The Return of Elliott Eastman Read Online Free PDF Page A

this to be true, don’t you?” Jim asked.
    Blankenship nodded.
    “Do you believe this is right?”
    Blankenship shook his head no.
    “What should you do to make this right? I’ll tell you. You’re going to go before the American people and tell them that temporarily, just for the next three years, you’re going to reduce interest rates on your credit cards to 7% across the board. This will stimulate spending and reduce the amount of pain you’ve inflicted on your fellow citizens. Now understand that we found you, entered your inner sanctum, and could have killed you. Do you agree to go before the American people and make this proposal? And don’t, lie because we will find you again.”
    Michael hit another button and the screen filled with a scene from a party showing Blankenship dancing with his wife. Another showed husband and wife walking on the beach hand in hand. The last one depicted shadows moving against a thin set of sheers. It was the Blankenship’s bedroom window.
    Blankenship’s eyes widened in recognition of the locations.
    “I can’t, our stock price will fall like a rock. Our stock holders will scream.”
    “My friend here is an expert marksman and obviously, based on the video, we can find you almost anywhere. But think about it for a moment. With all the extra spending power produced by reducing the rates the economy will sky rocket and most people will run their balances up.”
    This statement gave the CEO reason to pause for a moment as he contemplated this possibility.
    “I’ll need to think about this,” Blankenship replied.
    “No time. And part of our agreement is that you convince your cronies at JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Wells Fargo and all the other credit companies to drop their rates as well.”
    “I can’t guarantee their agreement!” Blankenship almost shouted.
    Jim back handed him across the mouth knocking out a tooth. He seethed between gritted teeth, “Keep your voice down scum and give me a straight ‘yes’ or ‘no’!”
    “The other banks might follow our lead. I’ll do the best I can,” Blankenship mumbled through bleeding lips.
    “I said ‘yes’ or ‘no’,” Jim hissed, his face just inches from the cowering CEO.
    Blankenship whispered, “Yes.”

Chapter Seven
     
    Samuel Goldman, the Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, gazed uneasily at the three attorneys who seated themselves across the vast expansive desk top from him. This was a highly unusual meeting, he thought, but when Elliott Eastman requested something one was better off complying, as it would probably come to pass anyway.
    “I’m Robert Dale, and these are Paul Cranston and Bryan Banks, attorneys representing the interests of Mr. Elliott Eastman. He extends his personal thanks for taking the time out of your busy day to meet with us. He wished to be here, but unfortunately he had pressing business to attend to in Washington.”
    “My pleasure,” Samuel Goldman replied, extending a hand shake to each man while still eyeing them with a degree of suspicion.
    “Mr. Eastman respects your opinion greatly and wished you might render an opinion once you have read this one page document,” Attorney Dale explained, opening his brief case and sliding a single sheet of paper across the desk. “He has also asked that any reference to this meeting and his name not leave this room.”
    Attorney Dale gazed sharp eyed at Goldman and the other members of the commission which were seated there.
    “Agreed,” Goldman replied brusquely and bent to the document at hand.
    Goldman read it carefully. When he was finished he looked up and smiled. “It’s bold and shows imagination, but why would Mr. Eastman be interested in forwarding such a proposal?”
    “He feels this country has been very good to him and is concerned with the direction it has taken in the last few years. He believes such a proposal, a small transaction fee on stock trades, commodities, futures and