Doc's Place

© 2008, Michel Grover. All rights reserved.
Chapter 19 | Part 3
Tuesday, October 16, 1984

The pack arises early and gathers near the top of the hill. As soon as everyone arrives, we take off running up to the passes. The pack will take down a deer this day because the deer herds are forming. All living things feel winter in the air. Winter is coming.

Suddenly I am awake. Roll out of bed, clutching my sports bra, undies and shorts. After finishing in the bathroom, I pull everything on and move into the workout room. Soji is there, stretching. As usual, we ignore one another as I take my place beside him in the routine. A minute later, Sara joins us. She seems familiar with the kata and asks no questions.

When we finish a couple hours later, I strip, hang my sweaty clothes on a peg and lay on the table so Soji can give me my massage.

Sara sits on the floor near my head and says softly, "I have a few questions." Soji pauses to fetch a robe for Sara so she won't catch a chill, then goes back to work on me. She thanks Soji and then begins with, "What are you worth, Jill?"

"Last month, Pere was worth fifty-two million. Midori was worth twice that. My personal accounts, foreign and domestic, were another fifty, so a couple hundred mill."

"Midori?"

"My international corporation, an LLC," I murmur, eyes closed, as Soji probes deep. "Pere is domestic."

She ponders this for a moment and asks, "Where did your wealth originate?"

"I developed a company called JP Performance, a chain of auto performance retail outlets with a shop in back. It's a high-margin business and customers pay in cash." When I hear Sara make a soft sound in her throat, I pause.

"When was this and how old were you?"

"It was . . . 1965 and I was almost seventeen." Feel her touch my hair but ignore it. "Early in '68, I moved to Australia for a couple years and established ANZ Fleet Services. A year later in `71, I enlisted in the Air Force, moved to Japan and met the woman I eventually persuaded to work for me and become my Board Chair. She built Midori LLC using funds from JP, and eventually brought ANZ under the Midori umbrella because it wasn't growing fast enough. When we returned to the US in '75, she moved to Reno and developed Pere, Incorporated as a Nevada corporate umbrella with Pere, Chief Financial, JP and Eagle companies beneath it."

"Eagle?"

"JP speculates in commercial real estate; Eagle in residential."

"You said that the woman who is your board chair did all this, Jill. What were you doing from '75 to now . . . nine years?"

"Wandering around," I tell her. "Wasting time."

"Excuse me," says Soji softly. "That is inaccurate."

Ask, "Who's answering Sara? You or. . . ." Grunt when he silences me with two stiff fingers pressed into my ribcage.

"Jill used her personal savings to establish an international program to bring Bhuddist orphans from where they were not wanted in Japan to Australia, New Zealand or the United States'their choice," says Soji. "This program not only pays for their room and board while they finish school, it offers scholarships so they can attend any institution of higher education they choose—be that a vocational school or Harvard, if they do not earn scholarship offers of their own. One hundred percent have taken advantage of this program and finished their education. Once they have, they can work anywhere they wish. Fully one third of the orphans have chosen to work for Midori or Pere."

Grunt again, trying to speak, but Soji will not allow it. Consider rolling off the table, but it's not that important to me, so I lie still, listening.

"Meanwhile," says Soji, "Jill used her personal funds to establish a foundation that brought a Buddhist monastery and school, a dojo, here to Reno. To this day, it is thriving."

"I would like to see it," says Sara.

"I would be honored to show you," says Soji. "While she was doing this good work, Jill obtained her baccalaureate in secondary education, taught high school, worked another full-time job, established a second foundation called Aliversal and almost finished her master's thesis." Leaning forward, he whispers to me, "You may continue."

"Thank you," I tell him with a grunt as I catch my breath.

"And thank you, Soji," says Sara. She ponders things for moment and asks, "When did Le and Mei enter the picture, Jill?"

"I hired Leanne Hansen to manage my personal wealth last year. She formed RDF Corporation for that purpose. When my Board Chairwoman hired her away as CEO of Pere Company, Le found Mei to take her place as CEO of RDF."

"Pere Company speculates in real estate. What does Chief do?"

"Chief provides accounting and information services to Pere and the other domestic companies under its umbrella. Chief operates in the black, barely."

"What about physical plant? Is Pere spread out, on a campus or under one roof?"

"The Chairwoman mortgaged everything to build an underground complex just west of downtown. She recently finished the building and retired the mortgage."

"All of this in one underground complex? It must be huge."

"She has compartmentalized it so much that I get lost so I have no idea. For example, no one on the business side knows anyone in Chief. Only she knows the Chief Financial staff. Your office is on the Chief side but you'll have unrestricted access to both Pere and Chief, Sara."

"Store backup tapes off site?"

"Yes. She stores the last three days of tape at the recovery site in Sparks. It's a secure warehouse complex with offices, phones and computers. She recently surprised everyone with two disaster recovery scenarios—one last summer and another last week after the attempt on my life. She stores archive copies at another secure facility east of Carson City."

"Pere practices business recovery off site frequently. That's impressive."

"Standard practice," I tell her. "She set it up and she runs it."

"I've audited Wall Street firms and government contractors worth hundreds of millions who don't follow standard business practice, Jill. You said Le hired Mei to run RDF."

"Yes, however just yesterday, I promoted Mei to President of Pere Company and moved Le laterally to President of Chief Financial," I tell her with a chuckle. "Le is auditing her lover's business, but not for long. Le will transform Chief from an internal security and audit organization into a for-profit company that audits financial, information and security functions for government and private industry."

"Who will provide internal security and audit?"

"The Chair made those arrangements, Sara."

Sara responds with "Mm," and after a moment, adds, "Both women seem suited to their new roles." She pauses for several beats before continuing, "I'll begin calling in an audit project team from around the country later today. I should have an initial report for you tomorrow afternoon. We'll finish up and be out of your way by Friday."

Her voice excites me and soothes me in the same moment. The smell of her so close is driving me crazy. I have questions about Sara's past, but my instincts counsel patience, so I simply ask, "What's your situation, Sara?"

"I'm twenty-four, MBA from Northwestern in late `82. Started working for these guys last year."

Consider Sara's words and ask, "And how's that going?"

"It's not. Glass ceiling."

"I can imagine. So what are your plans after this project?"

"Quit."

Startled, I cock open one eye and ask, "Why?"

"I want to produce wealth for you, Jill." Opening both eyes, I look at her but say nothing. "You expect it of your executives and then stay out of their way, which is how I work," says Sara.

Soji's gentle slap on my ass tells me he has finished my massage. Sit up under his watchful eye, stand slowly and take my clothes from the peg. Standing there naked, I say, "Grab a shower. We'll eat breakfast and talk some more."

Sara eyes my body. "Nice bruises. I'm looking forward to visiting the dojo with you, Jill."

Turn to look at Soji, who nods but says nothing. "Soji and I'll take you over in the morning if you like."

"I like," says Sara with a little smile forming at the corner of her mouth. "Full contact? Worthy opponents?"

"Have to move to Japan or China for anything this good. The instructors point out your bad habits by knocking you on your ass and stomping you into the mats."

She glances over at Soji and lifts her eyebrows. "Yeah?"

Soji eyes her for a moment, then turns aside to fold the massage table and return the table to its cabinet.

Sara stands slowly and faces me. "Show me."

Smile and turn to the door. "Tomorrow."

She steps in front of me. "Now."

Glance at Soji, who merely raises one eyebrow. Hang my clothes and face her.

Realize the girl is watching, standing too close. Glance at her, so she moves quickly to the wall behind Soji.

Soji faces both of us for a moment, then drops his hand.

Sara moves in fast and low—a classic move executed to perfection.

Step inside her attack, taking two painful strikes, then toss her back against the near wall so sudden and hard it knocks her breath away. She tries to roll away but I'm already cutting her in half with a knee to the ribs and then slamming her into the mats. For good measure, I put a heel into her brisket, stunning her into submission.

When Soji barks out a halt, I still have my heel on her breastbone. Bend over Sara and look into her eyes, which are wide open in shock as she struggles to breathe. Standing slowly, I gather my clothes once more and leave to take my shower while Soji kneels beside her, speaking softly. Glance back to see Soji glaring at me. The girl walks over to stand beside Soji as he administers to Sara. Her eyes follow me as I turn and leave the room.

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Doc's Place Chat
© 2008, Michel Grover.
Chapter 19 | Part 3
Summer 2010

Lucia :
Mic has posted in the left frame paragraphs from Doc's Place, one of his copyrighted stories. I'm moderating chat here in the right frame. I post every day, but I don't post everything. I have formed a secondary group from which I may also post comments.

Maria :
I hope I'm not being lazy but I've read this passage several times and still do not understand the significance of a couple of details. After their workout, Jill is getting a massage from Soji as she answers Sara's question about the origin of her wealth. Jill pauses when she hears Sara make a soft sound in her throat. When Jill continues, she feels Sara touch her hair. What significance do the sound and the touch have?

Doug :
Maybe the two details have no significance at all. Did you consider that? Have you ever done some small thing for no reason?

Annie :

Doug, if you would spend more than an hour or two with any woman, you would know that most women want details to have significance. Even if the person experiencing the detail sees no significance in it, a woman observing it might.

I don't know the significance of either, Maria, but I guess that Sara is experiencing a complex web of emotions. She is physically close to Jill and feels Jill responding to their closeness. Jill is naked, relaxed and vulnerable. Jill is giving Sara her attention, probably not all of it, but most. Sara hears Jill's past coming alive from this prime mover, this hugely energetic and creative woman. Perhaps Sara's responding to that.

Steph :
I don't know either but I can empathize with that powerful web of emotions Sara is feeling as she sits close to Jill, listening to Jill as Jill talks only to her. Even though I don't consider myself spiritual, proximity to Jill can feel like a spiritual experience.

Maria :
My confidence is not high regarding this issue either, but I thought Sara considered Soji's interruption to be of little interest. Sara thanks Soji but ignores the content of what he said and asks about Le and Mei. The implication is that Sara is interested in what Jill has to say and how she says it, not a recitation of facts about Jill's life.

Annie :

The one exception in which Sara does show interest from Soji's interruption is the dojo.

By the way, Stephanie, we haven't heard from you for a while. Is everything okay?

Steph :
My ideal life is developing a few cracks in the foundation. A federal task force has called in my husband for questioning but they cannot provide information about an ongoing investigation. They asked him to bring identification papers. After the first appointment, he had to surrender his passport, which he needs for business travel twice a month to India. My husband is cooperating fully. He assures the children and me that he is not involved in any wrongdoing and that the whole mess will be over soon.

Doug :
I hope he's not involved in the same criminal proceedings that involve Avani's father.

Steph :
That's exactly what I fear, although he denies it. Such a thing seems highly unlikely but I can't stop thinking about it. I have read and re-read of your family's experience, Avani. Would you mind providing more details about how the investigation against your father began?

Avani :
It began innocently enough. The authorities called in my father to answer questions related to an ongoing investigation they would not discuss. They spent several meetings going over accounting details related to his business. During the entire questioning phase, my father understood that the investigators were looking for foreign involvement, so he wasn't worried. He assured my mother and grandmother that he was cooperating, the investigation was going well and it would all be over soon. We learned later that he certainly did have knowledge of what was going on and that he certainly was involved. I'm sorry, Stephanie. Please let us know how it's going.

Raj :
Speaking of criminal proceedings, Sara is still prodding Jill for details about security arrangements even though Jill is still providing little or no response. Meanwhile, Jill prods Sara for details about her security concerns. It's as if they're dancing around the security issue.

They share a critical exchange when Jill inquires about Sara's situation. When Sara says she graduated in late '82 and started working at the accounting firm in '83, Jill considers Sara's words before asking another question. Does Sara let slip that gap of several months on purpose? Obviously, Jill catches it, but lets it slide for now.

Sara chooses that moment to tell Jill she wants to produce wealth for her. When Jill puts her off, Sara challenges her to spar.

Now, this challenge is interesting on multiple levels. Sara has a business degree so she knows the rules and believes she's good at what she does. Jill has no business degree, ignores rules but has a business empire worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Sara can fight: again, she knows the rules and she thinks she's good. Jill ignores rules; she has left a trail of dead bodies since she was a teenager. Sara possesses little patience and wants answers now, while Jill possesses infinite patience and waits for the perfect opportunity to strike. Sara is a competitor from Northwestern; Jill is a monster from another dimension.

Jules :

My money was on Jill anyway, Raj, but you have explained it succinctly.

Carlo :

I'm beginning to understand Jill's fighting style, if such an unconventional and brutal technique can be a style. Jill takes abuse as she closes with her adversary. This tactic explains why she has so many bruises and, I suppose, wounds. Once she closes with her adversary, she uses superior strength, quickness and sheer force of will to kill—or, in this case, overpower and stun her adversary into submission, as we see here with Sara. Having beaten her, Jill leans over and looks into her eyes. Sara sees, as so many before her, in the mirror of Jill's eyes her own reflection and reality: I'm dead.

Lest you think Jill's look is only a threat, consider her attackers in the woods that morning described in dp8:2. Each of those men could see in that look—up close and personal—a simple fact: I'm dead.

Personally, I believe that Jill is one or two neuron flashes away from claiming every victory with such a kill. Jill wants to, and her adversary feels it in the strength draining away and sees it in Jill's eyes: I'm dead.

Imagine sparring or fighting this psycho bitch. You perform as you've learned and practiced a thousand times, but she closes with you far too quickly, ignoring every blow you deliver. Suddenly, you feel pain and shock from one crushing blow and another, and then you feel nothing as your heart slows, breathing stops and energy drains from your body. A face, devoid of humanity and emotion, appears as your vision fades. The eyes are empty, like a mirror, and you realize, I'm dead.

Alan :
Damn, Carlo, you paint a bleak picture of Jill's match with Sara. I assumed she was glaring into Sara's face as if to say, "That's what happens when you mess with me," or something like that. After reading your description, I compared it to what I know about Jill. Yours is more accurate and a hell of a lot scarier.

Bill Jr. :
Our discussion of Pere succession planning has been festering inside my skull for some time now, but I have not been able to figure out exactly why. Raj's and Carlo's discussion of Jill's characteristics and fighting style have helped me clarify what is bothering me. Amalie is a possible successor to Sara. Lupita is a possible successor to Ume. Both those are essential Pere positions. Does Pere need to find a successor to Jill? After all, her only function within Pere is board member. Occasionally, she does a little wet work or undercover work in the field. Does anyone have thoughts on whether succession planning is even necessary for Jill?

Amalie :
Perhaps Jill has already replaced her function with Aliversal. She has described Aliversal as the repository of all her energy and dreams. Aliversal receives Jill's entire majority share of stock in Pere and Midori.

Benny :
Aliversal replaces Jill's stock ownership, Amalie, but Aliversal does not replace Jill's function. The characteristics that Pere may require are Jill's instincts regarding executive recruitment and fieldwork. SIA replaces Jill's function in recruitment and fieldwork, but not necessarily her instincts. Jill's instincts are valuable and they may even be essential.

Bill Jr. :
Thank you, both. Those are excellent comments, which leave us with the question: Are Jill's instincts essential or simply valuable to Pere? Must Pere replace Jill or not?

Lupita :
Let's assume that Jill's instincts are essential to Pere, and therefore Pere must replace them. Must Jill's replacement possess her other characteristics, which Raj and Carlo have identified? To state the question another way: When considering Jill Price's replacement, do we look for a psychopathic serial killer with excellent instincts or do we look for excellent instincts? Does Pere replace Jill Price or Jill Price's instincts?

Bill Jr. :
Has Pere been considering this question for a while, Lupita?

Lupita :
Ume, Sara, Le, Keiko and others on the selection committee consider such questions for all replacement candidates, Bill.

Bill Jr. :
Is Jill on the selection committee?

Lupita :
No, however we seek her occasional input. To anticipate your question, Jill simply says that Pere and Aliversal must adapt for successful operation regardless of what the future may present.

Bill Jr. :
That leaves the selection committee with broad discretion but it does not answer my question or yours, Lupita. What will the committee do?

Lupita :
Have patience and watch for opportunities and candidates that inform our options for action.

Carlo :
At present, has the committee identified possible candidates to succeed Jill Price?

Lupita :
No

Raj :
Are you and Amalie members of the selection committee, Lupita?

Lupita :
Yes, but we only recently joined.

Alan :
Is Benny on the selection committee?

Lupita :
No

Les :
How often does the selection committee meet? I realize that physical meetings are unnecessary over the neural network, but do you link up regularly on this or related issues?

Lupita :
No, Ume and I pull the committee together whenever we want consensus.

Marcus :
There is awesome power in your response, little one. One can almost feel your effort to give the impression that you're trying to keep Ume in the loop on this and other issues for which you have assumed responsibility.