‘Hey, a motive isn’t hard to find, is it?’ Max opened the boardroom door. Helen slipped in as he spoke: ‘We are going to have to adjourn while we try to find the tapes. It would not be easy to proceed without them.’
Everybody groaned and started to move; Max noticed the crooked smile on Sandra’s face.
‘We’d better have a re-start time, then,’ said Dick. ‘We’ll give you until three o’clock. Back here then, ladies and gents.’
The room emptied quickly, leaving the two of them.
‘Before we do anything else,’ Helen muttered, ‘I must get some more painkillers. I feel terrible.’
‘Poor darling!’
They walked back to Grove House together. Nat was at the window. He’d never been inside, and this was Helen’s territory, so he let her lead the way. It was very quiet as most of the residents were at Activities, Helen explained. Nat was standing by the door now, and they followed her into the office without a word.
‘Lookin’ for these?’ she asked, swinging round and holding up the tapes. She wore an expression which said, “Go on, challenge me!” Helen reached out for the tapes but Nat jerked her arm away.
‘Oh no! Did you really fink we woz gunna let you tape us, then use it against Sandra? She knew. Oh yeah – we worked it out!’
‘Nat, give me the tapes, please.’ Helen was trying to stay calm.
‘Are they really important then?’ Nat giggled. ‘Hey, you’re that shrink, innit?’
‘I am a psychiatrist, yes.’
‘Did ya know Vee?’ Nat was still laughing because of her perceived power over them.
‘Yes.’
‘Ha, ha!’ She could hardly contain herself. ‘I s’pose Helen here’s another one of your patients then. Go round lookin’ for nutters, collectin’ ‘em, do ya?’ Neither of them could answer. ‘Well?’ She was still holding the tapes in the air.
They didn’t respond, until finally Helen said: ‘I’ll forget what you just said if you let me have the tapes.’
‘Wassit worth? Go on!’
‘If you give them back, I shan’t say anything about your behaviour – Oh! I’m sorry, Liz, but nobody else is allowed in the office at the moment!’ The girl walked away and Helen shut the door and faced Nat. ‘You won’t be disciplined.’
‘Pha! Thass no good. I wuz gunna leave this dump soon anyway. I dunt give a monkey’s about discipline!’
The three of them stood motionless.
‘I know what,’ said Nat, ‘I get to come to the big fat boss meetin’ you’re ‘avin.’’
‘But you ca – ’ Helen began, but Max interrupted her. ‘– If you give us the tapes, you can sit in.’
Silently, with false reluctance, Nat handed over the cassettes, having slipped them quickly into a carrier bag. A stupid grin spread across her face.
It was five past three. Everyone was back in the boardroom except Sandra. Once again, Dick looked at his watch. Max put his briefcase next to Helen’s bag. Jack coughed. Ms Olubi found the right page in her notes, pulled her chair in and fiddled with her earrings. Nat came in, walked casually round behind the Chief Executive and sat next to Max.
‘Does anyone know where Sandra is?’ Max began. Some said “no” while others shook their heads.
‘We have managed to find the tapes,’ Helen said, as she plugged in the cassette player for a second time.
‘Excuse me,’ said Dick, ‘but what is this junior member of staff doing in here?’
Helen stayed calm. ‘I said she could join us to get experience of meetings.’
‘But the matters we are discussing are of a confidential nature!’
‘Sir, I think we can rely on Ms Cooper’s discretion.’ Helen looked hard at Nat, then went on: ‘Now, as I said earlier, only two of the recordings I made were any good and – oh, no!’ Helen shrieked in dismay.
‘What’s wrong now, Mrs Greenwood?’ Dick’s impatience came partly from having missed his lunch engagement.
‘They’ve been cut!’ Helen noticed as soon as she took the cassettes from their cases. She stood up abruptly, turned on Nat, who was laughing, and shouted: ‘Get out! Get out of this room! You haven’t heard the last of this!’
Nat obeyed, still grinning. Jim took one of the cassettes and passed it round. There were murmurs of disbelief.
‘Whatever’s going on?’ asked Dick.
‘Sir, we’ve been sabotaged. But all is not lost,’ Max replied. ‘I have copies of the transcripts I made in case of power failure, or something unexpected like this. They don’t have the same impact, but it’s probably for the best in the end so that we don’t recognise the voices.’
‘Wouldn’t they have been better in your report booklet?’ Dick pointed out.
‘Possibly. But this is particularly sensitive material. I’ll have the copies back afterwards please.’
There was still no sign of Sandra, however. Everyone started to read the transcripts which Max passed round, before all sight of their purpose was lost.
FIRST INTERVIEW
HELEN: How long have you worked here, at Squaremile?
ANON 1: ‘Bout five years. [Max remembered that this was Liz.]
HELEN: So you came here straight from school?
ANON 1: Yeah. I started on Birch, before Bill, ven came here, ven got promoted.
HELEN: Are you happy here?
ANON 1: Pretty much. ‘Sonly a job though, innit? Not worth gettin’ stressed about.
Pause
HELEN: Can I ask you … about Vee. Did you get on with her?
ANON 1: Yeah, but I di’n’t fink she was right in vis job.
HELEN: What do you mean?
ANON 1: Well, she ‘ad degrees an’ that. Dunno why she came here.
HELEN: You’re saying she was overqualified.
ANON 1: Yeah, pretty much, yeah. Dunno what she was doin’ ‘ere. I know it got to some people. Vee sometimes ‘ad a good idea, y’know, but because it was ‘er that thought of it … People got jealous, y’see.
HELEN: I see. (Thinks for a moment.) Can I ask you now what you thought of Sandra, as a manager, I mean?
ANON 1: She was OK, I s’pose. More laid back than Jenny used to be in Birch, before Bill, y’know, but she – Sandra I mean – was dead keen to keep the place clean more than anythin’ else, for visitors an’ that.
HELEN: Did she get on with the residents?
ANON 1: Yeah, but we ‘ad to do all the work wiv them. Still, she was the manager, so I s’pose she could do what she liked.
HELEN: Hmm. Did Sandra get on with Vee?
ANON 1: Oh, no, not really. Dunno why, ‘cos Vee worked as ‘ard as the rest of us.
HELEN: Vee worked hard, did she?
ANON 1: Oh, yeah! Always on da go. ‘Cept when she was ill o’ course.
HELEN: Was Sandra different in any way when Vee was there and when she wasn’t?
ANON 1: Erm, let’s fink. I fink she was a bit ‘appier wiv Vee not around, but she …
(The telephone rings.)
HELEN: Hello? Yes. Is it urgent? Only I’m in a meeting right now. OK. Bye. Sorry, you were saying?
ANON 1: Erm, I don’t fink Sandra wanted Vee around. When Vee come back, it was like Sandra dint care. She gave ‘er grief an’ that. Know wha’ I mean?
HELEN: What kind of grief?
ANON 1: Oh, I dunno. Always pickin’ up on fings, criticisin’ an’ givin’ ‘er nasty jobs like cleanin’ a blocked toilet or somebody’s … Hey, you’re not goin’ to report me for this, are you? ‘Cos I don’t fink it’s right to take sides a’ work. I wan’ you to know that. It’s just a job, like I said.
HELEN: Don’t worry.
ANON 1: There’s sumfin’ else. Sandra told us that Vee was goin’ to ‘ave to go. We ‘ad to give ‘er – Sandra I mean – a piece of paper every week for free weeks sayin’ what Vee ‘ad done wrong. There ‘ad to be at least free fings on da paper each time, so I fink some people made stuff up, just so Sandra wunt get annoyed.
(End.)
The silence of the boardroom gradually gave way to coughs and whispered conversations as people finished reading.
‘Perhaps we can have comments when you’ve all read the second interview,’ Max said. He knew that this was Nat. ‘If anything, it illustrates the problem better.’
SECOND INTERVIEW
HELEN: Do you like this job?
ANON 2: ‘S alright. When people don’t nag. (Sounds of chewing.)
HELEN: OK. I want to ask you a few questions. Any information you give won’t be used against you. I won’t nag on this. If you don’t want to answer a question, that’s fine, but it would be helpful if you do. I have seen your helpful side. I will not tell anyone who said what in any case.
ANON 2: Right, go on, then. (Still sounding a little defensive.)
HELEN: How long have you known Sandra?
ANON 2: About … three years.
HELEN: Do you like her? Do you think she is a good manager?
ANON 2: Yes. She’s been good to me, given me chances, basic’ly. Shown me the ropes an’ stuff.
HELEN: So you were sorry when she got promoted off the house.
ANON 2: Yep. Jean was nice, but a bit soft. Then there was you.
HELEN: Did you get on with Vee too?
ANON 2: Ah, she was off ‘er ‘ead that one.
HELEN: So you didn’t get on with her.
ANON 2: I don’t mix with that sort. Sandra reckoned she should’ve stayed in the funny farm for good. You never knew what she might do next, basic’ly.
(Anon 2 giggles.) [Max remembered realising that Helen seemed to have found a topic on which Nat had strong views.]
HELEN: What makes you say that?
ANON 2: Every so often she’d ‘ave a funny turn an’ go off sick. I reckon she was lazy, as well as nuts. That sort shouldn’t be in work, because they make it harder for the rest of us in the end. Sandra said Vee couldn’t do anything right, wha’ever she did. People like ‘er should be put away and forgotten, basic’ly, so the rest of us can get on with our lives, the useless … (Anon 2 cannot think of a strong enough insult beyond swearing. She coughs instead.) I know Sandra felt the same, and I trusted her. We used to have a laugh!
(Audible amusement.)
HELEN [sounding rather annoyed, as Max recalled]: What about the fire? Didn’t she get everyone out on her own?
ANON 2: She was only doin’ her job. Anyone else would’ve done the same. And for all we knew, she could’ve started it ‘erself! Yeah, she could’ve ‘eard a voice tellin’ er to start a fire! Well, we don’t know what goes on in their ‘eads, do we? That sort like a bit of attention, too.
HELEN [Max could picture her expression as he read]: But the fact remains, she rescued those residents. She wasn’t behaving oddly then, was she?
ANON 2: You on Vee’s side?
HELEN: I don’t think there are any “sides” in this.
(End.)
Sandra finally put in an appearance and took her place next to Ms Olubi. ‘I’m sorry. I was needed elsewhere,’ she said, in response to a questioning look from Dick Montgomery.
‘Right. I suggest you read these two interviews, Ms Wheatley,’ he said crisply, while the rest of us take a short break. Ten minutes, then.’
They left Sandra with Ms Olubi. Jim, Helen and Max sat with their coffee in the dismal staff lounge, in silence. Jack had vanished, but when he returned with Dick, they all filed back into the boardroom once again.
‘This has got to have been concocted by you!’ The words burst from Sandra as she stood up suddenly, knocking her chair over, shaking the papers she held out in front of her, glaring at Max. ‘Who do you think you are, playing God?’ She turned and looked from Jack Marshall to Dick Montgomery. ‘It’s not fair! You asked me to get rid of her! I was doing what you wanted!’ She was shouting, incensed, still clutching the sheets of paper. ‘You said it was the only way forward, the only thing to do, for the good of Squaremile! You said you would back me and see me right!’
‘You didn’t have to accept,’ Dick pointed out coldly. ‘Or go to such apparent lengths.’ He looked at Jack, who seemed anxious.
Helen could hardly contain herself. ‘And you didn’t have to treat her so badly! Having interviewed your staff, I heard things which made me think you actually enjoyed making Vee’s life a misery! It didn’t take you much effort to do what they asked. And you have the audacity, now, to say this isn’t fair on you! And while I’m at it, I suppose we all know why you never had a Professional Conduct Review, don’t we?’ She glared at Jack. ‘And all those hearings Vee had to go to – they were for the wrong person!’ Helen was trembling. She knocked over her glass and Max made to help her, but she found a tissue before the water got to the report.
Jim was tight-lipped, scowling in silence. Janice Olubi appeared utterly amazed, looking from one person to another with her mouth half open.
Sandra righted her chair and sat down, trying to compose herself. ‘I did what I thought was right,’ she said in a low voice. ‘I don’t think that kind of person should be in a job like this, or any other job, for that matter.’
‘What kind of person is that, then, exactly?’ Jim spoke with controlled anger.
Sandra just stared at him. The room was very warm. Max took off his jacket.
Helen spoke to Jack Marshall: ‘There’s one other thing I’d like to clear up, while I have the opportunity. After Sandra had collected “evidence”, mainly false, from her minions, you had the meeting where Vee was accused of all kinds of malpractice, yes?’
Jack could not help looking sheepish after the earlier attack.
‘I remember. And we had Dr Greenwood’s answers in support of Vee around the same time.’
‘Well,’ she went on, ‘were you aware that Vee had not seen the list of allegations before the meeting? Nor did she realise she was being watched on the house and that notes were being made in preparation for it. That’s what Anon 1 was referring to. The first Vee knew of the whole business was when she was called in to face the firing squad. She didn’t even have notice of the meeting itself!’
Jack thought for a moment. ‘I was not aware of that, no.’ He stared at Sandra and spoke with quiet anger, his voice deep: ‘You told me that she knew what was going on, that she’d seen the list and she was willing to come. Are there any other … irregularities we should know about, while you’ve got the chance?’
Sandra did not respond.
Max stood up. ‘At that meeting, planned weeks in advance, nobody was prepared to believe Vee. The so-called evidence was weighted against her: it was a prearranged defeat.’ He took a sip of water. ‘Ladies and gentlemen, I think we now have a better picture of how things have been running. I also think we know what has to be done. What is your opinion, Ms Olubi?’
He sat down; he was perspiring and he tried to breathe deeply out of fear for his heart. Helen pulled her chair over to join him. The pain in her head bloomed like an atomic mushroom cloud; at the same time she was aware of the danger for her husband. She listened with her eyes closed behind one hand for a moment, holding Max’s hand under the table with the other. She thought she was going to pass out.
‘I would expect immediate resignations from the staff concerned,’ Ms Olubi replied. ‘Mr Montgomery will have to attend a separate hearing with the trustees and someone from the Charity Commission, but – .’
‘– As I said in reply to Item 1,’ Dick broke in, ‘I accept full responsibility. Item 2 has provided further evidence that more care needs to be exercised in the appointment of staff.’
Max looked at Dick in disbelief. ‘If you mean in terms of not employing someone with a mental health problem,’ he said, ‘how can you possibly know in advance who will develop one?’
‘What makes you think I am referring to Ms Gates?’
At that point, Sandra left the room, angry, with a dismissive glance at Ms Olubi. There was a long pause. It seemed that everybody felt there was something else which needed to be said, but nobo
dy could articulate it.
‘Any other business?’
«Si ‘Eternel existe,
en fin de compte
Il voit qu’
je me conduis
guère plus mal
Que si j’avais la foi.»
GEORGES BRASSENS
29
Anxiety
Jim went back with Max and Helen that night. In spite of their exhaustion, everyone had to eat. Then they talked until late.
‘I am so grateful to you both for letting me witness the apocalypse! But I’m sorry you’re not well, Helen. Good luck for tomorrow. Let me know if there’s anything you need.’
Max knew the reason why Helen had wanted to talk so late that night. She was trying to avoid thinking about today. As if to prove it, now that they were on their way to Okebury, she picked up the topic of Squaremile again, despite being weary and in need of quiet. She spoke with her eyes closed, as if by talking, by skating lightly over the surface of her emotions, she could simultaneously distract herself and prepare for what was about to happen. But they did not need to discuss any of this because each knew what the other was thinking.
‘You were a brilliant chairman. I know I’ve said it before, but … And you know when Monty said I’d done your dirty work for you, well, I couldn’t help thinking how that applied to Sandra as well. You were right when you said she was acting for them, but they gave her too much freedom. They assumed she was good at her job and they didn’t know what she was really – .’
‘– Helen, Helen!’ He had to stop her, gently, with a sigh, because her anxiety was beginning to affect him. They pulled into the hospital car park.
‘Sorry, Max. I do go on a bit sometimes, don’t I? You know me.’
‘Yes, darling.’ They found the MRI department easily. ‘Good luck. I’ll be waiting for you.’
The metallic heartbeat of the scanner made her apprehensive as she was shown into the white room with the giant, humming machine. Assistants came and went.
‘Have you brought your earplugs?’ someone asked her. ‘Only it can get very loud in there. And forgive me if I’m repeating myself, but I have to ask if you have any metallic objects in or on your body?’
From a Safe Distance Page 23
