Greedy Chances E-Book

Jeremy McHarry

• Herausgeber: Bentockiz
• Kategorie: Krimi
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2023

Beschreibung

There are no more alternatives, at this point, I think all of the others are good choices. When you first said something about the board of directors, I almost panicked at the idea that some other group might be able to take control and change everything. I reassure them that the people I recommend will only want to help support our philosophy and goals in the best way possible.

Leseprobe

Title Page

Greedy Chances

Floods in the Spring

Jeremy McHarry

Greedy Chances / 4th of series: Floods in the Spring / By Jeremy McHarry

Published 2023 by Bentockiz

e-book Imprint: Calkden Norsh

e-book Registration: Stockholm, Sweden

e-book ISBN: 9789198826586

e-book editing: Athens, Greece

Cover Images created via AI art generators

Table of Contents

Title Page

Introduction

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Introduction

Through books we come into contact with everything important that has happened in the past, analyzing also current events and putting our thoughts together to predict the future. The book is a window to the world, acquiring valuable knowledge and sparking our vivid imagination. It is a means of entertainment and is generally seen as a best friend, or as a slave that carries together all valuable information for us. The book is a friend who stays together without demands, a friend you call upon at every moment and abandon when you want.

It accompanies us in the hours of boredom and loneliness, while at the same time it entertains us. In general, a book does not ask anything from us, while it waits patiently on a dusty shelf to give us its information, to get us out of dead ends and to travel us to magical worlds.

This may be the travel mission of our books. Abstract narration, weird or unconscious thoughts difficult to be understood, but always genuine and full of life experiences, these are stories of life that can’t be overlooked easily.

This may be the start of something amazing!

Chapter One

George suggests, “If you want to, go ahead and drag the vegetables out of the fridge and munch on those. I probably ought to check the chicken and rice anyway.” While he goes out, Sharlene takes the vegetable tray out of the fridge and sets in on the counter near the table. He steps back in and explains, “The chicken and rice are basically done, so I turned the heat down to keep them warm until Paula and Paul get here.” He gets out plates and eating utensils while the ladies quickly set the table and the conversation turns to chit-chat for a while until the doorbell rings.

Sharlene answers the door and invites Paula and Paul in and after hugs or handshakes are shared all around, Sharlene pours drinks while George goes out to get the chicken and rice. Soon they’re dished up and enjoying the food. When they have empty plates and full bellies, they thank George for the fine meal while he clears the table with Sharlene’s help and puts the remainder of the chicken carcasses into a soup pot to simmer for broth.

After they’re all sitting back at the table with fresh drinks, there’s a pause, then Mariam asks, “It probably isn’t any of my business, but Sharlene you’re my friend and I had the impression that something happened to you last weekend. You also wanted to know what happened at the police station this afternoon. Who goes first?” Even as she’s speaking, Mariam sees that Sharlene and George quickly grab hands.

Klara asks, “George, does your television accept audio and video input from a computer?”

“It should, but I’ve never done it before.”

“Well, I have the police statements and the recordings which they collected from last weekend on my computer. I also have the audio recordings which led up to Mariam’s and my visit to the police station this afternoon. That may save you having to retell your stories.”

“Thank you, Klara. Let’s see if we can get it connected.”

Sharlene gets up and goes with George and the rest follow. They quickly find the right cables and connections and a brief test shows there’s a good connection. They’re soon seated with Sharlene cuddled on George’s upper legs on the love seat with Mariam sitting next to them while Paula and Paul sit next to each other on the sofa with room for Klara who gives a brief introduction, “A week ago, George and Sharlene were leaving here and stopped at a little restaurant on the other side of town for dinner. By the way, George, does the restaurant have a name?”

“Probably, but I don’t know what it is. Everyone just refers to it as Maria’s place.”

Paula and Paul nod their heads in agreement.

“Thank you. While they were there, a local bully and his gang came in. What you two probably don’t realize,” Klara looks at Sharlene and George, “was that someone was controlling the movement of the security cameras from shortly after the local bully walked in and almost everything that happened was recorded. What surprised me is that the police had enough audio recordings from various people with their phones or other devices so that almost all of the verbal interchange was recorded and someone at the sheriff’s department did a good job of connecting the audio record with the video record, so there’s a rather complete record of what occurred. I compared the original files with the composite one the sheriff’s office put together and I couldn’t find any discrepancies.” Klara sits down, says, “Here’s what happened,” and she hits the remote control start button.

While George grits his teeth to watch it, Sharlene buries her head in his chest and Klara partially watches them while the other three stare in amazement as the scene unfolds. When it’s done, the first to respond is Paula who quickly gets up and almost climbs onto George’s legs to hug them both, while Mariam reaches over to lay a comforting hand on Sharlene’s leg. Paul comes around the back of the love seat and, while he feels a surprising loss of words, he lays a hand on each of their shoulders and gives them a firm lingering squeeze.

After awhile, Paul steps away and asks, “Klara, can you run the first part of that recording again?”

With a look of almost horror, Paula turns on him and asks, “Paul, how can you?”

“Easy, love. I thought I saw something in the background of the recording which may make this bigger than it seems.”

Klara hands Paul the remote control. Twice he re-watches it up to the point of the actual confrontation before he announces, “Klara, they were targeted.”

After a chorus of shocked, “What!?!”s, Klara gets out, “How can you tell?”

“The bully, Hektor, barely acknowledges anyone as he makes a direct line to their table. Someone knew right where they were and directed Hektor there.”

Sharlene asks, “But why?”

Paul shakes his head as he answers, “I don’t know. Hektor considered himself a lady’s man, but from what I’ve heard, he always waited until they were somewhat under his control before he would make his move. I haven’t heard of him starting a confrontation over a woman before.”

George asks, “Could he have been encouraged to do so that time?”

“I suspect so, but by whom? Klara, do you have any recordings which might have showed the people behind Hektor?”

“I think there was one. Here it is.”

Slowly Paul watches it while he pays close attention to the faces. After he watches it a second time, he sits back and exclaims, “Damn!”

Klara asks, “What is it?”

“Most of the people in Hektor’s gang are watching the confrontation with almost disinterest and then surprise. One watches the confrontation with glee and then shock before he quickly disappears.” After he starts at the beginning of the video again, Paul pauses the recording and points out the person in question and they all observe as the person watches the confrontation with glee, then dismay, then shock, before he quickly scurries out of the door before anyone can stop him. Paul suggests, “I’ll bet the police didn’t even know he was there.”

* * * * *

2147-09-06 (e2)

Klara asks, “Who is he?”

Paul answers, “He’s a little coward who’s always trying to get some young punk like Hektor to do his dirty work for him. He’s got a bad reputation for trying to get pretty women alone and abuse them. He gets away with it because he can claim they came to him and then it’s his word against her word as to what was agreed to in private. I suspect he found out somebody new and pretty was in Maria’s and sent Hektor in to fetch them so he could ‘rescue’ them from Hektor and do as he wished.”

“Why is his word believed over her word?”

“Many times the girl involved is afraid to speak up due to embarrassment or is concerned about their future safety. Some of those who have spoken up have had some bad things happen to them or their family, but there’s no clear evidence that one thing led to the other. And the police are more geared to solving the obvious crime and not looking further along the back trail to see what might have been motivating factors.”

Klara asks, “Do you know his name?”

“I’ve heard him referred to as Ed or Eddie, but nothing more. The rumor is that his father is a wealthy quadrant politician. My guess is the kid will want to keep quiet about the failure of Hektor, but he could surprise me and find some other flunky to try to do what Hektor failed to do.”

“And unless we can get one of Hektor’s gang members to confess that he was there to instruct or encourage Hektor, then there’s no way to connect him to the crime.”

“You know the law much better than I do, Klara, but that’s the way I figure it.”

“Thank you, Paul, for your observations. If you have any other information about this person or any of the others, I would appreciate it if you can write it down or direct me to where I can find more information myself. This may throw a whole new light on our possible victim’s compensation lawsuit.”

Mariam asks, “Victim’s compensation lawsuit?”

Klara nods her head as she answers, “Yes, we meet this morning with some of the other victims of Hektor to discuss the possibility of such a lawsuit against Hektor’s estate or family. I suspect the possible compensation will be minimal or non-existent, but I’m still willing to pursue it to help the victims feel better about themselves and maybe help them stand up to the next bully. If there was someone behind the scenes calling the shots, that adds a whole new dimension to the case.

“When we met with the victims this morning, one young lady gave me what she said was a diary or history of Hektor’s exploits with names, dates, and places. I haven’t had a chance to read it, but maybe it will give some insight into Hektor’s motivation and how much was external. Paula, if Rebeka, or Reb as she’s called, comes to talk to you, can you ask her if she knows who this person is and what his connection to Hektor was?”

“Sure, Klara, but I don’t want a copy of the whole recording.”

“That’s fine, let me make a copy of this frame and I’ll print it out if George doesn’t mind.”

“Print away.”

Klara disconnects the computer from the television to take it to the printer.

George turns to Sharlene and asks, “Are you going to be okay, love?”

“Yes, if you keep holding me. Thank you, Aunt Paula and Mariam for your concern. Thank you, Uncle Paul for your concern and for noticing the background. Maybe it will help some of the people who have been more seriously victimized by that bully. I don’t know how some of those people can keep going after what they went through.”

“Many people find they’re stronger than they think they are when they’re faced with a crisis.”

“It’s not the crisis which bothers me as much as being able to get up and face the next day and the aftermath of the crisis.”

George hugs her tighter as he tells her, “Sharlene, you did this time and you’ll do it the next time, too.”

“Only because you were there with me. Oh, George, don’t leave me,” and she bursts into tears.

“Shhh, love. I won’t leave you.”

He kisses the top of her head and caresses her head with his right hand. When he glances up, Paula gives him a smile and nods her head.

When Sharlene’s tears diminish to occasional sobs, George asks, “Mariam, can you please get the box of tissues from the table on my left?” After he takes the box from Mariam, he says, “Thank you,” pulls out a tissue, and gently dries Sharlene’s tears and wipes her nose.

Sharlene takes the tissue from him to wipe her own nose and says, “I can do that.”

“I know you can, but I want to help you when I can.”

She puts her hands down, turns to look at him with a sad smile and tears in her eyes, and says, “Oh, George, you always want to help me. You’re such a wonderful man.” She lifts her left hand to the back of his neck, pulls his head to hers, kisses him long, tells him, “Thank you, George,” then rests her head on his shoulder and snuggles as close as she can.

Klara reconnects her computer, hands the print out to Paula, steps over to Sharlene, puts a hand on her shoulder, and asks, “Are you going to be okay?”

“With George here, yes. Thank you, Klara.”

“Good boy, George.”

“Woof, woof.” As Klara looks at him in surprise, the others chuckle, and the mood lightens.

After a brief pause, Klara continues, “Before I tell what Mariam and I found out at the police station, let me fill in Paula and Paul on what led up to it. Two nights ago, the Project, where Mariam works and which Sharlene and her want to take over, had a dinner and presentation to try to impress potential investors. I asked George to act like an eccentric wealthy investor while Sharlene got dolled up as his companion. I gave George a pen to carry in his pocket, but didn’t tell him until afterwards that it was also a microphone and transmitter and that I recorded all he said and others said to him. I’ve cut out the part during dinner and the presentation. You really don’t want to hear him chew his food even if it was more entertaining than the presentation.”

They chuckle at that.

“This may help explain Mariam’s exuberant greeting when we arrived at the store this afternoon.”

With her dark complexion it’s hard to tell that Mariam is blushing, but Sharlene recognizes it and leans over to rub her arm which Mariam responds to with a smile of thanks. As they listen, they more frequently look at George, who keeps his eyes closed and his lips buried in Sharlene’s hair on the top of her head.

When it’s over, Paul bursts out, “I thought I was just teasing you when I called you an old fraud. So where do you keep your millions?”

The others start to laugh. When the laughter diminishes with an occasional shaking of their heads as one person then another remembers a particular line which struck them, George explains, “I couldn’t have done it without Sharlene. You heard how often she had to encourage me to keep me going.”

“But you did it, my old man.” None of them miss the blaze of pride in her voice and eyes as Sharlene turns George’s head to kiss him.

Klara lets the kiss go on and when it ‘finally’ finishes, she asks Mariam to relate what happened afterwards for Paula and Paul’s enlightenment. After Mariam is done, Klara picks up the narrative, “When Mariam and I went down to the police station, I asked for some assistance in helping to acquire evidence for a possible corporate espionage case. The officer on duty, I think he was only a rookie, looked at me like I was speaking some foreign language. So I asked to speak to Chief Brown. A couple of moments of explanation were all which were required before he seemed to bend over backwards in his effort to be helpful.

“Not only did he fingerprint the video recorder, he also took photos of it with the serial number and the fingerprints clearly highlighted. Then he ran the fingerprints through the computer and both the director of the Institute and the director of the Project had handled the video recorder. He printed that information and cleaned the equipment of the fingerprints. Then on a whim, he ran a tracer on the serial number and it had clearly been sold new to the Institute, so he made a copy of that information for me as well. I let him know that if anything came of it, I would let him know and give him credit for his assistance.”

Mariam asks, “By the way, where is the video recorder?”

Klara pauses in thought then answers, “I’m sorry, I think I left it on the table on the back porch.”

“No problem, I can get it.” When Mariam comes back in she asks, “Do you think we can play back what you recorded when Sharlene and I were playing with Molly?”

“George?”

“Go for it. If the cable we used for Klara’s computer doesn’t work, I might have another.”

“It fits.” Mariam starts the recording which shows her driving up George’s driveway behind Klara’s vehicle, but before she can fast forward it, Klara tells her to leave it and they watch what ‘the spy’ had recorded. Mariam pauses it after the recorder had been ‘confiscated’, “Klara did you want that erased?”

“I don’t know yet. I would like to think about our response to their spy attempts a little longer. We can always erase it later.”

“Okay.”

Mariam resumes the recording and soon they’re all laughing at Molly with the futball and the attempts of Mariam and Sharlene to take the ball away. When the recording ends, Mariam clumsily turns off the recorder while she continues to laugh.

After the laughter diminishes to chuckles, Sharlene says, “Mariam, I would like to get a copy of that on my computer, if you don’t mind.”

“Not at all, I’ll want a copy also. Actually, once it’s downloaded onto a computer, it will be easier to transfer between computers rather than download it several times.”

Since the video entertainment is done for the evening, the conversation stalls then picks up in smaller groups. George chases Sharlene off of his upper legs to make a trip down the hall, so she gets her computer to download the video recording of Molly and then forwards a copy to Mariam’s email account and after asking, forwards it to Paula and Klara also. When George returns, he checks the simmering soup broth, turns it off and moves it to the side to begin the long cooling process. When Sharlene asks him about his email account, he’s a bit embarrassed to admit that it’s lapsed, again.

Sharlene suggests, “That’s something else to add to my list of to-dos for Digital Empathy, email accounts for the staff and the board of directors.”

Chapter Two

Mariam’s voice has a hint of fear as she asks, “Board of directors?”

Sharlene nods her head as she answers, “I know most small companies don’t have them, but I could use the advice of wiser people. Actually, what gave me the idea was to find a formal position for George,” who had wandered over to talk to Paul, “which will allow him to be involved in anything without giving him day to day responsibilities.”

“That’s a good idea. Who else?”

“Me and you.”

Mariam’s eyes open wide as she asks, “Me?”

“Of course. You’ve been as much the motivation for Digital Empathy as anyone.”

“You’d better be careful, Sharlene, I’ll have a swelled head with all of these big-wig titles before the company even starts. Who else?”

“Klara. I plan on asking my dad, but I want to do that face to face. I think I’ll also ask Aunt Paula, but I want to do that in a quieter setting.”

Mariam responds, “I don’t know your dad, but I think all of the others are good choices. When you first said ‘board of directors’, I almost panicked at the idea that some other group of people might be able to take control and change the whole aspect of the company. But the people you named will only want to help support your philosophy and goals in the best way possible.”

“That’s why I thought of them. Both my dad and Klara know a large business from the top, while George is well acquainted with large businesses from the bottom. You’re well acquainted with business in general and Aunt Paula is familiar with all aspects of a small business. And I haven’t got a clue about any of it.”

“Don’t sell yourself short, Sharlene.”

“I’m not, I’m just trying to be honest with myself. I’ve been learning a lot from each of you, but I still have a lot more to learn. Oh, I wish this was done and over with. There are so many things I want to talk over with you and the others, but I don’t dare. I trust you, but the more I hear about the management at the Institute, the less I trust them. Who knows how long it will be before they try to drug you or put truth serum in your drink to find out what’s going on that you might know about.”

Mariam responds, “Ouch. I hate to admit it, but those sorts of things have crossed my mind. What I don’t know, I can’t tell.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry, Sharlene. Welcome to the world of cut-throat business practices.”

“If we do get the Project, hopefully the contract will be so water-tight we won’t have to worry about being back stabbed. Then we can concentrate on conducting our business above board and cooperatively with our suppliers and customers.”

“I fully agree with you.”

After that, they drift back over to the others and get involved in various conversations as the topics and groupings fluctuate. Sharlene and George are seldom more than a pace apart and more often than not they’re holding hands or in some other way touching each other. A couple of hours later, Paula and Paul leave and Klara goes with them.

George sits down on the love seat and Sharlene quickly settles herself on his upper legs. Mariam looks at them for a moment then sits down next to them on the love seat and leans on his shoulder.

Sharlene kisses his cheek before she says, “George, thank you for inviting Aunt Paula and Uncle Paul. I think they liked being involved or at least informed of what’s going on.”

“It’s my pleasure to invite them. I like them, but I’m usually a poor host when it’s just me. You ladies and Klara helped to keep the conversation going.”

The silence stretches for quite a few minutes as each is lost in their own thoughts.

Mariam says, “George, Sharlene is right, you’re a comfortable old man.”

“Thank you for the thought, but where did that come from?”

“Normally, I can’t sit still for long. I have to be busy. But just now, sitting in the quiet with you two, it’s quite comforting and peaceful.”

“I’m glad you feel that way.”

Many more minutes pass in silence which is interspersed with his intermittent yawns which increase in frequency. Since he knows he can’t put it off any longer, he announces, “I’m sorry, ladies, but I’m going to have to go to bed.”

Mariam asks, “Is that an invitation, Mr. G?”

George whips his head around to stare at her while Sharlene covers her mouth to stifle her giggles.

“No, young lady, it’s not!” He softens his tone, “I’m sorry, Mariam, I realize you’re only teasing, but I didn’t like playing the role of Mr. G especially since that role was intended to imitate a type of person and how they would probably treat a woman. I felt dirty calling Sharlene ‘Doctor Doll’ and I felt ashamed of having her play a role which had her jumping to respond to my slightest suggestion. To be honest, I don’t think I’ve actually invited Sharlene to my bed. I welcome her if she comes, but I leave it totally up to her.”

“George, I’m sorry I upset you. And I didn’t mean to spring it on you, but I can now honestly say that you refused to take me to bed. My bosses can’t very well expect me to rape you to make you feel better about the Project, so with your refusal and that you only have eyes for Sharlene, they can hardly blame me for ‘not making an effort’.”

He pauses to consider that before he says, “Thank you for explaining, but, next time, can you give me a little warning, please. You’ve been a wonderful friend to Sharlene and I would like to consider you my friend also, but I don’t like to be caught in surprise and end up snapping at my friends.”

“Friend George, can I have a kiss?”

He asks, “Sharlene?”

“George, you two are my best friends, I trust both of you. If it makes Mariam feel better to have a kiss from you, then please kiss her. And kiss her good, old man. I’ve bragged that you kiss good and I wouldn’t want it known that I don’t know what a good kiss is.”

He briefly looks at her before he asks, “I’m sorry, young lady, but how much experience do you have to know whether my kisses are anything beyond mediocre if even that? You may like my kisses, and I’m extremely grateful that you do, but that doesn’t mean anyone else will like them.”

“You’re right. I guess what I’m trying to say is that I don’t want you to kiss her halfheartedly, on the basis that you want to save your best for me. Mariam is my best friend and deserves the best you can give her.”

“Then I’ll try to kiss Mariam to the best of my ability.”