Transparency by Charles Royce (children's books read aloud txt) 📕

“So let me get this straight,” Josh says. “West sold a chunk of his company to outside investors, who buy up companies like Élan to not only reap the benefits of profit sharing but also to further their own agenda.”

“Uh-huh. Companies that give them access to what they ultimately want. The profit sharing is a bonus.”

“And to further their own agenda, these foreign investors then infiltrated their own people within Élan. You’re saying there are actual people masquerading as Élan staff, people who took over the board and are now making decisions in their best interest, regardless of what James West feels is right for the company?”

“Right. Keep going.”

“Now you think the company board, who call themselves CAAD, is now pushing West out to further a more sinister agenda.”

“Yes.”

“Man! Who are they? I mean, to go through all that, they sound like some sort of terrorists from some country that absolutely hates us.”

“Classified.”

“That’s fuc—sorry, that’s freaking scary as heck.” Josh wipes the sweat from his brow.

“The truth is we only have a bird’s-eye view of their plan. We don’t know the names or locations of the key players, the foreign investors West is working with, or their motivations. That’s why we need your help.”

“Why me? Why not go to West?”

“We don’t want to spook them. He’s loyal to these investors. My guess is they have something on him. Either that, or he’s a twit. From what we know of West, he’s not the sharpest tool in the shed.”

“True.”

“When West brought in this foreign entity, he was instantly in over his head. He did what he always does. The West Way. He hired the best, let them do their thing. He culled some of his own executives from different parts of Élan to join CAAD; I’m not sure why. Deniable culpability is what I’m guessing.”

“I don’t know anyone in CAAD.”

“I bet you do.”

“You think?”

She throws him an are you kidding me glance—tilted head, tilted lip pucker. “Apparently, after West and all his recruits started working heavily with CAAD, the whole exercise turned into some sort of paranoia perestroika. The investors didn’t trust West, West didn’t trust the investors. West thought his employees were working directly with the investor-placed members of CAAD, CAAD thought its members were working with West. Why else do you think all his employees were being watched?”

“I thought it was because of the Pub Wars.”

“You still think this is about magazine publishing? Pfft.”

“Then what’s it about? Ultimately?”

“Money. Power. Politics. Persuasion.”

“Jesus. So we need to figure out who’s in this CAAD? That’s all you need my help with, right?”

Agent Pillsbury nods. “We’ve started a list. So far we have about eight people, possibly nine. We think it goes much deeper.”

“But that’s just the Élan folks, right? I mean, we need to figure out who’s running it, who the masqueraders are, the ones wanting to push West out.”

“Exactly.” She points her spoon at him.

“That’s why you need me to infiltrate.”

“Yessir.”

“Where do they meet?”

“CAAD? They meet in some weird part of the building, in a se—”

“The secret floor. I knew it!” Josh drumbeats his hands on the table.

“You still have access to this floor, correct? Is that what the key is for, the one I keep hearing about from Shawn, the one with the lights?”

“Yes, the key is actually the SSD, but there’s no way I can access that floor without getting caught. Once you swipe it, it logs you into a computer onsite. They’d know it was me.”

“You have to get in there. West is already at the new building, correct?”

“Yes.”

“You’re still working at the old one.”

“Yes.”

“When are you talking with West?”

“As far into the future as I can.”

“No.”

“Excuse me?”

“Talk to him as soon as you move into the new building.”

Josh takes a deep breath. “I can commit to that. That’ll give me at least a week to settle back in.”

“Okay, here’s what you’re going to do.”

“Do I get to wear a wire?”

“Ha! We’re not at that stage. Yet.” She puts her empty cup down. “Before we keep talking, I’m going downstairs for another yogurt—chocolate, I’m thinking. You sure you don’t want one?”

“I’m sure.”

C h a p t e r   4 0

HAYLEE PUTS HER pint of chocolate-fudge ice cream back in the freezer. She licks her spoon, tosses it in the sink.

Shawn notices. “Morning cravings?”

“Yeah, but it wasn’t even that good,” Haylee says. “I can’t tell what I’m hungry for anymore.”

Shawn puts his iPad in his briefcase, drinks the last sip of his coffee. “I’m off to work.”

“Going to see Jenna again?”

“Not today, just some normal catch-up stuff at the office.”

“How is Jenna doing, by the way?” Haylee maneuvers her growing belly underneath the counter as she sits down on a barstool.

“Not very good. Josh still hasn’t come to see her, even after we all FaceTimed the other day.” He washes out the coffee cup, talking a little louder to compensate for the faucet. “It’s pretty special the bond they have, I can’t understand why Josh won’t go see her. You think he thinks Jenna is guilty?”

“I don’t know, honey. You think she’s guilty.”

“No, I don’t,” Shawn says, puts his coffee cup on the drying rack. “Well, let’s just say I’m coming around.”

“Speaking of bonding, I emailed with Micah today. He’s taking some detours before Corsica; I think he’s in Paris right now.”

“You love Paris. How’s he doing?”

“Great, he says. He asked me to check on his condo. So this afternoon I’m gonna head over to the Garfield Building, make sure everything’s okay, meet the broker, see if we can get it listed on MLS.”

“That’s very sweet of you, my love.” He puckers his lips.

Her lips meet his. “That’s some good shit, Mr. Connelly.”

“Careful, that’s how we got in this predicament to begin with.” He points to her belly, then heads toward the front door.

She looks at his flat butt in his wool slacks. “I do like to watch you go.”

“This thing?” He shakes his ass, closes the door.

C h a p