Page 33 of Hemmed

“Dr. Morgan, Mr. Driver, thank you for speaking with us,” said Jean.

“When Michael said that your team was trying to stop these people, I felt a sense of relief I hadn’t felt in years. I’m ashamed that I didn’t reach out to someone sooner, but there are extenuating circumstances,” said Dr. Morgan.

“We appreciate your faith in us, ma’am, but I am wondering why you wouldn’t just come out to the world and to your husband. I mean, the world is more than accepting these days,” said Angel.

“It wasn’t about me,” she said, staring into the camera. “My husband has Lou Gehrig’s disease. We married knowing that we weren’t a love match, and he was okay with that. I will not leave him when he’s stood by me all these years. We’ve always lived our own lives but supported one another in our careers. He was a sports agent for many years. I will stand by his side as he’s done with me.”

“My apologies for asking, ma’am. I think that’s admirable on both of your accounts, but it definitely gave Krauss more ammunition.”

“I know that,” she nodded. “That’s why I’m willing to help you now. My husband has only a few days, maybe a few weeks at this point. I won’t subject him to this any longer. He’s not aware of everything any longer. But I’ve never kept anything from him, and I don’t want to do that now.”

The two men nodded, staring at the screen, noticing that Driver was looking down, not up at them.

“Mr. Driver?” said Jean.

“I’m ashamed. I’m sorry, but I don’t know any other thing to say. I’m ashamed of what I did, but I was trying to protect my daughter and all her friends. I ended the relationship with the woman years ago, but it didn’t help. Krauss still had all the ammunition he needed and was threatening to not only expose me but to get to my daughter and her bridesmaids.”

“It might have helped, ending the relationship, I mean. At least you weren’t exposed fully,” said Jean.

“I know. But my marriage ended because of it, because I told my wife the truth, and I’m grateful every day that my wife didn’t say anything publicly. It was all very quiet. She told the world she wanted a different kind of life. I bought her a small farm in Virginia, and that’s where she is. Happy without me.”

“I’m sorry, sir,” said Angel.

“I have to ask,” said Jean. “Were you giving insider information to Krauss or his ex-wife?” Driver said nothing, swallowing back the tears and humiliation. It told them everything they needed to know.

“They often wanted to know if drugs were being launched or approved, technology upgrades were proven successful, overseas businesses that were going to be allowed to do business in the U.S., that sort of thing. They used the information to buy up stock and pad their bank accounts. Right now, they’re trying to control utilities in the Northeast and Canada.”

“Shit,” muttered Angel. “They’re hoping to hold the country hostage, aren’t they?”

“That would be my guess,” said Driver. “They own a forty-eight percent share. The rest is owned by multiple stockholders. I wish we could find someone to buy up the other fifty-two percent.”

“Let us worry about that. How do we stop them from getting there?” asked Jean.

“If someone else owns the majority, they won’t be able to control anything. They’ll still own a lot of stock, but they won’t be the majority shareholders. If they get to these individual shareholders, they’re going to use every means necessary to get them to sell their stock.”

“I’ll handle this,” whispered Jean. He stepped outside the room, and Angel heard the first few words. “Pops? We need your help.”

“He’s going to handle that issue,” said Angel. “What else can you tell us about Krauss and Yulia?”

“I’ve never understood them,” said Dr. Morgan. “They despise one another, cuss at one another furiously when they’re on the phone or in a room together, yet they continue to work together because they have to.”

“Why? I mean, both are capable of doing this on their own,” said Angel.

“They are sort of. Krauss has a lot of tech support and certainly doesn’t mind getting his hands dirty. He travels to other countries. He’ll make public appearances when he has to. He even sits down with other criminals when needed.

“Yulia has the manpower support. She’s stuck in the loop of heinousness that her father left for her. But she also seems to enjoy it.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, he promised the Russian mafia a certain number of women every month. The mafia has promised that number to their clients in Bulgaria, Romania, China, Taiwan, Thailand, you name it, and they’re in that country. She could have refused, but it would have been her death and her father’s reputation.

“There was no way she could do it without Krauss’s help. She has the muscle, and in some ways, so does he, but she doesn’t have the technical abilities or the social skills.”

“I don’t understand. Why would she need social abilities?”

“I’m sorry, I thought you knew. Yulia is a recluse with severe social anxiety and tendencies toward paranoia. Most people never knew that Krauss was ever married because she refused to come out in public. The one time he forced her, it was a disaster. It’s why she lives on that island in the middle of the river. It’s freezing cold in the winter, temperatures plummeting well below zero. In the summer, you’re eaten alive by black flies and mosquitoes. She doesn’t care. She has a hoard of big bodyguards around her, and they keep her safe.”

“What about security?” asked Angel as Jean walked back in, nodding.

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