فصل 8

chapter-8 loyalty

Hatch was an expert at manipulation. He was continually grooming Welch, testing his loyalty and rewarding or punishing him accordingly. After the disaster with the MEI, when Hatch was fired as CEO, Welch was the first person he called into his office.

“I want you to hear this from me first,” Hatch said bitterly. “I’ve been removed as Elgen CEO. They’ve replaced me with an Italian jester named Giacomo Schema.” Welch was stunned by the news. “Why?”

“The malfunction of the MEI. The board is terrified that if the word gets out and the deaths are linked to us, it could cost us billions.” “Where will you go?” Welch asked.

“Nowhere. I’m staying here. As director.” Welch was even more surprised. “With all due respect, sir, they’re not firing you?” Hatch grinned. “Fire me?”

“That seems to be the standard corporate procedure.” “No,” Hatch said. “They can’t.”

“Why is that?”

Hatch smiled. “Precisely because the board is terrified that if the word gets out and the deaths are linked to us, it could cost us billions. I let them know that if they fired me, there was a very good chance that word would get out. Not from me, of course. But via an anonymous source.” Hatch reached into his desk drawer and brought out a large manila envelope. He handed it across the desk to Welch. “Keep this somewhere safe. If anything happens to me, I want you to take this envelope to the Wall Street Journal. The precise contact information is inside. Can you do that for me?” “Yes, sir.”

“Thank you. I knew I could depend on you.” He looked at Welch for a moment, then said, “Be assured, this is only a temporary setback. I will run this company again.” “I believe you, sir.”

“I know. You’ve been loyal from the beginning, and trust me, your loyalty will be rewarded. Until then, I will see that you retain your position. However, I would like to broaden your responsibilities.” “How so, sir?”

“I want you to gather information on each member of the board, especially Schema. I want to know the skeletons in their closets, their loves, their affairs, their thought crimes, their every vulnerability. Everything. Can I count on you?” “Yes, sir.”

“I want you to forget what you know about corporate security and start running the Elgen guard like an army, with you its general.” Welch nodded, excited at the prospect. “I can do that.” “One more thing. And this must never leave this room. Schema is talking about silencing some of those who are potential leaks.” “By ‘silencing,’ you mean . . . killing ?” Welch said.

“Exactly.”

“Who in particular is he considering silencing?” “Carl Vey, the research manager from the Pasadena Hospital; his assistant, Anna Ferguson; and our own head of research and development, Dr. Coonradt.” Welch’s chest froze. “Dr. Coonradt?”

“Yes. Those are the main names. And if Schema’s making a list, you can bet that I’m on it as well. That’s why I gave you the envelope.” “Yes, sir.” Welch looked down at the envelope, then back up at Hatch. “Do you think it will come to that?” “I don’t know,” Hatch said. “But billions of dollars are at stake. You’d be surprised at what people will do for a little money.”