Finn and Fiona. Day Six
I got out of bed and did all of the usual ablutions and, showered, shaved and dressed in my suit again, I went down to the dining room for a light breakfast as I had to be at the airport. After going back to clean my teeth and gargle, I went down to the car and drove to meet the incoming managers.
I knew that they would be sending a couple of upper echelon people and was pleased to see my own supervisor coming out of the door of the plane. With him were two gentlemen that I knew of but had never met before in person. One was Jeff Strong, the manager of security, and the other was Arthur Thompson, the chief accountant and manager of corporate governance. Both had offices some two floors above mine. I shook hands with them and led them to my car, putting their bags in the back.
On the way to the factory Arthur quizzed me on my findings and, when I had finished, turned to my supervisor and said “This is one bright fellow you have here, I think we may have to consider his future in the company.” When we arrived at the factory I was amazed to see a number of police cars waiting for us. Jeff said “Ah, the boys in blue got my message. I think we will have to have a little search of lockers, cupboards and vehicles today.” We went in and were shown into the managers’ office by a very flustered receptionist. The manager was all brazen and blustering but I could see the dew of sweat on his upper lip.
Arthur sat him down and explained what depth of crap he had found himself in and rattled off the figures I had told him on the way here. The factory manager visibly wilted and said that he had been assured that it would never be found out and that he wished he didn’t need the money he had been given. Jeff then did his hard copper piece and got the names of all the members of the ring. He then asked me to follow and we left the room to take the police into the despatch area where those named were rounded up and taken into the canteen for further questioning. I could see several of the production crew looking on with wonder.
All the time I was trying to be the stony- faced one from head office but I knew that today was going to be one that changed many lives here. I showed Jeff the wrapping area and the stacks of odd boxes. We then went and had a search in the immediate area and came across a locked door marked ‘Storeroom 7’. Jeff ordered a key to be found and when none eventuated, we got a couple of burly police to open it for us, something I think they delighted in. Inside were stacks of boxes with notes taped to them that showed who they were destined for. Jeff called in the officer in charge and told him that the business further up the chain was his to pursue as ours ended in this building. I had the thought that several local companies would be having their books checked in regard to VAT evasion.
Arthur had ordered that the production line was slowed so that a smaller crew could handle the volume in the, now depleted, packaging area and we then gathered in the canteen where the crime ring was gathered. The manager had already been taken off to the police station to be charged. One by one, the gang was interrogated, read their rights and charged. By this time a police van had turned up and they were all led away. By this time it was close to the factory lunch time and the line was shut down for everyone to be gathered up in the canteen. Arthur told them that tomorrow there would be a new manager and that new personnel for the packaging department would be recruited in the weeks to come. In the meantime, the factory would continue at a lower output so that they would be able to cope with the production. The staff all looked relieved at being still in a job and we then left them to have their lunch.
Jeff had a few words with the officer in charge and was told that there would be a SOCO team in this afternoon to take photos and measurements and he requested that I attend the police station in the morning to make a statement. I took the three to the hotel where I arranged for another night in my room, taking my case back up. The others were given rooms and we then met in the hotel dining room for a snack. Both Arthur and Jeff complimented me on a good, neat, job in finding the problem and pinpointing the causes of the losses. My supervisor was told that he had also done well by suspecting a problem and sending me here. We had a good meal and then Arthur said “Phineas, I think that you are an asset to the company. As such, I want you to tidy up the accounts that you are working on and relocate to an office near me. I will then want you to go through the books of all of our sites with a view of ensuring corporate governance. If need be I will want you to make inspections if you see anything even slightly off. You have a good eye to go with that brain of yours so you will be part of the audit department. Your supervisor, here, will be given permission to recruit someone to fill your place in his department. What do you say?”
What could I say but “Thank you, sir; I will do my best to live up to your expectations.” My supervisor then told me that, as I had been here now more days than planned, I was to take the rest of the afternoon off to get myself a couple of new shirts and, perhaps, get my suit dry-cleaned, all on the company. Otherwise, all I needed to do was to take them back to the factory so that they could start the healing process and to pick them up at six so that we could all have dinner. Before we left I went up to my room and changed into my casual clothes and put my suit on a hanger. The hotel reception told me where I could get the dry-cleaning done and suggested a store I could get a couple of shirts. I then took them back to the factory. On the way, Arthur asked me about my car and I told him how long I had driven it and what needed to be done to be in this condition. Jeff said that he loved it as he was a Jaguar man himself.
I did as ordered and got a couple of new shirts, one of which I had on when I picked them up. We went to a mid-range restaurant and had a good dinner with a little wine and they seemed to be in good spirits. Arthur told me that there had been a chap at the factory who was in charge of one of the production lines who had been elevated to the factory manager seat as of this afternoon and that they would be having lunch with him and his wife on Friday. My Friday, after my visit to the police station, was my own and I was told to drive home and put my feet up.
After we drove back to the hotel there was a note at reception for Arthur. He had ordered a hire car and they had the keys for him so I was no longer needed as the taxi driver. I said goodnight and we all shook hands before going to our own rooms.
I sat on my bed and wondered about the course of the day. I had started as a lowly accountant and finished as a future auditor two floors higher. Bill was going to have conniptions when he finds out. I stripped off and put on my pyjamas, thankful that Fiona had not pleasured herself last night. It took me a while to settle for sleep after all the excitement of the day but eventually I drifted off.
The classical music woke me in the pink room but I turned it off and turned over to doze some more until my bladder forced me out of bed. It had been fun but not something I could put up with more than once a lifetime. My mother had gone out to her bingo and had left me a note on the breakfast table. I got a cup of coffee and some toast to see if my taste-buds still worked and sat quietly for a while. I was due to be at my work-place this afternoon, as a customer rather than a worker. I had been through some of the things we did at the spa but this was the first time I was going for the full treatment. My boss had arranged it as we had a good rapport and he had also arranged the wedding cars, as long as he was the one to walk me down the aisle. He was almost a father figure to me with the years I had worked for him so had readily accepted his offer.
I took my time getting some house-work done and putting some laundry through the machine. Finally, I got myself a light lunch and then went to shower and dress. Today, all that was needed was panties, bra, a shift and shoes, as I would be spending much of the afternoon naked. Locking up I took the two busses I normally took to work and it was so much different in full daylight, rather than the murky dawns that I was used to.
At the resort the girls took me in hand and I spent the whole afternoon in a world of hot rocks, massages, skin treatments and warm oils. When I left I felt fantastic, anyone who tried to catch me today would have a hard time keeping hold. Back at home we had a light meal before watching some television and I was so sleepy that all I did in my room was take everything off, putting on my black nightie and falling into a deep sleep.
The portable alarm woke me and I lay thinking about the experience of a spa treatment. Now, I could go for that myself as it seemed like such a wonderful thing to give your body the treatment. Today, however, for me was going to be a bit different.
Marianne G 2021
