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

it, knelt down, tapped her pocket to check she had the screwdriver, and began folding herself in, head down, legs behind her, arms tight round her torso. Shu slipped stronger cardboard down the sides of the box to give it some rigidity. Tried to fold over the top of the box. Not a chance. Patted Jun’s head lower.

‘Push harder!’ ordered Jun.

Shu thought of Fenfang, and squeezed Jun harder into the box. Nearly there, one more shove and the top flaps would close. Jia had the brown tape ready. It shrieked as it was pulled out, then it was over the join and the sides taped too, though when they’d finished the box sure looked different to all the others.

Debs had been walking across the top of the mezzanine floor to check something on Monica’s desk. Something made her glance down at the goods ready for dispatch section, though she wasn’t quite sure why. One of the new girls was there with Jia. It wasn’t unusual for Jia to be there, because she was often involved in loading and stacking finished items on to the waiting pallets, but something was weird about the way they were standing there, patting one particular box, and the looks on their faces were ones of apprehension, and maybe even more than that. But what?

Debs thought of going down and investigating but she had lots to do, and she certainly didn’t want to provoke a fight or a scene, not with Brinton due on the floor any time soon. She didn’t want any big issues or hassle in the workshop when he appeared. She was all for the quiet life. She let it go, and went back to her desk and tried to forget what she had seen.

The pallet was covered in boxes, one neat square batch of ready product. Shu and Jia began loading on the second level. Only one more box needed to complete level two. Shu and Jia struggled to lift the box. But finally it was placed, on the outside, for the least packing material Jun had to break through to escape, the better.

It was much easier loading another batch on top to create a third level, and then the whole thing was complete. Shu walked round the completed pallet and slapped the single bulging box straight, but it ballooned out again. Jun was doing all she could inside to remain motionless and pull the sides in. No matter, once the strong polythene was around the whole thing that should secure it.

Shu and Jia collected the large rolls of industrial strength poly and began rolling it round and round, over the top, and round and round again, pressed the heat-securing button, and the poly sealed in an instant. It was tough stuff. Very difficult to tear. Scissors or a knife would be needed for that.

Shu glanced at Jia and back at the pallet. One more look around and all seemed in order, and then they returned to their duties, and as they did so, the roller shutters to the dispatch bay began clanking and banging and opening up, and when Shu glanced back over her shoulder she saw Man One entering the assembly floor. He paused and yawned and examined the six completed pallets ready for shipment. Seemed happy enough, went back outside, and jumped aboard the forklift truck, and fired it up.

Inside her dark and cosy cocoon, Jun heard the forklift in operation, coming and going, lifting pallets, grabbing product, turning sharply 180 degrees, and dumping them in the dispatch bay, ready to go.

She sensed the forklift close by, and she was right. She heard a squeak and bang, felt a very slight shudder, and the sensation of being lifted into the air waved through her body, being swung dizzily round like a fairground ride she’d experienced on holiday in Florida, forward movement, as she imagined the pallet being taken out through the doors, and the unmistakeable feeling of lowering and being dumped with the tiniest of bumps onto the concrete floor. It all made sense. Delicate components, and they wouldn’t take too kindly to being dropped. Delicate cargo, scrunched up tight like a foetus, breathing slow, heart beating fast, wondering how long she would be incarcerated there, wondering how long she could cope with it, pondering on how soon there would be another roll call.

OUTSIDE, PRYCE CALLED Brinton to his office. Brinton came in with a smirk on his face, probably been sharing a filthy joke with the other guys, but Pryce had no time for that.

‘Sit down and listen!’

Brinton could tell something was in the air. Sat on the edge of the seat. Looked interested.

‘It’s a big day today.’

‘Oh yeah?’

‘In more ways than one. Already had that Kit Napoleon creep in. Paid him off the first tranche. Can’t wait to be rid of the prick.’

‘He’s a slimeball,’ agreed Brinton.

‘How’s the supermodel?’

‘Doing fine, getting a bit hacked off, needs a bit of exercise, if you ask me.’

‘She’ll be getting all the exercise she can cope with soon enough,’ smirked Pryce, and Brinton let go a dry laugh.

‘I’ve agreed the deal,’ said a smug Pryce.

‘Have ya?’

Pryce bobbed his head. ‘Two million dollars, all cash, all upfront. I’m expecting a bank transfer in the next twenty-four hours. I reckon she’ll be leaving tonight or tomorrow night.’

‘Great,’ said Brinton, though he didn’t sound so enthusiastic, noticed Pryce.

‘Have you done a roll call today?’

‘Already done, did it first thing.’

Pryce nodded. ‘All okay?’

‘Yeah, all present and correct, 152 units, Orientals to a woman, all accounted for and working, plus one special unit awaiting your instructions.’

‘Good! Warn the couriers they could be on the late shift tonight or tomorrow. We can’t afford any fuck-ups.’

‘I’m on it.’

‘When did Jessica last get fed?’

‘Late last night.’

‘Make sure she gets what she needs.’

Brinton pondered on that thought for a second and muttered, ‘Oh, I will.’

Sixty-Seven

Mrs West pointed at the visitor’s chair and Karen sat down. ‘How are you?’ asked Mrs W.

‘Fine thanks,’ said Karen, almost without