We last read Chapter 7, where we learn that MacGregor Lockheed, a political opportunist, is somehow involved with Xavier Wheldon, StarPrime CEO, in StarPrime’s attempted purchase of a nuclear power plant. Lockheed pressures Wheldon into agreeing that Olivia Lockheed, MacGregor’s daughter, should cooperate with our protagonist, Beth Harper, in Beth’s investigation into the sale, so they can keep Harper close and learn what she knows. Olivia works for the Pennsylvania government agency tasked with investigating and approving the sale of the plant, and isn’t thrilled with the idea of accommodating Harper.
This is the second story, so if you want to start from the very beginning, you can jump over to book 1, and begin with the Prologue of Sapphire Angel, Superheroine. Or to start at the beginning of book 2 (this story), click over to the Prologue of Power Play.
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The shades were up in the conference room on the eighth floor of the Keystone Building, one of the state office buildings ringing the perimeter of the Pennsylvania Capitol complex. After a day of rain, the sky was clear and blue, giving Beth a perfect view of the capitol complex. The buildings rose proudly into the sky, reminding her of the United States Capitol in Washington. The dome of Pennsylvania's Capitol building stood out above all, shining in the morning light.
Beth couldn't believe she stood in the OCO offices, a day after doing nothing, waiting for the rain to stop. When the rather unpleasant OCO attorney had called her yesterday afternoon, asking why she was interested in the deal, Beth told her of the shooting and her questions about StarPrime buying a dying business. The caller had invited her to the OCO offices.
Beth turned at the sound of the door opening, expecting to see an OCO representative. She raised a perplexed eyebrow when instead she saw Nick Hunt, the young man who had been a source for one of her early stories, and who kept asking her out on dates.
"Beth!" he said, a grin on his face.
"Uh, hey Nick," she stammered. "What are you doing here?"
"I work here," he replied. "Just transferred over from the Department of Insurance a couple weeks ago. What brings you here?"
"Oh, just meeting with some people in your office for a story I'm working on. Routine stuff."
"How long will it go? When you're done, maybe we can get lunch."
Beth bit her lip. Ethan had told her she needed to be direct with Nick and tell him she wasn't interested, but she didn't have the heart for such bluntness. She was saved from having to reply, though, when a woman entered carrying a leather folio. The woman was beautiful in a manufactured way. Her bleach-blond hair spilled down around an expensive navy blue business suit, unbuttoned and revealing a tight blouse which accentuated her large breasts and sculpted physique. A knee-length skirt displayed her muscled calves and tanned legs. A chiseled jaw and strong cheek bones dominated a face that was either stunning or harsh, depending on one's preference.
Nick shrank in the woman's presence, backing up and scurrying out the door. Beth smiled as the woman marched toward her. Beth's smile disappeared when the woman gave her a condescending look up and down, accompanied by what might have been a sneer. The gaze lingered on Beth's body, causing the young woman to wrap one arm across her chest.
"Olivia Lockheed, chief deputy counsel," the buff woman snipped. "We talked on the phone."
"Beth Harper," Beth said, recovering and extending her hand. Lockheed took Beth's hand in a grip that caused Beth to wince, and shook it.
"I know who you are," Lockheed curtly. "This is a rare courtesy we're extending you. Don't forget it."
Beth didn't answer, confused by the woman's bluntness. This woman had invited her here, after all. Before Beth could recover, another person entered the room. She recognized Richard Emerson, the chief counsel of the Office of Corporate Oversight, from her research the night before. Emerson was a tall, thin man, and wore khakis, a short-sleeved white shirt, and a hideous blue tie with dragons on it. He was in his mid fifties with thinning brown hair, but otherwise looked younger than his age.
"Welcome, Ms. Harper," Emerson said warmly, extending his hand. "I'm Richard Emerson."
Beth took his hand, noticing the friendly twinkle in his eye matched by the soothing tone of his voice. She immediately liked the man. He carried himself with a gentle, friendly air, which stood in stark contrast to Olivia's Lockheed's demeanor.
"Please, have a seat," Emerson said, gesturing to the table. As Beth moved to the spot where she had placed her iPad, a folder, and a notepad, she couldn't help but notice how Olivia Lockheed wore a look of annoyance.
Emerson sat across from Beth, with Lockheed to his right. Lockheed opened her folio and scribbled something near the top of a notepad. Beth waited for Emerson to speak.
"I understand you're writing a story that involves one of our cases?" he asked.
Stanley had used Beth's story as an excuse to get her foot in the door. Beth couldn't reveal her story was a secondary motive, to justice and to helping Bud Tanner.
"I am, yes. As you're aware, I'm looking into StarPrime's purchase of Echo Energy. Your agency has the final approval on the deal."
"Yes, we do, thanks to the NRC. Is there something in particular that would make such a mundane matter interesting to you?"
"Yes," Beth said, nodding and sliding her folder across the table. "That should give you a bit of an idea."
Emerson opened the folder and skimmed stories about the nuclear plant's troubled finances. When finished, he read an article about the shooting on Xavier Wheldon's land. Below it, the folder contained other materials concerning the shooting and concerning Bud Tanner.
"Who is this Bud Tanner?" Emerson asked.
"He asked to meet with me. He said he had information about the StarPrime deal. He also mentioned the shooting and related it to the deal. But someone tried to abduct him when I went to meet with him. I can't imagine it was a coincidence."
Emerson raised an eyebrow before turning his attention back to the materials. He read for several minutes. When done, he scratched his head and frowned.
"Ms. Harper, what exactly do you want from us? I mean, I understand you want to learn about the sale of Echo Energy, but I'm not sure I understand the specifics of what you want."
Beth pondered how much to reveal. Would a suspicion of foul play surrounding the sale of the plant cause Emerson to circle the wagons, and shut her out while the investigation continued? Or would he open up to her? Her disclosures so far had gotten her further with the OCO than she would have thought possible, so she pressed forward. She would play on his job insecurities, though.
"Mr. Emerson, Bud Tanner knows something about this sale. I will be looking into it for my story. You could stonewall me, and not share information on the deal, but that wouldn't look good if this blows up later and makes headlines.
"And it would look better for us if we help you, and if we find out what's going on before we give our blessing to the deal?" he asked.
"Exactly."
Emerson looked at Beth, almost like he was looking right through her. He appeared to be considering what to say. Before he could speak, Olivia Lockheed jumped in.
"Ms. Harper, excuse me," Lockheed snapped. "It isn't up to you to decide what this agency needs to do. We have this well under control."
Beth restrained herself from snapping back. She wanted to put this woman in her place, but she was the outsider here.
"Ms. Lockheed," Beth said, after calming herself. "I'm simply —"
"You're going to sit there and be quiet," Lockheed snarled, leaving Beth in stunned silence. "I'm the one in control of this investigation, and I don't need you telling me how it will work. I've already discussed this with Mr. Emerson, and we have made a decision."
"I see," Beth said, her face burning red.
"We want full transparency here, so you will accompany our investigator assigned to this deal," Lockheed continued. Beth's jaw dropped for a moment. "You will learn what he learns, and you will share all you know with him. That's the first condition. The second is that you will publish nothing without clearing it with me first. Understood?"
If Beth had been stunned before, she was utterly blown away now. An invitation to take part in the investigation was the last thing she had expected.
"Understood," she said, giving a short nod.
"What is the timeline for your story, Ms. Harper?" Emerson asked. "We need to give Xavier Wheldon our decision on the sale of the plant by August 30."
"That's only eight days," Beth said with an unintentional wrinkle of her nose.
"Be glad you're getting that!" Lockheed shot back, glaring at Beth. Emerson held up a hand.
"I know it's not much time, Ms. Harper. I wish I could offer more, but Mr. Wheldon wields considerable influence around here. We need to make a timely decision about the sale of the plant." Emerson gave a long, loud sigh. "I can give you an extra day. Technically, Mr. Wheldon doesn't need a decision until August 31, but that's a Saturday. I'll wait to meet with my people until Saturday afternoon."
"You'll meet on a Saturday afternoon?"
"You think because we're state employees, we don't work on the weekend or holidays?" the OCO chief asked her with a grin. "Yes, I will. You evidently have some people in high places on your side, too. And I'll go one step further. Before I sit down with my people to make our decision, we'll sit down with you to answer any final questions."
"I appreciate that."
"And we'll get you the records you requested with your fax, or at least the ones we're allowed to share. But I think you'll be disappointed. There are no smoking guns there. It's very boring stuff."
"I didn't expect to find much there, but I had to start somewhere."
"Understood," Emerson replied. "Let's walk the straight line with this one, okay? I don't want my name getting dragged into anything improper. If it would get out that I sanctioned the involvement of a private citizen..." His voice trailed off, and Beth could see concern cross his face.
"Don't worry," Beth blurted, before he could change his mind. "This will be above board."
"Good," he answered. "Which investigator is assigned to this one, Olivia?" he asked.
"Conner Bennett."
"Ah, Conner," Emerson said. "One of our better ones. He'll take good care of you, Ms. Harper, and he'll keep things on track so we get this one done."
Beth suppressed a frown. Get this one done. She questioned whether Emerson's heart was really into finding out what was happening. Perhaps he wanted to do just enough to give himself some political cover, in the event Tanner's warnings proved true.
Emerson reached for the phone and pushed a button, saying, "Kelly, can you come show our guest down to Conner's office?"
Emerson wrapped up the meeting, and he and Lockheed headed out the door, but not before Lockheed glanced back at Beth with a look of disdain mixed with... something else. Beth noticed the woman's eyes again perform a quick scan of her body.
A few minutes after Lockheed and Emerson left, a tall, thin woman with dark hair and a wrinkled face entered.
"If you're ready, I can take you down to Conner Bennett's office," the woman said.
"Sure, lead the way."
The woman exited the conference room, with Beth grabbing her things and falling in next to her.
As they were walking, the woman said, "A piece of advice. Don't let Conner get to you."
"What do you mean?" Beth asked.
"Conner can be a little sure of himself. Other young ladies view him as... what's the term young people use? A player? I think he's just full of bluster, and actually a respectable lad under it all. But stay on your toes."
"I appreciate the advice. I'll be careful."
Beth noticed the starkness of her surroundings as they navigated the halls. Bland eggshell white walls adorned the walls, and blocky government-issued furniture filled the rooms. Beth watched the nameplates on the walls on either side. They passed several offices until coming to a nameplate with the words "Conner Bennett" mounted outside the door.
"I'll let you talk to him," the woman said. "Pick up any phone and dial extension 248 if you need me."
Beth nodded, thanked her, and turned back to the door. It was open, so she stepped inside. As she did so, Olivia Lockheed walked out, brushed past her and fixing Beth with a cold stare and a stiff jaw. Behind her, a man strolled toward Beth. His hands were in his pockets, and his eyes traveled up and down her body.
He approached with a grin on his face. The man was lean and had rugged good looks, but she thought he looked like a bit of a caricature of himself. He wore jeans and a black pullover sweater, and his short black hair was teased up with mousse. He had rough stubble on his face and wore sunglasses atop his head. He approached her, chewing a piece of gum behind his smile.
"Conner Bennett," he said, sticking out his hand and smiling. "Richard emailed me the basic facts of the case, and Olivia just filled me in on more details."
He did have a nice smile, Beth had to admit. But the woman's words came back to her, and her defenses went up.
"Beth Harper," Beth replied, raising her arm with caution and shaking his hand. His hand was warm and his grip firm.
"So we get to work together," he remarked. "This should be fun."
Beth forced a smile. "I'm not really here to have fun."
She winced inwardly after saying the words. They had come out harsher than she had intended.
"Woah," Bennett replied with a laugh, holding up his hands. "Didn't mean to offend you."
"You didn't — " Beth started and stopped, already annoyed. "You didn't offend me. All I meant was this is an important matter, and that's my focus."
"Of course it is," Conner replied. She couldn't decide if she heard condescension in his voice. "Doesn't mean we can't enjoy it, though. You don't have to be uptight the whole time."
Beth looked at him, her mouth agape. Emerson's assistant had said he might be a player, but she hadn't said he was obnoxious.
"I am not uptight!" Beth protested. "This is just — Oh, forget it." She said, shaking her head in exasperation.
"Yep, uptight," he murmured. He had a slight grin on his face as he said the words, and his head was cocked as he watched Beth with a look of amusement. As he spoke, Beth heard a noise behind her. She glanced over her shoulder to see Olivia Lockheed standing in the doorway. Had she been there the whole time?
"Remember," Lockheed began. "He'll be in the field with you, but I'll be reviewing reports. So I'll know everything going on."
Beth started to speak, but stopped herself. It wasn't worth getting into an argument. She turned to Conner instead.
"Where do you want to start?" he asked.
"I was planning to check out the scene of the shooting yesterday, but got rained out. Between the sun coming out in the afternoon yesterday, and today's conditions, it should have dried out enough to check it out. I plan to go now."
Conner shrugged. "They want me to join you, so I'm in."
"Then let's get moving. I'm parked in the first guest spot down in the garage. Meet me down there in 10 minutes."
She turned and stalked out of the room, not even looking at Lockheed as she walked past. She chastised herself for letting Bennett get under her skin.
On the way to her car, she stopped in the restroom. She pulled a mirror out of her bag and checked her hair and makeup again. She tried to convince herself she wasn't doing it for Bennett's sake.
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OIivia Lockheed does not need to be so mean, jeez......aIso, August 30/31? That’s TOMORROW! Or....one day from now, at the time of me posting this! Bennett strikes me as very......invading, I guess, wouId be a good term for it. HopefuIIy nothing goes too wrong between Beth and him. Anyways.....Iet’s go check out that crime scene.