The Russian Crisis

CHAPTER 19

CHAPTER NINETEEN

After his meeting with Carmen and Fred, Jackson spent the rest of the day visiting staff members of the MLD&T division, picking their brains about the software but not mentioning the theft of source code to anyone. Some of the staffers refused to discuss anything technical with him because, after all, he was retired and not an active employee of the new JPI. Some were eager to tell Jackson of advances in the software he had inspired a year and more ago.

At the end of the long afternoon, Jackson was looking forward to returning to his condo and resting. He was tired mentally and physically. His knees were aching from alternatively sitting and standing. He found himself forgetting some of the information he had just been told.

Nothing was easy in Toronto traffic. Jackson vowed the next time he had to move around the city, he would do it using the much more efficient public transit system.

Jackson arrived at his condo after 7 p.m. He made a ham and cheese sandwich in the small kitchen and ate it while sitting at the kitchen island. He drank some fizzy water and headed for the couch. He turned on the television with the remote and suffered through five minutes of meaningless commercials before falling asleep with his feet on the ottoman.

The morning finally came with a sunrise that reflected from the windows on the CN Tower and on the golden panes of the Royal Bank headquarters in the downtown core. Jackson thought it would have looked spectacular on the bay from the giant windows of his cottage. He dressed quickly and made coffee. No sugar, just a dash of milk.

Jackson grabbed his workout and garment bags and headed down to the exercise room in his building. An hour later, feeling better, he climbed off the StairMaster and went to the locker room for a shower and change.

An hour after that, Jackson stepped down from the streetcar and crossed to the sidewalk in front of the JPI building. Ahead, he saw Maxim Blax being helped out of a limo by a man Jackson recognized as a company driver. He sped up and said hello to the driver as he passed the limo. That brought a large smile in return.

"Hey Max... wait for me," Jackson called after emerging from the revolving door into the office building. He saw Blax look behind him but the CEO didn't slow.

Jackson caught Blax just as the man was stepping into an elevator. The two entered together.

"You avoiding me?" Jackson smiled disarmingly.

"Just things to do," Blax said in a tight voice.

"Hopefully, one of those things has to do with the thing we discussed," Jackson told his companion and the elevator rose to the executive floors with just the two men on board.

"I have no intention of wasting time on that nonsense."

Jackson was stung by the comment. While he had not expected Blax to go down without a fight, he certainly hadn't expected the CEO to ignore the theft of code completely. It was a theft that could send JPI down in flames.

"Is the board aware of the problem?" Jackson spoke in sudden anger. "I'm sure they won't dismiss this so lightly." He avoided using the term 'stolen' or 'theft'. One never knew who was listening over what device.

"No. I am not going to waste their time either."

"Max. I hired you because you were the best man - or woman - to take over this company. I can't believe I made that big a mistake."

"I am the best person," Blax stepped on the last word. "I am doing this job better than anyone else could. And that," he paused for effect. "That includes you, Jackson. You left this company because you were too old to do the job. I have saved this company and it's about time..."

"Shut up, Max." Jackson was furious. The elevator slid to a gentle stop and the doors opened. "Get out; we're taking this to your office." Jackson grabbed Blax's arm and steered him out of the elevator car and through the hallway.

The two men hurried past a reception desk with Jackson propelling Blax forward. They entered the CEO's office and the door slammed behind them. Several shocked faces looked in that direction, then turned quickly away.

Jackson released Blax's arm once inside the office. Blax began to walk to his desk but Jackson pointed to the conversation area. "Sit there." The former brigadier general's voice brooked no argument.

The two sat in chairs. Blax seemed cowed.

"Max," Jackson was calm now, his voice gentle. "What is going on with you?" He leaned forward.

Blax raised his head. His eyes glistened. "I don't know, Jackson. I try so hard..." he dropped his head again.

"Well, it can't go on like this. JPI has a crisis on its hands. Someone has our source code and we have to deal with it."

"I hear what you're saying," Blax mumbled. "I just can't deal with it. I have so much to do."

Jackson leaned back and studied the CEO. "What's more important than the whole future of the company. If it gets out that our proprietary code is out there, we're dead with a lot of important clients."

Blax's head rose once more. His defiant manner returned. "I can't believe this, Jackson. It looks to me as if you want to take back JPI. Don't you like retirement?"

The former CEO was disgusted by the sudden changes in the current head of JPI. "The last thing I wanted to do was to interfere with your leadership at JPI. I chose you, Maxim, but it's obvious it was a horrible choice. I have no option but to take this to the board."

Blax changed yet again. This time, his eyes grew wide with fear and his upper lip began to tremble. "You can't do that." His voice quivered.

Jackson pushed himself to his feet and looked down at the CEO. His look of anger and disgust became one of sad resignation. He turned on his heel and, moving quickly, he was out of Blax's office and back on the elevator in a minute or two.

He went to the executive boardroom and pulled out his smartphone. He began selecting the numbers of the members of the JPI board and calling each in order of seniority. In less than half an hour, he had arranged an emergency board meeting for the next morning.