Page 99 of The List

“I don’t deny that. I was young and greedy. But we don’t need Priority anymore.”

“A little late for repentance, isn’t it?”

“It doesn’t bother you, Hamilton? Don’t you ever think of the families left behind?”

Lee shrugged. “Thanks to that program we’ve been able to provide a solid living, for a lot of people, for a long time.”

“Let’s face it, Chris,” Hughes said. “Without Priority we’d have gone under, or certainly scaled back. It’s proven a great way to keep costs under control.”

He said again, “We don’t need it anymore.”

“Get real,” Lee said. “How many paper companies have folded in the last ten years? We’ve got competition from the Japanese, Canadians, Mexicans, and Brazilians—places we never dreamed about thirty years ago. I can name a dozen other companies in the Southeast alone that never made it. Think of all the jobs lost for those communities. Concord didn’t suffer anything like that. In fact, while all that misery was going on, we expanded and hired more people.”

“A prosperity built with blood.”

“So?” Lee said. “Who knows that? And no one would have any way of ever knowing it. All our employees know is that there’s a paycheck every first and third Thursday. When they go to the doctor the bill gets paid. And when they retire there’ll be a pension check every month to supplement Social Security. They have a great life. Stable and secure.”

“Until we send De Florio, or one of his associates, for a visit.”

Lee was nonchalant. “Why are you so philosophical? Is it because you’re dying?”

“It’s the thought that you two will keep going—once I’m gone.”

“We erased what was on your machine,” Hughes said.

“I have plenty of copies.”

“What do you plan to do with them?” Lee asked.

“I haven’t decided.”

Lee sighed. “You realize you’re leaving us no choice.”

“There are always choices, Hamilton.”

“Why have you been talking to Brent Walker and Hank Reed?” Lee asked. “Why did you have them to your house? Why involve others, Chris? You know what we’ll have to do. Doesn’t Walker have a mother? Reed a daughter and granddaughter? Whatever it takes, it will be done. I’m not going to jeopardize the future of this company or the future of the people who depend on us. Why not save them all the pain?”

“It’ll certainly be interesting, Hamilton. That much I can promise.”

Lee shrugged. “Have it your way.”

He rose. “I assume this will be our last meeting. I’d wish you luck, but it would just be a lie. Instead, I’ll see you both in hell.”

Not giving either one of them time to reply, he left.

Outside, he climbed into the car and drove straight toward the other side of Hickory Row. As he turned out of Lee’s driveway he reached inside his jacket and removed the microcassette recorder.

A bit old-school, but effective.

He slid thePLAY/RECORDbutton toOFFand smiled, staring at the last piece of evidence he’d need.

1:20P.M.

LEE SAT SILENT.

“That old fart is going to sink us,” Hughes said.

“Not if I can help it.”