Red Flag

44. Climbing the Walls

After Lorne's phone call with Ruth, he completed his report to the task force and sent it. Then opening a new email, he read for a while before he looked up and said, "From the local detachment. They can now release your belongings, Cynthia."

She laughed. "A small carry-on with a toiletries case, fresh undies and a laundry bag stuffed with dirty biking clothes."

"That's it?"

"A single overnight, Lorne, and I know better than to leave valuables in hotel rooms. But what about my car? It's still in Listel's parkade."

"Would he know what it looks like? Its plate number?"

"Yeah, most likely. I drove to the out-of-town openings."

"I'll have the police do a bug search and scan on it. Recommend they remove the plates and bring it to their parking lot. Leave it there until –" Lorne paused and shrugged. "Until it's safe again for us out there."

"Yeah, that'll save the hotel's thirty-five dollars per day fee. My bike's on the bumper rack – would it be safe there?"

Lorne chuckled. "In front of the police station, I would think so. But when the car is deemed bugless and the area is goon-free, they could drive it up here; I've room for it in the garage."

I pointed to Lorne's computer screen. "Did they mention Suprême?"

"Nothing yet, Kate. Though it's still early – Municipal offices have only just opened."

"But beyond the legal paperwork, Lorne. Having the police monitor the location will confirm my hunch that the opening is going ahead."

"What?" Cynthia snapped her head to look at me. "Why would he continue? How?"

"He's leased the property, and it would have been wise to hire most of the old staff when he took over the business. Be simple to train them to the new menu, particularly without the coercion options. He's too deep into it to shut down now. Short-notice lease termination liability and employee severance would amount to tens of thousands – and if it's a big place with a large staff, possibly a hundred thousand or more."

"True." Lorne nodded. "And the courts are very fast and unbending on employee compensation abuse. Without a focused media event, their opening will likely flop, and while the business wallows, it might be best to give severance notice. Use what revenue there is to lessen the impact of the liabilities as the company coasts to closure."

"Yeah. But he's shown he doesn't need me for the openings – needs only my list, and I'm sure he has all their contact information. He'll pick a day and send out the invitations himself."

"He'd prove himself utterly daft to use any from your list now, Cynth. He'll know that most of them are now aware of the scam."

"Doh!" Cynthia slapped her forehead. "How stupid of me not to realise – but where would he get reviewers?"

"He doesn't need reviewers, Cynth. With the Whistler market almost entirely short-term visitors, blog and newspaper reviews are near useless – the approach should be more immediate."

"Doh again. Seems I'm too caught up in his flimflammery. This needs discount flyers in the hotel rooms, info packages to the concierges and front desks, coupon distributors in the squares, sandwich-board walkers ... Old-time marketing."

"Exactly, and likely the staff he has acquired will set him straight." I shrugged. "Surely, he listens to others. Asks for advice."

"He did in the beginning with me." Cynthia winced. "Helped him set up his system. Then I became little but a figurehead – a piece of his promotion. A piece he wants to get rid of."