CHAPTER TWO
LaDeux lived in the penthouse condo of his headquarters’ building. The building was 40-story glass and steel box near the statehouse and stadium in Atlanta. The traffic was typical Atlanta awful. It took as much time to cover the distance from the outer loop to the headquarters as it had from the prison to the outer loop. The driver pulled up in front of the building, let Larson and Press out and then drove off to park the car.
Larson lead Press passed the security desk with nothing more then a nod at the uniformed guard. The pair when to an elevator, Larson inserted an electronic keycard into a slot and the door opened.
The elevator car was lushly appointed with lots of brown leather. There were only two buttons: a “P” and “L”. Larson pushed the “P” button. The car rose quickly and smoothly and deposited them into a shiny black marble vestibule.
A huge young man sat at a tiny desk and stared at Larson and Press as they stepped out. Larson nodded at the young man and guided Press to the door on the right. Larson opened and motioned Press thru the door. A bank of three desks filled the room, three woman, all in there early thirties, brunettes, dressed very professionally, looking enough alike to be sisters all looked up at the same time.
“You’re late,” the one in the middle announced.
“Yeah, traffic was hell.”
She smiled and nodded. “Go on. He’s expecting you. Mr. Michaelson, you can leave your bag here.”
The secretary on the left stood and held out her hand for the bag.
Press nodded and handed it over.
Larson stepped to the door right behind the middle desk and opened it.
“Mr. LeDeux, Mr. Michealson.” He announced and held the door open for Press.
The office was nice, but surprisingly Spartan: just a desk, table and chairs, it had a well used, real working place feel. Files and stacks of paper cluttered the desktop. Two computer monitors sat on one corner of the desk.
LeDeux looked like his pictures: deeply tanned, silver hair, bushy mustache, about sixty, but a healthy sixty. His tie was pulled down, his collar open and sleeves rolled up.
“Have a seat!” LeDeux pointed at the conference table. He got up and joined Press and Larson at the table.
“Mr. Michaelson,” LeDeux shook Press’ hand.
Press nodded his greeting.
“Let me come right to the point,” LeDeux looked Press right in the eye. “I have a job for you, it could involve some illegalities and no doubt some physical danger as well. But I will pay you well and you will be doing something worthwhile. In fact I’ll pay you two thousand for signing a confidentiality agreement and listening to our proposal.”
Press had all of five hundred dollars in his pocket; five years’ slave wages from the state, but those was all his ready assets. Two thousand dollars sounded damn good to him.
“All right, I’ll sign and listen,” Press said after a moment.
Larson went to the cluttered desk and came back with a manila folder. He opened it and put it front of Press and handed him a pen. Press quickly scanned the one page document. It was in lawyer speak, but basically said Press could not reveal anything about his conversations or activities with LD Enterprises or he would return all pay and could be sued.
Press signed and took the attached cashier’s check and put it in his front pants pocket.
“When was the last time you were in Hoyden County?” LaDuex asked.
“Fifteen years ago when I buried my grandparents.”
“Well things haven’t changed much I’m sure.”
“I’m sure.” Press said. Then asked: “What is this about?”
“Platinum.” LaDeux announced.
“Platinum?”
“Hoyden County sits on one of the mother loads of platinum in this country. My surveyors discovered it. But I can’t get at it.”
“I’m not a mining engineer.”
“The problem isn’t anything like that, it Sheriff Willy Boyd.”
“That bastard is still alive?”
“Sorry, Willy Boyd, Junior. Senior died a few years back.”
“I still don’t understand.”
“Very well. Simply put. I want that platinum and I’m not going to pay bribes to get it. At every turn we have be obstructed, harassed and so on. Our people arrested on trumped up charges, buildings and equipment vandalized. Cost of the mining rights suddenly triple what I should pay.”
“I’m still not sure what you want me to do about it.”
LeDeux took a deep breath and blew it out slowly.
“We want you to go into Hoyden and do what it takes to get me the mining rights. Also you should consider this a test, if you will. If you do this, other, similar opportunities could come your way.”
“Well thanks, but no thanks. I don’t feel like going back inside anytime soon.” Press stood.
“Wait a second, to make this more worth your while, we have something very else to offer.” LeDeux motioned Press to sit.
Larson went to the desk and pushed the intercom. “Send in Ms. Sotherlyn.”
A gray haired, stylish woman of about fifty marched in the door, followed by a large black man, carrying a briefcase and wearing a well-tailored suit. LeDeux and Press stood.
Donna Sotherlyn was the State’s Attorney General.
“Do you know me?” The woman asked Press as she sat at the table.
“Yes.” Press said.
“I was never here, this meeting never took place.”
Press nodded.
“Hoyden County and the Boyds have been a pain in mine and this state’s ass for years. And we want it to end, ASAP. Johnny!” She held out her hand to her associate.
The man withdrew from the briefcase a stiff piece of cream-colored parchment and handed to the Attorney General. She looked at it and then handed it to Press.
It was a pardon. Made out in his name for all crimes committed in the state. The date was blank.
“This pardon has already been filed, but thru a clerical the date has been left off. Congratulations Mr. Michaelson, you’ve been pardoned and all your rights as a citizen have been restored. Your criminal record has been expunged from every database we can reach. ”
“The pardon is yours, if you take the job, not whether or not you succeed.” LeDeux added.
“Before I answer, can I ask some questions?”
Both Sotherlyn and DeDeux nodded.
“How’d you find me and why did you pick me for the job?”
“Long story short,” Larson answered. “Some of our people from the county remembered you and how you stood up to Willy Junior. Also how your Grandfather had stood up to the whole corrupt system there. Of course, Ms. Sotherlyn remembered your legal troubles. I did some asking around with my sources in the military. They told me was you were: ‘mission oriented’ and very determined. Plus, you have the prefect cover: hometown boy returns after stint in prison to put his life together.”
“How much money?” Press asked.
“One thousand a week, plus expenses and fifty thousand on completion.” LeDeux didn’t even blink.
“Bribing Willy Junior would be cheaper.” Press offered.
“Think so?” LeDeux stared at Press. “Where will it stop? First it is this, then its something else. Yeah, I’ll make a tidy profit from the mine, but the jobs and development would help all the people in that county. Better jobs, better schools, better lives. I won’t see it feed that corrupt jackass. Also, do you really think the Willy Boyd will let another group become powerful in that county? The mine will bring in strangers. I’ll have to import managers, skilled workers and the like. Those people will want a say in how where they live is run. Do you think Willy and the redneck mafia will let them have that say?”
Press stared back, then nodded. LeDeux was right.
“I’ll do it.”
Sotherlyn, LaDeux and Larson all shook his hand. Larson produced another paper from the pile on the desk. It was a contract, describing Press as “a consultant”, that his work was totally confidential, and listing his compensation. Press signed it. Then LeDeux signed.
“I want you to understand something, Mr. Michaelson. None of us want or expect you to go into Hoyden and kill everyone that gets in your way. We can shield you from phony charges and protect you from some things. But we cannot protect you from murder or other major felony charges, if you really did do the crime. Nor would we, even if we could. Are you clear on that?”
Press nodded. “I don’t have any kind of plan, but I wouldn’t kill anyone, unless they were planning on killing me. I’m not a cold blooded murderer.”
Southerlyn gave a thin smile, turned on her heel and left the office.
“Paul,” LeDeux said. “Take Press over to the hotel and put him up in the suit. Get him anything he wants for tonight and tomorrow we’ll get him briefed up and set up with what he think he needs.”
Larson motioned for Press to follow him. They left the office.