wiring for specialty motors and generators to its product mix, and that also did well. Unfortunately, the old man died almost five years ago, and his sons have pretty much run the business into the ground. They signed some long-term contracts that were profitable based upon the price of copper at the time, but at today’s prices those contracts have now become an albatross around their necks. Also, the sons believed the business could run forever without any capital improvements. As a result they used the money needed for major repairs and new equipment to live a life of luxury, letting the company go down the tubes. Fourteen months ago, they failed to make required interest payments to the bank, and the bank called in their notes. When the bank’s auditors reviewed the situation their recommendation was to force the company into a Chapter Seven bankruptcy and sell the assets for what they could get. To date, the only offers have been from a scrap metal dealer.”

“What about the financial history?”

“Two years ago they had forty percent of the power company market on the west coast. Annual revenue that year was thirty-three million, but that created a loss of almost twelve million. The company has a good reputation for quality; and the loyal employees saw it continued. Unfortunately, when the copper costs more than your contract price with your customers you’re in trouble. The sad part is most of their customers would have supposedly renegotiated under the circumstances, but the sons never asked.”

“What about the employees?”

“The bank was smart enough to know an existing business is worth more than the equipment. Therefore, the bank moved to have the company placed in a Chapter Eleven, instead of a Seven, and had the judge appoint an independent receiver. When he took over he learned the company had considerable inventory of both wire and copper, so they’ve been using the employees to fill orders at a new price and to repair equipment as well as clean up the place. I haven’t seen the current numbers, but I suspect it’s marginally profitable at the moment, but the bank doesn’t want to be in the wire business.”

At this point, their conversation was interrupted while Dan and the Oxnard tower went through the landing process. Once the aircraft was on the ground, Dan pulled into the area of Golden West Aviation reserved for short stays. The two men exited the aircraft, and moments later a dark tan Jaguar XJR pulled up beside the plane.

“Mister Cashman?”

“That’s me,” Dan responded.

“Your secretary gave us a good description of the aircraft when she called to let us know you were on your way. She was most efficient.”

“Thank you. I’ll make sure to tell her what you said.”

The person from the rental car company handed Dan a clipboard and showed him where to sign and to initial. When Dan finished, he handed Dan the keys, wished him a good day and started walking toward the terminal. Realizing that there wasn’t a car waiting, Dan called out to the man, “Do you need a lift?”

“No, thanks,” the driver responded, “I’ve got a car in the parking lot to pick up.” Satisfied the young man wasn’t going to have to walk forever or wait for someone to come get him Dan and Julian climbed into the finely crafted automobile. Dan pulled the car off the tarmac and parked it away from the other cars.

Dan turned to Julian and said, “Now, where were we?”

“We just started discussing the employee situation.”

“OK, I remember. You said the bank and the receiver were keeping the current employees busy, what else is there?”

“Many of the employees feel the company has no future and are looking for alternatives. They might not want to do so, but they’ve families to feed and mortgages to pay. There’s also some frustration because their profit sharing / pension fund was raided by the sons at the end.”

“That was stupid.”

“I agree, and I suspect the brothers may see jail time for their actions.”

“So, bottom line, what does the bank want, what will they take, and is it worth the effort?”

“Dan, if I didn’t think it was worth the effort we wouldn’t be here.”

“Touché.”

“The bank’s notes total nine million, plus accumulated interest. Since they’ve had no offers other than the one for the scrap value of the equipment, which was less than two million, I suspect they’d be happy if we offered six.”

“What about the building?”

“It’s leased from the sons, but they’re also in default on the mortgage. At present the title is still in their name.”

“What are the details on the building?”

“Dan, I don’t have them, as I was working totally with the bank and not the sons.”

“We can deal with that. Now, how much is missing from the pension fund, excluding anything that was reserved for them?”

“It was seven million total, but I think a little over two was their share.”

“OK, I think I’ve got a handle on things. Let’s go talk to the bank.”

Admiral Burke’s staff car pulled up beside the white SH60F Seahawk with a standard Navy sedan following behind. The Admiral’s driver quickly opened his boss’s door and stood at attention while the flag officer exited the car and walked toward the waiting helicopter. Jason and Andy got out of the second car and followed Burke to the aircraft.

Sitting in the aircraft were the two marines Jason had requested, and one was holding a greenish gray Nomex flight suit. Jason climbed into the back of the aircraft and motioned for the two men to follow him. While he was doing this the Admiral helped buckle Andy into the seat next to the pilot. After putting the flight suit over his khakis Jason turned to the two men, and said, “As you probably have been told, I need you two to handle some things for me. But, remember, this is very secret stuff.”

“No problem, Sir.

Turning to the Cherokee Jason handed him a piece of paper, and said, “I need the two of you to go to this address. You, son, will be used as a decoy. You’ll need to carry some civvies, and when you arrive at the location change clothes and leave your BDU when you head back to base.”

“Yes, Sir!”

Turning to the other young man Jason noted he was a gunnery sergeant, and said, “Gunny, I need you to act as security for someone. Obtain a gym bag and use it to conceal an M Eleven pistol and an MP Five, along with extra clips for both. Also, I was told to advise you to expect to have to spend the night away from the base.”

The sergeant asked, “Sir, who will I be protecting, and what is the threat?”

“Son, the young man is my adopted son, Hawk, and the potential threat is a local drug lord who may, or may not be coming after Hawk. I know you’ll be flying somewhere in a small aircraft. Beyond that I can’t say much, except please protect him. He and my granddaughter have only been married a few days.”

The young sergeant smiled, snapped a sharp salute, and replied, “Yes, Sir!”

“Any questions?”

“No, Sir.”

“Then, that blue sedan is at your disposal for the rest of this assignment. Now, get out of here.”

The young marines answered, “Oo-Rah!”

Elizabeth Johnson slowly walked down the hall. Her face betrayed the emotional pain, conflict, and helplessness she was feeling at that moment. For the first time in her life she began to understand the depression that so easily gripped a majority of her patients, and that realization was adding to her thoughts of despair. As she approached the waiting room near the elevator she tried to get control of the emotional storm she was experiencing, but she had little success. Finally, unable to delay the meeting with her friends any longer she entered the waiting room.

Mary Beth Saunders looked up at the opening of the door and was shocked at her friend’s appearance. After all, Elizabeth had only been with Connie Taylor for an hour, and the meeting began with feelings of victory on the behalf of their friend, John Grayson, now known as Robert Gray Hawk, or just Hawk. The contrast in her friend over that hour was frightening. “Elizabeth, are you all right?

“No. I feel like I’ve been run over by a train, a long train.”

Mary Beth led her friend over to where Katrina sat with Zed and her other friends. “Is my mommy going to be OK?” asked the precocious little girl. It didn’t take much imagination to see she was Hawk’s child.

“Sweetheart, I can only hope so. The problem is I have some serious conflicting issues that complicate everything.”

“Is that because our memories are different?”

Surprised at the child’s perception Elizabeth explained, “Honey, it’s not so much the cause, but a result and a reaction of something that’s been done to Connie. Something that was done intentionally, but I don’t think they expected this result.”

“Was it the John she keeps dreaming about?”

“No, little one, but that’s part of the conflict. This person has tricked Connie’s mind into thinking John was bad and did something evil to you.”

“Why would they do that?”

“They wanted to hurt John really bad, and I think what Connie did caused John to go to prison, where he died. As long as the truth, as Connie saw it, didn’t reveal the lies then Connie was fine, but when your knowledge of the truth conflicted with hers...”

Katrina interrupted, “She questioned what she’d done?”

“Yes, and deep down in her mind she begin to feel guilty, even though it wasn’t her fault. That guilt is what’s causing her all this pain and emotional torment.”

“Can’t we tell her it wasn’t her fault?”

With every sentence Elizabeth was more and more amazed. She knew John was supposed to be a genius, but this girl’s IQ had to be off the scale. “Katrina, I wish I could, but it’s not that easy. You see, the other person still has some power over Connie, and that control is preventing us from really dealing with the issues. We also need to fix what she did to John, but right now, I can’t help Connie without destroying our chance to make that correction.”

“Doctor Johnson, I’m a pretty smart girl, but you’re losing me.”

Mary Beth slipped her arms around the child, and said, “That’s all right, Hon, she’s losing me, too.”

“I’ll try to clarify it, Beth, but it’s hard to explain hypnosis to someone Katrina’s age, no matter how smart she is.”

“Oh,” proclaimed Katrina, “I understand a little bit about hypnosis; it was in one of the books I’ve read. I don’t understand how it works, but I do know it can allow someone to tell you to do things, and you won’t remember them telling you.”

Elizabeth smiled, “Sweetheart, I think that’s a good start. Do you also know about ‘triggers’?

“Like on a gun?”

“No, these are words or events that can put someone back under hypnosis, or cause them to carry out a given task.”

“OK, I think I understand. It would be like the TV show where the girl was told every time she heard a certain word she’d act drunk.”

Excitedly, Elizabeth answered, “Yes. That’s exactly what I’m talking about.”

“So, someone hypnotized my mommy to do something bad, and without the trigger, as you call it, you can’t free her to see the truth.”

“Not exactly, little one. I can re-hypnotize Connie, and possibly overcome the block. The problem is that if I do it destroys her ability to make the judge believe her story. Even worse, if it doesn’t work, her mind may be too broken to ever fix.”

Deke and Zed had been listening to the entire conversation, but had not offered any comment. Now the two of them joined Mary Beth in consoling both Elizabeth and Katrina. The suddenly angry child pushed away from the group and demanded, “Who would do such an evil thing, and why would they use my mommy?”

Jason’s flight to the Aircraft Carrier Abraham Lincoln had been perfect. It was Andy’s first flight in a helicopter with Jason flying, as well as her first without having a patient emergency to deal with. She loved every minute of it, especially listening to Jason explain how things worked, and what they did. As they approached the carrier, Jason spoke to the Admiral over the intercom, “Admiral, there’s nothing wrong with this bird, but I’m going to get with the maintenance chief and create one. While I’m working with him White Dove can stay close to the aircraft, and you can handle your business as you intended.”

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The Hawk and the Chipmunk

Mike Lowe aka The Scot

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