Heads You Win

“I’m glad to hear that because, like me, you got on well with Mr. Lowell. How about Mr. Ackroyd?”

Errol bowed his head.

“That bad?”

“I’ve opened his car door every working day for the past twelve years, and I’m still not sure if he knows my name.”

“And his secretary?” asked Alex, looking down at his list of questions.

“Miss Bowers. She left with him. But don’t worry, sir, no one will miss her.” Alex raised an eyebrow. “She was a little bit more than his secretary, if you catch my drift.” Alex remained silent. “And, frankly, no one blamed Mrs. Ackroyd when she finally divorced him.”

“Do you know Mrs. Ackroyd?”

“Not really, sir, she didn’t visit the bank that often, but when she did, she always remembered my name.”

“One final question, Errol. Did Mr. Lowell have a secretary?”

“Yes, sir, Miss Robbins. A real gem. But Mr. Ackroyd sacked her last week, after twenty years’ service.”

*   *   *

“Come in.”

“You asked to see me, chairman?”

“I did, Mr. Jardine. I need to see the bank’s audited accounts for the past five years.”

“Any particular version, chairman?” said Jardine, unable to resist a smirk.

“What do you mean, any particular version?”

“It’s just that Mr. Lowell preferred to be shown an abbreviated version, which I used to guide him through once a year.”

“I’m sure you did. But I am not Mr. Lowell, and I will require a little more detail.”

“The summary in the annual report stretches to three pages, and I think you’ll find it quite comprehensive.”

“And if I don’t?”

“I suppose you could study the detailed accounts we prepare for the IRS every year, but they stretch to hundreds of pages, and it would take me two, possibly three, days to put them all together.”

“I said I wanted to see the past five years’ accounts, Mr. Jardine, not next year’s. So make sure that the full IRS version,” said Alex, emphasizing the word “full,” “is on my desk within an hour.”

“It might take a little longer than that, sir.”

“Then I might have to find someone who understands how many minutes there are in an hour, Mr. Jardine.”

Alex had never seen anyone leave an office as quickly. He was about to call Mr. Harbottle, when the phone on his desk rang.

“I’ve tracked down Miss Robbins, chairman,” said the switchboard operator, “and I have her on the line. Shall I put her through?”

“Please do.”

“Good morning, Miss Robbins. My name is Alex Karpenko, and I’m the new chairman of Lowell’s.”

“Yes, I know, Mr. Karpenko. I read about your appointment in this morning’s Globe, and of course I heard your moving eulogy at Mr. Lowell’s funeral. How can I help?”

“I understand that Mr. Ackroyd sacked you last Friday.”

“Yes he did, and ordered me to clear my desk by close of business.”

“Well, he had no authority to do so. As you were Lawrence’s personal assistant, not his. So I was wondering if you’d consider coming back and doing the same job for me.”

“That’s most generous of you, Mr. Karpenko, but are you sure you wouldn’t rather have a younger person to herald in a new era for the bank?”

“That’s the last thing I need. I’m sinking under a sea of paperwork, and I have a feeling you might be the one person who knows where the lifeboat is.”

Miss Robbins stifled a laugh. “When would you like me to start, chairman?”

“Nine o’clock, Miss Robbins.”

“Tomorrow morning?”

“No, this morning.”

“But it’s already eleven thirty-five, chairman.”

“Is it?”

*   *   *

“Hi, Alex, I’m Ray Fowler, company secretary. What can I do for you?” he said, thrusting out his hand.

“Good morning, Mr. Fowler,” said Alex, making no attempt to rise from behind his desk, or to shake the outstretched hand. “I want a copy of the minutes of every board meeting held during the past five years.”

“Not a problem, sir, I’ll have them sent up immediately.”

“No, you will bring them up yourself, Mr. Fowler, along with any notes you made at the time when you drew them up.”

“But they may have been mislaid or destroyed after all this time.”

“I’m sure I don’t have to remind you, Mr. Fowler, that it’s against company law to destroy any material that might later prove relevant in a criminal inquiry.”

“I’ll do my best to locate them, chairman.”

“I seem to remember President Nixon saying something similar when he was ordered to produce the Watergate tapes.”

“I hardly think that a fair comparison, chairman.”

“I’ll let you know how I feel about that, Mr. Fowler, but not until I’ve read the minutes.”

*   *   *

“He did what?” said Ackroyd.

“Asked to see the bank’s audited accounts for the past five years and all the board minutes with any attached handwritten notes,” said Ray Fowler.

“Did he indeed? Then we’ll have to be rid of him before he gets his feet under the table, and starts causing any real problems.”

“That might be easier said than done,” said Fowler. “We’re not dealing with Lawrence Lowell any longer. This guy’s smart, tough, and ruthless. And don’t forget he now has control of fifty percent of the bank’s shares.”