The Missing Heir(35)

                “I was speaking with Amber Welsley the other day. She suggested you were the person to discuss Coast Eagle’s Pacific routes? I’m Cole Parker, Aviation 58 out of Alaska.”

                “Amber told you to see me?” Roth asked.

                “She did,” Cole lied. “She speaks very highly of you.”

                Roth’s eyes narrowed, and Cole feared he might have gone too far. He was trying to arouse Roth’s curiosity, and maybe put him off guard with the mention of Amber.

                Roth looked at Cole. Then he looked to the receptionist. “Sandra, push the Millsberg meeting by fifteen minutes.”

                “Yes, sir,” the receptionist answered.

                “Right this way, Mr. Parker.” Roth gestured to a doorway off the reception area.

                “Please, call me Cole.” Cole entered an airy meeting room that housed a round table for four with leather and chrome chairs, coffee service on a marble side counter and a sofa grouping near the picture windows.

                Roth gestured to one of the chairs at the round table, then took the one opposite. “How can I help you, Cole?”

                “I understand you’re about to be named interim president,” Cole opened.

                A smug smile formed on Roth’s face. “You’ve been listening to rumors.”

                “I find, more often than not, rumors tend to be based on some truth. I’ll be honest, Roth, Aviation 58 is looking to expand along the West Coast. With the shakeup at Coast Eagle, I wondered if you might be interested in discussing some of your less-profitable routes in the West.”

                “All of our routes are profitable.”

                Cole had checked out Coast Eagle’s public information on the ride over, and now he made some assumptions and guesses. “Seattle to Vancouver is barely break-even. You’ve been losing market share in Portland. And your passenger load is low on anything northbound out of LA. Entering into a lease or codeshare deal with Aviation 58 could boost your cash flow and profits considerably.”

                “You’ve done your homework, I see.”

                “I have,” said Cole. “And it tells me Amber Welsley is a short-term play. You’re the guy with the ear of the board.”

                Roth didn’t answer, but he did nod.

                “I haven’t seen the actual will, of course. But I can guess where that’s going. A trophy wife is all well and good, but nobody’s under any illusions. Samuel would never have allowed a situation where Coco’s decisions could run Coast Eagle into the ground.”

                Roth chuckled, and his expression relaxed. “You strike me as an intelligent man, Cole Parker.”

                “I’m also a patient man. I get that your attention has to be on the home front for a few months.”

                Roth gave a shrug. “These things can be expedited.”

                “That’s good to hear.”

                “A word here, a conversation there. It’s all about who you know, and who knows you.”

                “I understand,” said Cole. “The sooner you get custody of the kid, the better.” He paused. “I mean, the better for Coast Eagle, of course.”