Upon arrival at the store, Emma could see a small gathering huddled around the central table. At this time, 8 a.m. on a Monday morning - table talk was either gossip of the good variety: birth, marriage, promotion or the not-so-good: death or being fired. However, there was an-other category - “other”. Everything else fitted there. Emma felt it intuitively, also from the look of the sombre faces, this morning's news would be in the “other” category.
Bill was the first to greet her, “Top of the morning to you Emma,” he said with that velvety voice which everyone said was fit for radio.
He was always a gentleman and always wore a smile, however not this morning. The others chimed in with their greetings, but was it really a good morning.
Harry was eager to get Emma up to speed. He immediately gushed out,
“Patrick’s gone!”
“Really?”, said Emma in a calm, quizzical tone.
“Yes - he called Bill early this morning.”
Bill was the head of the sales unit in this exclusive gentlemen's store. At the moment though, the apprentice, Harry took the lead.
“Patrick said he could not continue in his position anymore. The stress was increasing and killing him. He sent his regards especially to you, Emma”.
Emma wanted to process this new information. She smiled and declared, “Before I can absorb any of this - I need my morning cuppa coffee.”
Before she stepped away, Harry asked, ”Emma, do you think it's because of the new computers and accounting system? Patrick was old-fashioned - maybe he didn't like it.”
“I have no idea,” responded Emma as she walked away to her station.
Everyone figured that Emma knew something but she was a lady of discretion. In this small men’s establishment, she was in-charge of the other cashier, administration, assisting Patrick with book-keeping and customer relations as needed with the owner, Jerome Rubens.
Patrick had a nice rapport with Emma but also Harry. He met him daily to sort out petty cash regarding local deliveries. Harry loved to hear the stories of Patrick’s life and his devotion to his family and faith in God. Harry would miss him but actually everyone would. Everyone liked the polite and altruistic nature of Patrick. However, Emma secretly knew that that day would come when Patrick would leave; now her conjecture was confirmed.
Patrick, a deeply religious man, was grateful to God for his position as the store’s accountant. Patrick had struggled to get a decent job for years. He knew that his salary was far above the median for his skills and role. Now he was able to afford luxuries for his home-making wife and 2 children. Patrick always said that God had blessed Jerome and Jerome was sharing his blessings.
So what happened?
One day, Jerome asked Patrick to increase the daily cash withdrawal by $2,000.00. A COD (cash on delivery) package would arrive late in the evening. Having extra cash was not unusual for tips etc. but CODs were somewhat rare but likely. Patrick often worked late - so he was accustomed to accepting late deliveries - hence it was no problem at all.
At the appointed time, a package was delivered by a fashionably dressed and well-spoken man. He was very friendly and clearly not from a delivery company. After a brief small talk - the man gave Patrick a small gift-wrapped package in exchange for the cash. The man said it should be handed to Jerome only. The gift was obviously not the usual store inventory.
The next day while handing over the package, Jerome told Patrick to allocate the cash to miscellaneous.
“Not a problem,” replied Patrick tactfully.
After all, Jerome was the boss and was allowed some discretions. Little did Patrick know that these miscellaneous discretions would become a weekly occurrence and that cash withdrawals would become a norm. What also became a norm was Patrick’s meetings with strangers. The meetings occurred at random locations throughout the city.
Patrick was very uncomfortable. Not only did he feel as though he was “fudging the books” but he didn't need to be a rocket scientist to realise that the content of the packages was of an illegal nature. The dress style of the characters handing them over and also the wrappings of the packages, began to diminish as well. As a result, Patrick planned a meeting with Jerome.
Jerome started the meeting by saying, “Apologies but I have to keep our meeting short. I wanted to tell you that you are doing an excellent job. I am happy that you are my right-hand man, you are supportive and discreet in every way.”
Jerome rose from his chair - pat Patrick on his shoulder and left for the day. The meeting was hijacked by Jerome’s charm - it left Patrick feeling de-masculated.
The following week, Patrick waited nervously in the lobby of an upscale hotel for a “delivery person”. This time he had twice the usual amount of cash with him. As he waited, he fell into a prayerful reverie; he begged for forgiveness from God. He had long realised that he was the middleman for Jerome’s drug habit but he felt trapped. His mobile phone rang and brought him back to reality. Plans were changed. Patrick needed to proceed to the park across from the hotel.
“This takes the cake!”, thought Patrick.
Nevertheless, he proceeded to the destination where all types of shady characters came and went. Patrick was anxious and agitated, frantically looking around when anyone approached. His heart was literally in his mouth. Most of the people hanging around were clearly junkies.
“What in heaven's name am I doing?” thought Patrick, “even a large salary isn’t worth this.”
After 15 minutes, no one arrived. It felt like forever. Patrick left.
The following morning, Jerome did not come to the store. Emma was instructed by Jerome to tell Patrick to meet the first well-dressed man at a nearby hotel. This time around the man was less friendly - there was no chit-chat. He handed Patrick a gift-wrapped package and quickly took his leave. Thereafter, Patrick left the "gift" with Jerome’s doorman in the chique part of the city.
Upon returning to the office, Emma asked Patrick whether all went well. Thereafter, she inquired about his health as she thought he seemed stressed. Patrick wanted to find out how much Emma knew, but instead he said he was fine. He tried to maintain his composure and pleasant countenance despite being jittery.
Patrick pondered, "I am not only the middleman but also the delivery man." He decided that he had done his last “run”.
That Friday at the end of the workday, Patrick visited Jerome at his home. Patrick told him that he could no longer be his middleman but Jerome tried to skirt around the issue. This time his charm did not work. Patrick was frustrated and quit on the spot. He did not linger. He said 3 important words,
"I quit. Goodbye!"
Thereafter, he departed immediately. He did not want to be sweet-talked by Jerome. He knew that he forfeited his vacation, his monthly salary etc. Patrick figured it was a small price to pay for his sanity and integrity.
The following Monday morning during Patrick's brief call to Bill - he relayed some of his experience whilst cautiously selecting his words. He asked Bill to be prudent and preferably not to share his story with the others in order to protect Jerome’s reputation. He blamed only himself. His only sorrow was not being able to say goodbye in person. It was best this way.
The photo is my own - taken with an iPhone
Based on a true story. However, if you identify characters who bear similarities to any living persons - please inform me.