He'd bet several people in Christine's office lived in the shadows, weren't often called upon, did vital work, and could also access invoices, accounts, and unattended computers. He wiped his forehead. Peg mentioned this same crime had happened at other offices. The whole corporation prided itself on being 'at the top of the technology age'. Everything submitted electronically: correspondence, orders and invoices, direct deposit payments. Enter the data and push a button, easy as poi. With proper access, data could be changed or a routing number switched with no one the wiser.
Charlie stretched his aching legs. He'd start with Christine's office and discover who could be unnoticed and free to do whatever they wished with access to computers containing orders, shipments, and payments. After he had a list of suspects, he'd narrow the list to who would try to frame Christine and why. It would be tricky, a delicate balance to work on this yet not reveal his intentions. One breath of his inquiry at Christine's office, and Peg would spear him like a fish for a lu'au, a Hawaiian Barbeque.
Which speaking of, he'd arrange a bit of a celebration lunch today for all those vital employees who did so much for him. "Damn, that's it, that's the answer how to investigate." Charlie grinned as the idea took root. He'd arrange a lu'au for the offices he had the most transactions with, including Christine's. Nothing like a party to loosen tongues and get a true feel of people. "Bond, Charles Bond, at your service." He chuckled and began the long trek home.
Chapter Nine
Three weeks later
"Oh I can imagine." Christine wedged the phone between her ear and shoulder. "I guess I should say I'm happy life is progressing as usual there."
"Nothing usual about it," Kathy grumbled. "What the hell Jim thought is beyond me. He put Laci in charge of your accounts."
Christine picked at a broken fingernail. The lawyer she'd met with had advised her not to talk to anyone from the corporation without him, but Kathy called once a week or so to complain. Christine simply listened.
"She's on the damn phone all the time with Charlie Jergens, simpering and giggling like some love struck teenager. It's disgusting."
He does have a certain effect on women, Christine wanted to say. Charlie hadn't contacted her. After the last short call, Christine ceased texting, messaging, and emailing him. His message came through loud and clear: Christine had been replaced at work and with Charlie. The poems, the lei, and their time together must have all been part of the flirtation, and now it was over.
"She's insufferable going on about how he's falling under her spell and has invited her to visit him," Kathy continued. "He's been traveling around to other offices, throwing some Hawaiian style cookout lunch for everyone, and little Laci just can't wait until he comes here. She even took up jogging just because he does." Christine felt a pang in her stomach. Charlie threw parties and asked Laci to visit? Damn him. "She wore a sports bra and biker shorts to the office then had a fit when Jim asked her to change." Christine would have laughed at Kathy's outraged tone if she felt a tiny bit less devastated.
"Her excuse? She went out jogging and came to use the office gym so why change? Jim said the dress code still applied. She pouted like a six year old, and then they disappeared into his office for hours. Two guesses what they were doing." Christine made some non-committal sound of agreement. I can go pound nails again as soon as Kathy winds down. "He just laughs at all her mistakes and tells her it's okay, he'll fix it. Stupid man. She flashes a bit of tit in a low-cut blouse three sizes too small and all of a sudden he's panting, ready to do his job and hers too. There's no way those rumors about her and Jim aren't true."
"He's married." Randy had been married too. It hadn't stopped him from numerous affairs.
"Like a piece of paper or gold band stops any man?" Kathy scoffed. "Charlie Jerkins is no better, single or not. Stupid man, chasing every idiot woman dumb enough to give him a tumble."
Christine pulled off the broken fingernail and flicked it across the floor. She really didn't care what Jim and Laci may or may not do, but Charlie hadn't seemed the type to be taken in by someone like Laci. He'd dated a lot but never been serious. She stared at her ragged manicure. So what did her night with Charlie rate? Some notch on his score sheet? Damn him.
"—my work load has doubled fixing her mistakes because Jim's thinking with his nether region and refuses to listen to me about her. Sales are down, customers aren't happy, and the whole office is the Laci Focus on Me show." Kathy sighed. "We need you back pronto." Christine didn't answer; she had nothing to say. "Hey, listen, I need to run. You've kept me sane for another day. Talk to you soon." Kathy disconnected.