Chapter 6

The flight up had been uneventful, but they weren’t used to the opulence that the inside of the aircraft exhibited. Kathy, the attendant, didn’t have much to do and seemed very concerned that they didn’t want anything. Other than bringing Jeff the phone when Wainwright called, and getting each of them a diet coke, they didn’t require anything from her, but only wanted a little sleep. Reclining in the plush seats, they did just that.

The pretty attendant woke them about fifteen minutes out of the airport so they would have time to freshen up. The pilot obviously knew what he was doing. The landing was accompanied by a faint bark of the tires as they spun up on the asphalt but there wasn’t even a slight bump as the plane put down.

As they prepared to leave the aircraft, Captain Madison informed them that Mr. Wainwright had told him to keep their luggage on board and refuel the plane, as they would have further use of it later in the day. Jeff raised an eyebrow but didn’t comment.

A limo was waiting, and the opulence continued, but the traffic didn’t. They sat on the freeway for forty-five minutes while a crane righted an overturned eighteen-wheeler. The chauffeur told them that he had contacted Mr. Wainwright and there would be no problem.

The sprawling complex was fenced. They rolled up to a security gate and a smartly dressed guard checked the chauffeur’s ID, then told him that the office had already cleared his passengers. Stepping back, he waved them through.

Jeff pointed to a large, multistory building in the distance. “That’s where we’re heading,” he told his wife and daughter. But the driver didn’t go to the front of the building as expected, but instead, went around to the side where a large door opened for them as they approached. Inside, he stopped near an elevator and hurried to open their door for them.

As they exited the vehicle, the elevator opened and a well-dressed man of about forty-five nodded to Jeff, then introduced himself to Diana and Arlene. “Hi. I’m Ray Tingle, one of the vice presidents here.” Jeff introduced the women, and he and Tingle shook hands.

“How was the flight, Jeff?” Tingle asked.

“It must have been fine,” Jeff said with a chuckle, “because we slept most of the way. But the traffic was a little different.”

“Yes, we heard about that,” Tingle replied as he ushered them into the elevator.

As the elevator ascended, Jeff said, “I hired another lawyer a couple of days ago. His name is Wadsworth. I spoke to Mr. Wainwright about him when I was here day before yesterday. I’ll need to see Wadsworth before we enter the meeting.”

“Oh, he’s here,” Tingle said. “We have provided him with full access to the documents, as you requested. He has made a couple of changes that we have already approved.” With a grin, he added, “I think your patent attorneys are a bit insulted that you brought someone else in, though.”

“Tough,” Jeff replied, without a grin, “They will be paid enough to get over it.”

As the elevator opened into the waiting area, a short, thin man immediately stood and walked toward Jeff. Without preamble, he said, “I need to see you for a few minutes, in private.”

Jeff looked at Tingle. If there was an objection to the delay, Tingle didn’t show it. “This way,” he said, leading them down a hall to a small conference room.

When Diana and Arlene started to lag back, Jeff ushered them into the room in front of him. Tingle left, closing the door behind him.

Jeff started to say something, but Wadsworth interrupted. Jeff frowned as Wadsworth introduced himself to the women, then shoved a paper in front of Jeff. The women leaned over to read it as well. In bold caps they read:

ASSUME ROOM BUGGED. CONTRACT EXCELLENT. YOUR PATENT ATTORNEYS HAD ONE LOOPHOLE THAT I CORRECTED. WE NEED TO MAKE COMPANY PEOPLE WAIT. I WILL DISCUSS PRICE AND STALL FOR A WHILE. WILL DO THEM GOOD.

For the first time since Jeff got home, Diana saw him smile. They spent thirty-five minutes hearing lawyerese and going over points on a contract that Wadsworth had already said were excellent. But Diana noted that Jeff seemed to be enjoying himself – immensely. Finally, Wadsworth deemed the time long enough and suggested they go on to the meeting.

Tingle met them in the hallway and tactfully asked if Arlene would perhaps be more comfortable in a private guest waiting room where there were amenities that she might enjoy.

Jeff cut him off with, “My wife and daughter will accompany me.”

“Certainly, Sir. As you wish.”

Tingle opened the door of a conference room several times larger than the one they had just left. On the far end of the mirror-bright table sat the president of the company, flanked by three males and one female. All were in their forties or fifties, Diana thought. Down the left side sat three other people, two males and one female. Across from them were three other men. She assumed that the last three were attorneys. Everyone stood as Jeff and his family entered.

Tingle introduced everyone without missing a name, concluding with, “And of course you all know Mr. Matthews.”

No one sat until Diana and Arlene were seated. No one questioned the presence of a fifteen-year-old in the meeting.

Jeff has the attention of this group, Diana thought.

After a few minutes of pleasantries, they got down to business.

The president, Mr. Wainwright, stood. “Obviously,” he started out, “we all know why we are here today. It has been a day that our company has been looking forward to, but indeed, to be a little candid for a moment, Mr. Matthews, we did a very thorough background check on you. We are a contractor for the federal government and can not afford to be too cautious. However,” he cleared his throat and glanced at the small group of top executives of the company for a moment, “I fear that somehow, we have projected some wrong impressions. We, ah ... have noted that you have become hesitant, and frankly, we think you may have been considering selling your patents to another firm.”

Jeff just looked at him and shrugged slightly.

Wainwright continued, “When we started investigating your military history, we had a visit from two men who gave their ranks as captain and major, but little else about themselves. They were legitimate enough; they even let us copy their IDs, but we were told that our investigation into your military history was at an end. That it was classified, but they would vouch for you, in writing, if need be. We got it in writing.

“And, since we are on that subject, I would like to remind you that there is a near one hundred percent chance that this product, shall we call it, will be sold to the federal government, i.e., the U.S. military, and at some point, everything relating will come under the National Security Act, so I caution all of you present, that you may well be scrutinized by the government at some future point. So, I strongly suggest that the proceedings of this meeting be kept strictly confidential, lest at some future date you have to explain why you did not think that it was pertinent to do so.”

One of the male company attorneys, Diana couldn’t remember what his name was, spoke up. “Mr. Wainwright, in line with what you have just said, I feel that I should point out that we have an adolescent in the room for which there could be no binding contract, and I suggest that she be required to wait in our guest room until...”

Jeff stood, leaning slightly forward to place his hands on the table, staring toward the attorney. “Jenkins is your name. Is that correct?”

Diana noted that her husband had his “mission” face back on.

At a nod from the man, “Well, Jenkins, I guess I need to explain something to you...”

Mr. Wainwright tried to interrupt with, “Jeff, you don’t have to explain anything. Bert is out of line, and will apologize. Won’t you, Mr. Jenkins!” It wasn’t a question.

Jenkins’ face set, but if he was going to say anything, he didn’t get a chance, for Jeff continued. “Everyone present needs to understand that I would not be here today, and we would not be discussing this contract had it not been for my wife, for there would be nothing to sell. Without her working two jobs, I would never have been able to go to college. Oh, I got a scholarship, but it didn’t pay for half of what we had to spend. She never once complained. You try working two full-time jobs,” he told Jenkins, glaring at him, “then you might have something to say that I would bother to listen to.

“My daughter didn’t have things that a lot of other kids had, but I never had any problems with her that other parents seemed to have with their kids. Hell, she has spent half her life either at her grandmother’s, or in daycare, or with a sitter. But she has never made a grade less than an A. Not once.”

Sweeping his gaze across the lawyers, he returned it to Jenkins. “You want my daughter to leave, Jenkins. If she goes, my wife and I go too, and so help me, I will still sell my patents before the day is out, but it won’t be to this outfit.”

It went downhill from there. Jeff was mad. Mr. Wainwright called for a break and got Jeff alone to calm him down. When everyone was called back to the conference room again, there was a female in Jenkins’ seat.

While Jeff was haranguing Jenkins, Diana’s mind had kept replaying Jeff’s remark about never having problems with Arlene. Diana fought the tears back, remembering what Jeff had seen Arlene and her do last night.

Chapter 7 »