The Mistake

Chapter 1 Part 3

Walter Jaeger stroked his military moustache pensively as he studied his computer screen. As senior partner of JCD&S, he liked to spend several minutes each morning perusing the memo files of the company members before checking his stock portfolio and his list of appointments from his secretary. This morning the memo flickering on his screen left Walter watery-kneed and slightly bilious. His personal financial success reached a point early on whereby he needed to take steps to protect it. The birth of his only grandchild provided a perfect ploy and he began setting up a trust, financed by a complex transfer of funds to a shell company registered in the name of his grandchild. Unfortunately, under his stewardship business declined. A new generation of young turks made the wheeling and dealing he was used to far more difficult, and more and more money was required to keep the business pathways clear. He even began dismantling the trust, losing that money down the same black hole. Consequently, Walter's fortunes dwindled and when several other business investments failed all at once, he found he needed to find fast money to cover substantial losses. With the aid of his lawyer partner, Bondra Croft, he made several large loans from a private party assuring that the situation remained confidential. Unfortunately, unlike a regular bank, Walter's lender established fixed deadlines for repayment-non-negotiable. A frightening vision of his debtor swirled before his eyes and he uttered aloud an alarmed beep.

He punched his intercom and asked that Bondra Croft be paged to his office. Walter swiveled slowly around in his chair to face the spectacular cityscape, usually a satisfyingly calm vista enjoyed from his thirtieth floor office - but not today. He looked up eagerly as Bondra entered his office, watching as she made her way to the leather settee alongside his desk, seating herself comfortably.

"Well?"

"Well, Walter, it seems our crack team of investigators traded for socks." He stared blankly at his partner. "They blew it, Walter."

"Socks...?"

"I'm trying to get hold of Nora but she's not answering her cell."

"Jesus H. Christ! Didn't you tell her how important this was?" Walter slammed his pen down, ducking as it bounced up near his face.

She crossed her legs slowly and brushed away some imaginary lint from her skirt. "This was your your idea remember. You wanted a series of cutouts to keep you well shielded so I arranged for Nora, and on your recommendation, Wiggens."

"The girl was the error in this plan," he pouted.

"Would it have mattered, Walter? Mister Wiggens doesn't sound much like the first horse out of the gate."

"We've used him before." The endorsement was less than enthusiastic.

"Then all's well, isn't it, Walter." Bondra rose gracefully and came around behind the desk. "The worst that can happen, dear, is public humiliation and possibly jail." She smiled deliciously and kissed the top of his thinning hair.

"The worst thing that can happen, Bondra dear, and probably will, is our friend will have us both cemented into large barrels and dumped in the lake."

"Let's not get too far ahead here, darling. Wiggens is looking for Nora right now. As soon as he finds her I'll have him bring her in." There will be no barrel for Bondra, my dear, she confirmed silently to herself, you are the one who owes the money, Walter.

He clutched his head, worrying it back and forth. "Swell, all my troubles just vanished."

*****

Bernie (the Club) Bonducci steepled his fingers and touched them to the tip of his nose. What he was listening to was more of the same excuses for delay that he had been hearing from every borrower since time began. Even he got tired of adding financial penalties to monies that may never be collected. Jaeger was a deadbeat. Clever-but still a deadbeat. The promised payback that was supposed to happen that morning, didn't. And recent investigations by Toto, the messenger standing in front of his desk, showed a growing number of serious complications, principally, that while the switch had been made, an unknown party was in possession of his money. It was beginning to sound very Keystone Kop to Bernie. Now, after waiting around for this news he had missed his dinner reservation, and was in no mood to listen to Toto's explanations.