The Children's Corner
Chapter 40
"Keep this for Alexis," Jack instructs, shoving an envelope at Rick.
"What is it?" Rick inquires.
"It's a graduation present, a key to a safety deposit box with some family history. But it will only work after I'm dead."
"Why not just tell me?" Rick wonders.
"Because I've been watching you, Richard. I know how you behave. If this was for you, you wouldn't be able to resist poking around. But if I give it to you for Alexis, you'll leave it alone and keep it safe."
"All right," Rick agrees, stowing the envelope in his shirt pocket.
"Now that we've got that settled, why did you request a meet?" Jack inquires.
"Because I think the Russians have the city, and one particular part of the city, by the short hairs. I figured if anyone could fill me in on the situation, it would be you."
"Are we talking active measures here?" Jack questions.
Rick shrugs. "Damned if I know. But I believe the Arkady Syndicate is involved."
Jack whistles. "Arkady has its fingers in a lot of pies. Can you be more specific?"
"The area impacted by the Queens Fire."
"Off the top of my head, I don't know of any connections there. I'm better informed on activities linked to their machinations overseas. Those are more in keeping with my portfolio. But I know who would know. Have you got some time? I can send a secure text."
"How much time?"
"Depends on how busy she is." Jack checks his watch. "But with any luck, we should be hitting her around her lunch hour. And when she's in a position to enjoy a decent meal, she takes full advantage of the situation."
Rick quirks an eyebrow. "Sounds like you know her well."
"I should. She's more or less your stepmother, Son."
"She's what? Wait!"
Jack's thumbs move over his phone. "Wait? For what? I thought you were pressed for time. There. My message went through. And she picked it up. It shouldn't be long now."
"Well, until we get an answer, you can tell me when I acquired a stepmother."
"I could, but I'm not going to," Jack replies. "However, I will tell you that we've worked together on and off through the years. I suppose we both became aware of our mortality and decided to seize whatever time we could together. In my business, the end can come at any moment. I think you know that. She's relatively secure in her present assignment, but it hasn't been much different for her. So we understand each other, Richard. Something someone who hasn't lived the job could never do. I would hope, with your writer's imagination, you could see that."
Rick scrubs a hand down his face. "I suppose I can, or I will, given a chance to digest it." Jack's phone gives a soft beep. "Is that her answer?"
"Uh-huh. Jack turns the phone around for Rick to see. "I'm not displaying any identifying information. You can read it for yourself."
"Wow! Arkady's been buying in the area for two decades, always over market value. And not just that part of the city – several others. They've been building enclaves."
"Except not obvious ones, like Brighton Beach – or that recently exposed town," Jack points out. "This is more insidious. A few individuals would work their way into the social fabric while whispering in the right ears to support active measures."
"And from there, dis-information would spread through social media from what the followers regard as a trusted source," Rick realizes. "No wonder Arkady doesn't want anyone looking into moving people away from the fire zone. The news media would pick up on the irregularities in the property sales. All it would take is a Pulitzer-hungry team from the Ledger to upset the whole operation."
"I suspect you're right about that, Richard," Jack agrees. "You, and whoever you're asking for, should be able to follow the trail from here. And don't forget to put Alexis' gift in that safe in your office."
"How? Never mind. Of course, you know about the safe. You probably know what's in my underwear drawer."
Castle-like crinkles fan out from Jack's eyes. "I'd rather leave your underwear alone. And we'd both better get going. Nice to see you, Son."
"Yeah. Thanks."
"Did you see him?" Kate asks as an arriving Rick heads straight for the kitchen.
"I saw him. It was enlightening – in more ways than one. I want to talk to you about it later." Rick grabs a glass mug and fills it with ice and root beer. "And, God! It must be 95 in the shade out there. But I have to go out again. I need to check on some stuff in the Hall of Records."
"Can't Weldon do that?" Kate wonders.
"He'd be noticed. And if he sent a staff member, it could tip off one of the eyes and ears at City Hall. I go through city records every now and then to do research. So no one would think twice about me turning up. I just have to put something in the safe first. But if you and Julia have matters in hand here, I really should go."
"We're fine. See you later?"
"The Hall of Records closes at 4:30. So I can't take too deep a dive, even if I want to."
Rick pores over a stack of documents. City property records are digitized back to 1966, but an online search doesn't tell him everything he wants to know. Specifically, it doesn't readily reveal patterns. But by tracing above-market transactions and googling the parties involved, he's beginning to see one.
From what Rick can tell, the Russians have been spinning the various threads of a power web. And one of them is firmly anchored less than a mile from Kompetent Kleaning – or the remains of it.
Arkady bought a modest home from Michael (Mick) Moriarty in 2006. The syndicate paid twice the going rate, but it was the peak of the real estate bubble, and no one paid much attention to one more outlandish sale. At the time, Mick was a minor party official, a purely volunteer post. But he moved up steadily through the ranks, gaining in influence. He began to guide who ran for the statehouse and ultimately for the U.S. Congress and Senate. Mick's always stayed behind the scenes but exerts considerable influence. Other recipients of Arkady's benevolence are following similar paths. One is on the City Council. Another is in the comptroller's office.
A warning chime sounds through the building. Rick checks a prominent wall clock. Five minutes until closing. He takes pictures of as many documents as he can to accompany his notes, finishing as a security guard motions him to depart. The author can take what he has on Queens to Weldon, but the plan reaches far beyond New York City. It has all the makings of a bloodless coup.
Clearly, Jack's people, or at least Rick's stepmother's people, are aware of what's going on. Rick hopes they're doing whatever they can to stop it. Rick's been acquainted with the sub rosa world of active measures for years, even if his books show a much more dramatic side of international intrigue. But finding so much going on practically on his doorstep sends cold shivers down his spine. He needs to talk to Kate – and about a lot more than his newly discovered stepmother. With any luck, he can do it in the quiet lull after the twins' evening feeding. At least he hopes so.