Brad responded, “I will call Karel Schneiderman and get back to you Lyle.”
“I have a three o’clock meeting with Carr, Brad, how much should I tell him? He already suspects that it was you who contacted Bangkok and assured them that this thing would be handled here.”
Coleman could hear the apprehension in Ramsey’s voice. “Keep the lid on as much as possible, Lyle. Tell Carr that we know who the intruder was and that he has been neutralized; tell him we are uncertain what the damage may be at this time. I’ll call Schneiderman and the Bangkok office as well and tell them that.”
Lyle entered Carr’s office promptly at 3:00 PM a sheaf of papers in his hand with rough notes.
“Sit down, Lyle,” Carr said somberly. “What do you have for me,” he asked glancing at the papers in Ramsey’s hand.
Lyle was prepared—“I have nothing in writing for you, Harrison; just some notes covering the items of your concern. Where would you like me to begin?”
“Let’s start at the beginning, Lyle.”
“Very well,” Lyle answered, “You recall, Harrison, the day I was called away from the partners’ meeting, I told you the next morning that something had come up that was somewhat risky. I had been approached by our Department of Defense representative for help with a problem. I was told there was a person with stolen GCI information who had escaped our Bangkok security by freighter and would be arriving in Seattle. The information this person had stolen could conceivably cause GCI and Ramsey & Carr a great deal of difficulty.
“The assignment was presented to me in an oblique and confidential manner as a way of protecting Ramsey and Carr and me individually as well as our contacts in the Department of Defense.
“The intruder was to be neutralized and it was done. Today our DOD contact is notifying Schneiderman and the Bangkok office giving them closure on the intruder. At the moment I know nothing more about this matter.”
Harrison Carr leaned back in his chair, “Thank you for your report, Lyle. I will follow up with Schneiderman as well; as a GCI board member, it is my responsibility to do so.
“I have one or two other questions for you; you were visited earlier by Seattle Police Detective James Savalza and Andrew Kincaid from the Seattle Times. Would you like to tell me why they were here?”
“No, Harrison, not at this time…,” Ramsey said impatiently.
Carr persisted, “My secretary overheard Kincaid say he would be calling about an interview regarding GCI and that you should talk it over with me…”
Looking at Carr, Lyle’s blue eyes flashed in anger. Taking a deep breath before responding he said, “I am not prepared to give an interview to Andrew Kincaid or anyone else about GCI without first discussing it with you, Harrison, and I haven’t time to do that right now. “I don’t mean to be rude, Harrison, while I appreciate your zealous safeguarding of our firm’s business ventures, at the moment I am unwilling to discuss this further.”
“You’re right, Lyle,” Carr was seemingly contrite. “I forgot the role I play here for a moment; I’ll see you in your office for our drink about 4:30 or 5:00.”
Ramsey returned to his office angry over his confrontation with his father’s long time partner. He felt like a chastised child. And yet Harrison Carr held the trump cards in Ramsey’s association with GCI.
At 4:30 PM the receptionist at Ramsey & Carr was gathering her coat and purse preparing to leave for the day. On his way to Ramsey’s office, Carr passed Connie Porter on her way out as well. Pausing for a moment he asked pleasantly, “Are you on an errand for Lyle or are you leaving for the day, Miss Porter?”
“Yes, Mr. Carr, I am combining an errand for Mr. Ramsey and leaving a little early. I have some shopping to do and Mr. Ramsey said it would be all right not to return to the office. Is there something you needed?”
“No, no,” he said with a fatherly smile, patting her shoulder. “I was going to suggest that you play hooky the rest of the day and we’ll see you on Monday.”
Connie relaxed, she admired Harrison Carr and often times would do some little favor for him if his secretary was busy. “I see you’re on your way to Mr. Ramsey’s office for your Friday get together,” she smiled.
“That’s right, Connie, now you have a good weekend.”
Ramsey watched the old man enter his office. Though he was less angry than earlier he had not recovered entirely from Carr’s high-handed manner.
Lyle went to the bar and poured Scotch over ice in two crystal glasses; handing one to Carr, he returned to his desk, drink in hand, as Harrison settled in a chair across from him.
Raising his glass Carr lamented, “It’s been a hard day, Lyle; I want you to know that what I’m about to say is not personal.”
Finishing his drink and placing the glass on the desk, he calmly continued, “I’ve given this awkward situation a great deal of thought today, Lyle, and it seems to me as a director on the board of GCI that it is in the best interests of the corporation and of the firm as well, that you tender your resignation as a contract officer for GCI,” head nodding his assertion and his eyes narrowing as they met Lyle’s.
Ramsey was stunned. “I don’t know what to say, Harrison; although it’s clear that you have the final word in this matter, have you talked this over with Schneiderman?”
“Schneiderman agrees that your withdrawal is for the best.”
“What do you suggest I do, Harrison? I’m responsible for all those contracts… who… how should I…?” Ramsey fumbled.
Carr interrupted Ramsey’s question, “Lyle, I would like to dictate a personal letter written by you to me; I will send a copy to Schneiderman. It should be handwritten and brief.”
Still unbelieving, Ramsey numbed by surprise acquiesced to Carr’s press, taking stationery from his desk drawer, “Go ahead, Harrison,” he said in a dull voice.
Carr started, “Dear Harrison; I find myself in a situation which I am unable to resolve without scandalizing the firm of Ramsey and Carr. In my role as contract officer for our client GCI, I have made some serious errors in judgment…”
Lyle laid down the pen, “I can’t write this Harrison.”
“Yes, you can—believe me, this is for the best,” Carr insisted. “As difficult as it may be for you, Lyle, perhaps you should know that I am aware that the Bangkok break-in has led to some criminal activities whose repercussions will affect this firm.
“I’m no fool; I know that this morning’s visit by the Seattle Police Detective and the newspaperman, Andrew Kincaid is very much in response to these activities. I am determined to remove you as far as possible from GCI.”
Lyle thought for a moment then shaking his head in shocked silence once again picked up the pen.
Carr continued his dictation, “I realize this is a less than perfect way out, but I see no other way to protect you and the firm than to remove myself from the equation—I am sorry. Sincerely, Lyle.”
Harrison said, “Now sign it Lyle and I will copy it for Schneiderman.”
As Lyle scratched his signature, Carr quickly rose and stepped to the side of Lyle’s chair, a small revolver in his hand he fired into Ramsey’s temple. Wiping the gun clean of his fingerprints he forced it into Ramsey’s dead hand leaving him slumped across his desk, the ‘suicide’ note under his hand.
Harrison looked sadly at Ramsey’s form and looking at the portrait he said, “It had to be done, Lyle… for the good of the firm.”
8:30 PM
The cleaning crew methodically worked their way through the Ramsey & Carr offices; as one of the team opened the door of Lyle Ramsey’s office he yelled, “Hey better call 9-1-1 there’s a guy here and it looks like he’s dead.”