Disclosure: A Novel by Michael Crichton Page B

an old man, I have a few little questions. So many interesting things are happening in this company. And the secretaries always know everything, don't they?"

    Mr. Sanders."Jim Daly stood quickly, as Sanders came into the room. "I'm glad they found you."

    They shook hands. Sanders gestured for Daly to sit down, and slid behind his own desk.
    Sanders was not surprised; he had been expecting a visit from Daly or one of the other investment bankers for several days. Members of the Goldman, Sachs team had been speaking individually with people in various departments, going over aspects of the merger. Most of the time they wanted background information; although high technology was central to the acquisition, none of the bankers understood it very well. Sanders expected Daly to ask about progress on the Twinkle drive, and perhaps the Corridor.

    "I appreciate your taking the time," Daly said, rubbing his bald head. He was a very tall, thin man, and he seemed even taller sitting down, all knees and elbows. "I wanted to ask you some things, ah, off the record."

    "Sure," Sanders said.

    "It's to do with Meredith Johnson," Daly said, in an apologetic voice. "If you, ah, don't mind, I'd prefer we just keep this conversation between us."

    "All right," Sanders said.

    "I understand that you have been closely involved with setting up the plants in Ireland and Malaysia. And that there has been a little controversy inside the company about how that was carried out."

    "Well." Sanders shrugged. "Phil Blackburn and I haven't always seen eye to eye."

    "Showing your good sense, in my view," Daly said dryly. "But I gather that in these disputes you represent technical expertise, and others in the company represent, ah, various other concerns. Would that be fair?"

    "Yes, I'd say so." What was he getting at?

    "Well, it's along those lines that I'd like to hear your thoughts. Bob Garvin has just appointed Ms. Johnson to a position of considerable authority, a step which many in Conley-White applaud. And certainly it would be unfair to prejudge how she will carry out her new duties within the company. But by the same token, it would be derelict of me not to inquire about her past duties. Do you get my drift?"

    "Not exactly," Sanders said.

    "I'm wondering," Daly said, "what you feel about Ms. Johnson's past performance with regard to the technical operations of the company. Specifically, her involvement in the foreign operations of DigiCom."

    Sanders frowned, thinking back. "I'm not aware that she's had much involvement," he said. "We had a labor dispute two years ago in Cork. She was part of the team that went over to negotiate a settlement. She lobbied in Washington about flatpanel display tariffs.
    And I know she headed the Ops Review Team in Cupertino, which approved the plans for the new plant at Kuala Lumpur."

    "Yes, exactly."

    "But I don't know that her involvement goes beyond that."

    "Ali. Well. Perhaps I was given wrong information," Daly said, shifting in his chair.

    "What did you hear?"

    "Without going into specifics, let me say a question of judgment was raised."

    "I see," Sanders said. Who would have said anything to Daly about Meredith? Certainly not Garvin or Blackburn. Kaplan? It was impossible to know for sure. But Daly would be talking only to highly placed officers.

    "I was wondering," Daly said, "if you had any thoughts on her technical judgment.
    Speaking privately, of course."

    At that moment, Sanders's computer screen beeped three times. A message flashed: ONE MINUTE TO DIRECT VIDEO LINKUP: DC/M-DC/S

    SEN: A. KAHN REC: T. SANDERS

    Daly said, "Is something wrong?"

    "No," Sanders said. "It looks like I have a video feed coming in from Malaysia."

    "Then I'll be brief and leave you to it," Daly said. "Let me put it to you directly. Within your division, is there any concern whether Meredith Johnson is qualified for this post?"

    Sanders shrugged. "She's the new boss. You know how organizations are. There's