Kerrigan Lokir paced around her office. Katie had made it in this morning safely but something had to be done about Kelan. What Kerrigan needed was more information from Dagdon. Katie's story would only go so far. Natalie had the foresight to help document all of the injuries and bruising, but pressing any sort of charges against Kelan would be a challenge. They needed more.
Kerrigan wanted to see Kelan's world collapse around him. Let him suffer piece by piece for his transgressions. Perhaps Bayan Rail would be the thread that began to unravel it all. She looked down at several maps and figures Natalie had prepared. Bayan Rail was a blade that Kelan had sunk deep, but it could cut both ways if she could figure out how to apply the leverage correctly. While Benedict Group did not own Bayan Rail, they clearly controlled it somehow, and also relied heavily on it for their own business.
Her hidden phone vibrated the desk and she rushed to grab it.
(Info acquired. Meet at 11pm?)
(Confirmed.)
Kerrigan was so excited, she hugged the phone as Natalie entered with her morning cup of cider. "Good news?"
"Possibly. We may have a lead on Kelan."
Natalie beamed, "Good. Let me know how I can help."
"Tonight, I need Katie's car again. Can you take her home? Have Lear watch over them again."
"Her car?"
"Our cars are too high profile. I need something to go unnoticed. Don't worry about it. I have it handled."
"Shouldn't Breanna go with you?"
"No, I will be fine." Kerrigan insisted.
*** ***
That evening, Kerrigan climbed into Katie's car again. The beast refused to start at first but after some gentle coaxing, it revved to life. "I have got to get her a better car." Kerrigan pulled out of the garage shortly before Natalie brought Katie down and helped her into one of the company cars. At least Katie would be safe tonight. Kerrigan was determined to find something that would help put an end to Kelan once and for all.
When she reached the meeting place, she sat waiting. The night air seemed to creep in, and she began to shiver even in her overcoat. She tried to crank the heat but it only sputtered, barely making a dent in the chill air. She glanced around and found one of Katie's scarves and a knit hat in the backseat and pulled them on. Katie's choice in pinks and light blues were not something Kerrigan would choose to wear, but in this case, she would for a few hours till she could get back to her own car.
Finally, Dagdon drove up and she got out and slid into his car. "My car, not yours?" he asked quizzically.
"Yours has heat," she said, holding her hands to the vents.
"Ah," he chuckled. "Well, I think I have something for you."
"You think? I am not paying you to think. I am paying you to know." Kerrigan said, trying to glare at him from beneath the folds of the fluffy scarf. Apparently, the look didn't faze him because he busted out laughing.
"You know, you look rather cute all bundled up like that. It's a shame you have to be the gods damned untouchable dragoness. Alright, here is some of what I found. Kelan doesn't need to buy Bayan rail. In fact, I think he rather likes not having it on the family books. It doesn't matter if it does good or bad, because he controls the board of directors, yet doesn't carry any of the financial load. In fact, I believe Bayan Rail has been operating at a loss for a few years now with how much they have shorted you and others. They could be a powerhouse if they added more engines to their fleet. The tracks support it. But Kelan has the Board locked down and only uses short run trains from his mine to the capital. So they only need two. The rest are what keep Targu and Bayan province functional."
"No wonder the stock price is dropping. He is running it into the ground." Kerrigan mused, still rubbing her hands before the warm vents.
"Likely thinking he can eventually start over, and when he does buy it out, it will be for cheap. In the mean time, he completely controls the company by proxy."
"What would it take to out him?" Kerrigan asked, a hunger in her tone.
"Take out Kelan? Or just get him out of Bayan Rail? If you mean Kelan, I hear a quick jab between the fourth and fifth rib will do the trick."
Kerrigan elbowed him in the ribs, "Careful, or I will let Reilynn jab you. she seems fond of such things. Seriously, how do I get his claws out of Bayan Rail."
Dagdon laughed and held up his hands, "Fine, fine. To clear the board you would need a super majority of shareholders. You would need to hold at least 70% or be able to ensure the vote of 70% to even have a shot at voting them off. Right now, there are eight board members backing a president and a CEO. From what I could tell, five of the eight are bought and paid for by the Benedict Group, as well as the CEO and President. So you would have to have enough power to counter the whole system. Those ten actually only hold about 5% of the total stocks between them."
"Shit...? Dagdon, that is like 150 million dragons each. Are you kidding me?" Kerrigan sweated at the thought.
"Come now, the great dragoness isn't scared of a little money. Dragon Corporation is worth, what, 300 billion dragons these days? What is a few million?" he said with a smirk.
"Yes, 346 billion as of this morning, thank you very much. But that is spread across many industries and businesses in three provinces, and even some business dealings with Serret. These companies have been building wealth for over 1000 years to form the Dragon Corporation the world knows today. To take over this Bayan rail in one swoop." Kerrigan leaned her head back against the chair rest. "Dagdon, that would be a tenth of my whole company's worth. I don't have the kind of capital available in any of my businesses, even if I pooled all available cash from every corner of the kingdom. I am not sure I could even come up with enough to buy out the ten board members in such short notice."
"A Thousand years. Hmm. I knew Dragon Corporation was old, but really people only seem to talk about it since you took over. I think we forget that you just happened to bring it to glory again."
Kerrigan glared at him indignantly, "I have don't more than that in the past five years. Under my guidance and Abraxas's wisdom, Dragon Corporation has tripled in size. Thank you very much."
Dagdon raised his hands again, "Point taken, you have done well. But I guess that doesn't solve your problem. As for Kelan, if money is not going to get you what you need, I may have to keep digging. There was one other thing. I heard a conversation. It seems the Prima is working with the Benedicts to find something in the mines. A relic perhaps. Part of the deal was trading Dragon Corporation's northern mines for the relic if found, and the Benedict's promising to include the Prima in the kingdom's next Lords meeting as an advisor."
"Scheming bastard. I am not sure what it means, but he is not going to sell off my company," Kerrigan spat. "Anything about women disappearing?"
"Not yet. There are plenty of stories, but I don't have any hard evidence yet. No bodies. I will keep looking."
"Fine. Here is 'some' cash for your work. Find me something more. I would love to parade him before the Royal Guardsmen and let them slap him in chains."
"Thank you. Your business is always welcome." He paused and looked seriously at her. "Be safe, my lady. Abraxas guard and protect you, and may Celia's wisdom guide you."
"And you as well, Dagdon," She glanced at the door, and swore, "I think it's dropped another 10 degrees. Stick around till I know that piece of junk car actually starts?"
"Of course my lady."