P. D. Ballard - Brothers in Blood

[Version1.0scanned and proofed by Binwiped]

[Version2.0proofread and formatted by braven]

P.D. Ballard

Brothersin Blood

One

FOR THE LAST HOUR JasonDearborne, in a trance of boredom, had been answering the questionsof the solemn-faced reporters. The interview was the PR departmentsbaby, and anything of interest to the business world concerninghim could have been distributed in a printed rsummore efficiently than by this personal appearance they had insistedon. It was, they rationalized, his debut into the rarefied strata ofupper management. It would make good copy. Good copy meant valuableadvertising for the firm, which was already a household name,Conglomerated Stores. The newsmen wanted a look at him, even thougheverybody conceded that he would say nothing to rock thefinancial community. So he was cooperating. They had gonethrough the sparring of trying to jar something really newsworthy outof him. They were now down to the American Dream, the publicspreoccupation with those mysterious steps by which Boy Makes Good.

The gray man from theWall Street Journal intoned, Six years ago when yougraduated from Harvard did you foresee that in so short a time youwould rise to the presidency of the countrys largestchain of markets and discount houses before you were thirtyyears old? and thought he was rewarded with a rather glazedlook and a faint frown from the young president.

Jason Dearborne broughthis eyes back from Edy Howe where she sat in the far corner behindthe reporters, sleek and tantalizing, and mouthing atrociously vulgarand intimate words designed to rattle him.

Farthest thingfrom my mind, he said to the gray man, but his words wereaimed at Edy.

Edy grinned. The mannodded approval. Did you go directly from school to work forClarence Howe? For the Big C stores?

No, I didnt,Jason said. My first job was with Meyer and Meyer in Denver ... the accountants.

The gray head approvedagain. One of the best firms of its kind. You came up throughaccounting then. Will you tell us how you... ah... made thechange?

Dearborne smiled.Youre asking if I was fired? I was not.

The man from Time wasgetting restless, impatient with the tedious probing. They would behere all day at this rate, pulling out answers like impacted teeth.Besides, the new girl reporter from Newark looked boredshe wasfishing out a compact mirror and playing with a strand of hair at herearand if so, she would be hard to get along with on theirdate afterward.

Mr. Dearborne.He sounded too aggressive and toned it down some. Will youtell us in your own words, where was the springboard? What wasthe big jump? How did you pull it off? Id like to get at theHoratio Alger angle.

The girl from Newark satin line between Jason and Edy Howe. Edy was still making faces, andthere was that mirror, able to pick them up and turn this interviewinto a source of speculations that the PR boys might find livelypublicity but that he personally could do without. Jason sat forwardeagerly.

Fine... fine.Yes. Id like that. Its a good illustration of howopportunity and luck help each other... I was very uncertain inthe first weeks with Meyer and Meyer... Actually, I was scaredblue...

He smiled directly ather as Newark turned back to hear the confession. Now if he couldjust hold her attention, keep her mind off Edy, if indeed it wasEdy the mirror had been inspecting.

It took me someweeks to get beyond the feeling that someone was looking over myshoulder, and that injudicious little phrase brought theghost of a sly, satisfied smirk from Newark. He cursed Edy silentlyand went on with the story.

Then when Idsettled down I was sent out on the job of auditing the books of theJim Dandy Stores in Denver, a young chain run by an uncle and twonephews. They had been all right with their original three stores,each run by one of the family, but theyd tried to grow toofast, had tried to build up a credit with the wholesalers and banks,and gotten into deep trouble. They were losing money fast and wouldsoon have to declare bankruptcy. Their main difficulty was they werenot yet big enough to buy in sufficient quantity to receive aprice break that would let them compete with the really big chains. Italked to the family and told them the only way out was to sell to abig corporation or merge with one. They said they had tried andcouldnt find anyone out there who would touch them and askedif I would look for a buyer. I didnt know much betterthan they did where to turn but I thought what the hell, they weresunk if something wasnt done, so I came east to see if I couldinterest Conglomerated.

Newark interruptedbrightly. You knew the Howe family previously?

Jason Dearborne let theinference pass. No, miss. One of my professors at the BusinessSchool had preached that in selling we should start at the top andwork down, and Conglomerated was the top. I sent in my card and askedfor an appointment. I guess the name Meyer and Meyer was enough toget me in, and Mr. Howe was very courteous.

The Wall StreetJournal reporter looked to the grizzled gnome sitting next toJason. So, Mr. Howe, it was on Mr. Dearbornesrecommendation that you bought the Jim Dandy Stores five years ago?

Clarence Howe winked upbroadly at his protg and nudged him with a sharpelbow. I bought Jason here. On the strength of the pitch hemade. Had to take the stores to get him. I told him Id buy thestores if hed go in as local manager.

The gray man soundedmildly incredulous. Even though he was inexperienced in foodmerchandising?

He knew costaccounting; that was more important. Anybody can learn to buy andsell food.

Then Newark was inagain, purring, And why did you decide to make him presidentof the Big C chain? When did you?

Howe slappedpossessively at Jasons arm. That first morning I talkedto him. He just needed a little seasoning.

Across the room Edystretched her left arm and laid a finger on the wristwatch there, herlips framing the words, Knock it off. Dearborne calleda halt to the interview, pleading another appointment, and gotto his feet. Clarence Howe rose beside him. As the reporters left,Dearborne followed them, angling toward Edy to reach her after theyhad gone. But the girl from Newark turned aside and reached Edybefore him. He heard her question. Mrs. Bullock, was yourgrandfathers choice of a new president a surprise to you orhave you known for long that it was coming?

Edy, standing, lookeddown on the shorter girl, showing amusement. You mean, am Ikeeping him? No, he got the job on his own.

Newark started but shedid not back down. You are direct. She laughed alittle. But you do know him personally? Does hispromotion please you? Or arent you interested in thebusiness?

Yes, Iminterested. Edys tone was light and easy. Nowthat hes a success I am marrying him.

Oh? I didntunderstand that you were divorced.

Im not,Edy said.

Jason Dearborne arrivedthen, fighting temper and saying stiffly, If you willexcuse us now... the interview is over.

Thank you, Mr.Dearborne. Thank you, Mrs. Bullock, Newark saidcheerfully and leftvery pleased with her scoop, both theprintable and unprintableto keep her date with the man fromTime.

Edy was laughing aloudeven before the door closed and Jason leveled a shaking finger ather.

What the hellwere you trying to do back here with all that crazy pantomime?He shook the finger at the door. That woman had a mirror; shewas lip-reading you.

Edy lifted an elegantshoulder. So she knows some words I know. I wanted to loosenyou up some. My God, you were stuffy up there, the very picture of abloody boring accountant.

Clarence Howe arrivedfor the last words, took in Jasons flustered scowl, andraised his brows. Seems to me I missed out on something.Whats the excitement?

Yourgranddaughter is a spoiled brat who ought to be upended and spankedred.