Part 33 (1/2)
”It doesn't,” Angela agreed. ”But there is one more thing I need to understand.”
”What?”
”How does Sumter use the information generated by the ESP predictive software? Does it simply deny all minorities a mortgage?” Angela shook her head. ”I can't believe that would be the case. It would be too obvious. That information would come to light somewhere and the bank would be crucified in the Richmond press. In thenational press for G.o.d's sake.”
”Of course they would,” Harmon agreed. ”In fact, Sumter makes many loans to minority mortgage applicants.”
”So what do they use the information for?” Angela asked impatiently.
”Obviously, the applicant must also fill out the box telling the bank where they intend to move. The address of the new home that the mortgage will be financing.”
”Yes?”
”Sumter reviews that new address and, as long as it's in a neighborhood designated by Sumter's senior management as already 'heavy minority,' the application is approved. But if the new address is in an area designated 'heavy white,' the application is denied.”
Angela glanced into Tucker's eyes.
He shook his head.
She nodded silently, then looked back down at Harmon. ”Is this going on in just Richmond, or all over Virginia?” she asked.
Harmon shook his head. ”From what I understand, the Sumter people apply the standard to every application that comes in, no matter the address.” He hesitated. ”And they aren't the only ones,” he said ominously.
”One more question.”
”What?”
”Does Fogel know anything about this?”
Harmon looked at his b.l.o.o.d.y hand in the light from the dim bulb. ”No. He doesn't know anything.”
”Thank you for coming so quickly,” Carter Hill said, making eye contact with Booker, Thompson, and Abbott in turn as they all huddled around the side of his car. ”We may have an issue.”
”What is it?” Booker asked, glancing around the dark mall parking lot.
”Ted Harmon didn't come home tonight from ESP. And, at around nine o'clock this evening, his wife put their three children in the family station wagon and drove to her parents' house in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. It took her several hours to get there from northern Virginia, but she didn't stop once. And our person informed me that she was doing no less than eighty the whole way.” He paused. ”Something's happened.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN.
”He shouldn't wake up till morning now,” Angela whispered, turning back at the doorway to take one last look at Hunter. He was asleep in Liv's guest room, snug beneath the covers, his arms wrapped tightly around a frayed teddy bear with one missing eye. He hadn't stirred since falling asleep an hour ago on Angela's couch. Even on the ride over to Liv's, or as Angela had carried him into Liv's apartment from the car. ”At least not before I get back.”
”I don't know about this, Angela,” Liv said anxiously. ”What if he wakes up? What do I do then?”
”Just get him a drink of water and put him back into bed. Maybe read him a story.”
”But he'll ask for you.”
”I told him we were coming here before he fell asleep, and he was fine with that. Besides, he's known you for a long time. You're like his aunt.”
”But he's never spent the night here alone, Angela. It's weird. I don't have any problem dealing with powerful people like Bob Dudley, but a six-year-old boy makes me really nervous.”
”Relax. You'll be fine.”
Liv leaned back into the room and began to pull the bedroom door closed.
”No, no,” Angela advised, catching the door. ”Leave it open a few inches. He likes the light. He's still got a problem with imaginary monsters under the bed.”
”Oh.”
When they had moved down the hall to the living room, Liv nodded back toward the bedroom. ”By the way, Angela, why is he with you tonight? Didn't you just have him last weekend?”
”Hunter was asking for me. Sam said he was crying, so he decided it was best to bring him to me.”
Liv shook her head. ”It's sad for a child to be so unhappy. He should see you much more.”
Angela nodded grimly. ”Hunter was unhappy enough that Sam defied his father.”
”I was going to say. This can't be making Chuck Reese very happy.”
”I'm sure it isn't,” Angela agreed, picking up her ski jacket from the couch. ”I really appreciate your looking after him.”
”How long will you be?”
”Not more than a few hours. I hope.”
Liv hesitated. ”What's this all about tonight, Angela?”
”Don't ask.”
”Angela.”
”Look, you're the one who wants to break the Bob Dudley story before theHerald .” She hadn't yet told Liv about her trip to Birmingham or what she'd found. There was one more thing she needed to do first. ”Right?”
”Yes. But I don't want anything happening to you, either.”
”I'll be fine.”
”Not going to tell me any more than that?” Liv asked as they reached the apartment door.
”It's just something I need to do.” Angela took Liv's hand for a moment. ”Don't worry so much. Like I said, everything will be fine.”
And then she was gone. Back to her car and headed toward the west side of town. As Angela was driving, she thought about trying Jake Lawrence on his cell phone one more time. She'd placed several calls over the past few days but hadn't been able to reach him since the night the helicopter had been shot down. John had explained that, according to Colby, the attack had been carried out by a right-wing terrorist group that had found out Lawrence was covertly a.s.sisting governments they were fighting. Somehow they'd found out about the chopper landing but been fooled by the decoy. Now Colby had Lawrence stashed in an undisclosed location, and had cut him off from all contact with the outside world. The incident on the mountain, a bombing in Tel Aviv, and now the attack on the helicopter had Colby taking no chances.
Angela was disappointed about not being able to contact Jake. She desperately wanted to tell him what she had found at ESP, what she had uncovered in Birmingham, and what Ted Harmon had told her from the trunk of a rental car. She was certain Jake would shut down the Proxmire acquisition when he heard what she had to tell him. When what was going on at ESP and Sumter came to light, an ESP initial public offering would be off the table. For all she knew, the authorities might even shut it down.
So now she was in this thing to expose Bob Dudley and whoever else at Sumter was involved in the discriminatory practices being systematically carried out by the bank. She was in it for herself-and for Sally. Perhaps by destroying an animal like Bob Dudley she could dull the guilt that had plagued her every day of her life since Sally had fallen from the fraternity house window.