Dirty Little Secrets ...Part 2 ...Poking the Bear

The more you ask certain questions
The more dangerous they become
—Eli Wiesel

Conspiring

I was looking forward to working with Meredith Cassidy not only because she was beautiful but I knew her celebrity status as a cable news star would open doors and allow me to interview people. who would ordinarily not even give me the time of day.

But Meredith was shrewd. She knew she held the upper hand and she wanted a quid pro quo from me.

Ordinarily, I don't play the glass bead game and confide details of an ongoing investigation, but this case was different.

I'm a newspaper reporter, albeit a feature writer, but there's no way I could pursue my story to its logical conclusion without having access to people in high places.

Meredith was my assurance of that.

We were sitting in The Bull and the Bear lounge in the financial district, sharing a drink and planning our next move.

I informed her about the general outlines of what I had uncovered by dint of hard work and countless hours of observation and putting together seemingly disparate facts that all added up to a shadowy conspiracy of right wing groups and a pressure campaign to influence high government officials by blackmailing them and threatening to expose their hidden sins.

The locus of the corrupt activity I traced to The Enigma, an exclusive mens' club whose members were captains of industry, crypto millionaires and high government officials.

Meredith had no idea and was shocked when I began recounting what I had learned.

"So, you're telling me that we're not simply talking about local politicians being threatened and coerced to comply , but national and international figures, some of whom are government leaders and in some cases even royalty?"

I nodded soberly. "I'm telling you this Mer because if this conspiracy ever becomes public it will dwarf the Epstein scandal in its far-reaching criminality and potential effects on politics and the world economy."

"And you're saying that Simon Pollock, the self-made Investment genius and CEO of Infinity Corp is the evil mastermind who wants to rule the world?"

I lower my voice and look at her directly. "I'm saying that this man is a malevolent narcissist whose delusions of grandeur stop at nothing less than controlling entire countries."

Meredith looked shaken and pale. She was trembling even as she downed her third rye.

"I have an interview with him this week--I can't believe he's so unscrupulous and somehow has managed to hide it from the world."

My eyes grew huge. "You have an interview with Pollock?" I gasped, "No one gets an exclusive with this man. How did you manage that?"

She shrugged her shoulders, "I didn't arrange it--his assistant, Lucas Mentri, contacted me and said that Mr. Pollock had seen me on CNN and wanted to discuss a wide-range of issues and specifically matters of international trade and commerce."

I whistled softy,

"This is an amazing opportunity if you're willing to take it. I'll tell you enough details about The Enigma Club that you could casually drop into the conversation and gauge his reaction. If you're not convinced that something sinister is going on there, you'll know by his response"

Meredith seemed to hesitate. “I don't know, Logan—could this be dangerous? I mean, I don’t know exactly what Pollock is up to but if he thought I was onto something God only knows what he might do.”

“Yeah, you’re right,” I conceded, “It’s not worth risking any harm by poking the bear in his lair.”

“On the other hand,” she reconsidered, “how can I consider myself an investigative newsperson if I just pitch him softballs and watch him hit them out of the park? Obviously, he planned this interview to polish his image and silence his critics who are complaining he’s not accessible.”

I began to regret my impulsive suggestion.

“I don’t know, Mer, maybe your instincts are right and you may put yourself in harm’s way.”

“But this may be my only chance to get behind his facade and find out what he’s really hiding.”

I had to admit she had a point, but suddenly what seemed like ambush journalism could impact on both our lives.

It’s not easy to get at the truth when you’re dealing with men in high places…and it could be dangerous.

© 2025, John J Geddes. All rights reserved

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