by Alan Cooke
‘Great to hear you Anthea, did you have a good journey?’ He had been worried about her since she left Manchester. Her determination to continue investigating the Company worried him. So much had happened in such a short space of time that the possibility of being overtaken by events could put them all in danger. The threat came from not only the Company but from the forces of law and order. He tried to sound cheerful hoping Anthea would not detect his concern.
‘No problems at all getting here, but even better news, I’ve found the Company address.’ Reading from her piece of paper she spelled out the address while Steve wrote it down. ‘Now don’t start getting excited but I’m going to have a look at this address this afternoon. I’m not going in, just checking what they are about.’ She knew Steve would try to stop her but her mind was made up.
‘You can’t do that Anthea, please don’t. It’s just not safe, you have no idea what’s going on there.’
Anthea had not heard him raise his voice before, she knew it was out of love for her that he was trying to stop what she intended doing. It was out of love for him that she had to do it. ‘Steve all I am going to do is walk past the building to get a feel for the place. Then I’ll ring you and tell you what it’s like. There’s no danger in that is there?’ Her voice was low, almost seductive as she tried to put Steve at ease over her plan for the afternoon.
‘I’m not trying to be heavy handed Anth you know that, it’s just that I love you and don’t want you near any sort of danger. I believe there is plenty of that somewhere in this Company, just think of what has happened already. I’ll get a train down in the morning and meet you then we can both check it out. How about that?’ In the short time he had known her, he soon recognised her stubborn streak and determination. If she decided she was going to do something then there would be little he could do to deter her.
‘We’ll see. I’ll give you a ring this evening and you can let me know any developments at your end. I don’t suppose you have checked your bank statement yet? The result will give us another clue. Only another hundred to go and we’ll have solved this mystery.’
Steve heard the chuckle in her voice as she said this and felt an overwhelming love for Anthea. ‘Is that all, only a hundred. We’re almost there then.’ He just wished that this was the case.
‘I must go now Steve, I’m still at work you know and Dad is on the prowl. I’ll ring tonight. I love you. Bye for now.’ He wouldn’t relax until she spoke to him again, he would be worrying about her until then.
‘Perhaps,’ she thought, ‘I shouldn’t have told him my intentions.’
The train to the city was late, the tables in the carriages covered with half eaten food and empty drinks cans. When she left the train and headed for the underground she couldn’t help but reflect that we were a very dirty nation. It needed someone like Steve to sort them out she thought. The tube journey took eight minutes, time she spent considering her actions for the next half hour. It was time completely wasted, what could she do? Walk into the offices, hold up her hand and advise those present that she was making a citizen’s arrest, hardly.
No, she had to do this in a practical way. The offices could be on several floors and some of the employees might be totally unaware that their employer was engaged in criminal activities. Play it by ear that’s all she could do.
Walking purposefully down the road, her eyes were checking the property numbers. 37 was her target, but it couldn’t be. The building boasting number 37 had a blacked out shop front with accommodation above. Anthea looked up and down the road and could not see any building that would house a multinational corporation, or even a small business.
There was only one thing for it, check out this number 37 and see if they knew anything about the Company. A light was shining inside the building on the ground floor as Anthea tried the door handle. She was unable to turn it so she pushed the door with her shoulder but it remained a defiant defence against anyone trying to gain entry. There were no sounds coming from within so she knocked sharply on the glass hoping to arouse someone who might direct her to the mysterious Company. It was then she noticed a card with a list of Company names as being resident in the building.
Arif Rahman had finished bundling the postal deliveries addressed to several companies into a large envelope and was busy writing the name and address of the new recipient when he heard someone try the door handle. By the time the knock sounded on the glass, he was peering through a crack in the paintwork on the front window to check out the caller. This was most unusual. Apart from family and friends only the postman and gas and electric meter readers had ever called. It was like living on a distant island, just one family with visits three times a year from passing ships. There was just one young girl now trying to attract his attention. He did not feel any sort of threat so he opened the door to face his visitor.
‘Good afternoon, I was searching for a Company and thought I must have the wrong address but I see it’s here on the list.’ Anthea pointed to the card, I was hoping to speak to someone, can you help me?’ Had she noticed the card before trying the door and attracting attention, perhaps she would have avoided attempting to contact someone inside.
Arif was confused. This sort of thing just did not happen and now it had. He was unsure, how should he deal with it? Would Mr. Crichton be displeased with him? ‘Well,’ he thought, ‘the situation is here, I must deal with it.’
‘I’m afraid I only deal with the mail for the Companies on that list so I can’t possibly help.’ Somehow he knew that this girl was not going to be put off so easily and it made him feel very uneasy. His life had changed so much since taking on this job, he must not do anything which would risk losing it.
Although he didn’t make her feel at risk, she was certain he was being protective towards his employers whoever they were. The first name she had was that given to Carol, she would start there. ‘Do you have a Mr. Crichton with one of these Companies, I just have to contact him.’ Bingo. This was it, as soon as she mentioned the name Crichton he had shuffled and looked away. It was a nervous movement and Anthea decided to keep him nervous. ‘I usually contact him on my mobile but it’s on the blink and his mobile number is in the memory. Now at the time it’s imperative I can’t get hold of him. The Directors need some information from me today if they don’t get it, my job is on the line.’ She looked straight at the person who she thought would have the answer and looked as sorrowful as she could. A bit of play acting might help.
‘Sorry I didn’t know you were with the Organisation. I’ll just get my phone and try to get hold of him. It is a bit unusual but I don’t want you to lose your job. Excuse me a minute, I’ll just go upstairs and get it.’
Now what should she do? Anthea was worried, what if this man called Mr. Crichton answered the phone. The phone would be passed to her and she would have to talk. About what she didn’t know. Her thoughts were interrupted when the man returned.
‘That’s odd, I’ve tried twice but the connection is dead. There is no response at all, that’s never happened before. I hope it hasn’t been stolen or dropped and broken. It’s the only way I have of talking to him.’ Arif was worried, first this girl creating a situation which had never happened before and now his boss suddenly unavailable.
‘Look, write down the mobile number and I’ll try myself later. I have so much to do, it’s all very worrying.’ Anthea was beginning to enjoy her acting performance so decided to follow through her questioning. She decided on the fellow employee tack, giving praise to the Company but also criticising its secrecy policy when all the employees were known to be trustworthy.
‘Have you actually met Mr. Crichton?’ Arif was now more relaxed, there were things he would like to know about his employers but with Mr. Crichton he had been too afraid to ask. This might be the opportunity to see a bigger picture, if he could help this girl, she might help him.
‘Only once or twice, he’s a very busy man but always very charming.’ It was Steve’s and Carol
’s boss, of this she was certain. Another question would confirm it. ‘By the way I’m Anthea.’ She held out her hand to greet the giver of information.
‘Well, hello Anthea, my name is Arif. I’ve been with the Company for almost a year now and you are the first person I‘ve met who works for them.’ He smiled as he shook her hand and relaxed for the first time since she had entered the doorway. ‘Could I introduce you to my wife Sumi, she doesn’t understand how they work and I can’t tell her because I don’t know either.’ Arif was laughing now, a door was opening and she might just get a glimpse of one of the Companies operations. ‘I’ll just run up and get Sumi, please excuse me again.’
She was safe, no-one was going to come in and become a threat, Arif was just another one of the team of puppets and it was Mr. Crichton who pulled his strings. She must get as much information from him as possible before ringing Steve. Mr. Crichton could well have been in the car which blew up outside Manchester, his disconnected telephone indicated something and her gut feeling lead her to believe that the disconnection would remain permanently.
Footsteps on the stairs heralded the arrival of Arif and Sumi. Anthea was immediately aware that this young woman was an exceptional beauty. Her facial bone structure was superb and her waist length hair was tied in a pony tail, but there was also an inner beauty which projected itself in her movements and serenity.
‘Hello. You must be Sumi. I’m Anthea, a damsel in distress I’m afraid but your husband has been most helpful. He was telling me that I’m the first member of the Company that he has met. They are so secretive aren’t they?’ Once Sumi was relaxed, she would get more information from the unsuspecting Arif.
The girl was young and obviously a very nice type thought Sumi but she too wanted information. ‘Which part of the company do you work for Anthea? I’m sure we have handled your mail, but a letter isn’t the same as a real person is it?’
‘Actually I have been on attachment to Manchester but as you know, I’m not supposed to say any more about it, but we’re in the same boat. We have set up an agency to help businesses secure more contracts. It’s going well but we still have to be careful because there are always people out there trying to beat you at your own game.’ Now it was time to listen. ‘That’s my lot for now,’ thought Anthea, ‘now you two can have the floor.’
‘I just had no idea what each part of the company did. That is the first thing I’ve learned. We do get mail from different parts of the Company and I just parcel it up and take it to Wimbledon each week. Even then I never see anyone. I just put it through the letterbox of a flat on the first floor and someone collects it. Who and when I have no idea, except by the time I take the next delivery, the first one has gone. I can tell that by the sound of the letters hitting the floor.’ His time with the Company had been strange as far as his employment was concerned but their lives had changed dramatically for the better, so he had just accepted everything once the doubts about the job had been submerged in his consciousness. Today a breath of fresh air had breezed into the building in the shape of Anthea, a fellow employee.
‘Tell me Arif, were you recruited as I was?’ She didn’t have to continue her question as Arif held up his mobile phone, tapping it with his finger. ‘Snap,’ she said. ‘I’m not as long serving as you so your knowledge will be far greater than mine. Have you heard of anyone else other than Mr. Crichton?’ Surely Arif would have at least one piece of information which would go into the jigsaw.
He stood with his arm around Sumi pulling her close to him. Anthea sensed that it was not only out of love for her but also for moral support. ‘The only other person is the one who collects the mail in Wimbledon and I’ve never spoken to him or her. The instructions came from Mr. Crichton. My only purpose in the organisation is to forward mail when told to do so. I am a very small fish indeed, but a happy one.’ He smiled at Anthea and continued. ‘Although a small fish, I have no wish to end up fried.’ They all laughed at his comment, but each knew that there had been an overt threat somewhere in his association with the Company. ‘Would you like to join us for tea or coffee Anthea, it would take no time at all.’ Arif hoped she would accept, this was a memorable day and he could see that Sumi liked the girl. She would now see that it was really a good company he worked for. A colleague like Anthea he was sure would never be involved with anything that wasn’t absolutely lawful.
‘I wouldn’t say no to a cup of coffee, it’s very kind of you.’ He hadn’t given her the name and address of the place where he delivered the mail but with luck she would get the information.
The flat above the office was immaculate and Anthea was impressed with the way it had been furnished. ‘What a beautiful room, one day once I get married I’ll remember this and if you don’t mind, I’ll copy it. It’s really lovely.’ It wasn’t flattery, she meant every word. Thought and good taste had been applied carefully to achieve the effect. ‘I just love the pictures, who is the artist?’
Sumi was very pleased with the compliments she had received and noticed Arif looking at her with obvious pride. ‘Oh, thank you Anthea, it’s so kind of you to say so. The pictures?’ She paused and looked embarrassed. ‘Well I painted them, it’s a new hobby, they are not really all that good but I enjoy painting them.’
‘I think you underestimate your talent Sumi, they would sell in any gallery.’ She looked around the walls at the paintings, each one an abstract but vibrant in its display of colour. ‘If you ever want to sell any please let me know, they are really very impressive.’ Seeing that Sumi was embarrassed, she changed the subject. ‘You were saying Arif that you delivered the mail to Wimbledon, whereabouts? I have an aunt living there.’ This was a white lie, her one and only aunt lived in France but she had somehow to get more information about the drop off point.
Arif was relaxed and had finally met a colleague and she was everything he had hoped for but never thought would happen. She was a friend already, he was comfortable with her and so was Sumi. ‘You may know it, Chester Avenue near the station. There’s a new block of flats there and I just drop everything off to a Mr. Dawlish at flat 3. It looks as though it might be occupied but I can’t really tell because of the way the post box is situated. I did try to look through once but there was only a panel which shielded the inside of the flat. I know I shouldn’t have done that but curiosity got the better of me. It could be anyone who collects the mail, I just don’t know.’ Had he said too much, he hoped his opinion of Anthea was right and she would not report his comments to the Company. Neither he nor Sumi had ever been indiscreet about the Company with friends or relatives.
Once they had finished their coffee, Sumi took Anthea to the kitchen where her two children were sitting at the table painting. After the introductions, Anthea looked at the work the children were doing. ‘Sumi you have two beautiful and talented children, these paintings are excellent for such young children. They must get this from you, are any of your family artists?’ It was amazing to see the way the children had used colour in their pictures, had they been displayed in a gallery, people would have assumed that the artist was art school trained.
‘I’m not sure my parents ever painted as far as I know but they do seem to like my work. Perhaps if they took it up they might produce a nice painting. I think anyone can do it if they want to.’ It was her way of playing down her talent, she could do better but only time and practice would decide on that.
The afternoon had gone well. Anthea had enjoyed her time with the Rahman’s and had the only piece of information that Arif was able to give. Her next stop would be Wimbledon.
Before leaving the flat, Arif insisted on ringing Mr. Crichton’s mobile but the line was still dead. Anthea noted the number he called before taking her leave. She just hoped she hadn’t put them in a difficult situation, they were such a nice family but oblivious of the terror that surrounded those employed by the Company.
CHAPTER THIRTY ONE
A week had passed and nothing had happened in Manchester t
o alarm either Carol or Steve. Both their mobiles had stayed silent, there had been no visitors or unusual mail. The agency still had clients booking its services and both of them had found that the Company had made payments into their accounts. When Carol banked the Company takings, she found the only withdrawals had been those which she made to pay her girls. Before the attack on her, sums had been transferred regularly from the account by the Company. Steve’s first job each day did not change, before Carol used her car he would check it thoroughly making sure no suspect devices had been attached. Their discussions on the Company had not been fruitful, without a lead the only thing they had to go on was Anthea’s meeting with Arif Rahman. He could be the key but could they convince him to join them? Anthea had been certain that he was an honest and unsuspecting person who had been drawn into the Company web by the benefits he had been offered. She was sure he would not risk putting his family in jeopardy.
They had been silent for some time when Steve suddenly sat upright in his office chair. ‘We will just have to continue as we are for the next few days, but it can’t go on forever without something or someone turning up and giving us a nasty shock. What do you think if I ask Anthea to make another visit to the Rahman’s? She got on well with them and I’m certain she could win them over so we could check who the other people are in the Organisation. The mail that he takes to Wimbledon would give us some answers. We could always seal it up again before he delivered it.’ It was a risk but Steve was now desperate, there were no other avenues left. He turned to Carol and waited for her response.
She looked at him and paused before answering. ‘I know, this can’t go on. We’re in limbo not knowing what is going on outside this little office. In fact I can’t believe the risks we are taking just being here.’ She shuddered, thinking of her experience at The Poplars. ‘How about us all going to see the Rahman’s at the weekend. I’ll ring Anthea and get her view on it, after all she has met them and from what she has said they are very nice people.’
