Chapter 21 — Escape
Everyday Frank waited in his office for the summons from the SEC. Al Crossman told him it might not be an official summons, but a letter informing him that he was the target of an SEC investigation. Al told him that was the next best thing to an actual summons. Frank tried to forget about it. It wasn't easy and his decision to tell Trudy about it was causing him some serious doubts. Trudy fretted over it more even more than he did.
Frank found out that Floyd was taking his vacation, and that meant no eye-opening coffee first thing in the morning. That was hard to get used to, too. He was doubly glad when he heard Jeannette arriving.
The forecast was complete. Aaron had done a good job putting it together and he was helping Blake prepare the proposal for the plant refurbishments in Bayonne and Texas City. Frank scheduled a presentation to Alvin and the Board. He had press releases ready and then they'd have the conference calls with the Wall Street boys. Frank figured to use them as a springboard to finalizing his financing package for the R&D program. So, as Frank sat back sipping on the coffee that Jeannette finally placed in front of him, it seemed that Nadine Persky's hubris was having little effect on Western Chemical at that moment in time.
Agent Henderson surprised Frank when he stuck his head into the office.
"Got a minute?" he asked Frank.
"I didn't know you guys were back," Frank said as he motioned him to a chair. "Coffee?"
Henderson took a chair across the desk from Frank but declined the coffee offer. "It's just me today," he told Frank, "and I won't be here that long. I just came by to ask you a few questions."
"Go for it," Frank replied.
"Does the name 'Trans-Atlantic Partners' mean anything to you?" Henderson asked.
"Not a thing. What is it?"
"I followed up on the lead you gave me—that big block trade of Western Stock," Henderson explained.
"I forgot all about it," Frank said. "It seems like a long time ago."
"It took some doing to get the information," Henderson said. "I'm not even all the way to the bottom, yet. It may turn out that the lead you gave me might be a good one."
"I'm listening," Frank said.
"The outfit I just mentioned is a Swiss partnership. It was that entity that made the trade on that block of stock through an attorney in New York."
"So, who are the partners?"
"That's what I don't know—yet, anyway," Henderson said. "The New York lawyer's not talking and you know about Swiss secrecy laws. It's not quite like it used to be, but that information doesn't come forth very easy. We've had to go through our embassy over there to request it."
"For all we know, it could have been a legit trade," Frank said. "But, I've got this feeling about it that won't go away."
"All I know is that it's worth finding out," Henderson said. "So, you confirm that you don't know anything about this partnership? What about the other officers?"
"Not that I know of," Frank said. "They have to fill out disclosure forms each year. I could get them for you. I don't remember everything on them."
"We've already got copies of them," Henderson said. "What about outside directors?"
"They fill out the same forms."
"Whoever it is, they're obviously trying to get the money offshore."
"Mueller?" Frank mused to himself.
"Who's that?" Henderson demanded. "Don't you have a director by that name?"
"Yeah, he's a German bank president."
"That could be just the connection," Henderson said. "Foreign partnership; access to banking; right next door to Switzerland."
"I don't know..." Frank began.
"We've got to check him out."
"It would be against Mueller's interest to do something to drive up the stock price," Frank explained. "He'd just disclosed that he was trying to buy up shares on the cheap to try to take control of the company."
"Can't sort that out now; he's got to be checked out. It might be a smokescreen—who knows?"
"You can't do anything until you've got the principals' identities, can you?"
"No, not really. It's anyone's guess when they might come through."
"Then, there's no point in getting Mueller hot-and-bothered right now," Frank said. He paused for a second. "Did you get that other information I sent over to you?"
"Yes," Henderson answered. "That's pretty cut and dried. It has to be a big personal disappointment."
"It is," Frank answered. He looked away from Henderson—out the window—and then turned back to face him. "The facts speak; I can't change them. When are you gonna do what you've gotta do?"
"We could act on it right away," Henderson replied. "It might be a good idea to hold off for a little while. We can see what other mischief they might be up to—make sure that we've got the whole scheme uncovered. They're not going anywhere."
"I suppose so," Frank sighed.
"These insider cases are never easy. Something like this always happens," Henderson said. "Like you said, 'the facts speak'."
"I'd just like to get it over with," Frank admitted.
"If this Swiss thing turns into something, it looks like it will be over soon," Henderson acknowledged. "We'll have both ends of the package tied up."
***************
Brenda parked her car in the driveway at Gloria's house. Her mentor sounded agitated on the phone. She assumed it was because she'd delayed a few days to check in after returning from Austin where she met up with Alvin. Brenda, herself, wondered why she hadn't reported to Gloria like the good soldier that she usually was. There was an uneasy feeling inside her.
Juana opened the door before she had a chance to ring the bell. She must have seen the car approaching in the long lane that led to the highway. Brenda thought that Juana looked dour. She'd never really hit it off with Gloria's maid—not that it was important to her. Juana's moods were handy, however, in gauging Gloria's moods and giving her some advance warning when she needed it. This looked like one of those days when she would need it.
"Dee Señora is on dee veranda," Juana said and led Brenda to the large French doors and opened them. "Señora, ees Señora Hart," she announced.
"I know who it is," Gloria sneered. "Don't you think I can recognize my own friends?"
Juana said nothing; she bowed her head and retreated to the safety of the house. Brenda approached the round patio table where Gloria sat glowering at her.
"Were you waiting for me to beg you to come over?" Gloria taunted. "Were you expecting an engraved invitation?"
