I get nothing but the promise of an occasional bone you feel like throwing my way and, in return, I risk losing my biggest account? That’s not a deal; it’s an invitation to bankruptcy, maybe even prison. And I still don’t know whose side you’re really on.”
“We’re the good guys.”
“Yeah, I’ll bet you are. If you expect me to help you, it’s going to require full disclosure right here and now. I’ve put up with this covert shit long enough. Either open up and tell me what’s going on or I take all of this to Innovac, lay my still-untainted cards on the table, and see if there’s any possibility of salvaging my eighteen months of hard work. If they believe me and I keep the account, you’re out of a job. That’s fine with me. Even if I get bounced, you’re probably still out. As you said yourself, Innovac believes I’m trustworthy. I’ve really got nothing to hide at this point ― from anyone. So trust me. Or you can forget about a deal. It’s just not worth it.”
Lyköan waited. If Whitehall agreed to terms, great. If not, he was as much as admitting their arrangement would never be a two way street. Lyköan could expose him at any time. Did Whitehall realize he had painted himself into a corner? At last, a reversal of roles.
Whitehall blinked first. “I should have suspected a fellow so used to driving hard bargains might give me a run for my money,” he conceded. “Alright, here’s your full disclosure. The PI agency is local Thai talent more used to tracking philandering husbands than expat businessmen. They may be small time, but they’re very discrete.” Lyköan had every reason to believe this. “Telling you who they are would break my contractual agreement with them, honestly.”
“But it would make me feel so much better,” Lyköan insisted. “As a good faith offering?” Lyköan wondered if Whitehall would realize that providing an answer was nonnegotiable.
“Parmathansivanant & Janvisthnati,” came the answer, without any need more threats. “But don’t go running off to introduce yourself until I have an opportunity to speak with them first. Agreed? The firm’s in the phone directory. You can look it up if you’d like. I didn’t just invent it to wriggle off this hook. Is that enough to satisfy your curiosity?”
“Just call them off, Whitehall, okay? I feel real uncomfortable constantly looking over my shoulder, afraid that every damned smiling Thai face I see is somebody on your payroll. Okay, that answers my first question. I also asked you who’s bankrolling this operation.”
“An agency of a Western government. We’ll have to leave it at that for now, Lyköan. Sorry, but I can’t be any more specific. If that’s a deal-breaker for you then I’m afraid this deal’s broken. Any deal, however, ought to be open to a little compromise, don’t you think?”
“You mean like the CIA or MI-6? You’re not joking, are you? What, a covert op at your age? That agency ― whoever they are ― must really be desperate.”
Whitehall stared back expressionless. Lyköan was gloating, but it didn’t last. He had put the screws to the only ally he had at the moment and suddenly it dawned on him how dark and lonely his existence would be without anyone at all on his side.
“Okay, okay, crazy as your story sounds, it all fits together. Except that I know absolutely nothing about any military involvement and that bothers me. We’re still going to have to rely on Jimmy for the licenses and waivers and his family contacts inside the Ministry of Health and Department of Excise, even if we know he’s probably not working in our best interest. Until I have a reason to cut bait, I’m going to continue operating as Innovac’s loyal employee. What’s passed between you and me and whatever else we turn up in the future needn’t reach our employer’s ears unless it jeopardizes their legitimate business interests. Sound reasonable to you?”
* * *
Another hour
“We’re the good guys.”
“Yeah, I’ll bet you are. If you expect me to help you, it’s going to require full disclosure right here and now. I’ve put up with this covert shit long enough. Either open up and tell me what’s going on or I take all of this to Innovac, lay my still-untainted cards on the table, and see if there’s any possibility of salvaging my eighteen months of hard work. If they believe me and I keep the account, you’re out of a job. That’s fine with me. Even if I get bounced, you’re probably still out. As you said yourself, Innovac believes I’m trustworthy. I’ve really got nothing to hide at this point ― from anyone. So trust me. Or you can forget about a deal. It’s just not worth it.”
Lyköan waited. If Whitehall agreed to terms, great. If not, he was as much as admitting their arrangement would never be a two way street. Lyköan could expose him at any time. Did Whitehall realize he had painted himself into a corner? At last, a reversal of roles.
Whitehall blinked first. “I should have suspected a fellow so used to driving hard bargains might give me a run for my money,” he conceded. “Alright, here’s your full disclosure. The PI agency is local Thai talent more used to tracking philandering husbands than expat businessmen. They may be small time, but they’re very discrete.” Lyköan had every reason to believe this. “Telling you who they are would break my contractual agreement with them, honestly.”
“But it would make me feel so much better,” Lyköan insisted. “As a good faith offering?” Lyköan wondered if Whitehall would realize that providing an answer was nonnegotiable.
“Parmathansivanant & Janvisthnati,” came the answer, without any need more threats. “But don’t go running off to introduce yourself until I have an opportunity to speak with them first. Agreed? The firm’s in the phone directory. You can look it up if you’d like. I didn’t just invent it to wriggle off this hook. Is that enough to satisfy your curiosity?”
“Just call them off, Whitehall, okay? I feel real uncomfortable constantly looking over my shoulder, afraid that every damned smiling Thai face I see is somebody on your payroll. Okay, that answers my first question. I also asked you who’s bankrolling this operation.”
“An agency of a Western government. We’ll have to leave it at that for now, Lyköan. Sorry, but I can’t be any more specific. If that’s a deal-breaker for you then I’m afraid this deal’s broken. Any deal, however, ought to be open to a little compromise, don’t you think?”
“You mean like the CIA or MI-6? You’re not joking, are you? What, a covert op at your age? That agency ― whoever they are ― must really be desperate.”
Whitehall stared back expressionless. Lyköan was gloating, but it didn’t last. He had put the screws to the only ally he had at the moment and suddenly it dawned on him how dark and lonely his existence would be without anyone at all on his side.
“Okay, okay, crazy as your story sounds, it all fits together. Except that I know absolutely nothing about any military involvement and that bothers me. We’re still going to have to rely on Jimmy for the licenses and waivers and his family contacts inside the Ministry of Health and Department of Excise, even if we know he’s probably not working in our best interest. Until I have a reason to cut bait, I’m going to continue operating as Innovac’s loyal employee. What’s passed between you and me and whatever else we turn up in the future needn’t reach our employer’s ears unless it jeopardizes their legitimate business interests. Sound reasonable to you?”
* * *
Another hour
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