“Unfortunately, whenever there is a pot of money, there are those who believe themselves to be entitled to it. In some cases, these people may lie outright; in other instances, they distort the truth with a story that fits their agenda. Other times, people simply misinterpret behavior that nearly everyone else would find inoffensive. It’s my belief that a bit of all three is what is happening here, and that has led to – in colloquial terms – a feeding frenzy. Some people – these greedy sharks – now sense blood in the water and want to make sure they get their fair share because they believe it is owed them by birthright. But our fair Constitution does not say that you’re allowed to take someone else’s property because you believe that it should have been yours all along. Greed. It’s an awful, awful thing, and too many times, I’ve seen good people hurt by it, even my own kin. My neighbors – fine, churchgoing folk, mind you – were ruined by greedy people. But in these twilight years, I usually feel less anger than simple pity for them. Their lives are empty and they believe they can fill that emptiness with the coins from other people’s pockets. Still, Mr. Martenson’s reputation is at stake, as is the good name of our firm, and I feel a responsibility – even a duty – to ensure that both Mr. Martenson and the firm receive the most vigorous defense possible.”
He was good, Maria thought, even when distorting the truth himself. She could understand why juries liked him.
“Of course, I am certain that you feel just as strongly about integrity and maintaining the high-quality reputation of our firm. But I do have to tell you that I’m frightened, Maria. I’m frightened for the other people here. Your coworkers. Your friends. The young families with mortgages and heating bills. Their babies and their children. I feel an obligation to them to use all the skills the good Lord has given me in the hopes that right and fair and good can prevail over wrong and greedy. But then again, I’m an old man and out of touch with the way things work these days, so what do I know?”
When Barney trailed off after playing the “deeply troubled” card, Maria almost felt like applauding. Instead, she kept a poker face. In time, Barney sighed and went on.
“I know you, Maria. And I know you share my concerns. You’re too good of a person not to be scared for all your friends and coworkers here. And I know you’ll want to help them because you don’t desire a perversion of justice any more than I do. Our firm – all of us – need to stand united as one against these… these greed-mongers who have deluded themselves into believing that they’re entitled to your hard-earned money, even though they themselves did nothing to earn it.”
He shook his head.
“We just want the truth to come out, Maria. That’s all. Just the simple, God’s honest truth. And that’s why you’re here. Because I need your help.”
Here it comes, Maria thought.
“All we’re asking of you is the same thing we’re asking of all our employees. We want you to sign an affidavit that simply states the truth: that you have the greatest respect for Mr. Martenson’s character, and that in your tenure at the firm, you have never witnessed, or even heard about, Mr. Martenson engaging in anything that could be construed in any way as sexually offensive to any employee. In your case, and for our female employees, we’re also asking that they confirm that they never felt sexually harassed, in any fashion, at any time.”
For an instant, all Maria could do was stare at him. Ken, she noticed, had sunk lower in his seat, and before she could respond, Barney went on.
“Of course, you don’t have to do this. In the end, whatever you choose to do is completely up to you. There is no reason whatsoever to take into account the livelihoods of anyone else in this firm. All I truly want is for you to do the right thing.”
Barney finished; by then his eyes were downcast, his body humbly positioned. Barney: a bearer of righteousness in a world he no longer understood, shouldering a burden that had to be borne by someone. No wonder he was so successful.
But Maria could think of nothing to say. As persuasive as Barney was… he was lying, and he knew it. She also knew that Barney knew that she knew he was lying, which meant all of this was a game. No doubt he wanted Ken in the room as a form of punishment: Do you understand the level to which I’ve sunk by defending you? For his part, Ken hadn’t so much as mumbled a single word.
And yet…
Was it fair for the rest of the office – all of whom were innocent – to be penalized? Because of a single idiot? And how much money did the women want? Ken had harassed her, and she’d survived. In another couple of weeks, she would likely put it behind her entirely. In time, it might even become the subject of jokes. Ken was a jerk, but it wasn’t as though he’d exposed himself or tried to grope Maria in the hallway when they’d been at the conference. He was too insecure – too pathetic – to go that far. With her, anyway. But what about the others he’d harassed?