The Prodigal Sun: A Novel Page 6

  “I am so sorry, monsieur. Mr. Whitehouse is not taking audience with anyone this evening. You come back, um, tomorrow?” By the tone in his voice he was not asking the question, but making a statement.

  “Will you please tell him that Mr. Adam Schultz and Mr. Brent Wentworth are here to see him,” said Adam in a frosty tone.

  “I am so sorry monsieur; Mr. Whitehouse has only just arrived from traveling tout de jour, um all day you see? He will not be disturbed. You can call his office in the morning and make an appointment. Bon soir.” The pair could tell by the level of irritation and tone in the Frenchman’s voice that his ‘Bon Soir’ or ‘good night’ was not to be taken literally and would be the last words he was going to say to them. Without another word Adam raised his arm up above the roof of the car and clenched his fist into a tight ball. There was a faint blue flash and the gate began to slowly swing on its tracks. Once the gate was fully open, the black Mercedes continued up the driveway to the front of Jacob Whitehouse’s New York mansion.

  Adam got out of the car. He was a tall thin man with graying blond hair and piercing blue eyes. Brent, slightly shorter, with an average build and jet-black hair, also exited the Mercedes and followed Adam up to the front door. Before Adam could knock, the door opened and a tall figure appeared.

  “You must leave at once, I am not sure how you got in here but the police have been notified of your intrusion and they are on their way,” warned the butler in a thick British accent. Adam and Brent ignored the tall gentleman as they pushed past him, entering through the large ten-foot high, solid oak double doors. The butler followed them in. “You can’t just walk in here! You are trespassing!”

  Adam turned around and made eye contact with the butler. Adam’s eyes seemed to glow with a faint electric blue light and the Butler’s shoulders dropped as he relaxed. “Bring Mr. Whitehouse to me immediately.” said Adam in a low chilling tone. The butlers face seemed to twist in pain and then his expression lightened as he smiled. “Right away Mr. Schultz” He quickly disappeared through a doorway and Adam smiled at Brent

  “You see I had a feeling he would change his mind.”

  Brent just nodded slightly and began to look around the entryway. It was a large foyer with polished marble floors that had the Whitehouse family crest in the center. The walls were at least twenty feet in height decorated with lavish paintings. There was a massive skylight in the ceiling, but only a few clouds reflecting the light of the moon were visible.

  Adam and Brent could hear Jacob coming down a distant hallway, his footsteps echoing throughout the house; breaking the silence. A few minutes later he appeared through the same doorway the butler had disappeared through moments before.

  “What is the meaning of this and who the hell do you think you are?” Mr. Whitehouse began to shout at the top of his lungs. He was in a purple silk robe that was slightly open in the front with nothing underneath. His gray hair was wet and pulled back away from his balding forehead. It looked like he had just been disturbed in the middle of a bath.

  “You!” screamed Jacob, now recognizing the two men. He stared at them and for a minute, struck dumb with anger. He finally spoke again after an awkward silence. “The police will be here any moment and believe me I will prosecute to the fullest extent of the law!”

  “You will do nothing of the sort my friend,” Adam said. His voice oozed out of him in calm icy tones. Jacob looked at him directly and their gaze locked. Jacob immediately relaxed and his expression changed as he stared into Adam’s frigid blue eyes. “Now pull yourself together and tuck yourself in.” He gestured toward the center of Jacob’s robe, which was now wide open. Jacob quickly refolded his robe around himself and tied it off with the matching silk fabric belt. “What you will do is tell the police that there was a mistake and that we are just old friends stopping by for a visit.” Adam finished with a smug smile on his face.

  Suddenly, there was a loud knock at the door.

  “I just had a great idea,” Jacob said.

  “Yes, and what would that be?” Adam raised an eyebrow but knew the answer that was coming.

  “I’m going to send the police home so I can have a nice visit with my friends.” Jacob put his arm around Brent and smiled. There was another loud bang on the door.

  “This is the police Mr. Whitehouse are you alright in there?”

  “Yes, yes, fine,” yelled Jacob as he shuffled towards the door. He opened it to find three police officers standing there. “Everything is just fine. Just a couple of old friends stopped by to say hello is all. There was a mistake you see. My butler thought they were trespassing.” He chuckled. “Can you believe that? I apologize for any inconvenience. False alarm is all. Have a good night now.”

  “You’re sure, Mr. Whitehouse, these gentlemen aren’t bothering you?” asked the police officer standing in the middle of the armed trio.

  “No, no, everything is fine, I assure you. Good night.” Jacob tried to close the door but the toe of one of the officer’s boots was just inside the doorjamb.

  “Do you mind if we come in and make sure everything is alright?” asked the officer holding the door open with his toe. He looked through the narrow opening at the two visitors. They gave the officer an uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach but everything appeared to be okay.

  “I assure you officers, everything is fine. Just a misunderstanding, that’s all.” Jacob pushed on the officer’s boot with his bare foot but it wouldn't budge. Finally the officer took a step back and Jacob closed the door all the way this time. He turned around to face his uninvited guests and once again made eye contact with Adam.

  “Well now Mr. Schultz, Mr. Wentworth, what can I do for you this evening?”

  “My dear friend Jacob,” replied Adam as he put his arm around Jacob’s shoulders and slowly led him away from the door as he continued, “I am so sorry we missed you this morning, we have just been so very busy with some new financing options and we just couldn’t make it. Adam said the word financing with an evil smile. His eyes flashed an electric blue for a second and his tone became soothing again. “You have a busy night ahead of you Jacob. First you will call your accountant and your lawyer to have them come visit you tonight. Brent and I will have a late dinner with you while we await their arrival.” Adam paced slowly around the room nonchalantly. “Then you will also call your board members and let them know that you will be making an announcement tonight that will need to be disclosed to Wall Street and London first thing in the morning.” Adam’s chilling tone continued as he laid out the rest of his plans for Jacob to follow.

  Dinner was set for the three of them at 7:00. Mr. Danbury and Mr. Goldstein arrived just as they were finishing their meal. They all reassembled in the study and after a few glasses of brandy had been poured Jacob Whitehouse cleared his throat. Adam stared closely at Jacob and he began to speak, a slight blue luminescence in his eyes.

  “I know this will come as a shock to you all but I will be donating one billion worth of my assets tonight to these two gentlemen, Mr. Schultz and Mr. Wentworth.”

  Immediately there was a chorus of rebuttals from Jacob’s accountant and his attorney.

  “Why would you donate such a fortune to these two men?” asked Mr. Goldstein.

  “Why should I have to defend myself? This is my money and I will do with it as I please. And I choose to donate it to these two men and their research.”

  “Yes, Mr. Whitehouse, it is your money, no-one is denying that. However, a deficit of this nature would bankrupt you. You’re talking about financial suicide here.” explained Mr. Danbury.

  “One billion is barely ten percent of my holdings. I highly doubt I will see bankruptcy in my lifetime.”

  “Exactly, your holdings, but one billion in cash would be impossible,” chuckled Mr. Goldstein. “We’re talking about liquid sir, liquid assets.”

  “You find something amusing Mr. Goldstein?” asked Adam, staring at the chubby banker. “You would be wise to just shut up
and listen.”

  “Yes sir, I just don’t see how it is possible.”

  “Who said anything about cash only?” asked Mr. Whitehouse, “no, there will be 50 million in cash deposited into two separate accounts; One for Mr. Schultz and another for Mr. Wentworth. That’s a total of one hundred million in cash. The balance will be given in equity as a majority-holding stake in Sky Capital and Whitehouse Pharmaceuticals. That should about do it I guess.”

  “Mr. Whitehouse this is unprecedented and I have to question the soundness of your mind,” said Mr. Goldstein. “You would no longer own or chair either of those companies; you’re giving away everything by doing this.”

  “Mr. Goldstein,” said Adam, firmly enough so that Mr. Goldstein would look at him. Their eyes met and Mr. Goldstein became much calmer as Adam continued speaking. “There is of course a provision that would allow you to be paid two percent of the closing deal as well as Mr. Danbury. That’s twenty million each for your trouble.” Adam’s words came out soft and soothing like a trickling brook. There was a short pause.

  “When would you like to close this transaction?” asked Mr. Goldstein with a new air of confidence and a trickle of greed in his eyes. Jacob stood up but held his gaze with Adam.

  “Tonight. Right now actually. You will have three hours to draw up the legal documents and meet me back here. We will sign everything tonight and then the money and stock will change hands at the opening bell. Mr. Danbury, I will need you to inform the board of its change in ownership as they will need to hold an emergency board meeting and also a press conference for our shareholders. I think that will do it for now gentlemen. It’s around 8:00 right now so I will see you back here no later than 11:00.”

  Everyone else quickly stood up and walked back towards the entryway. Once they donned their hat and coats, the two gentlemen quickly left through the large oak doors without speaking another word.

  Adam and Brent drank a few more glasses of Mr. Whitehouse’s expensive Brandy while they waited. It was imported directly from Dubai in a gold bottle.

  “I could get used to having money,” Brent said, as he swished down a little more of the costly thousand dollar per ounce bottle of booze. They both waited in the main dining hall and remained silent. The telephone began to ring around 9:30 and never stopped unless Jacob was talking to someone on it. His personal cell phone started ringing as well. Adam and Brent could hear Jacob defending his decision.

  The signing of the documents only took a few minutes once everyone made it back to Mr. Whitehouse’s residence. Shortly thereafter Adam and Brent got into their shiny black Mercedes and headed down the driveway. Brent glanced at Adam. “That was easier than I thought it would be.”

  “I told you, you just have to trust me. No-one’s going to stop us now.” There was a quiet pause as Adam turned right onto the main street and headed out towards the freeway. “Now we have means my friend.” Adam finished with a smile as he stared blankly through the Mercedes windshield into the dark, wet night. “Now we have the means,” he repeated.

  Within a few hours they were at New York’s JFK International Airport. They briskly walked down the long corridor towards Terminal ‘A’. There were a hundred or so people sitting in the waiting chairs and benches at gate fourteen as they walked to the check-in counter. It was the typical Airport scene. A group of college kids with backpacks probably heading to Europe, kids crying from having to sit in one place for hours on a plane only to do the same thing during their lay-over. There were several people reading books or listening to music with headphones, business men and women in suits clicking away at their laptops, tapping their tablets or talking on cell-phones. There were many tired looking eyes and travel weary faces. Adam and Brent handed their boarding passes to the check-in attendant.

  “You can go ahead and board” said the attendant as she tore off the perforated sections of their first class boarding passes. “Have a great flight!” she added as she looked at each of them. Adam took one last look around at all of the travelers as he headed for the door leading out to the jet-way.

  “They have no idea that life as they know it is about to change,” Adam whispered under his breath as he and Brent both walked under the sign that read:

  ‘Gate A-14 – London – Departs 3:15 am’

  “So everything has been arranged?” Adam whispered into Brent’s ear as they sat down in the oversized leather chairs of the first class section.

  “Yes.”

  “And the auction?”

  Brent pulled out his laptop and turned it on. “Tomorrow morning at ten o’clock”

  “And you are sure it will be there?”

  “Yes, I am sure. I called and verified.” Brent was whispering now as other passengers began to board. Brent pointed at his screen showing a picture of a small shiny pyramid. “Item number 21, it would appear to be exactly like Frank’s.”

  “Yes, it appears to be identical.” Adam responded with a greedy smile. His expression quickly changed to a sneer. “Frank,” he hissed under his breath. “Such a small mind, he just can’t seem to accept the world’s future. If things go well in London he will no longer be needed.”

  Adam stared at the pyramid on the screen and then turned to Brent in a whisper. “After what he put us through, I think I’m going to enjoy killing Mr. Frank Johnson.”

  a night to remember

  A chilly wind blew across the top of the grassy hillside John suddenly found himself standing on. He slowly turned around with a look of wonder and confusion on his face as he tried to place where he was. Am I dreaming again? He thought with wide eyes, taking in his surroundings. John began to walk down the hillside. Within a few steps his shoes began to make a squishing sound, now soaked with the dew that early morning had left on the grass, gliding across his feet as he moved. He reached the base of the hill and was now standing on the bank of a narrow river, its contents splashing and driving their way across craggy rocks, forming foamy pools along its path away to John’s right. A few trees had fallen into the river from the forest on the other side of the bank and were now just lonely mossy logs, dripping with the river’s spray. He looked downstream and noticed a young buck with his head down, drinking in the crisp, cold water as it swirled around the stag’s lips.

  “John,” Frank quietly said from behind him. John spun around. The sudden movement scared the buck, which quickly disappeared into the forest with a final flit of his tail, eager for thicker cover. Frank was standing directly in front of him.

  “Frank, what is going on?” John asked in hushed tones. A sense of calm had come over him, but his expression showed concern. Frank smiled at him, moving closer to give John a hug.

  “Good to see you my friend! Thanks for taking the injection John, that was smart.”

  “Well actually I did that by accident.” John patted him on the back and then pulled away from their friendly embrace.

  “Either way, you did it and by doing so you opened the lines of communication a little further so we could meet.”

  “Honestly Frank I don’t understand. I’m just dreaming right? Where am I?”

  “Well yes and no.” Frank leaned in closer to John. “We are currently in your mind, while your body sits under my desk, so you could say that you are dreaming. However, we are actually having a real conversation and I don’t have a lot of time, so listen up. Steve called the police late this afternoon to fill out a missing person’s report on Brent, Adam and I. The detective decided it would be less intrusive to come to the Center tonight to check out our offices and see what they could find. They already went through Adam’s office and are almost done with Brent’s. Listen John, the detective isn’t so much what worries me. What worries me is who or what is accompanying him.”

  “What do you mean?” The hair stood up on the back of John’s neck. The way Frank said the word ‘what’ suddenly made his muscles tighten and a lump lodged in his throat.

  “I don’t really know. I just know it’s dangerous, very danger
ous, for the both of us. We’re just lucky they changed their mind at the last second and didn’t visit my office first, or you definitely would have been found. I guess I should have told you that shot kicks your ass a bit the first time. Anyway, here’s what you need to do. As soon as you open your eyes you will stand up and walk directly into the bathroom attached to my office. You will then immediately walk behind the shower stall and pull down on the towel rack. A small door will swing open and you will get inside. There is a narrow staircase that leads from each of our offices to an outside fire escape on the second floor. You will climb onto this and down to the parking lot where you will get in your car. You will leave your headlights off until you clear the parking lot and then I need you to get to Old Mill City. If anyone asks you any questions you will tell them you were just working late. Got It?”

  “I think so. I don’t know. You’re saying I’m going to open my eyes and I’ll be back under your desk in your office?”

  “What I’m saying is you never left. Now pay attention, did you get everything I just told you?”

  “Yes, I got it. Bathroom, towel rack, then Old Mill City.” Frank’s voice was getting weaker and John had to strain to hear him.

  “Good, now listen, we’re going to lose the connection. Just use the map in the file folder. I need you to get me out of here as soon as you possibly can. I don’t know when I will be able to connect with you again John, so you have to remember the access code. Do not forget this number. 7-1-9-4-2-7-6, oh and one more thing.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Don’t forget the folder and the disk sitting on the floor next to you, and don’t make any noise. Are you ready?”

  “I…I don’t know.” John had a confused look on his face and he could feel his heart begin to pound in his chest. He was overwhelmed with the sudden blast of information that he had to remember. Frank slapped his hands down onto John’s shoulders and looked him in the eye.

  “Say it back to me. 7-1-9-4-2-7-6” John repeated the numbers and nodded his head, but had a deer in the headlights look on his face. John's expression turned to fear as Frank suddenly disappeared in front of him. He took a deep breath and looked around him again. I’m just going to suddenly open my eyes and wake up? John asked himself, still sporting a puzzled look. As he looked over his surroundings he noticed the sun begin to come up on the eastern horizon. Slowly at first, and then more rapidly, it rose through the air. John watched in amazement as it quickly flew in an arc across the sky, like he was watching a previous recording on fast forward. Once the sun reached the middle of the sky, a second sun began to rise in the east, just as quickly. The second sun was a smaller dimmer star, chasing after its larger and brighter brother. The larger sun soon disappeared in the west, and the remaining sun left an eerie, reddish glow on everything around him. The red-orange sphere made John’s pulse race. By the time the red disk dove out of sight in the west and darkness fell around him, John was gripped with fear. A voice suddenly screamed in his head. It was Frank.