Circle of Shadows

by Curry, Edna

  “All right,” she agreed tonelessly. Her thoughts remained glum as she listened to him explain the problem to Tom. He set up the staff meeting for the next Wednesday evening.

  She was sure Ken thought her management inept. She felt like a failure, and she had no idea of what to do about it.

  “Come on,” he said kindly, standing up. “Put that report away and let’s get some dinner and go for a swim. The exercise will make you feel better.”

  She forced a smile and obeyed. As they moved down the hall, Anna came out of the storage room and walked towards them.

  When Lili stopped and asked her to set up the staff meeting, Anna’s face looked worried. “What’s wrong? Didn’t the inventory come out good this time, either?”

  “No, it didn’t, Anna,” Lili admitted.

  Anna hesitated, shifting from one foot to another.

  Ken looked at her suspiciously. “Is there something you want to tell us, Anna?”

  Her face pale, Anna licked her lips and nodded. “I’ve meant to tell you several times, Lili,” she said apologetically. “But I was afraid....”

  “What is it?” Ken demanded grimly.

  Lili glared at Ken. Couldn’t he see the older woman was scared of losing her job at her age? Where was his head, anyway? She said quietly, “It’s okay, Anna. Just tell us.”

  “You remember the day I couldn’t find that case of beans for the firemen’s picnic,” Anna said, her voice low.

  “Yes.”

  “Well, that wasn’t the first time things have been missing. It’s been happening more and more.”

  “I see. Yes, you should have told me immediately.”

  Anna frowned stubbornly. “Ralph says I’m getting senile, but I know what I know.”

  “We believe you, Anna. And we certainly don’t think you’re getting senile,” Ken told her. “Who else knows about this?”

  “I haven’t really told anyone. But Billy and the other stock boys have helped me move boxes around to look for things several times. And I’ve asked Ralph and Arthur if they remembered unloading something, so they knew I couldn’t find it.”

  “And what did they say?”

  Anna frowned, thinking. “Just asked if I was sure it even came in on the truck, whether I checked off the load. But I did. I always do. I even check off each item, not just take a box count like the driver says that some stores do.”

  “That’s good. But Anna, we had all the locks changed. Has this happened lately?”

  “Yes. But not as often as a few months ago.”

  “Well, don’t say anything more to anyone. Just leave this to us, Anna. Thanks for telling us.”

  ***

  “What does it mean?” Lili asked over dinner.

  Ken countered, his eyes searching hers, “What do you think it could mean?”

  “I suppose it could mean someone is getting in at night to steal. But how? There’s never been any sign of a break-in other than that one night,” she said. She unconsciously rubbed the spot on her forehead where she’d been hit.

  “Or it could mean she didn’t actually get what she was supposed to, was shorted by a driver.”

  “No,” Lili said, shaking her head. “This is too big a problem to be explained by something like that. At least three people help with unloading the semi, and one of us always checks off every item on the invoice after it’s in the storeroom.”

  “How about shoplifting?”

  “Ken,” Lili said, “Our customers are by and large local, church-going family people. This isn’t the ghetto, or even a town full of tourists, except for a couple of months in the summer. Besides, only shoplifting on a massive scale would explain this, and I know that’s not happening.”

  Ken nodded. “I agree. Anyway, what Anna is talking about is full cases of stuff from the back room. That’s not the kind of thing you usually miss with a shoplifting problem.”

  “Except when it’s an inside job,” Lili said grimly. “That’s what you mean, isn’t it, Ken?”

  “I know you don’t like the idea. But, yes, I don’t see how I can come to any other conclusion.”

  Lili felt ill. He was right. One of her own, trusted employees was probably a thief. One who had a key and could come and go as he, or she, pleased.

  Chapter 12

  Ken sat at a back corner table in the truck stop across from a tiny man in jeans and a bright green John Deere cap.

  He felt like a heel. But he’d had to do something. He knew without asking that Lili would consider his actions a sign of his lack of faith in her. She would be right.

  At Tom’s suggestion, Ken had hired Curtis to keep an eye on the store each night, without, of course, telling anyone who worked there about him. He had ordered Curtis to just watch from a distance, then write down and report any nighttime activity of any kind at the store. If anyone carried out anything that looked like merchandise from the store, when it was supposed to be closed, Ken was going to know about it immediately.

  Hiring Curtis was decidedly under-handed and unfair to Lili. However, he reasoned, if she was innocent, his actions would prove that as well as, God forbid, the opposite. Ken shifted in his chair and listened to the chain-smoking private detective.

  He was still a heel. It was three weeks since they had taken the last inventory, and he knew nothing more than he had after the first one. So, he’d hired this little weasel of a man as a last resort. Even the way Ken had to meet him in secret at this truck stop half-way to the Twin Cities felt sleazy and cheap. But there was nothing cheap about the fees Curtis charged for his services.

  “Anything new this week?”

  Curtis shrugged. He was making his third weekly report. “Nothing that looked out of the ordinary to me. The young gal with the long, strawberry hair....”

  “Lili.”

  “Yeah, Lili. She was there long after closing three nights again this week. But like I told you the other times, she never takes nothing out with her, ’cept her purse. Just gets in her car and drives straight home.”

  Ken nodded grimly. He’d asked Lili about it the first week, without letting on how he knew she was working late. She’d just shrugged and said she was behind in her office work.

  Curtis sent a sly look at Ken. “Or sometimes she goes to the motel swimming pool.” He paused and grinned. “Sometimes you’re there, too.”

  “Never mind, that. Anything at all, Curtis? Nobody went in or out of the store?”

  “Well, yeah, just after closing, Arthur, I think his name is, the big bald-headed guy that always wears a white paper hat?”

  “Yes, that’s his name.”

  “Well, anyway, he loaded a big cart full of meat and groceries into his car. I could read the labels on the boxes with my binoculars. But other employees were still in the store. When he wheeled the carry-out cart back inside, I could see them talking to him, so I didn’t call you, cause I thought it must be okay.”

  “Did you follow him like I told you to check on where anything went that left the store after hours?”

  Curtis nodded, and lit another cigarette from the stub of the last one. “Yeah, I did. He went right to that fancy Alfredo’s Steak house and unloaded part of it, then took the rest of it to the Lutheran Church on the south side of town.”

  Ken sighed. He’d gone over all Lili’s accounts with her. Both the restaurant and the church had standing charge accounts and were among the store’s best bulk customers. He had taken Lili to the Lutheran Church’s ham supper himself this week, so he’d known they were getting a large order.

  “Anything else?”

  “Well, the bakery truck arrived at the front door at six, yesterday morning. He waited in his truck awhile. Then Lili came and opened up for him and then she went home again after he left. Allied’s semi came in at five o’clock on Tuesday morning. Three guys and Lili were there from then on. I could see them unloading stuff into the back storage room from where I was. I left when the store opened, like you told me.”

  “Ye
ah, go on.”

  “Then last night the two teenaged boys stayed about two hours after everyone else left. I drove past the front windows so’s I could see what they were up to. Store was lit up and it looked like they were pushing big machines around, maybe scrubbing and waxing the floors.”

  Drumming his fingers impatiently on the table, Ken nodded and drank some more coffee. Lili had told him that the stock boys did that on a regular schedule after hours.

  “They didn’t let anyone in or out the back way, did they?” he asked, considering that possibility.

  “No way. I’d have seen ’em from where I was sitting.”

  “Are you sure that you stayed awake the whole night, every night?”

  Curtis blew smoke into a ring over his head and frowned at Ken. “Hey, I’m the best there is. I never sleep on the job.”

  “Sorry. But you have to admit, you’re not finding out much.”

  Curtis snorted, “Can’t see nothing if there’s nothing to see.”

  Ken sighed. “I know that. Well, keep watching. If there’s anything suspicious, call me, no matter what time it is.”

  “Sure, boss. But, one thing.”

  “Yeah?”

  “Sunday’s my ma’s birthday. Ma’s gonna be eighty. I gotta have Saturday and Sunday nights off so I can drive down to Iowa to go see her and my sisters, or my name’ll be ‘Mud.’”

  Ken sighed. This surveillance was getting nowhere anyway. What did it matter? “Okay, Curtis.”

  “See you next week, then.” Curtis crushed out his cigarette, doffed his farmer style cap, and sidled out.

  Ken waited a while before leaving, just in case anyone was watching the restaurant. Then he picked up the check, paid it and drove off to finish his schedule for the day.

  By the time he pulled into his own driveway, it was past six, but not yet dark thanks to the long days of July in Minnesota. He carried his briefcase to his office and checked his answering machine and fax for messages.

  But the message lights were not blinking, in fact, no lights were on on the machines at all. Had the power been off?

  Then, as he looked about, he froze, realizing that someone had been in his office. Were they still here? His ears strained to hear any noise, but heard nothing.

  He was a neat man, but now his office was a mess. Papers on his desk were askew, his locked file cabinet had been pried open. Some folders lay out. Both the answering machine and fax were unplugged and the power strip for his computer was unhooked from the wall plug. Various CDs were lying about, as though someone had known he wouldn’t be home for hours and was looking at the various files of information on his computer. But who?

  Walking quickly through the house, he found no one. Downstairs, he found the side door lock broken. The intruder had apparently entered there.

  Returning to his office, he plugged in the phone, breathing a sigh of relief when he heard a dial tone. He reported the burglary. While he waited for an officer to arrive, he tried to figure out what was missing, but found nothing.

  He spent another half hour talking to the officers.

  He remembered that Lili had told him that Ralph was a computer nut, even though he’d never finished high school. Was this connected to Adams’ Foods’ problems? Or was it only a burglar?

  But a burglar wouldn’t be interested in his files or the workings of his computer or fax machine, would he?

  Had Renee sent any messages that could have been intercepted? He called her to see, and to tell her about the break-in.

  “Ken! I haven’t heard from you for hours,” she scolded. “Really, it’s long past time for you to get a cell phone.”

  “I think you’re right, Renee. Order one for me.”

  Dead silence. Then, a happy squeal. “Really? I never thought I’d see the day. I’ll do it first thing in the morning. But, Ken, why wasn’t your fax working? Did you unplug it or something?”

  “No,” Ken said, and explained about the break-in.

  This time it was Renee who got upset. After he calmed her down, he said, “I think I have it all connected again. Try to send your messages again.”

  But after a couple of failed attempts, he said, “I’ll just have to have the fax machine repaired or replaced. Read me the important messages.”

  “But what if your phone is bugged? If someone was interested in your computer and file cabinets, they might also have tapped your phone line somewhere.”

  Ken thought a minute, then shrugged, and said, “This job looks too amateurish for that. But maybe you’re right. I’ll pick them up in person in the morning. Keep me posted by phone, and I’ll let you know where I am.”

  As he began the job of straightening up and re-filing the folders, he noticed that the ones out were all labeled ‘Adams’ Foods.’ Going to his computer, he saw that the disks that were out of order were also on Adams’ Foods.

  Now there was no doubt in his mind that there was a connection between the store’s problems and this break-in.

  Could Lili know about this? Certainly not personally, he couldn’t see her doing this herself. Besides, she wouldn’t leave such a mess. Perhaps the thief who might want to find out how much he had learned?

  He had to see Lili. And he needed to see her face when he told her about this. He dialed her house and she answered immediately. “I need to talk to you, Lili. Did you go for a swim tonight?”

  “No, I just got home a while ago.”

  He frowned. She was still working late at her office.

  However, this wasn’t the time to scold her for it. “Do you think the pool is still open?”

  “I believe it is, until eleven.”

  “Then, how about a swim?”

  “Fine. I’ll meet you over there.” Her voice had been cautious and only mildly curious, and friendly enough.

  She certainly didn’t sound like someone who knew about a burglary and was afraid someone would find out. His imagination was over-working again.

  She was already doing laps when he joined her in the water. Luckily it was late enough that they had the pool to themselves.

  The sight of her lithe body moving smoothly through the water made him ache for her. But he couldn’t allow his personal feelings to interfere with business. He had to keep his distance until he cleared up this mess at Adams’ Foods.

  If she’s involved, his conscience reminded him, you won’t ever get a chance to make love to her again. If she isn’t, she’ll never forgive you for thinking she might have been. He groaned. His goose was cooked, either way.

  After swimming for a while, they got dressed and returned to the lounge chairs beside the pool. He bought them each a can of soda from the machine and sat down across from her on a lounge chair.

  “I won’t be able to meet with you as scheduled in the morning,” he said.

  She looked surprised. “Why didn’t you just tell me over the phone?”

  “I’m afraid my phone may be bugged,” he said, and was pleased to see a shocked reaction on her face. He told her about the burglary and damage to his fax machine.

  He walked her to her car, and for a moment almost weakened and kissed her goodnight. He longed to be able to touch her, to put his arms around her and make love to her. Being so close to her without touching her was like hell on earth. How long could he keep this up without breaking apart?

  He jammed his hands into his pockets to control them, said ‘goodnight’ and watched her drive away.

  At five the next morning, he was awake again. He made coffee, then stood at the window drinking it and staring out across the lake. Dawn was breaking, but since his house faced west, with evergreens to the east, he couldn’t see the sun rise.

  On impulse, he grabbed his jacket, rod and reel and tackle box and went down to his boat to try his luck fishing.

  The morning was chilly, but the weather forecast was for another hot July day. The sky was already blue overhead, and he knew that the sun would soon be visible over the trees, bringing its warmth. Fishing w
ould be best before the heat of the day.

  His small fishing boat was still tied at the dock, ready for his use on a moment’s notice. He set his gear inside and grabbed the nylon rope off the post, then threw the switch to start the engine humming.

  In moments, he was well on his way to his favorite fishing spot a quarter mile from his house. It was so peaceful and beautiful out here in the early morning. It did him good just to breathe the clean, fresh air and see the birds swooping over the water looking for their own breakfasts. He could rest his soul and forget his troubles in a wonderful spot like this. He still couldn’t believe his luck at living here.

  Suddenly he felt something cold on his feet. Looking down, he saw that his boat was filling with water.

  “What the hell!” he said aloud, immediately turning the wheel towards shore and giving the motor full throttle. To his amazement, instead of responding, the motor sputtered and died. After several tries to restart it, he checked and saw that the gas tank was empty. So was the second tank. Both should have been full; he had filled them after his last time out.

  Desperately, he looked for the cause of the leak, to see if he could stop it. He saw that many small holes had been drilled above the water line, so that when he entered the boat, his weight had brought them below the waterline, and allowed the water to rush in. There was no way he could plug them all, before it was too late. His boat was going to sink!

  He was still a long way from shore. Quickly, he slipped off his shoes and jacket, looking around for his life vest. It was missing. Damn! Why hadn’t he looked for it before leaving shore?

  As the boat disappeared under the water, he began the swim to shore. He said a prayer of thanks for being in shape, and for the many nights he’d spent getting his exercise by swimming year round in the pool.

  Anger that someone would sabotage his boat with the obvious intent to do him harm, gave him added strength, and fueled his long, powerful strokes towards the shore.

  No one was about this early in the morning, all the houses were quiet. There were no other boats on the lake from which to summon help. If he were to make it, he would have to do it on his own. He had no other choice. He had to do it, or drown. He swam on and on, muscles screaming with the unusual effort.