Incentivize

By Tom Spears

Geologist Julia McCoy is in her first job, and seems to be the most unlikely person ever to challenge management at Matrix Corporation's Ethiopian mining subsidiary. Despite the apparent risks during her site visit, she pushes EthioCupro's top two executives too far.

The company has an unusual relationship with supplier Incentivize LLC, and McCoy suspects the managers are using it to rake off profits from the Ethiopian copper mine. How they are doing it, and the larger scheme, however, are completely unclear.

After McCoy appeals for help from Matrix lawyer and friend, Randy Esteban, the threatened men arrange for the young woman to have an accident during a weekend get-away. To everyone's surprise, she eventually ends up in the control of terrorists.

Esteban has his hands full trying to manage McCoy's over-protective father, the senior executives at Matrix headquarters, and at that same time organize a search for the missing woman.

Meanwhile, the secret of Incentivize begins to unravel, and the men at risk become willing to take increasingly insane chances in order to keep their secret from being exposed.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tom Spears
• Release date: Nov 5, 2011
• ISBN: 9781466176768

Tom Spears

Tom Spears earned a Bachelors of Science degree in Engineering from Purdue University, and a Masters in Business Administration from Harvard University. He spent twenty-seven years working for four U.S. based public Corporations. During fifteen of those years he held a title of President or Group President. Tom retired from his last Group President position in 2010 to pursue his interest in writing fiction. He still consults occasionally, having expertise in manufacturing, engineering, pricing, strategy and corporate politics. Tom lives with his wife and six children in Ashland, Nebraska.

Book preview

Chapter 1

I thought you said Yonas had McCoy under control, Copeland bellowed as the two men hurried toward the mine entrance. If that’s his definition of ‘under control’, I think we need a new engineer.

He did have her well-managed, at least until this afternoon, Dabir Aman said calmly. And may I remind you it was next to impossible finding Yonas, so I doubt we will improve upon him.

Copeland simmered silently. As much as he trusted Aman, he still felt a beggar picked randomly off the streets could have done a better job managing Julia McCoy than Yonas had. As President of EthioCupro Mining he had a lot at risk: nine years of building the Incentivize project was on the line, and he wasn’t going to let a novice engineer or a little girl from the internal audit department knock it off course.

The terrain in the area surrounding the mine’s main shaft was like the moon, only rockier. If he took his eyes off the meager path, he'd probably trip and split his head – and in this country, any injury more serious than a hangnail could be deadly.

So, how do you read the situation? Copeland said, a bit calmer now.

I’m not certain, Aman admitted.

He took out a cigarette, lit it, sending out a plume of smoke aimed right at Copeland’s face. Copeland scowled, but said nothing. In a country where the average worker earned less in a day than the cost of a pack of Marlboro’s, Aman was flaunting his income. It irritated him, but they had more pressing issues to worry about now

I suspect she’s a bit too smart for Yonas.

A kangaroo would be a bit too smart for Yonas, Copeland thought. Out loud, he said: I suppose she is.

He and Aman had to decide now what to do with McCoy, especially if she displayed any inkling of what was really going on at the mine site.

How much do you think she knows? Aman asked.

I don’t think she actually knows much of anything, but she wouldn’t have dragged Yonas down into the hole this late in the audit if she didn’t suspect something.

Aman flicked his cigarette, and Copeland watched the breeze grab the ash and send it off the rocky side of the mountain, toward the lush valley below. Sometimes he wondered how Matrix had ever gotten permission to start a mining operation here. Every square meter of land had crops, thatched huts, or animals on it, even the steepest slopes – and the mine had undoubtedly displaced quite a few of them. Too many people, and too little land. Ethiopia was beautiful in its vibrant colors, but terrible in its poverty. The green of money undoubtedly helped to offset the green of the land the mine had destroyed, he mused.

Stanton says he’s hinted at a bribe, but she’s showing no interest in being paid to look the other way, Aman said.

Copeland nodded. She’s young and idealistic, he replied, not adding: And not beaten down and cynical like the rest of us. The next move is hers, so let’s see what she does. She’s just about out of time, and she’ll either fight or fold soon.

He expected her to keep digging until she had something substantial to wave in the face of that puke, Driscoll. It was the worst case scenario, but he hadn’t gotten to be the mine’s President by ignoring risks.

He remembered back to a time when he too had been idealistic – young, newly married, and with a promising career in front of him. He’d slaved away, serving the corporate machine, borrowing time from Janet and little Alese to build a happy future for them all. That had changed when a Wyoming drunk driver had taken away the only two people he loved. Now he was working for himself right under the company nose, and he wasn’t about to let anybody threaten the cash machine he’d constructed.

"We need some kind of distraction, one that would persuade her to forget about any …irregularities here. Something that would be…traumatic, and wouldn’t direct any suspicion back at us." He said this nonchalantly, as if doling out beatings was an everyday occurrence at EthioCupro.

I could try to convince McCoy to spend the weekend at the Dallol hot springs. Assuming she will continue working next week, of course.

The Danakil depression in the Afar desert, where the hot springs were located, was a politically unstable and physically demanding environment. Aman’s idea would put the girl right into harm’s way, in more ways than one.

Copeland said, Good. Maybe we’ll get lucky and she’ll fall in one of the fucking volcanoes.

Perhaps a little time spent with the Ugugumo rebels might change her priorities.

Do you think she’ll take the bait?

She is a geologist, and the volcano would be…interesting to her. Yonas mentioned she had asked several questions about the Danakil region.

What about Stanton?

Maybe he will fall in a fucking volcano as well.

Copeland smirked – hearing Aman curse with his accent was amusing. Then he realized the little man might take his comment literally.

I wouldn’t want her to die or anything. But if her experience was frightening enough, finishing the audit wouldn’t be important to her or Matrix – your idea might be just what the doctor ordered.

I will have it arranged.

The large Canadian stopped abruptly. They were only a dozen meters from the mine’s lift station. Any closer and they might be overheard by the four men waiting to head down the shaft when the lift emerged – not that it was likely any of them spoke English, but you never could be too careful. He noticed one of the men watching him out of the corner of his eye – dressed in near rags, and wearing locally produced sandals – a crappy version of foam Crocs. And this is what I have to work with, he thought. What an armpit this place is.

We will not have Miss McCoy here to annoy us for much longer, Aman said, continuing to smile.

Copeland gave a rare grin. Aman certainly knew how to handle things around here.

* * *

Get some light up into the top of that stope over there, Julia McCoy yelled, gesturing to her left, and immediately realizing no one could see what she was doing.

She wiped the sweat from her face and pushed her hair back, then remembered she’d been handling stone and dirt for the past couple of hours with the gloves she was wearing. There would now undoubtedly be a huge smudge on her nose and pale forehead, and mine detritus in her long red hair.

Ready for my close-up, Mister DeMille, she thought.

Someone swung a light up and to the left, and she studied the stone wall as well as she could from fifteen feet away, loose rubble on the floor of the chamber preventing a closer inspection. There sure as hell wasn’t any malleable copper there, just as she’d suspected.

Okay, Yonas, why? she asked. Why would anybody take the mine in this direction?

She’d noticed the anomaly just this morning. The stope – a large cavernous portion of the mine, dug out at great effort and expense – showed no obvious indications of copper in this direction. So she grabbed her host, Yonas Barnabas – the site’s only engineer – and literally dragged him into the mine to see for herself.

I am not sure, Yonas said in his thick accent that she was just getting acclimated to. This was all excavated before I was hired. I agree, it appears to be a mistake, but I cannot explain.

She was pretty sure at least part of his statement was a lie – the rubble piles still in the chamber looked new, and it appeared the wall she’d just inspected was being actively worked.

Pretty sure. Appeared.

She wasn’t certain enough to know, but it looked like something was wrong. There was no point in questioning Barnabas any further – maybe he was lying, or maybe Copeland hadn’t clued him in.

Pretty big mistake, was all she said in response, gesturing out into the huge cavern.

But this didn’t look at all like a mistake. It seemed more likely Copeland had discovered traces of gold or some other precious metal here, and hadn’t informed the company, wanting to somehow keep it for himself. And if that was true, she’d need evidence to prove it to Matrix headquarters. So far she’d seen nothing to indicate any precious metal deposits in the stope, at least not during her cursory inspection.

They were supposed to leave tomorrow. That didn’t give her enough time, and she knew it.

The Ethiopian didn’t reply. It might be the first time he’d shut up since she’d arrived.

Barnabas had been the perfect host for her visit – up until this morning, that is. He was solicitous, full of background information on the history of Tigray, and ready to help her with her analysis in any way he could. Everything had changed once she reviewed the geological data and the maps of the mine. Suddenly he was reluctant to provide any help or ideas. His guilty handwringing, in addition to what she’d found underground – or, more properly, hadn’t found – added to her suspicions.

I think I’ve seen enough – let’s get to the surface and have a talk with your boss, she said, happy to be getting back topside where there was light and fresh air, but dreading the confrontation that was coming.

Chapter 2

She saw both Copeland and Aman as soon as she left the lift station – they apparently were waiting for her. In the distance, Stanton was slowly making his way over to join them. She ground her teeth, ready to provoke Copeland, hoping he would tip his hand.

Might as well get this over with before they can concoct some kind of BS explanation, she thought. Although they probably have three or four already rehearsed just for fun.

Ten purposeful strides put her directly in front of the tall and bulky Canadian, Barnabas trailing behind her like a chastened puppy. Rich Copeland was at least twice her weight, and ten times her intensity – especially when it came to anger. And anger was something he seemed to have in great supply. She looked the man straight in the eyes, determined not to flinch no matter what he might say.

"Mr. Copeland, exactly what are you mining here?" Julia asked, raising a single eyebrow, and offering the slightest trace of a smile.

Why, we’re a copper mining company, of course. Didn’t you read the brochure? Copeland said, his eyes narrowing.

She noticed his slight hesitation, meaning she managed to catch him slightly off guard. It told her she was on the right track, even if she wasn’t sure of the ultimate destination.

Then you’ll need to explain the excavated areas down there with no sign of copper – or anything else as far as I can tell.

She saw the anger rising in his eyes, and suddenly felt the urge to wince – something she couldn’t do or he would read her weakness and capitalize on it. Although she doubted he would get physically aggressive, his flash of fury implied violence wasn’t far off. The massive Copeland would have little trouble manhandling a thin wiry Julia McCoy to the edge of the mine shaft and throwing her in – she envisioned Darth Vader tossing the Emperor to his death. Her heart picked up steam and she latched onto the only reasonable thought her panicky mind could grasp: Of course, Copeland would never do such a thing in front of so many witnesses

On the other hand, who here is on my side?

Certainly not Aman or Barnabas. And no one would pay attention to anything the Ethiopian workers had to say, if they could even be found after her disappearance. That just left Stanton, her official Matrix mentor and partner on this audit, who was still lazily strolling toward them. She shivered at the thought of her life being left in his hands.

What are you trying to say? Copeland asked, glaring at her. He only needed bulging veins on his forehead and steam coming out of his ears to complete the cartoonish picture.

Why have many of the mine’s shafts and stopes been cut away from the ore zone?

Copeland’s intensity softened – an effort much like pretending to enjoy his aunt’s eggplant casserole while she watched for his reaction. He looked over at Dabir Aman and shrugged, feigning cluelessness.

Aman was the head of operations at the mine, and such a question should be right up his alley. Unfortunately, Aman was slicker than Copeland, and a lot less likely to let something slip.

Mistakes, Miss McCoy, Aman said. You must remember we are very short on trained personnel. Matrix doesn’t see fit to assign any of their engineers or geologists to this project, so we must make do with what we can hire locally. He gestured at the nearby Yonas as if he were an unfortunate street urchin they’d taken in.

Yonas put on a sad face and looked at her woefully. There was enough bad acting to fill a Bruce Willis film.

She took a breath, preparing a rebuttal to this pathetic nonsense, when Mick Stanton, put a gentle hand on her arm.

Yes, I know it can be challenging to get good help in places like this, Stanton said in a placating tone – although it wasn’t clear if he was placating Copeland, Aman or perhaps her.

The engineer who made the errors was fired, Aman said. We recently hired Yonas as his replacement. I believe he will perform much better.

Even though the story jibed with what Yonas had said underground, Julia wasn’t buying it. They were lying, she was sure of it – not only did the story have a rehearsed feel, but even the dumbest of engineers wouldn’t have excavated as much earth in the wrong direction as these people. She needed better access to EthioCupro’s records and its operations, the exact things Barnabas had been distracting her from.

And tomorrow, or the next day at the latest, she and Stanton were supposed to be on a plane out of the country.

Ms. McCoy, why all these questions about operational issues? Copeland asked. I thought you were an auditor.

He didn’t say and not an engineer, but he might as well have. He had been treating her like a high school intern since she’d arrived. Now he was shifting into full bully mode.

That’s right, Mr. Copeland, I’m not an engineer, nor am I an expert on copper mining. But I am a trained geologist, and know enough about mining basics to tell when something is not right.

"Silly me. And I thought you were only here to validate the ore reserves listed in our balance sheet. You know – audit them."

Yes, that’s why I’m here, but…

Then I suggest you get to the subject at hand and stop wasting time on these …inane insinuations.

An excellent point, Stanton chipped in.

She resisted the urge to shove her pointy elbow into the gut of her overweight auditing partner, instead settling for a withering glance. She also decided not to continue pressing the argument in this direction. Three against one. Four if she counted Yonas, who was blithely digging something out his ear with a pinky.

She should have anticipated Stanton would side with Copeland and Aman. Probably covering his ass, since he was responsible for the last couple of audits here. She could make all the accusations she wanted, and it would be like so many flies on poop – and she didn’t much like being the fly.

Alright, she said, taking up the challenge, let’s focus on the reserves.

And your opinion on the reserves – are they accurately reflected in our financial statements? Copeland pushed, sensing victory.

She took off a glove and wiped the sweat from her forehead, undoubtedly smearing the dirt smudge further across her face. Then she pushed a strand of hair behind an ear. She could easily agree with the ore reserves as documented, and be done with it. It would happily get her out of this hated Ethiopian hell-hole and back home – at least until her next site evaluation in East Timbuktu, or wherever Matrix decided to send her. No one would be the wiser, and no one in Washington would really even care. That’s probably what Stanton had done when he’d last visited three years ago. But there was definitely something underhanded happening, and she really despised being bullied. She just hadn’t been able to put her finger on the something yet.

They are not.

Richard Copeland’s expression quickly went from shocked, to bright lividity. He clearly wasn’t expecting a junior auditor to challenge him and his operation.

Care to explain? he asked once he had composed himself, swallowing an additional bite of virtual eggplant.

Because so much of the excavation leads away from the primary ore zone, I haven’t been able to get an accurate estimate.

She could have said: Your engineer wasted so much of my time showing me everything BUT the mine, I couldn’t possibly have made an accurate estimate. I’m sure those were your instructions to him.

So, your inability to do your job means that we won’t get a clean opinion? Copeland said, now almost sneering.

Oh, I did my job, Julia McCoy said, that’s how I found out you’re not doing yours.

That’s bullshit! he shouted

This caused heads to turn a couple hundred meters away at the office building.

Julia held his gaze. Copeland calmed down once again, folding his arms across his chest. He appeared to have the emotional stability of a mental patient, making her wonder how he’d managed to hold onto a job at Matrix for so many years. Of course, it was a God-forsaken copper mine in East Africa, not a high-level position back at corporate headquarters – certainly he was sent here to get him out of somebody’s hair.

So, what are you planning to do? Stanton asked her, breaking the silence.

The blazing sun was beating down on her, and the thin air at ten thousand feet seemed to intensify it. She could feel the UV rays doing their best to carve deep wrinkles into her skin. A rivulet of sweat languidly rolled down Copeland’s jowl. At least he wasn’t any more comfortable than she was.

I’ve decided to stay another week to finish the review.

The silence that followed only made the situation even more intense. Copeland managed not to burst a blood vessel, though he was gritting his teeth so hard, she wondered if his jaw might explode.

She was throwing down the gauntlet. The extra week would raise eyebrows back in DC, and if she found any evidence during the extra week of digging around, she’d pin his balls to the wall, and he knew it.

You realize this is a big career mistake? Copeland shot back. He seemed to think he had some kind of power or authority over her.

It’s a mistake only if you were my boss, she said sharply, projecting more confidence than she actually felt.

Whatever, Copeland said. He turned away and marched back toward the office. Whether he was leaving in disgust, or just giving up trying to logically debate her wasn’t clear.

What will you need to see? said Aman, seamlessly taking over.

"I want to see the mine maps showing the ore zones with projected direction, extent and concentrations – all of them this time, not just the ones Yonas happens to have lying around. I want to see samples from each section of the mine, and the lab assays showing the content of all metals. Then I want to do a visual inspection of the mine. All of it. Not just a few select sections."

Aman nodded thoughtfully as she spoke, as if he was trying to figure out how to meet such a complex request – which was, of course, just a ruse. You don’t run a mine of this size without having the appropriate paperwork.

I’ll have Yonas….

"I want you to do it," she said, glaring at Aman with her best just try to disagree with me look. We’ve already established Yonas doesn’t know anything. I’ve already wasted too much time on him.

She felt a little bad about slamming the young engineer when he was standing almost next to her, but it couldn’t be helped. She had to be forceful, or next Friday she’d end up empty-handed and another week older.

Of course, Aman said. His voice had a soothing tone to it, as if he was trying to talk a crazy person down off a window ledge. She wasn’t sure if she should be insulted or amused.

I’d like to get started on this today. Now.

There was a long pause, where the only sound was that of the lift motor pulling on the long steel cable, currently hanging deep down the mine.

I don’t think that will be possible, Aman finally said.

Why not?

I leave for Addis in two hours, and can’t change my plans. I’ll be back here at the mine Monday afternoon.

Ah, yes. Both Copeland and Aman retreated to the relatively civilized surroundings of the capitol on the weekends, leaving locals in charge of the mine in their absence – letting the proverbial inmates run the proverbial asylum. She would make no progress with Aman gone, especially if she stuck by her assertion Yonas Barnabas was an unacceptable substitute.

Then get the maps and the lab reports pulled together before you go. I’ll look at them over the weekend, and we can start the physical review of the mine on Monday.

I’m sorry, Ms. McCoy, we don’t keep important paperwork like that here, as it tends to be lost or destroyed. The laboratory doing the work is located in Addis, and the reports are directly delivered to our offices there, where I personally file them. I can get you the maps, but that’s not going to occupy you for more than an hour or two.

Julia rolled her eyes. It was just ludicrous. They didn’t keep the records where the work was done? No wonder they had problems. She was sure she’d show up Monday only to be told the Addis offices had burned to the ground, and not so much as a ball point pen had survived.

If those reports don’t come back from Addis Ababa with you on Monday, we’ll go together to the vendor’s offices for fresh copies.

Of course, Aman replied. May I ask what you plan to say to Mister Driscoll about your delayed return?

She wouldn’t be saying anything to Jeff Driscoll – the director of the Internal Audit department, and a legendary terror at Matrix corporation – at least not until he returned from vacation, but they didn’t need to know that.

For now, I’ll tell him we had some issues accessing all the necessary information, but it looks like the review can be wrapped up by the end of next week. That was the truth, and as it wasn’t prejudicial, put her at less risk should she come up empty handed. Of course, Stanton could say whatever he wanted to Driscoll, so it would probably provide scant cover if this thing blew up on her.

And what do you plan to do, Mister Stanton? Aman asked.

Stay until this is cleared up, Stanton said. She’s right – something doesn’t smell right in all of this, and if a junior auditor can see it, well… we need to get to the bottom of it. Otherwise it reflects poorly on all of us – audit department and operations as well.

That surprised her. Stanton was going to stick by her, even though he disagreed? Maybe she’d misjudged him. Either she’d misjudged him, or he was worried his work on previous audits would look bad once she finished her digging. Staying close by, where he could still possibly influence the final report, would be a good defensive strategy.

Chapter 3

He’s really not a bad guy, once you get to know him, Dabir Aman said, nodding toward the office building, and clearly referring to Copeland.

Barnabas had returned to the lift, and the three of them – Stanton, McCoy and Aman were slowly walking back toward the offices.

Always the diplomat, Dabir, Julia thought, wondering if his primary purpose within EthioCupro was to smooth over the carnage left in Copeland’s wake.

I’ll have to take your word for it.

The head of operations was silent for a moment. He appeared to reconsider arguing the point further, and instead changed subjects.

Miss McCoy, what will you do over the weekend? I don’t think it would be interesting for you to stay in Aksum. You have already admitted you have no interest in the historical sites there. And clearly you will not be able to achieve anything at the mine, with no administrative staff, at least none who speak English.

Good point, she said.

Have you got any good ideas? Stanton asked.

Julia hated the thought of wasting the weekend just idling, and she didn’t feel like playing the tourist, but admitted she couldn’t make any real progress without Aman’s cooperation. With Copeland now an avowed enemy, she needed to maintain a reasonable working relationship with the Director of Ops. But sitting in a dusty hotel room buzzed by flies with its partial view of the junkyard of adjacent hovels wasn’t much of a choice.

There are the Simien Mountains, where you can hike and see wildlife. Or, you could visit the Dallol hot springs in the Danakil Depression.

Dallol? I thought we were too far away to get there and back in two days, Julia said.

When she first heard she would be coming to audit EthioCupro, she had researched the area. The Danakil Depression was at the north end of Africa’s Great Rift Valley. It was an area where the floor of the rift plunged hundreds of feet below sea level. Volcanically active, the depression contained some of the most unusual and vibrantly colored hot springs in the world. She’d visited Yellowstone once and loved it. Dallol was supposed to be much more magnificent.

It would be, except you can leave this afternoon from the airport in Aksum and fly directly to Mek’ele. I can arrange a four-wheel-drive vehicle and the best guide in Ethiopia for you there. You can return on the Monday morning flight. It should provide almost a full day at Dallol. Given how hot it gets there, that’s probably all the time you will want.

She felt a further softening of her attitude toward Aman, despite her suspicions of his boss. He seemed like a good guy who was unfortunately caught between a jerk and a hard place.

That would be great, and very nice of you to offer to arrange it.

It is my pleasure, he said. Then he turned to Stanton, And you, Mr. Stanton? Do you wish to visit Dallol also?

I don’t know. Did you say something about a desert?

Julia rolled her eyes.

Mick Stanton was a lout. She’d known it since her first day