A Shadow of Death in The Woods (15 page)

Chapter 22

Mike’s Errand

Mike was in a good mood. He had an errand to run and for a change he didn’t find it stressful. In fact he looked forward to it. He decided to whistle a tune.

After they had their dinner with Jack Saturday night, the group had talked about how he was doing. Jack’s stability was of prime interest to them. He was the carrier of secrets and he wasn’t allowed to talk about his secrets, say to a psychiatrist.

Everyone had an opinion but the opinion Mike valued most was Frankie’s. She was still solidly behind Jack. She had not wavered an iota. Right from the start she had characterized him as a strong, honor-bound man. She allowed that he had been dealt a huge blow, losing his family and especially the access to his kids but she still felt he would survive it and he would not break down in any way.

Mike was not so sure but he had learned always to listen to Frankie. She had never steered him wrong. Even when it happened in The Woods and they had voted on Jack, Mike was in favor of killing him but Frankie had talked him out of it. Mike still had Jack followed for a while until that idiot PI had had his cover blown by Jack. All indications were that Jack was having a tough time but he would handle it well. Frankie had been right as usual.

This thing about his family was huge however. Mike knew what Jack thought of the kids and losing the right to see them had to be one of the worst things that could have happened to him. Mike didn’t have kids but he had Frankie. If someone told Mike that he couldn’t ever see her again, he was not sure how he would handle it. He just couldn’t imagine such a thing. Jack had to be hurting much worse than he was showing. Still he had maintained his composure through the whole thing.

The others weren’t that much help. Predictably Bob and Jane voted for keeping Jack alive but under surveillance. Liz always followed Paul’s lead so they were like one person. Paul was in favor of Jack living but he agreed that it would be good to keep him under surveillance. Keeping Jack at The Cabin would do nicely.

That is if they could keep him there. He knew Lydia didn’t like it but Bob had assured them the he could handle that part. Mike knew Lydia was gold to Bob and she was unofficially part of the group although she didn’t have a husband who was an Officer-of-the-Club. Having a husband or boyfriend as an Officer was a requirement for the rest of the women to be in The Club. They never discussed Club matters in front of Lydia but otherwise she was a member of The Club.

Lydia, to be frank, was a nut case. She had never gotten over her high school trauma. It was a sad case. The kid who caused the problem got his just deserts but it didn’t help Lydia. In fact, Frankie maintained that it hurt Lydia. Mike never understood that part but as usual he respected Frankie’s opinion and he suspected she was right.

So the upshot of it was that Jack was going to live but they wanted him around to make sure things went right. Both Frankie and Jane had argued that they needed to help Jack rather than just watch him. Liz agreed but didn’t show as much energy on the point.

Mike hadn’t said anything but his surveillance system had caught part of the trouble between Lydia and Jack because Lydia was outside the apartments where the cameras could see her. He couldn’t see Jack but the mics had picked up most of the conversation. That wouldn’t have happened if the door had been closed and they were inside. The common areas were all under surveillance for security reasons. They had a lot of strangers staying there from time to time so the security system helped with their safety. It also helped to make sure that they didn’t damage The Cabin or if they did, they could be held accountable. Most of people who could afford The Cabin rental were not a risk but interestingly there were a few. Usually alcohol was involved in the problem cases.

Mike thought Lydia had totally overreacted but Jack had handled it well. At least from what the cameras had caught. Bob hadn’t said much about the situation but enough was said so that Mike knew the situation was touchy. Bob said he could handle it himself. Mike hoped so because it was important to keep Jack there for a while.

Mike was on his way over to The Cabin. His excuse was to check out the security system but he really wanted to talk with Jack. He was sure that Jack had figured out that they were assessing him again. Jack was anything but dull. Mike’s job was to let Jack know everything was okay without coming out and saying so since officially they weren’t assessing him. It had to be done just right and Mike was good at this sort of thing. One thing that was going to make it easier was that he actually liked Jack. He would like to be Jack’s friend. If Jack could go through all these really bad situations and come out of it whole, he was a man to be admired. That was real strength. Mike admired individual strength of character.

Mike pulled into The Cabin parking lot. He hit Jack’s apartment buzzer and Jack answered the door. He was neatly dressed, clean-shaven and hair combed, all good signs. He wasn’t letting himself go.

Mike explained that he was there to check out The Cabin security system but wanted to say hi. Jack invited Mike in for coffee. They had a nice chat. Mike was careful to bring up the group dinner. He complimented Jack on his cooking and went on to say that he thought the evening a great success. Mike didn’t like to dance but he enjoyed seeing the others dance.

Jack took that opportunity to mention that he liked Frankie a lot as a friend and he hoped that Mike was not offended. Mike laughed and said, “Frankie is her own person. She likes whom she likes and I have little to say in the matter. Frankie can handle herself.”

“Well, I didn’t want a misunderstanding. I am not interested in women at the moment but I enjoy Frankie’s company. She is a great dancer and an excellent artist.”

“Have at it. She told me she is thinking about making an oil painting for you. She doesn’t do that for many people. She puts her heart and soul into each painting so you might say that the emotional price for each painting is high. She never sells a painting and rarely gives one away. She has had many offers to buy her paintings but she won’t sell them.”

*   *   *

Mike left to inspect the security system, which Jack thought was BS. Mike could check out the security system from his house or office. Mike was there for something else. He had made a big point about the group dinner being a great success. What was the message there? Was Mike trying to send him a message without revealing something else? Jack thought about it for a long time. He finally came to the conclusion that Mike was telling him that the assessment went well although officially there was no assessment. If that was the case, then it was very good news and he could relax. Although at the same time, it meant that Jack was going to live so he needed to find a job. That hadn’t been going so well. He had put out a few feelers but nothing was going anywhere at the moment. Jack was going to have to step up his efforts.

Chapter 23

Bob’s Surprise

Bob was pleased with how things were going. Well, except for Lydia throwing a hissy fit about Jack being in The Cabin. Bob knew Lydia wouldn’t like Jack’s being there but the fit caught him by surprise. He had business boarders in The Cabin frequently and she put up with that okay. Why the big fuss about Jack? Bob didn’t understand it. He didn’t think Lydia understood it either. He wished that Lydia could calm down for a while and talk with Jack. Bob was sure that she would like Jack. Lydia liked the solitude of the mountains but he knew that she missed having someone knowledgeable in mathematics to talk with, especially in the summer. He talked with her some but his knowledge in math was sketchy. Jack on the other hand was just the person she could identify with. They had math and physics in common. Of course, she had this hangup about men. Maybe it was Jack’s size that was bothering her.

Bob was also happy with how stable Jack seemed. He knew Jack was lonely and sad but he was holding up. Things were going so well in that department that he decided to implement his secret plan.

He had talked with the company board and convinced them of his scheme. Bob’s plan was to hire Jack. The only problem was that the board wanted to hedge their bet. It wasn’t a real board. The board was the family but they still voted and he was bound by their votes. They insisted on a lower salary than Bob had planned and there was to be no contract for the first year. That way they could fire Jack at anytime. To compensate, Bob had been able to convince the board to give Jack a healthy bonus if his performance met or exceeded expectations.

The success of this venture was much more important than a job for Jack. It was crucial for the company. They badly needed a financial person to help secure loans and immediately bring their accounting systems up to the computer age. Yeah, they were using some computers but they used computers as tools in a system set up for paper. In fact, they still had a lot of paper. It took too long to get reports run and it wasn’t always clear if the finances were straight. A bank audit could kill their business because no bank would lend them money if they knew how they managed money. This was critical.

Just as critical was the fact that Uncle Jake, their comptroller, was dying of cancer. Everyone knew it and it was imperative that they find a replacement very soon before Uncle Jake was too sick to bring his replacement up to speed. Bob had been looking for a replacement for more than a year. He had found several good candidates but they didn’t want to live in the mountains. Bob was getting desperate when Jack fell into the picture.

Jack was a CPA and knowledgeable in the internal workings of company finance management. His only weakness was a lack of experience in dealing with investment bankers. That was an area where Uncle Jake was already too sick to help his replacement other than tutoring from his home. Ideally he would take his replacement to meet with the investment bankers and get him grounded. That opportunity was already gone. Bob thought he could guide Jack in this area. After all he had been on countless trips with Uncle Jake getting loans. Jack was a very confident man; he might even do better than Uncle Jake in this area.

Bob knew that Jack was his best bet. Jack was willing to live in the mountains. In fact he would love it. Jack would be good at the finances. Above all Jack was perfect for computerizing their accounting system. All he had to do was to get Jack through a set of interviews without stubbing his toe and then convince Jack to take the job.

Bob had argued with the family to consider making Jack an officer. That was a hard sell but Bob had insisted. Running such a large company almost singlehandedly was too much. Bob wanted a CFO who could help him in all aspects of the company. Jack would be an officer but they had agreed to not tell Jack about the expanded range of his job until he had proven himself. Eventually Bob wanted a strong lieutenant, almost a partner. This was a key part of Bob’s thinking. Privately, Bob worried about someone from his violent background killing him and his business would fail. He needed to set up his business so it could go on without him in an emergency. Right now Jack would concentrate on a new computer system and picking up the CFO responsibilities.

Bob drove over to The Cabin. Jack answered the door. He was dressed, shaved, hair combed and looked alive although his face was drawn from the stress that Bob knew he was under, including having to duck Lydia on the weekends. He was happy to see that Jack was keeping up his physical appearance. Bob had learned in the army that this was important for the mental well-being.

Bob said, “Hi. May I come in for a chat?”

“Sure. What’s up?”

“What makes you think something is up? Maybe I just want to see how you are.”

“You could have phoned for that.”

“Not really. I wanted to see how you look, not just hear how you are. How is the job search going?”

“I have had some nibbles. Two nibbles have been pretty strong and I could probably land a job there. The only trouble is that they are jobs like the one I left so I don’t think it would work out long term. I want something a little different although I am not sure just what that is.”

“Jack, you need a job with more control. The lack of control is what is making you unhappy. You also need adventure and challenge. Remember that resume you sent me? I circulated it and have a job possibility for you.”

Jack’s interest was piqued because he really had no positive leads on anything he liked. “What kind of job is it?”

“It is a financial management job where you would have a lot of control and a big challenge. I would like to see you interview for the job and see what you think about it.”

“Where is this job? What company?”

“It would be working for me in my company.”

“Wait a minute. I am not interested in a job as a favor.”

That surprised Bob. He hadn’t thought of it in those terms. “No, no. This is not a favor to you. If anything it would be a favor to my company and me. I really think this is a job you would like and I know we need you badly. How about I set up the interviews and we can take it from there? Nothing ventured, nothing gained.”

“Okay, I guess it wouldn’t hurt to interview.”

“Fine. Come to my office 8 a.m. tomorrow and be ready for a tough day. You will interview the whole day. I want you to talk with the finance staff and Uncle Jake and we will have lunch with Mother.”

*   *   *

Jack was a little taken back by the fact that Bob had this all set up before asking him. Bob seemed very sure of himself and sure that Jack would go for the interview.

Rule number one was to find out what happened to the person whose job you were filling so Jack asked, “What job am I interviewing for and what is happening with the person who has the job now?”

“I want you to consider replacing Uncle Jake. He is dying of cancer. I have been looking for a replacement for a long time. We need a replacement for Uncle Jake and we need a modern guy who understands computer systems to modernize our accounting system. Nothing has worked out and we are running out of time. When I found out you were a CPA and looking for a job, I thought my prayers had been answered. Plus I like you. I think we would work well together.”

Jack’s other concerns were Mike and Paul. Was he taking a job that they wanted? Jack asked Bob point blank.

Bob replied, “No, neither wants the job, mainly because neither is qualified for it. I need a CPA. Mike has his own company and is filthy rich. Paul actually owns stock in my company and is also rich. They are both happy doing what they are doing.”

Jack felt better hearing this and hoped it was the truth.

He would have the rest of the day to get ready for the interview so he said, “Okay, I will see you at 8 a.m.”

Bob left and went back to his office.

Jack sat looking out the window. He wondered if this was a real opportunity or something Bob, and maybe Jane, had cooked up. It all sounded a little too pat. But the best way of handling it was to treat it as real. In the end Jack didn’t have to take the job if he was offered one.

Meanwhile he should get his act together. He needed to figure out what he wanted to get out of the interview. For one thing, if he was replacing Uncle Jake as the comptroller, Jack needed to find out if there was someone in the company who was hoping for the job. That person would be disappointed and likely be an enemy. Second, if they wanted to switch to a computer-based operation, what would the employees think of that? A new guy coming in to install a new system that might put some of them out of a job was not a way to win friends and influence people. He could end up being hated by ensconced employees and eventually Jack would be out. This was going to take some thought.

While he was thinking, he needed to dig out a suit, shirt, tie and shoes. Since Jack hadn’t planned staying here long, he hadn’t unpacked all of the truck. Buried in the truck were the clothes he needed for the interview. Plus he probably was going to have to iron a shirt and maybe his suit. Luckily, the apartment came with a steam iron and an ironing board.

Jack got ready for the interview and showed up on time. Bob introduced him to the finance department manager, Mrs. Jackson, who was not related to Paul Jackson. She was a key person.

After the introduction, Bob left and Jack asked, “Mrs. Jackson, did you hope to be promoted to this position?”

“Call me Sharon. My, aren’t you blunt. And no, I have no aspirations to be the comptroller.”

“Sorry. I am blunt. I have been criticized for it before.”

“Oh, I didn’t mean to criticize you. You just surprised me.”

Jack got on well with Sharon and established that she didn’t want the job for which he was interviewing and she actually looked forward to a computer system if it made her work easier. She expressed concern with what would happen to any people whose jobs might be eliminated and for people who could not learn a new system. Jack told her that he had no idea but he had the same concerns and that he would take it up with Mr. McAvoy. Besides the purpose of the computer system was to make the accounting system easier to understand and to use, not eliminate jobs.

Following Sharon, Jack talked with most of the people in the finance department. He liked the people and guessed that most of them would be trainable. If he took the job, he would need to find out what to do with the people who weren’t trainable. Bob’s company was a large company but there weren’t many employees in the headquarters. The headquarters felt like a small company and it was going to be important to get along with all the employees there or he wouldn’t get much accomplished. It was a small office in a small city. Word gets around fast.

Next, Jack was taken back to Bob’s office. They chatted for a few minutes and then headed for Bob’s mother’s house for lunch and, of course, an informal interview.

Bob introduced me to his mother, Patricia. She had a direct look and took a fill of Jack. She didn’t seem a bit intimidated by his size. She invited Jack in and offered him a bar drink. He turned it down. It was his policy not to drink during the day when working.

It didn’t seem to affect her one way or the other when Jack explained but he noticed that neither she nor Bob drank alcohol. They chit chatted and prepared for lunch. He was acutely aware that he was under scrutiny at all times.

Lunch was served by a housekeeper. Lunch was nice and the interview continued. Jack had no idea how it went. He only knew he didn’t spill his soup or make slurping noises and he answered all of her questions directly and truthfully.

After lunch they headed to Uncle Jake’s house. A nurse let them in and said that Uncle Jake was awake and waiting for them. Jack thought that this was going to be decidedly awkward. What do you say to a dying guy that you are replacing? His knee jerk reaction was to ask about timing. That wouldn’t do. You don’t ask someone when they thought that they were going to die.

Uncle Jake immediately put Jack at ease. He explained the situation and was anxious to have someone take over for him. He could only work a couple of hours per day and it was not enough to keep the company going. He also didn’t have the energy to interview me and he was going to trust the rest to do that part.

He didn’t interview Jack formally but Uncle Jake was a shrewd and experienced man. He had formed an opinion of Jack in ten minutes and he no doubt would have a vote. He was after all part of the family.

Back in Bob’s office, Jack asked Bob specifically what he wanted Jack to do if he were offered the job and accepted. Bob said he wanted two things. Number one was to convert their awkward paper-based accounting system to a computer-based system. He wanted to be able to get financial reports run without people working half the night to do it. He also wanted to make sure that they could pass an investment banker audit. Number two, he wanted Jack to be his chief financial officer. That greatly surprised Jack. He hadn’t expected to be an officer.

Jack described to Bob his work on evaluating computer systems for his last company. He had found a system that wouldn’t work for his previous company but it would be perfect for Bob’s company. Bob seemed pleased about this.

By the time they were done talking, it was close to the end of the working day. Bob walked Jack around, introducing him to the heads of departments. Once that was completed, he told Jack he was free go unless he had more questions, which he didn’t. Jack went back to The Cabin to ponder.