CHAPTER 8

Mammon

Ihad hoped that after my interview with the news network that I was done having to defend myself in front of the cameras. But fate had other ideas. I was now being asked to trade jibes with Cross and the other candidates in a televised debate. Seriously, I’d rather watch paint dry than trade insults with egotistical dipshits. Yet if it would bring Cross’s true colors to light, then I hope like hell it was worth it. And to ensure that Mervin did just that, I was going to have to be as provoking as possible while also not call on my powers.

Thanks to an anonymous contact we’d received details of the Lucem’s plans. Only I suspected it was the tip of the iceberg. Not that it was a surprise that they have already infiltrated key federal departments. Mervin Cross’s pockets were deep, and he’d been channeling his campaign funds into buying the loyalty of influential people in authority to look the other way. Jack was following the money trail. But in the meantime, I was to prod the bear.

“Okay, let’s go on the offensive. Ryan, can you and Nan circulate a few rumors? That I will not participate in the debate because I don’t think the other candidates are any serious competition. And I’d rather talk directly to people who make a difference. Can you also throw some comments out there that I’d like to speak to community leaders and social groups? Let’s see if we can flush Cross out.”

“Boss, are you looking to kick some ass?” Ev smirked at me as he headed over to Eric to check on the progress of his latest phishing exercise.

“I think by saying that Cross isn’t any serious competition might get his attention.”

“Sir, I think I’ve found something that you may find interesting.” Eric called out.

I looked over his shoulder at the file he’d opened. A newspaper article, with a photo of a couple with a small boy, and what looked like a beat-up car at the bottom of a mountain ravine. There was something about the man in the photo that looked familiar. Dark hair, blue eyes, tall. Then it came to me. He looked like Jack.

Shit!

“Ryan, what do you know about Jack’s parents?”

Ryan walked over, worrying his lip as he looked at the screen behind me. The color vanished from his face and he swayed on his feet. If Ev hadn’t dashed over and pushed him into a chair, I suspect we’d be picking Ryan up off the floor.

“I think I might need a cup of tea first.” Ryan’s voice came out as a whisper.

Nan rushed off and came back with a steaming cup of bergamot smelling tea.

“Here love, sip this, take it slow, it’s hot.” Ryan’s hand trembled as he lifted the cup, Nan hovering close by his side.

“Ugh, well, I know his grandparents brought him up after his parents died in a car wreck.”

I read through the newspaper article. It said that Lawrence Merriweather and his wife, Jack’s mother Jessica, were driving through heavy rain on the way to their weekend getaway up in the mountains. Lawrence supposedly lost control of the car and it crashed through a barrier and over the mountainside. The authorities had called it an unfortunate accident that Merriweather was driving too fast for the stormy conditions. And no one else was involved. But if what I suspected was true, then that was a pack of lies. I’d bet a yoga session that Cross had hired someone to ensure that the car went over the cliff edge. What I want to know now is why…?

“What did his father do for work?” I was fitting everything together in my head. I just needed the missing piece of the puzzle to slot into place.

“Urm, I think he worked for the government, something in Finance.”

“I think we might need to have a talk with Jack’s grandfather. Do you know how we can get in touch with him?”

“Sure, I have Giles’s cell phone number here.”

“Perfect. Call him and see if he’s free for me to pop in for a chat.”

I’m not sure what kind of man to expect when I step out of the spectral haze to stand in the external office of Giles Merriweather, the founder, CEO and Chairman of Newton Industries and Jack’s grandfather. Karriel has nothing but good to say about him. Azrael has claimed Giles as his own grandfather, which is hilarious when you take their ages into account. But there again, Az is the youngest at heart and most playful amongst my subordinates. I’d given up being surprised by anything he does eons ago.

Turning slowly, I surveyed the office, only to be brought up short by a stern female voice.

“Excuse me, who do you think…. Oh, I beg your pardon, Prince Mammon.”

The lower rank vengeance demon might scare off other would-be visitors, but I wasn’t just anyone. I’d heard that Clementine guarded Giles like a dragon does its hoard. But compared to me, her powers to intimidate are a drop in the ocean.

“Not to worry, Clementine. I’m expecting Lord Mammon.” Giles had poked his head around his office door at his assistant’s startled outburst. “Maybe some refreshments might be an idea.”

“Oh, oh yes, sir. Sorry, I should have offered before. Lord Mammon, what can I get for you?” Clementine is now all sweetness and light, or as much as is demonly possible.

“A double espresso would be perfect. Thank you.” It was the simplest coffee I could think of, and lately I needed the extra caffeine boost.

“Now that’s settled, let’s talk. What has my grandson got himself tangled up in now? And how can I help?”

Ryan had says that Jack’s gramps could be direct, and he was. I could see the family resemblance in the man that stood tall behind his desk. He had a commanding presence and more than a hint of a Sean Connery look about him. His eyes were the same shade as Jack’s and held an intense intelligence, giving me the impression that not much slipped past him.

“We stumbled upon some evidence that implicates Mervin Cross in your son- and daughter-in-law’s death. I’m wondering if you could help shed light on a few queries I have.”

“Mervin Cross personally or the Lucem?”

“Mervin Cross.”

“I see.”

“You don’t seem surprised?”

“Well, I had my suspicions, nothing I could prove. You know, Jack is very much like his father. Both of them have taken on the Lucem and Cross.”

“So, it is as I thought. Lawrence was a government agent, much like Jack?”

“Yes, he went undercover as a finance assessor. He was looking into the meteoric rise of Cross Investment Services, and Cross himself.”

“Insider deals?”

“Among other things, Lawrie was investigating a connection between Cross and reports of blackmail and extortion.”

“Our evidence shows that Cross hired someone to put a stop to your son’s investigation, making it appear like an accident.”

“Does Jack know about this?”

“Currently, Jack only knows that Cross has been diverting campaign funds to bribe officials. And scamming money from his investors, Jack is sure to uncover more the deeper he digs.”

“The fallout from this is going to bring about one hell of a financial crisis, not just here, but globally. Cross is no JP Morgan, but he’s close.”

There was a knock on the door and Clementine entered holding a tray of coffee and, thankfully, cake. If I were human, I’d be worried about my waistline, but as a demon I burned off more calories than humans just by sneezing.

“Is Jack in danger?” Giles leaned forward in his seat, his demeanor changing from a businessman to a concerned grandfather.

“Jack’s a smart man, and he knows what’s at stake. I’m sure he is taking precautions.”

“I hope so otherwise my wife Veronica will be on the warpath. And that’s a sight no man wants to see. Anything you need, you just let me know.”

I left Giles’ office with a new respect for the man. He created his own company and stood up against the Lucem when they attempted to gain control. They hadn’t broken him when they killed his son. If he insisted his wife was an unnatural phenomenon, I was open to believing him. I was also understanding why Ryan didn’t want his Nan or Uma meeting up with her. I now had little time to get to the studio for the wretched debate. I shot off a couple of texts, one to Ev asking him to monitor Jack’s welfare and one to Ryan, suggesting that he and everyone head home for the evening.

It was time to get my trash-talk on.