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 The Whistleblower's Mistake Terry Orr is retained to prevent a 10-year-old boy from murdering the man he believes is his father, an executive at a multi-national pharmaceutical company with secrets. "We consider this highly credible intelligence." He frowned. "I don't—" "He's coming to kill you," I repeated. "Your son." His title, Chief Financial Officer, required a handsome suite that overlooked leafy Union Square, but he was in his early thirties and slight, and everything seemed to dwarf him including his bold club tie and charcoal-gray suit. "My son is five years old." He gave me the framed photo that had been on the black-cherry credenza alongside his diploma and a plaque that featured his name, a mortar-and-pestle logo and a tribute in German. I looked at the happy family: stocky blonde wife; what appeared to be twin girls; and a beaming boy who shared his father's olive skin. The boy's front teeth were gone. "Not this son," I said. "The one who doesn't turn up in the family album. Goes by the name Derek King. Remember? You and Maxine King, about 11 years ago... Ms. King was a secretary at Brown Brothers Harriman, studied law at night..." "Eleven years ago, I was in Frankfurt," he said firmly. "We were just bought by Zukunftige. I was Assistant Comptroller, and they sent me to Germany to learn policies and procedures. That's where I met my wife Raina." "Where does Maxine King fit in?" "There was no Maxine King, and no one else," he said, taking back the photo. "No one but Raina." I sat back in the club chair and undid the knot in my tie. "You're not kidding, are you?" I said. "No, and I don't know how much more time I can give you." He tugged a French cuff to look at his watch. "Our analysts' meeting is tomorrow and I've-" "Mr. Nori," I said, "Derek King is coming to kill you. Today." "You're saying a ten-year-old is going to kill me?" "Oh yeah." I snapped my fingers. "Like that." Available on Amazon Shorts at www.amazon.com. Published in Spring 2006 All stories © Jim Fusilli 2005. Reprinted with permission. For permission to reprint, contact the author at jimfusillibooks@aol.com. |