Chain of Vengeance: Chapter Six - Part Three

Anna Thorpe had half expected the call from her boss, Henry Masters, but now it had come she still felt nervous.

She walked to Masters’ office, smiling at the colleagues she passed on the way, knocked and entered. Masters was inside, putting a file away in a cabinet. “Oh good Anna; come in.” He walked back to his desk and sat down. Anna sat too, wondering whether to point out that the smell of pistachio nuts on his breath didn’t fully conceal the reek of brandy. Deciding not to, she crossed her legs and looked at him pleasantly.

“I wanted to start by thanking you for your help with the investigation of Sam’s activities over the past few years,” said Masters. “You’ve been very… thorough.”

“Thank you.”

Masters picked up a small model of a boat that his son had made and studied it. “It’s a nasty business. You know it was eight years he was working here.”

“Yes.”

“Eight years; and I counted him a pretty good friend for most of that time.”

Anna held her tongue. She had known five years earlier what kind of man Sam was but no one had believed her. It irked her that the truth had come out now and everyone felt so bad that Sam had fooled them all. 

“He clearly wasn’t the person I thought he was,” said Masters. “Five and a half million pounds taken from the company; and this talk that he may have murdered his sister.”

Anna leaned forward. “Why did you call me in here Henry?”

Masters set the boat down. “The police investigation is ongoing into Sam’s criminal activities. They are trying to find and arrest him. All well and good but they haven’t done so yet.”

“No they haven’t.”

“I’m under a lot of pressure from the shareholders, especially being under scrutiny from the audit review. I need to demonstrate that we are doing everything in our power to get this matter in hand and attempt to retrieve the money that Sam took.”

“You want me to find him for you,” said Anna.

“Given your history, I want you to work alongside the police to track him down. You know him a lot better than they do. I reckon you might think to look places that might not cross their minds.”

This was exactly what she’d expected. “Track him down. And what happens if I find him?”

“Then call in the police and let them apprehend him. Don’t confront him yourself whatever happens.”

Anna echoed the words. “Don’t confront him myself.”

Masters got to his feet, walked to the cupboard he hid his brandy in, touched the door then thought better of it. “Will you do it?”

Anna stood up. “Yes I will.”

“Do you think you’ll be able to find him?”

“I’ll do my best.”

Masters grinned. “Great! That’s wonderful!” He shook her hand. “You’re sure the history between you won’t get in the way?”

Anna turned to go. “Why would it?”

“You’ve investigated a lot of fraudulent insurance claims while you’ve worked here,” said Masters, “but you’ve never had to track down your own ex-husband.”