"Thank you, Leonard, you can drop me off here"
"Would you like me to wait for you, sir?"
"No. I'm staying here for a while. You can go home now, thank you and here's a little bonus for you" the old man sat in the back of the Cadillac limousine reached in to his jacket pocket and pulled out a wallet. He handed the chauffer a $20 bill.
"Thank you, Mr Landgraab"
The old man, whose full name was Malcolm Landgraab III, stepped out of the car and watched the limo drive off before he strode purposefully towards Affluista Mansion. Once it had been his home and now he had business there...
"It's your grandfather" replied Nancy.
"Oh...this is going to be...interesting" the youth replied.
Nancy went dowstairs to answer the door, Malcolm Sr did not look happy.
"Daddy!" she said, enthusiastically.
"Nancy..." he said, walking straight past her and in to the mansion. "I find myself being dragged from my retirement in Sulani to deal with this mess you've found yourselves in. Where's Geoffrey and the boys?"
"Geoffrey's at the company building and Malcolm's here" she replied.
"And Jonathan?" asked Mal. Nancy looked downwards and said nothing.
"Oh, we still don't talk about Jonathan, is that it?" said Mal, gruffly. "Fetch Young Malcolm, here, what I have to say affects him."
Young Malcolm was not far away and heard everything his grandfather had said. He took two steps to make his presence known.
"Grandpapa" he said, in a flat tone.
"Drug dealing, eh?" said Mal. "Is that your 'independent business' is it?"
"I applied the lessons of business that you taught me, Grandpapa: See a market, exploit a demand..."
"You forgot lesson number 3: Don't get caught" said Mal. "Who is this Suzy Kent?"
"A muck-raking journalist..."
"They're all muck-raking, boy. Is there some personal connection between you and her that's gone sour?"
"They're all muck-raking, boy. Is there some personal connection between you and her that's gone sour?"
"What? No! I've met her twice in person but she's one of those moralistic busy-bodies, thinks she's clever and oh-so moralistic. I can have her dealt with, Grandpapa."
"Like you dealt with your former business colleague? I know what you've been up to; I have my spies in the company who keep me informed. You've outsourced your problem solving to Them, haven't you?"
"They have methods we don't..." Malcolm began to explain but Mal cut him off.
"I know that! I've dealt with them long enough but you always keep them at arms distance! I never let them get inside my head...please tell me you haven't let them inside your mind!"
"No!" Malcolm said, lying to his grandfather. He thought the old man just didn't understand how powerful he could be with the Visitors' help. Malcolm had seen what he could do with his followers that day at the Orchid A-Go-Go club when he got them to stare down Suzy Kent or Humphries or whatever that witch was called now.
"Good to hear...you NEVER let them inside there. You must maintain the power dynamic with them: They need us, need our resources and can't save themselves without our help so you don't let them gain advantage over you. I think you turning to them for help in dealing with your problems risks inverting that dynamic, young Malcolm. Your father shares the same weakness, unfortunately..."
"They can be very persuasive, Daddy. You've not seen things from where we're standing right now but they've become...more demanding of late." said Nancy.
Mal didn't directly respond to what Nancy said. He looked between his daughter and grandson and then spoke. "One thing remains unanswered: How did this Suzy Kent know about our activities and family history?"
"She obviously bribed or cajoled my former business associate, Madelyn Buchanan...backstabbing bitch that she is!" exclaimed Malcolm.
"That Buchanan woman only knows about your drug dealing, Malcolm. Did either of you two bother to read Kent's article?" asked Mal. Nancy shook her head.
"Why would I waste my time reading that nonsense?" said Malcolm, contemptuously.
"Because it's very revealing, boy!" snapped Mal. "She mentions Dirk Landgraab starting the company, our family history and makes reference to my father and where he found his wealth! No one outside of this family knows about these things so where did she find this out from? Hmm? Any guesses....apparently not."
"Let's bring her in and use the machine on her, Grandpapa"
"I agree with Malcolm; we can break her will in a few hours" added Nancy.
"This family is facing massive fraud allegations and two murder enquiries and you want to add kidnapping to the list. YOU TWO ARE NOT THINKING!" Mal bellowed. He took a moment to calm down whilst the others stood by, not saying a word.
"Right. This is not a time to double down on what has got us to this point" Mal started to explain. "We need to consolidate, close ranks and not pour gas on the fire. This Kent woman can wait for now. What do we know of your whistleblower, Jeremy Saint?"
"He's middle management, we thought we could trust him...he underwent security checks and we had him subjected to the machine for treatment." said Nancy.
"And why would you do that if you trusted him, eh? Why brainwash someone who's already on your side...unless?" said Mal.
"Well...because...we had to groom him for our purposes, Daddy."
"But you said you trusted him..."
"Eventually. But...but..."
"He's friends with Suzy Kent, Grandpapa" interjected Malcolm.
"Well, well, well, he's friends with Suzy Kent. And you let this man rise through the company ranks, knowing who his close associates are."
"But we used the machine on him to make him hate her and another friend of his: Detective John Action."
"Clearly that didn't work otherwise HE WOULDN'T HAVE TURNED OVER OUR COMPANY SECRETS TO THAT SAME DETECTIVE ACTION!" Mal yelled. "Incompetence! You should have had Saint monitored at all times! The machine can only break a person's will for so long...we haven't figured out how to make the brainwashing permanent yet. Was this all your idea, Nancy?"
"No...it was...it was..." she began to speak but found it difficult to say the words.
"I can guess...it was Geoffrey's idea." said Mal. "Leave us, Malcolm, your mother and I have to have a discussion in private."
"Mom...I'm so sorry about my role in this but I can explain!"
"Later, perhaps, son. You leave your grandfather and I to talk."
"Is the upstairs lounge still there or have you converted it into something else?" Mal asked Nancy.
"It's still much the same as the last time you were here" she replied.
"Good." said Mal, heading straight upstairs. Nancy followed him.
As soon as he had reached the top of the stairs, to the only room on the third floor, he sat down in one of the lounge chairs. Nancy felt anxious about what her father wanted to say to her and, in a defensive action, went and stood by the easel where she had begun a figure painting only the day before. She couldn't sit down with all the nervous tension she felt.
"You're looking well, Nancy. Very well. You've kept yourself in good shape, I can see you maintain your looks and it hasn't escaped my notice that you've had some 'enhancements' as well."
"Thank you...Daddy" said Nancy, nervously.
"Geoffrey looks tired by comparison. Based on what I see of him in the news." continued Mal.
"He has a lot to deal with"
"Yes, I'm sure he does. Are you still committed to one another or do you find yourself heading in different directions?"
"Father! Everything's...fine" said Nancy, shocked. She didn't mention her growing suspicion that Geoffrey was infatuated with their cleaning lady.
"I want to see how the land lies around here" said Mal. "You see, there will be some changes soon..."
"Changes?"
"I'm afraid, Nancy, that we can't just ride out the crisis out this time. Too much information has been leaked now and not even our army of extremely well paid lawyers can make it all go away."
"But they'll mitigate the damage, certainly" said Nancy. "The police and press don't know even a fraction of what we do. My side of the company is still functioning well and hasn't been implicated."
Mal shook his head. "What is needed is a scalp to throw at the authorities. We need a fall guy..." he said.
"We've got a couple lined up; middle manager types who have done some 'delicate' work for us in the past and who will we will compensate handsomely..." replied Nancy.
"No. That won't do." said Mal, coldly. "It's an election year in the city, the D.A. is desperate to get a win in a big case to help his gubernatorial chances. The press won't settle for a middle manager being thrown to the wolves either. Someone higher up needs to take the fall. Someone with the Landgraab name..."
Nancy went pale and started to feel nervous. "Not Malcolm! Not my boy!"
"What young Malcolm needs is firmer guidance and coaching. One day the company and all that's in it will be his. He is the future." said Mal. "You are the present. Geoffrey is the past."
"You mean one of us must go on trial..." said Nancy, gulping.
"Geoffrey must" said Mal, blankly. "It was on his watch that all of this has happened. He made serious errors of judgement. You have always been headstrong and impetuous, my dear, so I hold you to a different standard. Geoffrey has been logical, methodical and calculating over the years but his touch has deserted him recently. Can you not see that?"
"He has let things slide...father, I believe Geoffrey might be having an affair with one of our staff"
"That wouldn't surprise me. It's common with the modern executive with all their reliance on gadgets, secretarial pools and opportunities to stray more than in my heyday. I have thought about this hard, Nancy, and I don't want to have to do this but I feel I must for the sake of everyone else."
"What will happen to the rest of us?" asked Nancy, with trepidation.
"You will be kept out of this and continue to help run the company. I will come out of retirement to act as interim CEO and Malcolm will be kept on a shorter leash but will be gradually given more responsibility and put on the correct path. And we must come to an accommodation with Jonathan..."
"No, father! He is not part of this family anymore! He will not take one step into this house!" said Nancy, defiantly.
"I don't know what happened between you and him but he's going to be put under immense pressure by our enemies and the press to spill the beans about our family and as things stand he has no incentive to be kind to us! I will figure something out with him"
"You don't know what he did!" declared Nancy with venom in her voice.
"Whatever it was it's nowhere near as bad as the situation we find ourselves in now!"
"That is my plan, Nancy, and we will stick to it. As for Geoffrey, I will make sure to mitigate the trouble he will go through."
At that moment Malcolm had appeared at the top of the stairs. "Grandpapa" he said "there's a Visitor at the door."
"Tell them to go away" replied Mal.
"No...I mean a Visitor."
Mal realised what young Malcolm was referring to and he nodded and said "I'll be right down"
When he got to the front door he found a solemn looking young man lurking out the front of the house and Mal figured this was the Visitor in question so he approached him.
The young man spoke first. "What we have heard concerns us greatly, Malcolm Landgraab the Third"
"Ugh, why can't you people ever use contractions? Call me Mal Landgraab so you don't confuse me with my grandson...and to save time as well."
"You have returned from your retirement, Mal Landgraab, we are troubled by what we have observed in the newspapers."
"I'm here to sort the matter out so you have no need to worry"
"But we do worry, Mal Landgraab. We have an arrangement."
"My arrangement with you was made through John, I shall speak with him"
"John Tom O'Connor has returned home, Luke Kendall is now in charge. My name is James Sprague and I act as liaison"
"Well, you go and tell Luke that I have things firmly in hand. Oh, and in future, under no circumstances are you to involve my grandson in your schemes."
"He came to us, Mal Landgraab."
"Nevertheless, if he tries to contact you again, say no to him. And then refer the matter to me. Do you understand?"
"I understand, Mal Landgraab"
With that bit of business done, Mal returned to the mansion. Now the next pressing bit of business was to wait until Geoffrey came home.
Geoffrey arrived in the early evening, exhausted. He found Malcolm doing his homework in the kitchen. Usually when he arrived home his son would greet him with a shrug or indifference as he had his head buried in either homework or some personal project of his own. This time Geoffrey found Malcolm to be more attentive when he entered the room.
"Hi Dad...we have a guest with us." said Malcolm.
"Oh yes, who?"
"Grandpapa"
That news wasn't warmly received by Geoffrey, although he did his best to hide it. If Big Mal was here, it must be serious and Geoffrey knew why: News of the scandal had reached Sulani already.
"Where is he right now?" asked Geoffrey.
"I'm here, Geoffrey my boy" came Mal's voice as he entered the kitchen. "Geoffrey, good to see you. How are you bearing up?"
"As well as can be expected. How much do you know?" asked Geoffrey.
"Virtually all of it."
"OK then, well at the moment I'm trying to keep a lid on things the best I can" said Geoffrey.
"Isn't it a bit late for that?" said Mal, knowingly.
"What do you mean?" asked Geoffrey, suspiciously.
"Sit down, Geoff..." said Mal, motioning Geoffrey to one of the dining chairs.
"I'm not going to sugar coat this..."
"That's not your style, Mal"
"For sure. It's like this, Geoff. This is the biggest challenge this company has ever faced since the Civil War. Things got ugly back then with Congressional hearings, threats of indictments and the company being ruined over war profiteering. I needn't bore you with the details, you know the family history. We're in those times again even though the charges levelled against the company...and the family...are different."
"We just have to ride it out, Mal. I've got top men...top men...in the legal department..."
"You don't have to tell me, I hired half of them in the first place. Now listen here, Geoff, you've done a lot of good work here since I retired. For many years before that you were my right hand man..."
"I thought you didn't want to sugar coat things..."
"I'm just stating a fact. You were groomed as a young man to be in the inner circle of this family; I know it was hard growing up without much whilst your cousins were living in mansions, I get it. You had ambition and I saw the potential in you. And you've done well in keeping Nancy in line whenever she gets impulsive and threatens to wreck everything through her greed. But you've lost your touch in the last couple of years. No, let me finish. Jonathan gets banished, Malcolm indulges in crimes far beneath his station in life, Nancy is once again making decisions based on pure emotion and not sense and you're turning increasingly towards the Visitors for help. And I know about you and the cleaning lady"
"What? I've not cheated on Nancy with her! Honest, Mal!"
"Maybe not yet but it's on your mind. I know also that Nancy's been going to fancy events without you. But bigger than all that is the witch hunt that is forming amongst our enemies and I can tell you let things slide, which has led to the current mess. You let a fashion journalist, a negro cop, a mild mannered functionary and a home brewing drug dealer who works for a pornographer get the better of you. Stop me if I say anything that isn't true, by the way."
Geoffrey said nothing.
"I've come up with a plan that will save the company and protect the family. I will not see Nancy and Malcolm out on the streets in poverty or being humiliated."
"But as for me..."
"As for you, someone has to take the fall. There's no other way. It has to be someone prominent and close to the top, if not the top. It has to be you"
"What's your plan for me? I get arrested and go to prison for the rest of my life?"
Mal shook his head. "Not the rest of your life. Plead guilty to the fraud, blame the murder attempts on some fictitious flunky who doesn't exist but who we'll say has fled the country and Malcolm does community service for his part in the drug dealing. As you said, you have top lawyers: We can get that sentence down from life to 20, I'll make sure you are sent to an open prison and you'll be out in 7 to 10 with a very handsome renumeration for your loyalty and dedication to the family."
"That's it? That's the deal?" exclaimed Geoffrey. "I'm paying for the mistakes of others here!"
"Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown, Geoffrey. You nearly cost us the kingdom: In less enlightened times they'd cut your head off for treason. You're lucky: Take the hit, bide your time and you'll be out to enjoy retirement."
