on, Gene, let’s go look.”
A sense of trepidation stole over Judith as she watched her
cousin and Gene Jarman head for the basement. But she
herself had been alone with Gene earlier. Nothing alarming
had happened. Surely Renie was safe. The cousins had issued
their insurance policy.
Margo seemed to be studying Judith closely. “I’m not much
of a cook,” she said, still holding the suede bag. “Why me?
Why not your cousin? Or Nadia?”
“My cousin and I are getting a bit sick of each other’s
faces,” Judith said glibly. “As for Nadia, it seems to me that
she always gets stuck with the grunt work. Why not spread
it around?”
“Because I’m a vice president and Nadia’s not.” Abruptly,
Margo looked contrite. “Sorry. That was arrogant. In any
event, I don’t expect to be a vice president much longer.”
Judith was removing a dozen stuffed Cornish game hens
from the freezer. “Here,” she said to Margo as she placed the
frozen birds one by one on the counter. “You can unwrap
these and thaw them in the microwave. Dinner’s go-
ing to be a bit late.” She paused for just a fraction. “So you
still plan to quit?”
“You bet. Whatever’s going on in this company is too
gruesome for my tastes.” Margo finally put the suede bag
down, but kept it close at hand. “Besides, this scandal could
ruin OTIOSE. I don’t intend to stick around for the fallout.”
Judith shut the freezer. “You don’t think the company could
survive if the story gets out?”
Margo opened her mouth to give a quick reply, then hesitated. “I’m not sure. There have been other phone company
scandals over the years involving just about any sin you could
imagine. You wouldn’t believe some of the wild stories,
despite the pristine, even dull, cachet associated with the
phrase ‘phone company.’ But underneath, there were the
same rampant human emotions that exist in more flamboyant, glamorous corporations. Greed, ambition, sex —the
whole gamut. Once in awhile they played out in some highly
unusual—and ghastly—ways.”
Judith gave Margo a curious look. “I don’t ever recall
reading about such things in the paper.”
Margo’s expression was ironic. “You wouldn’t. That’s what
people like me get paid to do—cover it up. Oh, I’m not
saying that the old telecommunications industry was rife
with scandal, but given the millions of people who worked
in it during the glory years, there was plenty that had to be
swept under the corporate rug. Now, with divestiture, and
the sprouting up of new companies all over the place, you
have a whole new breed of so-called phone company people.
They’re smarter, tougher, and much more ruthless.” Margo
glanced at her suede bag. “This weekend proves my point.”
