Never Bloodless by Steve Richer

Author:Steve Richer [Richer, Steve]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Unknown
Published: 2015-09-29T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 35

“I made a lot of money in software, financial services, oil. A goddamn lot of money, Preston. But it left me empty. I know it sounds cliché but I needed to make sure I was making a difference in the world.”

“Hence the Wyatt Foundation.”

“So you’ve been reading the papers, uh?”

“No, just your wall.”

Wyatt chuckled as he absentmindedly looked at his wall of fame. “The Wyatt Foundation allows me to give back to the community on a global scale. Governments around the world have dropped the ball so it’s up to people like me to make it right.”

“By overthrowing countries in Africa,” Preston jabbed, trying his drink for the first time. Single-malt scotch.

“Nobody cares about Africa. You’re lucky if the latest genocide makes it on the news for thirty seconds and even then people switch to another channel.”

“Regime changes should be up to the United Nations.”

“That’s funny, I hadn’t pegged you as a stupid man. It takes the UN five years and seven committees to decide what color to repaint the entrance hall. I’ve had enough of this indecision.”

He drained his glass and stood up.

“I started my foundation to help people,” Wyatt continued. “The little people in the villages who can’t fend for themselves. I spend hundreds of millions of dollars every year to provide drinking water and schools and doctors for these villagers.”

“But it’s not enough.”

“You’ve been there, you’ve seen it. You do something good and then government officials come in and fuck everything up. You can’t get a break. So I guess it’s up to my foundation to make things better once more.”

Preston put his drink down and moved forward on the couch. “I understand all that and I agree with you. But the reason I’m here is to ask you this: why Katoga?”

Wyatt stared at his guest, his eyes gauging him.

“Come with me,” he finally said.

After hesitating for a moment, Preston followed his host out of the office. They went through a passageway Preston hadn’t been shown during the tour and moments later they found themselves outside.

The terrace was divided into different sections on different levels, with the centerpiece being the Olympic-size, crescent-shaped swimming pool. Flower beds and other ornamental arrangements delineated these sections and Preston caught himself appreciating the landscaping job. It was definitely a cut above what his crew was capable of.

Wyatt led Preston to a frosted glass-top table on the lowest level. It was next to a marble balustrade at the edge of the cliff and it offered a great view of the private beach below and the blue Pacific Ocean.

On this table were a pitcher of fruit juice and some snacks. Preston’s mouth watered at the sight of Chex Mix. Already seated at the table was a black man in his 50s. His short hair was mostly white and his eyes were sparkling affably, like they were smiling.

There was a trustworthy air about him, Preston determined. He looked like the very image of a wise grandfather. He was the type of man Morgan Freeman would have played to perfection.

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