Chapter Thirty: Cost and Benefit
The document was some type of cost-benefit analysis – that much Grace could tell from the name. Anything on Hoskins' computer that started with "CB" was cost-benefit.
There was a clear date on the file, too – one of the few things that remained intact.
She wrote it down on a pink sticky note, and then started going line by line, looking for other recognizable bits of information.
Soon, Grace had identified a product number and a part number, both repeated in several places throughout the document, as well as two different dollar amounts, and the words "lawsuit," "defective," and "recall."
She stopped and checked her watch. Her right foot started to tap a nervous beat. Seven minutes. Hoskins had been gone seven minutes. Really, how much longer could it take to fetch some rancid coffee and a Danish?
Grace whipped out her cell phone and tapped the CEO's mobile number into the keypad.
She heard his phone ringing right in her ear, and also somewhere just down the hall.
Grace quickly started closing documents and files.
"Hello?" Again, there was a weird echo effect as his voice emanated from two different places.
"Hi, it's me," Grace gushed.
She could almost feel him grin. "Getting a little impatient, are we? Well, I'm about ten feet away from you right now, coffee and Danish in hand, as requested…"
"Um, yeah, that's the thing – I changed my mind. A Danish just sounds too sugary right now…I think I want some chips, instead. Chips sound yummy."
He chuckled. "Well, you're a finicky one, aren't you? The vending machine's down on the first floor, all the way across the building. It's going to take me a few minutes…"
"That's okay," Grace assured him pleasantly.
"Any particular kind?"
"No, anything you have is fine. I'm easy."
Another chuckle. "I doubt that. Anyway, just make sure you don't fill up too much on the chips – I want you still to be hungry for dinner…"
"Oh, don't worry. I'm always…hungry." She let her voice drop half an octave on the last word.
A sultry laugh tickled against her eardrum. "So, where do you want to go for dinner?" Hoskins asked. This time, the echo effect of his voice was gone.
Grace cautiously began re-opening files. "Ummm…I don't know…Oooh, how about that new place, the one that looks like a castle with all the pink glass?"
"Glinda's?"
"Yes, that's it!" she exclaimed eagerly.
"Okay, reservations for two at Glinda's, and a bag of chips, coming right up," he promised her.
"Great," she beamed.
"Bye," Hoskins cooed, right before he hung up.
Grace tossed the phone onto the desk and made a "yuck" face.
Evidence tying you to a double-homicide, coming right up, she thought, scanning the list of product numbers.
After two more minutes of scouring, Grace had learned that the product referred to in CB0409 was the first model of Durenko's best-selling ATV, the "Tyger." The part number in question matched the rear axle used in the vehicle.
Grace did a quick check. They weren't using that particular part on the new models, but there could be a million reasons for that.
She looked back at the CB0409 document.
Lawsuits…
Defective…
Recall…
There had been three lawsuits filed against Durenko Sports, Inc that involved Tyger accidents. Two fatalities and one serious injury. All of them had been settled out of court, each one to the tune of generous millions. But, as far as Grace knew, no single part had been identified as being responsible for the crashes. And there certainly hadn't ever been any recall on the Tyger…
0409…
April, 2009.
That date didn't make any sense.
The original Tyger had been released in December of 2008.
The document, which mentioned lawsuits and settlements, had been last modified on April 11, 2009.
But the first injury involving the use of a Tyger hadn't even occurred until August of that year.
Grace stared at the screen.
How could they have known, before the fact, that there would be lawsuits?
How could they...?
Understanding began to dawn then, slowly and horribly.
The two dollar amounts. "Recall" and "Defective." Cost and benefit. The dates…
Grace's stomach dropped sickeningly. She brought a hand up to cover her mouth.
"Oh, my God…"