28
“Wade, this is my assessment of what we have thus far. Peace Intervention Emergence is getting paid three times over. First from the state contracts, then from the individuals or businesses hiring the prison population to work, and get this, each inmate is charged for room and board.”
“What?”
“Yes, the document they sign, upon entering the facility, states that each inmate is charged for room and board. If what they earn from outside assignments does not cover it, the inmate will carry a negative balance. Each account must be at a zero balance before an inmate is released. If the balance is not zero, the inmate must remain until the debt is paid in full.”
“They’re double dipping. Remember what I said before, Fontaine. In my experience people have three basic motivating forces; money, power and love. Having a judgeship isn’t an easy honor to acquire. It’s a position of honor, so what could be so strong a motivator to jeopardize that? Answer that question with documented facts and you will have your story.”
“I’m throwing you a kiss through the phone.” The call ended.
Wade stared at the phone for a second. Even on the phone she hits him with these random kisses. A small smile reached his lips. He was beginning to like her spontaneous kisses, even if they were virtual.
“Thinking about the beautiful Rachel?” Monty said as he entered the office.
“He claims to be your brother,” Betty Ann said as she reached in to close the door. “But this hunk of a man doesn’t look anything like that brute on the website. Can you verify he is Montrell Tyson?”
Wade looked Monty up and down, “He does resemble him, a bit.” He smiled. “Come on in, Monty. Welcome to Tyson Broadcasting’s Virginia location.”
Monty nodded in appreciation. “It looks good. You are turning the place around.” He tilted his head towards the door. “Who’s the pretty little general you have guarding your space?”
“She’s good.” Wade smiled. “Betty Ann Stansfield. I’ve found her to be exactly what I need to organize this place.”
“I just left Alex’s office. There are a few things you should know.”
“Sit. What do you have?”
“According to Alex there have been a few inquiries on Peace Intervention Emergence and their practices. Most stemmed from family members not being able to visit inmates. What’s interesting is whenever they go in to investigate the complaints, people have changed their minds or disappeared.”
“Disappeared?”
“Yes.” Monty nodded.
“We are dealing with something more than a for profit prison system.” Wade nodded in understanding. “I’ll pull Dane in house. He can get to information not available to the public. Ross can handle the legal end.”
“Do you think Drake can handle the coverage on Rachel or should we call in backup?”
“Fontaine can handle things once she has healed. For now she has her sisters and Drake. I think that should suffice.”
“I don’t have to tell you to be careful, Wade. We’ve dealt with stories like this before. People are willing to do anything to keep their secrets. Even as far as making people disappear.”
“Who knew purchasing Cahill would throw us into a shit storm so fast.”
“You did.” Monty smiled as he stood. “You saw the potential in this team. You’ve studied them over the last year. You know what this place is capable of becoming. This is your validation. Let’s face it, when this story breaks it will go national. Make sure you have a reporter in place who has an impressive delivery. That person will become the face of Tyson Broadcasting. This is your baby. This is what you asked for. Pop made sure you had everything you needed to make this happen.”
Wade nodded. “I won’t let him down.”
“Don’t worry about Pop. He’s going to be proud with whatever you do. Don’t let yourself down. Make this news division what you want it to be. The cosmetics are coming along. Now make your team what you need them to be.”
“Are you hanging around for a while?” Wade walked over to the door where Monty now stood.
“We’ll be around until this story is put to bed. Then the boys and I will get out of your hair. It’s time for you to spread your wings.”
“I appreciate the confidence.”
“You deserve it. You’ve helped all of your brothers set up their branch. It’s time for us to do the same for you. Oh, Pop said to tell you a woman who shares her kisses so freely will make for a very passionate mate.”
“How did Pop know about the kiss, Monty?”
Monty shrugged as he walked out the door. “Pop has ears everywhere. I’ll check in with you later.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“You do that,” Monty said as he walked away.
“Mr. Tyson.” Betty Ann knocked at the door. “I put a call through to your brother Dane, he’s on line one and your brother Ross is on line two.”
“Do you have my office bugged or something?”
Betty Ann smiled. “No, but I do listen out for your needs so I can anticipate what will keep your day flowing smoothly.”
Wade hit the button on his desk phone to engage both brothers in the conference. “Brother, I need you to use some of the survival skills we explored before Pop made us legit.”
“I’m always ready,” Dane stated. What do you need?”
“My gut is telling me what Rachel needs to blow this story wide open is a direct connection between, Peace Intervention Emergence and the judges.”
“I’ll pull the legal work on the organization,” Ross offered. “That will tell you who is pulling the strings.”
“I can pull the financial information on both the organization and the judges. Give me twenty-four hours.”
There was a knock on his door.
“You want to see me?”
Lisa had walked in without him responding.
“Yes, check with Betty Ann. She’ll be able to give you a time.”
“I did. She indicated you’d be free later.” Lisa stepped inside the office and closed the door. “But hey, I’m here and you’re here. Let’s talk.” She sat in the chair with a flourish.
Her actions disturbed him. He sat back in his chair watching her smiling up at him.
“Do you like working here, Lisa?”
“I love it,” she replied with more flair than was needed.
“If that is true and I have no reason to doubt your word, I suggest you leave my office and return at the time Betty Ann set.”
The smile faded quickly.
“I am one of the top rated anchors in this city. It would be wise not to continue to antagonize me in the manner you have thus far. You have given offers to every significant employee except me. Why?”
Betty Ann walked into the office. She checked her watch, then frowned. “Are you still on your conference call?”
“I am,” Wade replied.
She walked over to his desk. “Good evening, Dane and Ross, may I place you on hold for one second?”
“I think that’s a good idea, Betty Ann,” Ross replied.
“I concur,” Dane agreed.
A surprised Lisa stood. “My apologies. I didn’t realize you were on the phone.”
“What are you doing in here?” Betty Ann inquired.
“Excuse you?” Lisa replied.
“Your time is set for 7 pm. Did you misunderstand my message?” Lisa started to say something, but Betty Ann stopped her. “It may appear that Mr. Tyson is free, but he is not. He has a full day, as I told you before. Pull this crap again and you will regret it.” Betty Ann opened the door. “Thank you for your time, Ms. Cahill. We’ll see you at seven.”
Lisa glared at the woman with fire in her eyes. She then turned to Wade. “Are you going to allow her to speak to me in that manner?”
“Believe me when I say this, it is a hell of a lot nicer than what I was about to say.”
Lisa’s mouth gaped open with a huff as she stomped towards the door. “Jerry always had an open door policy.”
“I do not, Ms. Cahill. Don’t ever come into my office without an appointment.”
“This way, Lisa,” Betty Ann instructed.
Wade waited until both women were gone then returned to his call. “Where did we leave off?”
“With you firing Lisa Cahill,” Ross stated.
“I’m not going to fire her. She needs to understand the boundaries.”
“Sounds as if she has had the run of the place and is not sure how she will fit in under new management,” Dane offered.
“She’s a spoiled brat who is used to having her way. I’m not certain who is going to cause you more problems, her or Jerry. Eventually you will end up firing both of them. So I say cut your losses now before they sabotage your progress.”
“Thank you, Ross, for that optimistic view of the future.”
“Anytime,” he replied as Dane laughed.
“The information, my brothers. I need it asap.”
“We’re on it.”
“Thank you,” Wade said then disconnected the call.
He clicked on to his computer then pulled up the contract offer he had for Lisa. It was generous, but he knew money was not the motivating factor for Lisa. He knew she wanted to go national. He was willing to give her that opportunity, but wondered how hard she would work for it now that Rachel would be doing her own stories. He believed she had it in her, but it would be up to her to prove it. “You have to bring something to the table, Ms. Cahill or Rachel Fontaine will end up being the national face for Tyson Broadcasting.”