Read Online Outerbridge Reach by Robert Stone - Free Book Online Page B

As I have informed the press, so I will inform the board. Tomorrow.”
    A deeper silence followed mention of the board.
    â€œQuestions?” Harry asked.
    Questions seemed to hover. None were asked.
    â€œWe expect the board’s support,” Harry said in answer. “We have been led to believe we will have the board’s support. Questions?”
    â€œWhere’s Matty?” asked a voice from the crowd. A prankster disguising his voice. A couple of people turned to see who it was.
    â€œSomewhere warm,” Harry said. “With a broad.” A moment later he said, “I apologize to the women for that remark. A function of age. Sorry.”
    There was nervous laughter, dental hisses, faint groans.
    â€œWhat’s the official story?” a younger woman asked.
    â€œPrivate family considerations,” he said, enunciating carefully. “Personal matters of no interest to the public.”
    He drew himself up and addressed the room.
    â€œI understand your concerns,” Thorne said to his executives. “I’m sure they’re the same as mine. The first is—pardon the expression—criminal liability. The other is how solvent are our component organizations. Who can tell me something I don’t know?”
    He looked about the room.
    â€œNo one? Good. Then everyone go have lunch in the dining room. Everyone except the legal department. If you want a hot tip on the market I suggest you buy Hylan. It’s seriously undervalued.”
    There was more dutiful laughter. People filed out until only Thorne, Livingston and the two lawyers remained.
    â€œHow’s it look?” Thorne asked them.
    â€œMatty’s gone, all right,” one of the lawyers said. “He hasn’t sent any postcards.”
    â€œWhat about foul play?” Mr. Livingston asked. “Given some of his—”
    â€œForget it,” Thorne said, interrupting.
    â€œWhy, Harry?”
    â€œBecause,” Thorne said, “he’s not the type.”
    They pondered.
    â€œI talked to my daughter,” the second lawyer said. “She’s heard that the Southern District of New York is working on an indictment. She understands it only names Matty.”
    â€œI’m sure that little prick would like to go to trial before the election,” Thorne said. “Just Matty?”
    â€œThat’s what she tells me, Harry.”
    â€œThe building groups in the South are going under,” Thorne said. “I happen to think we can survive that. But I also think we’ll have criminal proceedings there and I don’t know who they’ll pin it on. Maybe Hillsborough Group as such, maybe Matty, maybe us. Corporately.”
    â€œHillsborough’s numbers there are deceptive,” the second lawyer said.
    Harry laughed ill-humoredly. “Fuckin’ right, they are. Anyway, it’ll be in federal court in Winston-Salem. I wish we could fight the whole war down there.”
    â€œThe bank is the biggest problem,” the other lawyer said. “That’s the second circuit in Connecticut. They’ll have a ball with that bank.”
    â€œThe bank,” Thorne said bitterly.
    There was a reflective silence.
    â€œWell, let’s get a bankruptcy package together for Hillsborough,” Thorne said. “See if we can break a few hearts.”
    He saw that the others were still looking at him expectantly.
    â€œWhat can I say?” he asked them. “He fell in love with the game. He became the victim of his own abilities. It happens. It happens to the best and it happens to the rest—that’s what they say at Suffolk Downs. Suffolk Downs is a racetrack,” he informed the group. “In Boston.”
    â€œWonder where he is,” said the first lawyer.
    â€œI told you,” Harry said. “Somewhere warm with a broad. I put my foot in my mouth.”
    â€œProbably on his boat,” said the man who had commented on