Perfect Match (41 page)

“I’ll take it. How much you charge me a month until I get my
place renovated?”

She shook her head.

“Roscoe, I live in a mixed neighborhood. It’s pretty rough
out there sometimes. I’m black in case you’ve forgotten.”

“Doesn’t bother me. Since you have a heart of gold, I
haven’t noticed your color.”

“I don’t know what medications had these side effects on
you, but you’re really a changed man.”

After studying his business plan another hour or so, he was
about to dim the lights in his room, when he heard short clipped steps
approaching his door. He looked up, as Edna Fallington entered, and approached
his bed. “And how is my grandson tonight?”

Surprised, he was speechless for a long moment, although he
was smiling. “Better since my G-ma is here. What brings you?”

“I thought it was time to check on you again, after the
phone call I got from Dr. Stillwell.”

Roscoe kept silent.

“Said you should be complimented for doing a good deed?”

“Well, I’ve been awfully nice to the nurses. That’s the
height of my goodness that I can recall.”

“D.R., I know there’s more to his comment than that.”

Roscoe inhaled. “First off I’ve decided to go by Roscoe from
here on. No more D.R.”

Edna thought through that. “Okay. I’ve always liked the name
Roscoe.” Her voice was peaceful.

He asked, “During all my time growing up, do you ever
remember me asking you to keep a secret?”

Edna laughed. “Never. You were always proud of every little
mischievous thing you did. Never asked to hide anything. Why?”

“I’m asking you now to keep a secret. I don’t know what
Stillwell said to you, and I’m not going to ask. I’m asking you to keep secret
whatever he said or suggested, and don’t ask me to elaborate. Will you do that
for me, just this once?”

She considered his request a long two minutes. “As one
Fallington to another, yes I will honor your request. So when are you getting
out and do you need anything?”

“I’m fine and will probably get released in a couple of
days, and don’t need anything.”

She let a few moments pass. A volunteer rolled a squeaking
cart down the hall.

“Your attitude seemed less hostile last time I visited you,
but are you angry with me for firing you?”

Roscoe smiled at his grandmother. “Not one bit. I deserved
it long time ago. I was irresponsible.” He paused a moment looking toward the
ceiling, then back at her. “I’ve had time to do a lot of thinking. You couldn’t
have been a better grandmother. I don’t know how you held everything together,
including trying to look after Rodney and me. I really admire you,
Grandmother.”

“You’re kind to say that. I know you boys had it rough.”

She paused.

“Do you hold any resentment toward Madison?”

“Not at all. I wish her the best. I was impressed by her
TV-interview a few weeks back, and the news article on her. She was
quite…stunning…on TV.”

“She’s about your age. What didn’t you like about her?”

“It wasn’t her, it was me. I mistreated her for no reason. I
wish I’d had sense enough to get to know her. To think that she worked there
for three years, and I can’t tell you anything about her is beyond me. But I
can’t tell you much about most of the people I’ve met through the years.” He
thought a moment. “At some point, I hope I can apologize to Madison.”

Silence held the room, as Edna pondered.

“She’s a highly intelligent and beautiful woman.”

Roscoe nodded.

Madison’s flight landed just before midnight in Atlanta, but
the connecting flight to Asheville had already left. Cold Steel Security
quickly contracted a private jet.

It was 2:00 a.m. Thursday morning before Madison got to
Cobalt, accompanied by Mee, to visit Selena. She was asleep. Madison stood
quietly by her bed for a few minutes, before leaving a note for her.

The night charge nurse gave Madison a full report to bring
her up to date on the excellent recovery that Selena was making, so far.
Madison was so thankful, so very, very thankful, but she kept her emotions in
check.

She fell asleep in her own bed at 3:41 a.m. Her security
team would remain on duty for another 24-36 hours until all of their sources
had verified the status of her visit to Hong Kong. They would continue to
gather follow-up intelligence on the Chinese parties she’d met with. In
addition there would be feedback from unseen Cold Steel security personnel
who’d been present in Asheville while Madison was in travel. All of this was
part of their premier security services, but expensive.

7:30 a.m., Thursday,
Asheville

Sleep deprived, but excited to be home, Madison called
Janice to setup a meeting with Edna and Rodney at 9:30 a.m. While the Hong Kong
trip was fresh in her thoughts, she wanted to complete that report, try to have
a “normal” work schedule for a few days, and spend some time with Selena.

After her shower, she donned a summer-weight teal blouse,
khaki skirt, and small scarf with a swirl of bright florals. Her hair was shiny
after a good shampoo.

Her Cavalier sputtered into work, reminding her that it
needed to be serviced. Lucky the Cold Steel security team was following in
their SUV. They would also be part of the meeting this morning.

Janice had setup coffee and Danish, fresh fruit with a
selection of yogurt and local home-made fruit preserves. On their 14-hour
flight to Atlanta, Madison had put together her agenda, and loaded her phone
with texts and calls that had lit up mailboxes and voicemail throughout
Fallington Enterprises. A few employees were almost afraid to check their
messages, knowing that Madison was usually ahead of the next curve or had
assigned another “to do” item.

The meeting lasted until 11:30 a.m.

Madison said, as she glanced at her notes, “I believe that
about covers everything. Any other questions?”

Heads were shaking, when Edna said, “Do we know the status
of the Chinese parties involved?”

Madison tilted her head toward Zhong.

“We tailed Zhi Wang and Jia Song after the negotiations.
They were met by four individuals at their flight back to China province. We’re
pretty sure these individuals were dispatched by the “authorities” as Zhi would
have had to answer to them.

“When our sources in China contacted the factory, they were
told Zhi and Jia were no longer involved with the state-subsidized company. We
don’t know anything further at this time.”

Edna shook her head, and looked at Rodney. “But you’re sure
the recovered money has been received into Fallington’s account?”

Rodney nodded. “It is a reconciled deposit.” He smiled at
Madison.

Madison said, “A word of praise for Cold Steel. Their roles
in negotiations and everything else was flawless.” She chuckled. “They were so
authentic at the table, I’d hire them, but we probably couldn’t afford them.”

The Cold Steel threesome laughed, and Zhong added, “We’d
better stick to security work. I think it’s easier than your job as CEO.

When the meeting ended, Edna remained in the room with
Madison. Edna asked, “How did our office personnel in Hong Kong respond to D.R.
being replaced by you?”

“They were elated. Umm…D.R. had…cut deals on the side with
Zhi and Jia for so long, leaving our employees out of the loop. They’d lost
their power to negotiate. Now that the playing field has been leveled, they’ll
be able to start fresh with whoever the supplier’s representatives are in the
future. We have some very good people in our Hong Kong office. And of course
I’ll remain on top of the operation.”

Edna looked pleased. “You know you’ve earned a big raise.”

“Haven’t had time to think about it.”

“I have, and I’m going to bump you up another $50,000 per
year, effective next month.”

“Oh, Edna, don’t ruin me with money.”

“Knowing you, Madison, you won’t let that happen.” Edna
paused. “But there is one mandate that I want you to take care of within the
next week.”

Madison’s eyebrows shot up.

“Don’t drive that raggedy Cavalier to work anymore. Other
tenants in the building have complained that it’s giving the building a bad
reputation.”

They both laughed.

Edna continued, “You are to go to the Buick dealer and
select a color and style of your choice. Pick something comfortable like a
LaCrosse or other model. It will be a company car.”

“It’s a car? I thought lacrosse was a game.”

Edna chuckled. “And that’s another complaint I’ve gotten.
Some of the employees, from all offices, are beginning to think you are
socially undernourished.”

Eyes wide, she said, “I beg your pardon?”

“Some are beginning to wonder if you have a social life.
They’ve noticed the time dates on your emails and texts are at all hours of the
night.”

Madison slumped slightly in her chair. “There’s been so much
to repair.”

“I know, but it’s time for you to begin pulling back.”

Madison nodded. “I promise, especially since Selena just
received a kidney transplant.”

“But remember, you must also do some things just for
yourself.”

“True, true. Maybe when I go to meet with our California
staff, I can catch up with Zhong Gao.”

“I noticed he had eyes for you, but he’s not the guy for
you.”

Madison grew frustrated, running her hand through her hair.
“First you tell me I need to socialize, then you tell me he’s the wrong guy.”

Edna smiled. “He loves his work too much.”

“Well, then who is your right-guy suggestion?”

“I don’t have a specific suggestion, but sometimes the right
man is closer than you think.” There was a twinkle in her eyes.

Edmond Mills slammed his paper stapler across the room,
shattering a commemorative mirror over a small credenza in his office. Mrs. Sizemore,
his administrative assistant, shrank back in her chair. Mills had been the
turn-around hospital administrator for the past five years at Cobalt Medical
Center. He’d scribbled a list of names on a piece of paper, shoving them in her
face.

His face red, his voice quivering, he said, “I want each
individual summoned to the staff room for a mandatory meeting at 5 p.m. Anyone
who does not attend will be put on administrative leave without pay. I don’t
care if they’re on vacation or sick or what else, they are to be at that
meeting. Use as many people as you need to contact them. Understood?”

Sizemore left the room in a flutter, holding her hand over
her chest.

When 5 p.m. arrived, both surgical teams involved in
Selena’s kidney transplant were seated in the first four rows of chairs. The
room was used for top-level meetings, and would hold over two hundred. When
Mills had gotten wind of the transplant, he combed records and papers to
identify everyone involved. Recovery room staff and the hospital technicians
were in attendance, including their supervisors.

Trevor Drake slipped into a chair at the last minute.

Mills was seated at a sixteen-foot conference table in front
of the room on a one-foot raised platform. He was flanked by four hospital
attorneys. Mills stood behind the table in the center as he addressed the
group.

His thin hair was slicked back, and still looked wet. He
glared behind glasses too large for his small red face. His cuff links gave an
expensive gleam in the lights, but his fluorescent green suit clashed with his
complexion.

He wasted no time getting to the point. “There is a huge
amount of intelligence in this room, but you have committed one of the most
ignorant, dumbest, and unforgiveable offenses imaginable. You have breached the
most sacred protocols and ethics in health care. Our attorneys are also
researching possible violations that qualify in the criminal realm.”

The attorneys nodded vigorously.

He droned on another twenty minutes, hinting at the morbid
consequences that would surely fall. “And further more—”

A hand shot up, startling him. “Yes, do you have a
question?”

“I have some questions, but first I want to make a
statement.”

“No! Absolutely not. This meeting was not called for
discussion purposes. The damage has been done. There’s nothing to discuss. Who
are you?”

The figure stepped out in the aisle. “My name is Trevor
Drake.” He walked toward the stage.

Mills snapped, “Don’t come any closer. I will not let you
disrupt this meeting.” Trevor kept moving.

One attorney nudged Mills on the elbow, motioning, and they
were quickly in a muffled huddle. The lead attorney asked, “Isn’t he the
technician behind the lab work in this case?”

“Yes, he’s the guilty one.”

The lead attorney chortled softly, “Anyone foolish enough to
challenge you in this meeting will probably shoot himself in the foot,
implicating himself even more. Perhaps you should let him speak under the guise
of due process.” The other attorneys snickered.

Mills turned back to Trevor, who was standing at the edge of
the front row. “Perhaps I was a bit hasty, Trevor. Yes, we would like to hear
your comments and questions, if respectful.”

Trevor cleared his throat. “I’m Trevor Drake, the BMET on
backup during the transplant. For the past twenty minutes you’ve lambasted this
fine group of professionals. They don’t deserve it.

“I’m in and out of all the operating rooms on a regular
basis, fixing broken equipment. What I observed the other night was
professional and precision work by both surgical teams. No one violated or breached
any of the so called highest standards. Neither of these teams did anything
that jeopardized or compromised the patient. It was their team work on a very
stormy night that saved the life of Selena Sanchez. Without these two teams,
Selena probably would not be living.