Catalyst (12 page)

"Sure, Dad." Renee grinned, flung her arms around his
neck and kissed him.

****

Though dwarfed by aircraft factories within the
vicinity, the
Epsilon Products
buildings were impressive in
their own right. The modern glass mushroom shaped administration
block sat in front of a rectangular structure as long as a football
field and half as wide. Along its windowless walls were a series of
massive roll down doors numbered alphabetically. Doors E and F were
open with three vans cluttering the access lane in front.

Lem frowned. With the air-conditioned interior, the
doors should be closed. He headed his pearl white Cadillac Deville,
one of the last things he purchased with Nikki's approval, between
well-kept lawns and gardens to Door E.

"What's wrong, Mike?" he asked when his foreman
appeared, looking more serious than his usual.

"More problems with the new assembly unit, Lem," Mike
grunted. "Come in and I'll show you."

"This is all I need."

"It's not the machine itself but the roller diversion
that bypasses the tester when it's overloaded," Mike confessed,
"

Lem nodded, slung a hard hat on his head and walked
to where several engineers stood around various pieces of
disassembled machinery.

Mike introduced Lem to Frank Fromont, the engineer in
charge, who began his explanation of the problem. "As you know, Mr.
Erksberg, the output of the new production unit is too fast for the
tester."

"Sure," Lem replied. "I thought we had solved that by
decreasing the production run and allowing the tester to catch up."
He stared at the pieces lying around in a haphazard manner. "What
went wrong?"

"A switching mechanism seized when a unit jammed it.
There was a pile up back to the assembly unit but it failed to
switch down. More units jammed and by the time the assembler was
shut down, a dozen or more assembled units were wedged in and
caused a short circuit." Frank nodded to the buckled pieces of
steel on the floor. "We had to bring in a new component to replace
the damaged section."

"This is under the manufacturer's guarantee, I hope,"
Lem replied in a quiet but serious voice.

"It is."

Lem turned to his foreman. "How does this affect
production?"

"If we can be back on line today we should meet our
quota. Luckily, we were well ahead of our estimated run rate."

"And when will it be on line?" Lem turned back to the
engineer.

"It's almost ready," Frank answered. "After testing
and dummy runs you should be back in production by five."

"I've brought the morning crew to start a midnight
shift," Mike added. "And the afternoon shift will switch to
morning. By tomorrow afternoon we should have caught up."

"Thanks." Lem smiled for the first time. "I'll leave
it to you then. Have you noticed if Ashley's arrived?"

"Yes, your accountant is waiting in your office."

****

Ashley Armstrong, a tall bespectacled man of similar
age to Lem, glanced up as he walked in. They were friends and over
the last few months the accountant had been very supportive. He
smiled faintly as Lem sat down and yawned.

"I heard all about your sojourn down in the cave," he
said. "I knew you wanted to have a break but that was
ridiculous."

"Yes." Lem couldn't help grinning.

"And who was that young redhead they showed you
cuddling up to outside the cave mouth?"

"Renee Bonnett is a local lawyer." Lem frowned again.
"But how did you know about her?"

"It was on KIRO local news, close-up shot, too. She's
a real honey."

"More ammunition for Nikki."

"Yeah, it's an evil wind and all that stuff."

"What do you mean?"

"If you weren't stuck down that hole in the ground
and I didn't know you better, I would have believed you
orchestrated this whole factory breakdown."

"Why would I do that?"

"Well," Ashley said. "The manufacturing machinery was
defective but the rumor went around that the units you were making
were the problem."

Lem swore again. "More problems. You know how
particular the Boeing Company is?"

"It's not them. They were given all the information
and realize your units weren't deficient. It's the minor
shareholders who panicked over the last three days."

"So?" Lem scowled at his friend.

"As of an hour ago,
Epsilon Products
shares
dropped twenty cents, which means, My Dear Friend, that the buy
back from your wife will be a hundred thousand less than
yesterday."

"But is it legal?"

"It is. Your wife's lawyer stipulated the price had
to be this afternoon's. The shares have been riding so high, I
think he suspected a fall but they played their cards too close
this time."

"She won't like it."

"So what? If they'd suddenly gone up by ten cents, do
you think she would have offered you a refund? My advice is to buy
her out and spend another hundred grand on other shares. That'll
give you a clear majority in the company."

"But the money?"

"Oh, the bank has approved a loan. It's ready for
your signature."

"Who started the rumor it was our product that was
inferior?"

"No idea," Ashley replied. He brought a web site up
on the firm's computer. Moments later the screen displayed
Epsilon Products
shares at a dollar and six cents. "They've
dropped another cent. Want to buy now or wait an hour or so?"

"Now."

"Those extras, too?"

"Why not?"

Ashley's fingers tapped out a purchase order, codes
were entered and all of Nikki's, plus the extra hundred thousand
shares were transferred into Lem's name and the purchase price
transferred out from the bank loan.

"I hope you're right," Lem muttered after Ashley
completed the entry. "If they keep dropping, I'll be bankrupt."

"Want to bet they'll be up by the time you've
finished your afternoon coffee break?"

"I know you never bet unless something is a
certainty."

****

Ashley was right. After dipping another cent, by
mid-afternoon
Epsilon
stocks were trading at a dollar and
ten cents and by the close of day were up to a dollar and twelve.
Indications were they'd soon be back to their record high before
the plant mishap. Lem had made thirty-six thousand dollars in a few
hours.

"Just about pay the interest to my bank," he retorted
when Ashley rung his apartment that evening with the news.

Lem hung up and glanced around the empty kitchen. He
was about to go down to a local restaurant for supper when his
phone rang again. Perhaps it was Renee phoning.

"Hello. Lem speaking."

"You contemptible bastard," a woman screamed. "If you
think you can get away with this double cross, you had better think
again. Trading with insider information is illegal in this state,
you know. Also, that pathetic performance on the local news with
that redhead. My God, Lem, you've got a lot to answer for."

"Oh hello, Nikki." Lem's calm voice hid his true
feelings. "I thought you might call.'

****

CHAPTER 11

As the Chevy Blazer approached the small city of
Missoula, halfway back to Seattle, Renee gazed wearily at the
interstate stretching into distance and regarded the foggy mountain
peaks. It was beautiful country but traveling all day had worn her
out. Her ankle itched inside a cast that had been placed on it when
it was found that it was broken. She glanced at Courtney, who had
relieved Jack and taken over driving two hours earlier and back at
her father and Amy. The older passengers were asleep in the back
seat.

"This is a good spot to spend the night," she said as
she studied the map on her knee. "Take the first exit left onto
East Broadway. There's a swag of motels to choose from."

"Right," Courtney replied.

Twenty minutes later, everyone was relaxing in a
pleasant motel called
Pine Tree Inn
. A small swimming pool
was available on the motel grounds and within moments Courtney
plunged into the refreshing water, while an envious Renee looked
on.

Two youths homed in on the teenager but their
inevitable display of physical prowess by hooting and splashing
around the pool only received a curt response.

"Stupid nerds," Courtney growled as she slipped out
of the water and wrapped a towel around herself.

Renee was about to make a light comment but saw her
friend looked annoyed rather than flattered by the attention.
"Don't worry about them. I'm sure they're harmless enough."

The teenager rubbed her wet hair and glanced at
Renee. "I guess," she said in a solemn voice. "I've had my swim, so
let's go back to our unit. I'm sure Grandma and Jack will want a
hand to unload all the junk from the wagon."

Courtney helped Renee from the lawn, handed her the
crutches and headed back. One youth attracted her attention again
but she flashed him a dark look and turned her back on him.

Renee swung her crutches out and caught up to the
girl who had reached the corner of the motel building. "Are you
okay?"

Courtney stopped and turned a pale face at her
companion. "When those boys were goggling at me, I felt scared,
Renee. It's stupid, I know. It's a beautiful evening, people are
all over the place, you were there but I was gripped by a sudden
fear that they'd grab me or something." Her chin quivered as she
continued. "It sounds ridiculous but I wish we were back in the
cave, just you, Lem and me. Nobody could reach us there and I felt
secure. Tell me I'm neurotic but I can't help how I feel."

"You aren't," Renee replied. "It's a natural reaction
and nothing to be ashamed of."

Courtney caught her eyes and smiled. "Thanks. Will
you promise me something?"

"Probably. What is it?"

"Don't tell Grandma anything about what happened to
me. She's a dear and I love her but...well, you know."

"I know. As far as I'm concerned, everything is
confidential and I'll tell nobody, unless you wish."

"Thanks, Renee. You're a real pal." Courtney took one
of Renee's crutches and placed an arm around her back. "I reckon
I'm going to like it out west," she added with a whimsical gaze in
her eyes.

****

The arrangements for the evening produced a new
surprise. Their motel unit had two single beds in the lounge and a
double bed and single bed in a separate bedroom. She assumed she'd
be sharing one of these spaces with her father but was taken back
when Jack and Amy moved their bags into the bedroom.

Jack noticed his daughter's astonished look and
followed her outside when she went to get something from the
Blazer. "Renee, you said you didn't mind if Amy and I were
friends," he said in a hushed tone.

"I know, Dad," Renee replied, "but I thought it was
just that, not sharing a bedroom."

"So nothing happened between you and Lem in the
cave?" Jack added with his eyes firmly fixed on his daughter.

She flushed a bright red and bit her lip. "What has
that got to do with this situation?"

"If it can happen to you, Sweetheart, why can't the
same happen to me?" Jack continued. "I may be a cripple but I'm not
about to lay down and die."

"Oh, Daddy." Renee gulped. "I'm so sorry. I didn't
mean it like that. It's just that..."

"I've never shown an interest in women since your
mother died. That's true, Renee. I was afraid my disability would
turn any woman away. It's been lonely at times and without you I
don't know how I would have coped. But, like your meeting Lem, I
found my life has changed. Perhaps the Good Lord planned it for us
this way."

Renee stood back deep in thought. Her father had
never been religious; in fact since her mother's death he had never
mentioned the topic.

"Perhaps, Dad," she replied cautiously.

Jack coughed in embarrassment. "If you feel awkward,
Courtney can share with her Grandma and I'll bunk down in the
lounge with you."

Renee hesitated again and tried to come to terms with
her emotions. Somehow the idea that her father might be sexually
attracted to someone seemed wrong. But this was childish. Why
shouldn't her father have a normal relationship?

"I'm not a monk, Sweetheart," Jack continued. "Any
more than you are a nun. I have no objections about your
involvement with Lem. In fact, I've always felt guilty about you
staying home and caring for me instead of having a normal social
life."

"I didn't mind, Dad."

"Of course you didn't. And I love you because of this
but think ahead to next year, the year after, five years down the
track. You have your whole life ahead, Sweetheart and if you can
share it with a young man like Lem, I don't want to be in your
way." He reached out and tucked an arm around Renee's shoulders.
"But neither do I want to spend my time by myself. Humans aren't
meant to be alone."

Renee nodded. Her father had never talked this way
before.

"Shall I place Courtney's backpack in the bedroom?"
Jack asked.

"No, Daddy," Renee forced a smile. "Of course not.
Courtney's great company at night, anyway."

She turned, found tears in her eyes and a strange
emptiness churning inside. Jack noticed and limped the few paces
across the sidewalk that separated them. "Go and call Lem,
Sweetheart," he suggested. "I'm sure he'll love to hear your
voice."

"You were always like this Dad," Renee responded. She
took a handkerchief out, blew her nose and wiped the rogue tears
from her eyes.

"Like what, Sweetheart?"

"Just so understanding. You can read me like a book
and I'm so selfish in return."

"No," Jack interrupted. "You're never selfish. Not
ever." He kissed her cheek and squeezed her shoulders again. "Now
go and phone Lem, right now."

"I will, Dad."