well as that she was about to stand up and walk out at least two hours before most other people would and she knew that would not pass without comment. People would feel put out if they thought that Sarah was getting special treatment from the boss. Fat chance, she thought to herself.
Sarah sent a few quick replies to friends who had been gossiping and joking over email about what they had all got up to on their girls night out the previous Saturday. She had not been able to make it. She hated missing out on anything but at least she felt a little more involved with the girls copying her in on the banter.
The phone on her desk warbled. She hesitated a moment but then realised that she hadn’t altered her voicemail message to say she was out and in any event it might be urgent. It was only one call, she thought, and then she could go home.
‘ Good afternoon, Griffin Holdings. Sarah Knowles speaking.’
‘Hi there. Good afternoon.’ It was a man’s voice, slightly hesitant sounding, which pricked her attention, but young she thought and a nice voice, friendly. ‘I, uh, I wonder if you can help me. I’m just after some information about your company.’
‘Yes? What kind of information were you after?’ she replied trying to sound friendly back.
‘Oh, you know, just general company information. Structure, brief sort of trading history, what it is you do there. That sort of thing.’ The voice was trying to sound breezy and as if this were an everyday sort of request. It wasn’t and Sarah found herself frowning.
‘That’s a little, uhh... vague sir, ’ she said. ‘What is it you are trying to find out exactly?’
There was a pause but before he could answer she cut in. ‘I’m sorry, where did you say you were calling from?’
‘Oh, sorry. Yes of course. I, uh… I’m calling from a local paper. Just a little thing really, doubt you know of us. But I heard about the break-in the other night and I’m looking into it.’
‘I see.’ She wasn’t convinced by that. He seemed to be talking a little too fast, trying to speed her into a response before she could ask any more questions.
‘Well, my editor wants me to. You know. Doing what I’m told really.’
‘Sure.’
‘Odd business though.’
‘I’m sorry Mr…?
Silence. She continued regardless. ’I’m sorry, I don’t want to be rude as I’m sure you’re just doing your job but the company has released a short press statement regarding this matter. I can refer your enquiry to Mr Griffin if you’d rather but I’m not in a position to say anything further.’
‘Of course, of course. No need to trouble Mr Griffin. I wonder though if you could pop something in the post for me? Some sort of company brochure? Corporate literature?’
‘I should think that would be OK. Can I get your name and address then?’ Sarah tried a different approach, still suspicious. Something was odd.
‘And perhaps a copy of the press release?’
‘Statement. Of course. Your name and address?’
‘Well let’s see. I work from home a lot so may as well send it there - second thought, where are you based exactly?’
Sarah told him.
‘Right. That’s not too far away actually. Why don’t I just drop in there and pick it up?’
She paused for a moment before answering, intrigued. She didn’t believe the story he was telling. Sarah felt that she had a good antennae for liars and all the pauses and the umms and ahhs and the well-nows that gave people away we re too obvious in the reporter’s voice. He was definitely being evasive.
‘That should be fine. Just pop into reception and ask for me. My name is Sarah Knowles. And you are?’
‘ Owen, ’ said the voice. ‘Michaels.’
‘Sorry? Owen Michaels?’
‘Right.’
‘OK. When would you be planning to drop by Mr Michaels? It’s just that I was due to finish shortly…’
‘Oh I see. Well, maybe half an hour, an hour.’
She didn’t answer for a minute and considered leaving an envelope on
Sarah sent a few quick replies to friends who had been gossiping and joking over email about what they had all got up to on their girls night out the previous Saturday. She had not been able to make it. She hated missing out on anything but at least she felt a little more involved with the girls copying her in on the banter.
The phone on her desk warbled. She hesitated a moment but then realised that she hadn’t altered her voicemail message to say she was out and in any event it might be urgent. It was only one call, she thought, and then she could go home.
‘ Good afternoon, Griffin Holdings. Sarah Knowles speaking.’
‘Hi there. Good afternoon.’ It was a man’s voice, slightly hesitant sounding, which pricked her attention, but young she thought and a nice voice, friendly. ‘I, uh, I wonder if you can help me. I’m just after some information about your company.’
‘Yes? What kind of information were you after?’ she replied trying to sound friendly back.
‘Oh, you know, just general company information. Structure, brief sort of trading history, what it is you do there. That sort of thing.’ The voice was trying to sound breezy and as if this were an everyday sort of request. It wasn’t and Sarah found herself frowning.
‘That’s a little, uhh... vague sir, ’ she said. ‘What is it you are trying to find out exactly?’
There was a pause but before he could answer she cut in. ‘I’m sorry, where did you say you were calling from?’
‘Oh, sorry. Yes of course. I, uh… I’m calling from a local paper. Just a little thing really, doubt you know of us. But I heard about the break-in the other night and I’m looking into it.’
‘I see.’ She wasn’t convinced by that. He seemed to be talking a little too fast, trying to speed her into a response before she could ask any more questions.
‘Well, my editor wants me to. You know. Doing what I’m told really.’
‘Sure.’
‘Odd business though.’
‘I’m sorry Mr…?
Silence. She continued regardless. ’I’m sorry, I don’t want to be rude as I’m sure you’re just doing your job but the company has released a short press statement regarding this matter. I can refer your enquiry to Mr Griffin if you’d rather but I’m not in a position to say anything further.’
‘Of course, of course. No need to trouble Mr Griffin. I wonder though if you could pop something in the post for me? Some sort of company brochure? Corporate literature?’
‘I should think that would be OK. Can I get your name and address then?’ Sarah tried a different approach, still suspicious. Something was odd.
‘And perhaps a copy of the press release?’
‘Statement. Of course. Your name and address?’
‘Well let’s see. I work from home a lot so may as well send it there - second thought, where are you based exactly?’
Sarah told him.
‘Right. That’s not too far away actually. Why don’t I just drop in there and pick it up?’
She paused for a moment before answering, intrigued. She didn’t believe the story he was telling. Sarah felt that she had a good antennae for liars and all the pauses and the umms and ahhs and the well-nows that gave people away we re too obvious in the reporter’s voice. He was definitely being evasive.
‘That should be fine. Just pop into reception and ask for me. My name is Sarah Knowles. And you are?’
‘ Owen, ’ said the voice. ‘Michaels.’
‘Sorry? Owen Michaels?’
‘Right.’
‘OK. When would you be planning to drop by Mr Michaels? It’s just that I was due to finish shortly…’
‘Oh I see. Well, maybe half an hour, an hour.’
She didn’t answer for a minute and considered leaving an envelope on
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