Read Online A Taste For Danger by K.K. Sterling - Free Book Online

he passed.
    For his part, Jack tried to keep his face from showing that he felt sad. He could tell Eddie was very intelligent. Only he didn’t articulate it like everyone else and Jack could envision the disasters that probably happened in Eddie’s past when he did try to speak to any of the Heads, or worse, those from Big D. Eddie could be sitting on the world’s greatest secret, and no one would know because he didn’t possess the ability to subscribe to the required social rituals, much less the intricate mind games that corporate politics required. Jack figured that’s why Eddie was in charge of the financials. He was probably meticulous and always correct. Eddie wouldn’t be corrupted by any of the corporate goings-on.
    Jack sat still. He didn’t know what to ask. Then he had a thought. Taking Tom’s emails out of his jacket pocket, he showed them to Eddie. “Eddie, can you tell me if these are correct?”
    Eddie took the papers and glanced over at them. Then he said, “Correct relative to what?”
    Jack had to think. Talking to Eddie was like speaking to an oracle. “Correct relative to your financial books,” he finally answered.
    Eddie tossed them back to Jack. “No. Within themselves they are correct, but they are erroneous when compared to the actual books of the company that I protect.”
    Jack noticed the word “protect.” Eddie took his role very seriously.
    “Eddie, what if someone said that these financials were the right ones, and yours were wrong?” Jack prayed this would not cause an outburst. He didn’t really know what to expect with this guy.
    However, Eddie simply said, “They would be wrong.”
    Jack tried another tactic. “Eddie, you said there were many reasons I might be here. Can you tell me some of the other reasons? Some of the ones I might not know?
    “Can I have your other butterscotch?” asked Eddie.
    “Sure,” said Jack. What—now they were horse trading?
    Eddie took the candy and said, “Thank you.” again. He didn’t eat this one however. He opened one of his top drawers and put it in there. Then he opened his desk file drawer, took out a file, and read, “Reasons include: financials don’t agree; Big and Little Heads pad their expense accounts; company fraud; OSHA standards are not followed in the men’s restroom; most of the Heads lie at meetings; Mr. Hane’s position is impotent; government contracts are rigged; the secretary is forging her timecard; someone is stealing money; and the heat and air conditioning in the building is turned off every weekend meaning that each Monday all employees either freeze or burn up.”
    Jack was taken aback. “Is that it?” he asked, incredulous.
    “No, those are just the major things.” replied Eddie.
    Afraid to ask the next question, but worried about who might be around outside, Jack said, “Eddie, may I close your door? We are discussing some confidential matters.”
    Eddie looked at Jack with no expression. “Yes, you can close the door.” Jack did so.
    Then Eddie said: “I’m not allowed to keep it closed when I’m alone in here. They told me it’s bad for office morale, so”—here he laughed a short laugh—”so I keep it almost all the way shut.”
    “That’s very smart of you.”
    Eddie stared at Jack with a sarcastic expression on his face. “I’m not stupid. You don’t have to talk to me like I’m ten. That’s what all the others do.”
    “I’m sorry,” said Jack. Perhaps honesty was best. “I’m just not sure how to talk to you,” he added.
    “That’s okay,” said Eddie. “No one is. You are doing fine. What else did you want to know?”
    Jack went back over Eddie’s list in his head. “Um, let’s start with the financials. Do you know why they don’t match?”
    “Someone is stealing money,” said Eddie.
    “Do you know who?”
    “No, I only make sure my financials are perfect. That means that it is someone at Big D. No one here. My financials are perfect,” he said