Chapter 5

Matthew Harmon was finding it increasingly more difficult to play both ends against the middle. His eyes were veiled as he stared across the desk at the chairman of the board of Jensen Mills. Hal Jensen had been very considerate about the death of Matt's father, but he was probing and pressing about the proposed merger of the two giant companies.

"In addition to SEC approval," Jensen was saying, "we have to have the approval of the stockholders in both companies. Jensen Mills is controlled by the family, so that will just be a matter of form on our end. Has your father's death complicated stockholder approval on your end?"

Matthew recognized that Jensen was asking who now had control of Harmon Industries. If Matthew's plan worked, he would have control of Harmon. And in that event, he would want to take a close second look at the proposed merger. The purpose of the merger had been to allow Matthew to rip off a cool million for his own pocket, but if he inherited over a hundred million the merger would lose its glamour. If for any reason, however, his plan failed, Matthew intended to force the merger through to guarantee him a fat nest-egg.

"Hal," Matthew said slowly, "all of this has come as quite a shock, as you can imagine. My sister and I are the heirs, so I can't honestly see how approval has been complicated. At the moment, we haven't even filed my father's will. As I told you, we're waiting for my sister. I think that within a week to fifteen days everything should be cleared up and we can follow through on this project."

"Fine!" Jensen replied, standing and glancing at his wrist watch. "Look, I've taken enough of your time. I have reservations for the noon flight and I should be heading for the airport I know this is a difficult time for you, Matt, and I hope everything goes smoothly. We're embarrassed that we have to press you at a time like this, but we also have the offer from Consolidated that I told you about. Time is important to them and they have been pressing us for a decision. We'd much rather pursue this project with you, however."

"I understand your position, Hal," Matt replied. "Perhaps by this time next week I can give our legal staff the go-ahead to meet with your men. Can I drive you to the airport?"

"No, no, Matt! I wouldn't think of it. I have a car and driver waiting in the garage. Just keep in contact with me. I'm sure things will work out."

The two executives shook hands and Matthew walked with Hal to the elevator. Once he had Jensen on his way, Matt returned to his office.

"Mr. Harmon," his secretary said as he walked in, "I haven't been able to reach the ambassador in Buenos Aires, but I have one of the high-ranking officials at the embassy on the, line."

"Fine, what's his name?"

"Johnson."

Matt picked up the phone at his desk and introduced himself.

"We were about to call you, Mr. Harmon," Johnson said. "I've been trying to locate the ambassador all morning. I'm sure that he would want to talk to you on this. But he's in a high-level meeting with the Argentine government at this moment, so I'll have to act in his place with the bad news."

"What bad news?" Matthew asked. "Look, I called you to ask a favor. We've had a death in our family and I am unable to locate my sister, Deborah Harmon. She's in Argentina on vacation and I wondered if you would be able to help me locate her."

"Mr. Harmon," Johnson replied with a sympathetic note in his voice, "that is what we were going to call you about. An hour ago we received at the embassy, a note, stating that your sister has been kidnapped. Do you want me to read the note to you?"

"Kidnapped!" Matthew exclaimed with what he hoped was the proper amount of surprise. "Yes, yes, by all means read me the note."

"The note is in Spanish and this is a translation made by one of our experts. It says, 'We have Miss Deborah Harmon. She is alive and well. She will be released in the same condition as soon as we receive one million dollars in U.S. currency. If you try to find us, we will be forced to kill Miss Harmon. Our next communication will tell how and when the money is to be delivered.' There is, of course, no signature," Johnson added.

"Do you know who it is?" Matt asked. "What can you do?"

"I'll answer your questions one at a time, Mr. Harmon. We do not know who is behind this, but we can offer an educated guess that it is one of several guerrilla groups who have been responsible for a number of kidnappings here lately. And that leads to your second question, what can we do? I'm afraid the answer is very little. You see, we have no jurisdiction here. Our assistance is limited to lodging a formal complaint with the Argentine government and asking for immediate action. That decision, however, is up to you, Mr. Harmon."

"Look, Mr. Johnson, this is the first time anything like this has ever happened to me and I assure you I don't know how to act. What do you recommend?"

"Again, Mr. Harmon, that places us in a difficult position. The State Department's official line in matters like this is to refuse to pay ransom because success tends to increase the activities of the kidnappers. Personally, I think you should be aware that a refusal to pay the ransom would place your sister in grave danger. These guerrillas have killed several times this year."

"Good God!" Matthew exclaimed.

"I don't mean to alarm you," Johnson added carefully. "I'm just trying to make you aware of the various aspects of the situation."

"I appreciate that."

"Now if we lodge a formal complaint with the Argentine government, the press will have the story in a matter of hours. Often, families want to avoid publicity if they can. And sometimes not having the press involved makes it easier to deal with the kidnappers. Inasmuch as this is a non-political kidnapping—I mean by that that your sister is not involved with either Argentine politics or a multinational corporation with operations in the country, a low profile might be the best course of action. Still, that is entirely up to you."

"I quite agree with you," Matt responded, smiling about how well this was going. "A low profile, as you put it, is exactly what we'll assume. Would it help if I came to Argentina?"

"Well, I think I would wait for the next communication, Mr. Harmon. Then you can decide how you want to handle it. We'll, of course, keep in touch with you as things develop."

Matthew thanked Mr. Johnson and maintained an image of a very concerned brother. As soon as he hung up, Matt called his secretary and had her place a call to Debby's friend in Córdoba, Argentina. He explained the situation to Betty Santana and emphasized that the immediate concern was to avoid publicity. He promised to keep her advised on anything that happened.

"Mr. Harmon," his secretary's voice said on the intercom as he hung up on his call to Argentina, "John Martin is on three."

"Good morning, John," Matt said, greeting the family lawyer as he picked up the phone.

"Good morning, Matt. I've been trying to get you all morning. Have you reached Deborah?"

"No, John, I haven't," Matt replied honestly. "I've been on the phone to Argentina most of the morning."

"That's strange," the old lawyer replied.

"Well," Matt said very carefully, "not really. You see, John, Debby doesn't want to be reached on these trips of hers. You know how strict our father was. Well. Debby often found the role of angel a little trying. So every year she went somewhere where she could enjoy being herself. And naturally she is never particularly anxious to be reached."

"But she told me she was visiting an old roommate from college."

"Oh, I'm sure she will, John," Matt replied. "In fact, I just talked to her friend in Argentina. Don't worry, I'll be in touch with Debby soon."

"Well, I certainly hope so. We have to file this will of your father's and put it in probate. I've had several inquiries from the press already."

"John, I thought I might issue a statement that Debby was in shock as a result of her father's death and that she was resting for several days before returning. That should keep the press off our backs."

"Good idea. Send me a copy of your release. And call me the minute you locate Debby so we can establish a time schedule on this."

So far so good,—Matt said to himself as he placed the phone in the receiver. He was pleased with the progress of events. The American Embassy in Argentina believed that guerrillas were responsible for the kidnapping. He had to admire Sorenson's use of Spanish in the ransom note. Matt was also pleased with the way that he had planted a small seed in John Martin's mind about Debby's trips being flings. He wanted the family lawyer prepared for the evidence that he would produce on Debby's immoral conduct. He hoped that the press release would buy the time that Sorenson needed to produce that evidence.

The next step was to contact Harold and pressure him to complete the assignment as fast as he could.