The Inspector Walter Darriteau Murder Mysteries - Books 1-4 by David Carter (best finance books of all time .txt) 📕

‘No. He asked me to go alone.’

Greg hid his disappointment well and tugged her away toward the entrance to spoke 2, and the accommodation suites.

KAREN SLIPPED AWAY at five to six and made her way to Kit’s main office in spoke 4. The same cute guy was waiting outside, the same neat smile on his face, as he stood and said, ‘Hello again, Karen, Kit is waiting for you,’ and he opened the door and beckoned her inside.

Kit was sitting behind an overlarge desk. He’d changed and freshened up and was back to looking the bright-eyed thrusting businessman, and he wasn’t alone. To his left was another young guy, sitting, expensive black suit, white cuffs, Future Growth cufflinks, and neat dark hair that matched his suit. Karen guessed he was about thirty and she’d never seen him before.

Kit stood and reached across the desk and offered his hand. This is Roland Barraclough,’ he said. ‘Roland is my solicitor. He’s a partner at Barraclough & Coney.’

Karen knew the firm, knew they had a good reputation. She shook both the guys’ hands and smiled and said, ‘Legal representation needed, is it?’

Kit grinned and asked her to sit, and he sat down and laughed and said, ‘No, nothing like that. I thought in view of our earlier unplanned meet you might feel more comfortable having Roland here.’

‘I see,’ she said, when in reality she wasn’t sure she did.

‘I’ve asked Roland to write to you on Monday to confirm our arrangement where I said that I would guarantee any losses that may have been incurred by our associate, Donald Rushnell,’ and he glanced at Roland and the guy nodded back.

‘They weren’t “losses”, Kit,’ clarified Karen, ‘It’s a clear case of fraud and theft.’

‘Well, whatever it is, surely it must be better for all concerned if every last missing penny is made good.’

‘Don’t suppose you’d care to give me a cheque?’

Kit looked blank.

Roland said, ‘We’ll need to see actual figures first, backed up with written proof.’

‘Of course you would,’ said Karen.

‘It would be really cool if the whole thing could be settled without the need for courts and trials and what have you,’ said Kit.

‘I can’t promise that,’ said Karen, wondering what she was being coerced into. ‘My superiors will decide.’

‘Of course,’ said Kit. ‘Just so long as you understand that the books will be balanced, an offer made in good faith, and one that we hope will go some way toward settling the matter.’

‘We’ll get back to you on that,’ said Karen. ‘This is a most unusual situation.’

‘Quite,’ said Kit. ‘Now if we could move on to another matter.’

‘Fine,’ said Karen, eager to hear what they had to say.

Kit looked at Roland and Roland nodded him on.

‘We, the Future Growth Group, are looking for a publicity manager. The position will be very high profile. It will come with worldwide travel requirements. As you know, we are opening in California, but also Austria, and Africa would be regularly visited. In short, we need someone young, energetic, charismatic, intelligent, diligent, discreet, and enthusiastic. I think it’s fair to say that the moment I met you I immediately thought you were the ideal person to fill the position. In short, Karen, we are offering you the job.’

‘I’ve got a job already.’

‘Yes, you have indeed,’ said Kit, ‘and a very good one too. What’s it paying? About 40k a year?’

‘Just under.’

‘We’ll double that, I mean it, Karen, no hype, no tricks, 80k a year plus expenses, and loads of foreign travel.’

Karen couldn’t suppress a grin.

‘Look, Karen, I’ll make no bones about it, there have been times when I’ve sailed close to the wind, especially in my younger days. What I need now is the likes of you and Roland here to keep me on the straight and narrow. It’ll be fun. One huge adventure. You’ll enjoy it, you really will. Come and join us, what do you say?’

‘Even if I wanted to, I can’t just drop everything and leave my present position.’

‘We understand that,’ said Kit, glancing at Roland.

He said, ‘There are always ways and means.’

‘Think about it, Karen,’ said Kit. ‘I don’t need your answer today. I can leave it with you for a week or two. You’re perfect for the job, it would be a marriage made in heaven.’

Karen pulled a face. In any event she couldn’t agree with that.

‘Is that it?’ she said, looking at them in turn.

‘Yep,’ said Kit. ‘That’s about it.’

‘I’ll write to you about the other matter,’ said Roland.

Karen stood and said, ‘Thank you, I’ll get back to you,’ and let herself out.

At the celebratory opening dinner that night she told Greg of the job offer.

‘I hope you said yes,’ he said.

‘I didn’t, and I don’t think I will.’

‘Why ever not?’

‘Because money isn’t everything.’

‘But double money! A jetsetter of a job, and the chance to work closely with Kit Napoleon, what more do you want? Come on!’

‘Let’s drop it, eh?’ she said, annoyed she’d even told him. She wanted to talk to Walter about it. He’d understand.

Sixty-Five

On Sunday morning Walter was wakened by thunder and lightning. The Indian summer had finally come to a crashing end. He blinked and glanced at the digital clock. 7.46. It would have been so tempting to roll over and snuggle down and doze for another two or three hours, but he remembered Jessica Stone saying: Would it be possible if I could have a bath later?

And he thought of seeing her standing on the landing a few feet from where he lay, and he remembered too that he still hadn’t found her, and that all the team were committed to working that very day, Sunday, or not.

He grunted and fell out of bed and ambled to the bathroom. There are some things that get you out of bed, he mused whilst shaving, like murders of policemen, and young Chinese girls who had enjoyed nothing of a life, and desperately needed justice, and kidnapped supermodels, and even the Donald