said Niall.
“Mr. Peter Blake gave me his business card at Ormonde’s commitment ceremony. Not that he’s ever called me back for that job he talked about!” She dragged in a breath, trying not to be unnecessarily rude. Her idea might be quite wrong after all, and there was no reason why he should hire her anyway.
“It just occurred to me that Mas was tracking the call center people through the various colors of the rainbow, and I’m sure his card said something about Rainbow Enterprises. It just struck me as strange, coincidental. I need to check that—Aha!”
She snatched the little rectangle of cardboard out of the mess she’d made on the floor. In large print, the card said Mr. Peter Blake and a toll free phone number. Underneath, in much smaller print, was Rainbow Enterprises .
“I did remember correctly.”
“I thought you checked him out?” objected Niall.
“I did, I did, but just the usual credit checks and criminal record checks. He came up sparkling clean, no sign of a police record or of not paying his debts. I wasn’t thinking of him as someone with a bunch of shell companies. But now we know, as soon as we’re allowed back online, he’ll be my top priority.”
“That’ll be too late. If the authorities take out the call center people, and he’s connected with them, the money will be gone and so will he. Just because we haven’t fingered him yet, he’s much too smart to stick around if the investigation’s that close to him. This will be the second time his operation has been closed down. He won’t stick around to risk a third,” said Niall.
“He’s right,” agreed Aurelia.
“Fuck it! Yes. Call your friends, Niall, and let them know. But I want to follow the paper trail, too. Not to boast, but my success rate is better than theirs.”
They all returned to the living room, and Niall made the call.
“Just as well Ms. Sommers thought of it now. Another hour and it would have been too late. Lay low tonight. I should have some news for you tomorrow.”
“Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.”
* * * *
Niall slept lightly that night, wondering about the operation, and wishing he was involved more directly in it. Then he thought of the potential danger to Aurelia and Mas and knew that his current job was much more appropriate for him nowadays. You’re not eighteen years old anymore, he reminded himself, stretching his muscles without disturbing the other two in the bed.
However, it was after nine o’clock before both he and Mas received calls saying the usual fee was in their accounts and the standard confidentiality clause applied. “There’s also a small bonus for Ms. Sommers as well,” the chief added before clicking off the call.
“Oh, cool.” Aurelia smiled.
“Thank God we can get back online. There’ll likely be a trillion e-mails in my inbox,” groaned Mas.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if I had a hundred myself,” replied Niall.
“Plus now we can leave the apartment. I have a ton of shopping to do, and you never know, there may even be an e-mail or two for me to answer.”
“Don’t forget to send your financial predictions to Ormonde. It’d be pretty exciting if that financial newsletter man wanted to add you to his sources,” Mas reminded Aurelia.
Niall had wondered about that. Could Aurelia make money with her predictions? She really was better than average with her forecasts. She seemed to have a genuine knack for understanding what shares would go up and what down.
“Oh yes. I’d almost forgotten about that. It’d be even better if someone wanted me to plan a party for them, though. An expensive party, with a lot of guests. I need to start making the bookings for our own ceremony, too.”
Niall and Mas left the apartment together, running down the stairs instead of waiting for the elevator and pushing through the glass door out to the parking lot.
“I hope to God it really is all wrapped up this time,” said Mas.
“I want to know in what
“Mr. Peter Blake gave me his business card at Ormonde’s commitment ceremony. Not that he’s ever called me back for that job he talked about!” She dragged in a breath, trying not to be unnecessarily rude. Her idea might be quite wrong after all, and there was no reason why he should hire her anyway.
“It just occurred to me that Mas was tracking the call center people through the various colors of the rainbow, and I’m sure his card said something about Rainbow Enterprises. It just struck me as strange, coincidental. I need to check that—Aha!”
She snatched the little rectangle of cardboard out of the mess she’d made on the floor. In large print, the card said Mr. Peter Blake and a toll free phone number. Underneath, in much smaller print, was Rainbow Enterprises .
“I did remember correctly.”
“I thought you checked him out?” objected Niall.
“I did, I did, but just the usual credit checks and criminal record checks. He came up sparkling clean, no sign of a police record or of not paying his debts. I wasn’t thinking of him as someone with a bunch of shell companies. But now we know, as soon as we’re allowed back online, he’ll be my top priority.”
“That’ll be too late. If the authorities take out the call center people, and he’s connected with them, the money will be gone and so will he. Just because we haven’t fingered him yet, he’s much too smart to stick around if the investigation’s that close to him. This will be the second time his operation has been closed down. He won’t stick around to risk a third,” said Niall.
“He’s right,” agreed Aurelia.
“Fuck it! Yes. Call your friends, Niall, and let them know. But I want to follow the paper trail, too. Not to boast, but my success rate is better than theirs.”
They all returned to the living room, and Niall made the call.
“Just as well Ms. Sommers thought of it now. Another hour and it would have been too late. Lay low tonight. I should have some news for you tomorrow.”
“Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.”
* * * *
Niall slept lightly that night, wondering about the operation, and wishing he was involved more directly in it. Then he thought of the potential danger to Aurelia and Mas and knew that his current job was much more appropriate for him nowadays. You’re not eighteen years old anymore, he reminded himself, stretching his muscles without disturbing the other two in the bed.
However, it was after nine o’clock before both he and Mas received calls saying the usual fee was in their accounts and the standard confidentiality clause applied. “There’s also a small bonus for Ms. Sommers as well,” the chief added before clicking off the call.
“Oh, cool.” Aurelia smiled.
“Thank God we can get back online. There’ll likely be a trillion e-mails in my inbox,” groaned Mas.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if I had a hundred myself,” replied Niall.
“Plus now we can leave the apartment. I have a ton of shopping to do, and you never know, there may even be an e-mail or two for me to answer.”
“Don’t forget to send your financial predictions to Ormonde. It’d be pretty exciting if that financial newsletter man wanted to add you to his sources,” Mas reminded Aurelia.
Niall had wondered about that. Could Aurelia make money with her predictions? She really was better than average with her forecasts. She seemed to have a genuine knack for understanding what shares would go up and what down.
“Oh yes. I’d almost forgotten about that. It’d be even better if someone wanted me to plan a party for them, though. An expensive party, with a lot of guests. I need to start making the bookings for our own ceremony, too.”
Niall and Mas left the apartment together, running down the stairs instead of waiting for the elevator and pushing through the glass door out to the parking lot.
“I hope to God it really is all wrapped up this time,” said Mas.
“I want to know in what
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