Disclosure_ A Novel - Michael Crichton [51]
“Austin.”
“Yes.”
“Cellular.”
“Yes. Beautiful weather, nice working conditions . . . university town . . . chance to get your family out of this rain . . .”
Sanders said, “But Conley’s going to sell off Austin.”
Blackburn sat down behind his desk. “I can’t imagine where you heard that, Tom,” he said calmly. “It’s completely untrue.”
“You sure about that?”
“Absolutely. Believe me, selling Austin is the last thing they’d do. Why, it makes no sense at all.”
“Then why are they inventorying the plant?”
“I’m sure they’re going over the whole operation with a fine-tooth comb. Look, Tom. Conley’s worried about cash flow after the acquisition, and the Austin plant is, as you know, very profitable. We’ve given them the figures. Now they’re verifying them, making sure they’re real. But there’s no chance they would sell it. Cellular is only going to grow, Tom. You know that. And that’s why I think a vice presidency there in Austin is an excellent career opportunity for you to consider.”
“But I’d be leaving the Advanced Products Division?”
“Well, yes. The whole point would be to move you out of this division.”
“And then I wouldn’t be in the new company when it spins off.”
“That’s true.”
Sanders paced back and forth. “That’s completely unacceptable.”
“Well, let’s not be hasty,” Blackburn said. “Let’s consider all the ramifications.”
“Phil,” he said. “I don’t know what she told you, but—”
“She told me the whole story—”
“But I think you should know—”
“And I want you to know, Tom,” Blackburn said, “that I don’t have any judgment about what may have happened. That’s not my concern or my interest. I’m just trying to solve a difficult problem for the company.”
“Phil. Listen. I didn’t do it.”
“I understand that’s probably how you feel, but—”
“I didn’t harass her. She harassed me.”
“I’m sure,” Blackburn said, “it may have seemed like that to you at the time, but—”
“Phil, I’m telling you. She did everything but rape me.” He paced angrily. “Phil: she harassed me.”
Blackburn sighed and sat back in his chair. He tapped his pencil on the corner of his desk. “I have to tell you frankly, Tom. I find that difficult to believe.”
“It’s what happened.”
“Meredith’s a beautiful woman, Tom. A very vital, sexy woman. I think it’s natural for a man to, uh, lose control.”
“Phil, you aren’t hearing me. She harassed me.”
Blackburn gave a helpless shrug. “I hear you, Tom. I just . . . I find that difficult to picture.”
“Well, she did. You want to hear what really happened last night?”
“Well.” Blackburn shifted in his chair. “Of course I want to hear your version. But the thing is, Tom, Meredith Johnson is very well connected in this company. She has impressed a lot of extremely important people.”
“You mean Garvin.”
“Not only Garvin. Meredith has built a power base in several areas.”
“Conley-White?”
Blackburn nodded. “Yes. There, too.”
“You don’t want to hear what I say happened?”
“Of course I do,” Blackburn said, running his hands through his hair. “Absolutely, I do. And I want to be scrupulously fair. But I’m trying to tell you that no matter what, we’re going to have to make some transfers here. And Meredith has important allies.”
“So it doesn’t matter what I say.”
Blackburn frowned, watching him pace. “I understand that you are upset. I can see that. And you’re a valued person in this company. But what I’m trying to do here, Tom, is to get you to look at the situation.”
“What situation?” Sanders said.
Blackburn sighed. “Were there any witnesses, last night?”
“No.”
“So it’s your word against hers.”
“I guess so.”
“In other words, it’s a pissing match.”
“So? That’s no reason to assume I’m wrong, and she’s right.”
“Of course not,” Blackburn said. “But look at the situation. A man claiming sexual harassment against a woman is, well, pretty unlikely. I don’t think there’s ever been a case in this company. It doesn’t mean it couldn’t happen. But it does