In Plain Sight (Sisterhood #25) - Fern Michaels Page 0,31
The implied threat that there was more to come was there. He turned on his heel and left the office, his fingers hitting the number three on his speed dial, the Director of the IRS, Aaron Sangelli.
“Aaron, Lincoln Moss here. How’s it going?”
“This is the IRS, Lincoln, how do you think it’s going? What can I do for you on this humid hot day in the middle of summer?”
Was it his imagination, or did Sangelli’s voice have an edge to it? He got right to the point. “I’d like you to schedule a full-blown audit for one Joel Goodwin. He owns that political tabloid called In the Know. And the tabloid, too. ASAP. I’d like you to send out the notice to both Goodwin and the paper no later than tomorrow. I’ll owe you one for this, Aaron.” The silence on the other end of the phone brought Moss to full attention. He felt a distinctive flutter in his stomach.
“Sorry, Lincoln, no can do. I just got a personal call from the Director of the FBI, and he said there will be no audit of Mr. Goodwin or his paper. He also was kind enough to alert me to the fact that you, as in you, Lincoln Moss, do not tell the IRS what to do, when to do it, or how to do it. He mentioned you by name, Lincoln, and I’ve been around this town long enough to know the man was loaded for bear. So, do you want to rethink that request? Look, if it’s that important to you, you have the ear of POTUS. If you want its getting out to the media, that is. Think carefully, Lincoln. And this conversation never happened.”
“What the hell! When did the Director call you?”
“About six minutes before you did. Listen, Lincoln, I’m late for a meeting. Let’s get together next week for a round of golf. This is not the best place to be discussing any of this.”
“Yeah, sure.” Moss broke the connection and stood still. Who the hell was it in the conference room back at the paper that had the kind of juice to call off the IRS? Who?
Kathryn literally flew into the kitchen at Pinewood, forty minutes late. Lady and the pups greeted her with enthusiasm. She stopped for a few moments to tussle with the dogs before she headed for the war room, where she whooped her pleasure as she waved the slip of paper with Jane Petrie’s information.
“Nice going, Kathryn!” Jack said. “There’s a lot to be said for being at the right place at the right time. C’mon, tell us everything.”
Kathryn was like a runaway train as she recounted word for word what went down at In the Know. “Do you believe that guy? And do you believe all those threats?”
“He is the President’s best friend as well as his cousin from sandbox days. He’s run roughshod over a lot of important people in this town. It’s time he got his comeuppance,” Annie said.
“And we’re just the people who can do it,” Isabelle said, clapping her hands.
“I need two people to go to Paris! Who wants the gig?” Annie asked. Every hand in the room shot upward. “Oh! Well, I guess we’re going to have to draw straws. Who speaks French well enough to get by?” Every hand but Jack’s went down.
“Okay, Jack, you’re it! Pick a partner. I’ll call to get the plane ready. You leave now. Time is of the essence. Myra, call Mr. Sparrow to alert the authorities in Paris and have them pick up Miss Petrie and keep her safe till Jack gets there. On your return, bring the young lady here. You’re still sitting here, Jack. Move!”
“C’mon, Harry, let’s go. See ya, honey,” Jack said, as he blew a kiss in Nikki’s direction. Harry did the same thing to Yoko, who giggled at the look on his face. Everyone in the room knew that Harry was petrified about flying and fretted for days when he and Yoko were scheduled to fly to China.
“What’s next on our agenda?” Myra queried.
“Well, I did my bit,” Kathryn said.
“I’d like to go to the Home Builders Depot to stake out Jason Woods. Follow him and possibly even confront him. I think I can get him to talk,” Dennis said.
“Don’t anyone look at me,” Abner said. “I’m so deep into Lincoln Moss’s business, I can’t do anything else.”
“Listen, Ted and I, along with Espinosa have to get back to the paper. We have