Wilson said.
“They’re looking for burglars and intruders, not highly trained surveillance professionals.”
Wilson studied Daniel. The mix of puzzlement and fear in his eyes remained. Daniel’s in over his head, Wilson thought. “Can they hear everything we say in the house?”
“Probably.”
“What about here?”
“No. We’re jamming any surveillance.”
“Who else are they watching?”
“Carter Emerson and your girlfriend Emily Klein.”
“I haven’t seen her in months,” Wilson said, his anxiety spiking again. “Why the sudden escalation?”
“I can only assume they’re worried about what we know and what we intend to do about it,” Daniel said and then lowered his voice. “The completion of this deal should ease their concerns. It shows you’re separating yourself from your father’s business activities and moving on with your life.”
“What if it heightens them?” Wilson said.
“What do you mean?”
“KaneWeller could uncover the abuses.”
“We’ve taken care of that. KaneWeller has agreed that it’s in their best interest to refrain from working with certain former and current clients. The background files on our fifty-two problem clients will remain in our possession. It was the only way to control access. My firm’s management committee isn’t all that excited about it, but under the circumstances, we had no choice. Like I said, today’s transaction should improve things.”
“Are you trying to convince me, or yourself?” Wilson asked.
“We have to assume that the people watching us already know that we’re keeping the files. Preventing the information in those files from getting to the press, the SEC, the FBI, and anyone else is also in our best interest. They have to know that,” Daniel said and then paused. “How much longer are you going to need the copies I gave you?”
“Why?”
“Whoever tried to kill your father will strike again if they perceive any risk.”
Wilson studied Daniel again. “The same people who had Richard Beckstrom killed in prison?”
“Possibly.”
“You’re holding out on me again.”
“No, I’m not. The increased surveillance simply suggests a more serious investment in finding out what we know and what we plan to do about it. In my opinion, it’s the work of a well organized group of people.”
“How much do they know?”
“We have to assume they know everything, which means they know you have copies of the fifty-two file summaries.”
“I’ll have them to you tomorrow,” Wilson abruptly put an end to their conversation, saying good-bye to Daniel and leaving the boardroom. He found his own way to the elevator. Daniel’s in over his head, Wilson thought again, and his firm can no longer be trusted to protect my loved ones.
What little Wilson knew about surveillance and counter-surveillance he’d learned from Hap Greene, a former head of covert operations for the CIA. Hap ran Greene Mursin International (GMI), a highly discreet private investigation firm that Kresge & Company employed to ferret out hidden background information on clients, acquisition candidates, and prospective hires. Wilson met Hap several years earlier during a high profile Kresge project. They had quickly developed a close relationship, mostly because they shared each other’s irreverent attitudes toward society and the world in general. Hap was part of a growing trend among government and military trained spies, who were leaving the ranks of government service for the more lucrative and private world of corporate espionage. Corporate spying had become a hot growth business in recent years and no one was better at it than Hap Greene.
Before leaving Daniel’s offices, Wilson stepped into one of the small conference rooms encircling the foyer and called information for GMI’s New York office. When the call was connected, a GMI receptionist answered. Wilson introduced himself and asked for Hap.
“What firm are you with Mr.
“They’re looking for burglars and intruders, not highly trained surveillance professionals.”
Wilson studied Daniel. The mix of puzzlement and fear in his eyes remained. Daniel’s in over his head, Wilson thought. “Can they hear everything we say in the house?”
“Probably.”
“What about here?”
“No. We’re jamming any surveillance.”
“Who else are they watching?”
“Carter Emerson and your girlfriend Emily Klein.”
“I haven’t seen her in months,” Wilson said, his anxiety spiking again. “Why the sudden escalation?”
“I can only assume they’re worried about what we know and what we intend to do about it,” Daniel said and then lowered his voice. “The completion of this deal should ease their concerns. It shows you’re separating yourself from your father’s business activities and moving on with your life.”
“What if it heightens them?” Wilson said.
“What do you mean?”
“KaneWeller could uncover the abuses.”
“We’ve taken care of that. KaneWeller has agreed that it’s in their best interest to refrain from working with certain former and current clients. The background files on our fifty-two problem clients will remain in our possession. It was the only way to control access. My firm’s management committee isn’t all that excited about it, but under the circumstances, we had no choice. Like I said, today’s transaction should improve things.”
“Are you trying to convince me, or yourself?” Wilson asked.
“We have to assume that the people watching us already know that we’re keeping the files. Preventing the information in those files from getting to the press, the SEC, the FBI, and anyone else is also in our best interest. They have to know that,” Daniel said and then paused. “How much longer are you going to need the copies I gave you?”
“Why?”
“Whoever tried to kill your father will strike again if they perceive any risk.”
Wilson studied Daniel again. “The same people who had Richard Beckstrom killed in prison?”
“Possibly.”
“You’re holding out on me again.”
“No, I’m not. The increased surveillance simply suggests a more serious investment in finding out what we know and what we plan to do about it. In my opinion, it’s the work of a well organized group of people.”
“How much do they know?”
“We have to assume they know everything, which means they know you have copies of the fifty-two file summaries.”
“I’ll have them to you tomorrow,” Wilson abruptly put an end to their conversation, saying good-bye to Daniel and leaving the boardroom. He found his own way to the elevator. Daniel’s in over his head, Wilson thought again, and his firm can no longer be trusted to protect my loved ones.
What little Wilson knew about surveillance and counter-surveillance he’d learned from Hap Greene, a former head of covert operations for the CIA. Hap ran Greene Mursin International (GMI), a highly discreet private investigation firm that Kresge & Company employed to ferret out hidden background information on clients, acquisition candidates, and prospective hires. Wilson met Hap several years earlier during a high profile Kresge project. They had quickly developed a close relationship, mostly because they shared each other’s irreverent attitudes toward society and the world in general. Hap was part of a growing trend among government and military trained spies, who were leaving the ranks of government service for the more lucrative and private world of corporate espionage. Corporate spying had become a hot growth business in recent years and no one was better at it than Hap Greene.
Before leaving Daniel’s offices, Wilson stepped into one of the small conference rooms encircling the foyer and called information for GMI’s New York office. When the call was connected, a GMI receptionist answered. Wilson introduced himself and asked for Hap.
“What firm are you with Mr.
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