engaged in a friendly discussion with the CyberCom acronyms. Rowe
apparently noticed the exchange at one point as he glanced over, lost
his train of thought for a moment and then carried on. His talk
received, Sawyer thought, polite applause.
The good of the world apparently took a distant backseat to Mother
Green. At least with this crowd.
When the CyberCom people finished up the presentation, all of the men
engaged in a handshaking, ringed-arm photo opportunity.
Sawyer noted that Gamble and Rowe never actually touched flesh.
They kept the CyberCom boys between them. Maybe that’s why they were so
excited about the deal; they’d have a buffer zone now.
Everyone from the stage made his way into the crowd and was instantly
besieged by questions. Gamble was smiling, quipping and playing the
moment for all it was worth. The CyberCom people followed in his wake.
Sawyer watched as Rowe broke rank and headed over to the hospitality
table, where he fixed a cup of tea and moved quickly over to a secluded
corner.
Sawyer tugged on Jackson’s sleeve and they headed in Rowe’s direction.
Hardy went over to listen to Gamble’s pontificating.
“Nice speech.”
Rowe looked up to see Sawyer and Jackson standing in front of him.
“What? Oh, thank you.”
“My partner, Ray Jackson.”
Rowe and Jackson exchanged hellos.
Sawyer looked over at the large group surrounding Gamble. “He seems to
like the limelight.”
Rowe sipped his tea and wiped his mouth delicately with his nap kin.
“His bottom-line approach to the business and limited knowledge of what
we actually do makes for good sound bites,” he said disdainfully.
Jackson sat down next to Rowe. “Personally, I liked what you were
saying about the future. My kids are really into computers. It’s true
what you were saying: Better educational opportunities for everyone,
especially the poor, translates into better jobs, less crime, better
world. I really believe that.”
“Thank you. I believe it too.” Rowe looked up at Sawyer and smiled.
“Although I don’t think your partner shares that view.”
Sawyer, who had been scanning the crowds, looked down at him with a hurt
look on his face. “Hey, I’m for all that positive stuff. Just don’t
take away my pencil and paper. That’s all I’m saying.” Sawyer pointed
his coffee cup over at the group of CyberCom people. “You seem to get
along with those guys all right.”
Rowe brightened. “I do. They’re not as liberal-thinking as I am, but
they’re a long way from Gamble’s money-is-everything position.
I think they might bring a nice equilibrium to the place. Although now
we have to endure at least two months of the lawyers taking their pound
of flesh while the final documents are negotiated.”
“Tyler, Stone?” Sawyer asked.
Rowe looked at Sawyer. “That’s right.”
“You gonna keep them as your counsel after the CyberCom deal is put to
bed?”
“You’ll have to ask Gamble that. It’s his call. He is the head of the
company. Excuse me, gentlemen, but I have to go.” Rowe quickly got up
and left them.
“What bee’s up his bonnet?” Jackson asked Sawyer.
Sawyer shrugged his thick shoulders. “More like a hornets’ nest.
If you were partners with Nathan Gamble, you’d probably understand.”
“So what now?”
“Why don’t you grab another cup of coffee and mingle, Ray. I want to
talk to Rowe some more.” Sawyer disappeared into the crowd. Jackson
looked around and then went over to the hospitality table.
By the time Sawyer had made his way through the crowd, he had lost sight
of Rowe. As he swept his head back and forth, he saw Rowe go out the
door. Sawyer was about to follow him when he felt a tug at his sleeve.
“Since when is a government bureaucrat interested in the goings-on of
the for-profit sector?” Nathan Gamble asked.
Sawyer cast one more look in Rowe’s direction, but he was already out of
sight. The FBI agent turned to Gamble.
‘Tm all for making a buck. Nice speech you gave, by the way. Left me
kind of tingling all over.”
Gamble let out a belly laugh. “Like hell it did. You want something
stronger?” He pointed at Sawyer’s Styrofoam cup.