A Servant of the Company

by Alan Cooke

  The more he thought about it, the more confident he became. This was the route to take, the only route.

  ‘He may take some convincing Steve. Bear in mind he has a young family and there’s not much chance of him putting them at risk.’ Carol realised there was no other way but wasn’t sure that the Rahman’s would be willing to be a part of their plan. ‘Do discuss it with Anthea and if she is in favour then we should do it. I have no alternatives tucked away.’

  She checked her watch. It was ten forty and she had arranged an eleven o’clock meeting with her girls at the Lowry.

  ‘Steve you must forgive me but I’ll have to dash, you know I’m meeting the girls this morning.’ She picked up her bag and disappeared into the small room which held a toilet, hand basin and wall mirror. Two minutes later she emerged, hair in place and new lipstick applied. ‘I hope to be back by two thirty, now you can earn your money taking lots of bookings while I’m away.’ He made a face at her which she returned with a smile before heading for the door and the meeting which meant so much to her.

  The Reception staff recognised her immediately and gave a wave as she headed for the pre-booked room and her meeting. This was not like her earlier meetings, there was now a problem with the Company which she had to keep from the girls. Any signs of violence and she would lose them all. Pausing before entering the conference room she took a few deep breaths, put on her best smile and breezed in to meet the team. If there were problems she would soon find out. She would have preferred an earlier time but some of the girls had been to an engineering company function the night before and would have had a late night. Her policy was always to look after her girls. The pleasure she got from the update meetings reflected a happy team, and that’s what she wanted. The problems some had experienced at the hands of drunken executives had been reduced to just the odd sexual comment. The girls had learned from each other at the meetings which Carol considered an important part of the job, and it was here that their humour and camaraderie held the team together. So far she had not lost one of the team, this was not due just to her influence and training once they had started, but to her selection skills. The Eastern Europeans had settled in well too, they hadn’t set up on their own, which had concerned Clive Andrews but were popular with their British colleagues and eager for work.

  Once again the meeting had gone well, everyone was happy. News of Amanda’s baby was good which pleased them all, the baby was out of hospital and Amanda hoped to be back at work in two to three weeks. Carol, conscious of her current precarious position with the Company, had in general chat asked if anyone had approached any of them who might not be a legitimate customer. This had worried her, it could happen and she had taken time before putting the question. It was posed in a light hearted yet serious manner, they were in no doubt she wanted an answer either way but the response from everyone was negative. Carol was relieved, no-one had tried to exercise influence in any way upon her, the business or her temporary bodyguard. How long this would continue she was unsure. Surely someone somewhere was going to ask questions.

  There had been a comment in the press about the hotel murder, the Police were trying to trace a call girl who had visited their room. Carol just hoped she was never found. The car explosion was proving to be a mystery as the Police having traced the car to a Hire Company were unable to identify the driver as his documents were forgeries. Their investigations were continuing.

  ‘Right girls, I have organised a light buffet lunch, I know how well you dine and how you worry about your figures. Don’t, because you all look wonderful, so let’s go and eat.’ With the sound of laughter ringing in her ears another successful meeting came to an end. There was a general exodus, all heading to the powder room with Carol in the lead. As she reached for the door handle, the door opened and she found herself looking at a face from the past. Stepping back in shock her eyes wide open she cried out, ‘Am I dreaming or is it Diane Adams?’ Turning to her team she said, ‘Do go on, I’ll join you in a few minutes.’

  The elegant figure in front of her took a second look. ‘My God Carol, after all these years. What on earth are you doing here? You just took me by surprise, I was deep in thought about a meeting I’ve been attending. Your voice was immediately familiar but I had to do a double take on you. The last time we met was Graduation Day and we were both bleary eyed from the Ball, do you remember?’ She had meant to keep in touch but the race for jobs had scattered the graduates like confetti on a windy day.

  ‘Like you I’ve been to a meeting, in fact it’s just finished. Look I’m just about to have lunch with my team, are you here for long? I’d love to sit down and have a good old natter with you.’ She would love to hear Diane’s news and learn about her progress. Glancing at her left hand, she noted the absence of rings. Diane had been very popular at University and Carol was surprised that she might still be single.

  ‘I’m here tonight and head back to London tomorrow evening. Are you free tonight, we could have dinner and talk over old times?’ She glanced at Carol’s left hand and noted there were no rings to be seen. ‘It would be good to meet up if you can make it.’

  ‘I wouldn’t miss it for anything Diane. Seeing you here today has been wonderful. I’m certainly free this evening, I live locally and know a very nice restaurant not too far from here, or have you any ideas?’ Carol didn’t want to appear pushy so giving Diane the option for a change of venue avoided any embarrassment.

  ‘Would you mind very much if we had our meal here Carol, I have a telephone conference from seven until seven thirty but could be ready for eight? If I book a table for eight thirty we could have a drink first. What do you think?’ She smiled at Carol, memories of their friendship continuing to rise to the surface.

  ‘That would be super Diane, I’ll be here for eight and I won’t be driving so no worries about the amount we drink, not that I’m an alcoholic I would hastily add, but we have some fun memories to relive.’

  Diane moved forward and held Carol, giving her a brief kiss on the cheek. ‘I think you had better join your colleagues before they come looking for you, see you at 8.00.’

  Carol returned the kiss on Diane’s cheek and took another look at her old friend. ‘You look just so elegant Diane, I’ll have to smarten myself up for this evening or I’ll be showing you up. Must dash now. I’m really looking forward to seeing you again.’

  Once she joined the team, the girls were interested to know if Carol had found another colleague for them. They had noticed the girl had been both attractive and very well dressed. In Carol’s absence they had discussed her and their initial impressions were that she would probably fit into the team. Carol had quickly let them know that it was an old friend from University and not competition to take prime appointments away from them. This she had done in her usual light hearted way which brought a chorus of comments followed by more laughter.

  Having a good meeting with the girls, then meeting Diane had temporarily removed her concern over the recent events. Now as she prepared to return to the office, her worries returned. Was Steve safe in the office and had anything new turned up? How was Anthea getting on and had Sue been able to keep their secrets from Greg? It must be stressful for her to have to be on guard for possible slip ups all the time.

  Arriving back in the office she found Steve on the telephone busily taking an order for the Company’s services. Carol was impressed, he could sound very professional and no doubt the client company would think so too.

  ‘It’s been a good start to the day Carol, three more bookings over the next three weeks, if we are going to satisfy demand we’ll need more girls. It’s going so well, you’ve done a great job setting it up and it’s a real money spinner, it would be a pity to have to turn business away wouldn’t it?’

  ‘You’re right Steve, but first things first. Has there been any sort of contact from anyone other than clients?’ He seemed so laid back, even though each of them had been the target of ruthless killers recently. When he first
moved into her flat, she had heard him wandering about during the night, looking out of the windows checking for the threat which he thought would come. As the days progressed he had relaxed and although he still checked her car, he was getting into the co- running of the business and marvelled at the growth in the bank balance. Still no cash transfers had been made out of the account by the Company, and when Carol had reminded Steve of the situation all he had said was, ‘Long may it continue.’

  ‘You’re going to be on your own tonight Steve, I’ve got a dinner date with an old University friend I met by chance at the Lowry. It was quite amazing to just bump into each other just like that.’ Steve listened with interest as Carol told him about her friend and some of their exploits at University. ‘After that last experience I said I would never ever again accept an invitation to a hotel, but that now seems like months ago. I don’t know about you but I still feel uncomfortable about the whole situation. Each day that passes eases the fear but it is still there.’

  ‘Did you bring a newspaper in with you?’ Checking the Police progress on the hotel murders and the car explosion had been Steve’s responsibility and she had intended getting a paper to bring back but in her excitement it had slipped her mind. She shook her head.

  ‘Never mind, now you’re back I’ll nip out and get one. Back in five minutes.’

  It was important to keep on top of things. The T.V. news is alright but sometimes the local reporters might get inside information. It was not only the Company who posed a threat. There was still the Police investigation involving Carol’s attackers and there was concern that she might still be discovered as the call girl. The wig had been disposed of and Carol had told him that she was carrying something in her hand when she had opened the hotel bedroom door so it was unlikely her fingerprints would be found. She hadn’t told him the something was her panties, which she only replaced when she had arrived back at the office.

  He bought the local and a cross section of National newspapers and returned quickly to the office eager to check their contents. The news was encouraging, it was thought that the call girl might have tried to avoid involvement in an argument between the brothers and made her escape via the emergency staircase. She was still requested to contact the Police so a motive for the killings could be established. The brother of one of the victims was in custody.

  It was unlikely that anyone would identify the mini skirted brunette with the businesslike blonde managing the Agency. She hadn’t taken a taxi to the Poplars as advised by Clive Andrews, if that was his real name, but had used her car. The wig she had put on before entering the hotel. With luck she would remain anonymous forever.

  There was an update on the car explosion, the driver had booked the hire car using false documents and his identity was still a mystery.

  CHAPTER THIRTY TWO

  The minute hand of Carol’s watch indicated the time as exactly eight o’clock as she crossed the threshold of the Lowry. She saw the lift doors open and saw a smiling Diane coming towards her. ‘That’s what I call perfect timing Diane. We have both improved on time keeping, do you remember those last minute dashes to get to lectures?’ Her eyes quickly scanned her friend’s appearance and converted her clothes into money. ‘Way beyond my means,’ she said to herself.

  They headed for the bar arm in arm chattering as they went. First of all it was checking out what had become of their peer group. It didn’t take long before they reported on their own lives since leaving Bristol.

  Carol listened wide eyed at her friend’s progress, she was particularly amused by the revenge Diane had inflicted on the dreaded JJ and the experience with Simon Colbourne.

  ‘Whatever happened to Simon, he sounds a dish. I’m looking for someone like him myself. What would you give him out of ten?’ This had been their assessment process at University where not many males achieved above six.

  ‘Well, I would like to give more than eight but he had one habit which was particularly annoying. Whenever I spoke to him his head would rock like one of those noddy dogs you used to see in the back of cars. Apart from that he was handsome, rich, a great lover and very good company on the one and only date I had with him. Oh! and he liked animals. He did have a dog when he was young and when it died it was buried in the garden, not just dig a hole and throw it in, there was a grave stone with the dog’s name and date of death. When he talked about it he became all watery eyed. Quite sweet really. He was very Public School with the voice to match and had such charm. Although we are in the same line of business, I haven’t seen him since, although his picture keeps turning up in the trade magazines. With a bit of training I’m sure I could have cured the nodding. God knows what he did with his time, he didn’t spend much with his Company so I’m told. Now what about you, you look prosperous to me and even more attractive than you were when all those undergrads were trying to get into your pants.’ They laughed, each of them perfectly happy in the other’s company. The second Gin and Tonic also played its part in the relaxation process.

  ‘I too had my own JJ, what a bastard he turned out to be.’ She told Diane the story of her association with Hugo Biggs Connaughton and then about her continued job search. It would be tricky talking about her current employer or the twilight world she had entered, so she treated the subject as a straightforward business which she enjoyed. Diane asked innocent questions which she answered without committing herself on the problems which surrounded her.

  ‘The day has yet to dawn when I’ll meet someone like your Simon, he does sound rather special but I’m amazed he didn’t continue chasing you. So there, he does have another problem apart from his nodding addiction.’ Carol considered he must have been quite something for Diane to rate him so highly, she had been very choosy at University even though the number of men chasing her ran into double figures.

  When dinner was over, they returned to the bar to continue their trip down memory lane. A number of men looked at them as children would look at the jars in a sweet shop window, but the girls were oblivious. Girl talk was far more interesting.

  ‘I’m so pleased our paths crossed today Diane, it’s been wonderful seeing you again and I feel honoured having dinner with a Company Chairperson.’ She laughed as Diane nudged her playfully. ‘You have done so well and deserve it. I’m still keeping my fingers crossed about my career, it pays well but a move to something else isn’t out of the question. Once I know what I want to do, the search will start.’ She didn’t tell Diane of the possibility of a cleaning job in Her Majesty’s Prisons if things went wrong, or worse in a box if the Company still had that in mind.

  ‘We must keep in touch now Carol, I have so enjoyed this evening, it has brought back so many memories fortunately the good outweigh the bad. There’s my card for work and I’ll write my home number on the back. I’m fairly committed until Friday afternoon, you will get me any time after that, the weekend is always the best time. I treat Saturday and Sunday as my time, no interruptions, apart from special friends like you.’

  Taking the card, Carol put into her bag and took out a pen and a piece of paper. ‘I haven’t got a card yet, but here’s where you can get me. The flat is temporary but if I move I’ll let you know where I am.’

  Diane sensed sadness when Carol had spoken. There was something she wasn’t happy about but had done a very good cover up job for most of the evening. Just occasionally she had felt that all was not well with Carol.

  They were approached by a porter who advised that Miss Barcroft’s taxi had arrived. Fond farewells ended the reunion, and each girl was left with thoughts of the other which would occupy them for some time. Tonight she would sleep well, the time spent with Diane had transported her to happier times when there were no criminals crossing her path. Apart from Hugo’s deception, she had never been burgled or physically attacked until she had joined the Company and tonight that experience she had put into a box and closed the lid. Tomorrow the lid would have to be lifted.

  As she got out of the taxi, the cur
tain in her flat moved and she saw Steve looking down at her. ‘He’s checking that I’m alright,’ she said to herself acknowledging that continuing with the job and staying in the flat would have been impossible without him.

  Letting herself into the flat, she pretended that she had not noticed him looking out of the window and called, ‘Hi Steve I’m home.’

  Getting up from his chair, he acted as though he had been asleep, rubbing his eyes and stifling a yawn. ‘How did your evening go, from the rosy glow on your cheeks, I would think very well. It must have been quite something seeing your friend again after five years. Had she changed much?’

  Carol settled on the sofa facing Steve. ‘It was a great evening, she’s still as stunning as she always was but has moved up in the world and is now Chairperson of a big Company. Doing very nicely, thank you very much.’ Her head nodded as if to reinforce the statement. ‘Did I nod then Steve? I hope not. It’s hearing Diane telling me about a boyfriend she had who spent his time nodding. Like one of those dogs in the back of cars, you know the ones. Like the one we saw when the explosion happened.’

  Steve looked startled, his elbow lifted from the arm of the chair and then his hand descended on it with a bang. ‘Do you know something, you have just pressed the right button. When I had my interview in London, there were the three people asking the questions and one other who never spoke. But he did have the nodding problem. How could that have slipped my memory? Some people are grey, do you know what I mean, without that nodding I would have forgotten about him completely. I don’t suppose Diane’s boyfriend spoke with a plum in his mouth did he?’ It was joke as far as Steve was concerned but Carol wasn’t laughing.

  ‘Steve, he did.’ Her hand covered her mouth as she spoke. She was shocked at the thoughts now flooding her mind.