Regan's Reach (39 page)

The clear sound of an old iphone ring
started up from the benches causing Senators to look around. The Vice President
stayed very still.

"Aren't you going to answer it, Mr.
Vice President?"

The Senator sitting beside the Vice
President gestured at Walker’s pocket pointedly.

*

In the Oval Office Sarah Allen and Anne
Marshall sat watching the drama unfolding.

"Oh fuck me!" The president yelled,
slamming her hand down on the table, "He's killed us!"

*

Regan kept her eyes fixed on the shriveling
man. "Sir, you have abused the trust of a great President, you have
sullied the name of a great US company as well as my own company and myself,
and you have damaged the reputation of a great nation. You have orchestrated the
detention of my dear friend and you, sir, are contemptible!"

*

"Make the call Marcus." Kevin
paced nervously, wanting this settled as soon as possible.

Bill Thomas nodded agreement from the large
screen, "I agree Marcus, and they've had enough time. If they haven't
followed through I want to fry the bastards!" At home at The Lodge he wasn't
going to miss this.

Marcus wasted no time, fastcalling Barbara
at the office. He waited while Barbara checked for email confirmation and for a
moment he looked uncharacteristically serious. He then turned back with a grin,
"It's done," he reported. "They saw the light."

There was no celebration; in fact Bill
Thomas looked suddenly tired, as if events had finally caught up with him. "I
need to get back to my group," he said, "Can I tell them everything
is as agreed?"

Marcus smiled, "Exactly Bill, shares
have been transferred in proportion to our respective holdings. That means, I
guess, that Regan is now in partnership with you and the US Government fifty-fifty.
Price is the market price as of closing time Friday and payment has been
deferred twelve months."

"I feel a little uncomfortable with
this," said Kevin, "A lot of people lost money on those shares when
they sold out."

"Toughen up Kevin," Bill counseled.
"I thought about that too, but I don't feel so bad. My group and I rode
this down to the bottom, that's loyalty. As a board we kept telling people this
was all bullshit and even though we were the ones in the know they chose to
believe the McCall's of this world. Regan believed in what we were doing and
she risked her money to save the company, you too Marcus. And someone in the
Government was trying to play spoiler to Walkers’ antics too. No, I'm sad some
lost some money, but they did get sales for their shares and we had nothing to
do with their decision, that's life. The company is now in the best hands so don't
lose any sleep over it Kevin, take my word for it. Life's too short."

"Before you go Bill, where do we go
from here do you think?"

"Kevin, we're looking forward to
working with you. Who would have thought Regan would come back with technology
like we're seeing now. I'm getting too old for this, but the future is in the right
hands. As for the shares, I'd say we hang on for six months then decide. Maybe
we trickle twenty percent back into the market, it'll bring in billions more
than we've paid. Give my regards to Regan when you see her will you, I'll be in
touch." The screen blanked.

Kevin and Marcus sank back into their
chairs, both letting out long stressed but satisfied sighs.

Kevin spoke first. "Point one percent."

"I beg your pardon?" Marcus
looked up.

"Regan said to tell you that's how
much you'll get. It's the brokerage fee she'll pay you personally on the deal,
on top of your normal legal fees. That's got to be twenty million so I guess
lunch is on you, my friend."

*

Regan watched the greeting between Mary and
Kevin on the Riverside rooftop with interest. It was . . . restrained . . .
warm.
Very suspicious,
she thought. As she and Marin walked away to the
exit she could tell the two were deliberately lagging behind.

Ham couldn't resist eaves dropping. [She's
offering chubby sex.]

[Really?]

[She's quite an affectionate girl you know,
calls me Hamster.]

[You are so NOT a Hamster!]

Regan smiled,
Kevin and Mary, hmm, so
they've got a thing going, now there's a nice surprise
.

They stepped down from her rooftop garden and
into the apartment, cheers from the assembled partiers quickly breaking out
around the room. Steph, Kutch, Mitch, Hayden, Marcus, they were all there and a
huge group of others that she didn't know.

Oh, where do we go from here?
She entered the fray.

*

Mt Inaccessible, South Island, New Zealand

The Pod floated to one side, shielding them
from the cool night wind. In silent reflection for some time, it was as if each
member of the group were off in their own worlds.

Lying on her back Regan was staring up at
the stars.

[They look so different from here Ham.] Although
happy to be here, still, she longed to be there.

[They're ok, but for me too much twinkle.]
Ham replied.

[Yeah, but it's still beautiful, and now
they really feel within reach.] She held out her hands to frame a collection,
like a picture, and drifted away again.

Marin reached across and took one hand in
his, stealing her attention.

She looked across at him fondly.

"I know your Dad died in these
mountains too Marin, I'm so sorry about that, it must have been terrible."

"Honestly, it doesn't seem so bad
anymore." He squeezed her hand then released it, moving to trace his own
star picture.

"So, what are your plans now Sis,
where do we go from here?" Kevin asked.

She considered the question, one hand
nervously caressing her belly. She lifted the other as if reaching into the
sky.

"We're going to build an orbital."

*

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