Cashback

by Duncan James

  ***

  Robin Hood and his colleagues at Computer Solutions were working very hard. The company had expanded fast, with new staff taken on and new projects being developed, as well as the beginnings of work coming in from quite large companies who had problems with their computer networks. Most of these problems turned out to have been caused by members of staff, who either didn't fully understand how the system worked, or, who, in some cases, had let in viruses through using the Internet.

  In fact, Robin's little company had grown so fast, that it had already been split into two divisions, one dealing with computer maintenance and repair, and the other with the development of new products. A small admin and marketing section, led by Marian, served both parts of the company.

  Their most important project, the new banking cryptographic operating system, had been completed and registered in the company's name. Under Rupert's guidance, they had planned and rehearsed a presentation to demonstrate both the vulnerability of the old system, and the robustness of their new one. They were about to contact the Bank of England to try to arrange a presentation there, when Robin took a call from Jim Farlow.

  "I need to see you urgently," said Jim, who sounded quite upset.

  "Anything wrong?" asked Robin.

  "I'll tell you when we met," replied Jim. "Apart from anything else, I've got a CD that I must give you."

  Robin noted an urgency in Jim's voice. "When and where do you suggest?" he asked his friend.

  "What about that restaurant at the airport hotel where we met before?" suggested Jim.

  "OK. When?"

  "Lunch tomorrow?" asked Farlow.

  "See you there at 12.30," said Robin, and put the phone down with a worried look on his face.

  "What's up?" asked Marian.

  "That was Jim, in a bit of a state. He wants to get rid of our programme CD in a hurry. I'm meeting him for lunch at Heathrow tomorrow, as if I didn't have enough to do."

  "We haven't heard from him since he did one of the last three accounts on our list at the end of last week," Marian reminded him.

  "He said then that he wanted to do one more, but he didn't phone through any details for us," commented Robin. "I wonder what's happened."

  "It's a pity we can't meet Jim at the airport and then go straight on to meet Will in Nairobi, but that's all fixed for next week," said Marian.

  "We won't change our plans now, even if there was time," said Robin. "But suddenly we seem to have a lot to do all at once, and I really am keen to get on with marketing our new banking system. Hopefully, Rupert will have that fixed up by the time we get back from Kenya."

  "Hopefully, too, we shall be able to go back to Africa for a break some time soon," said Marian.

  Jim was already in the hotel restaurant when Robin arrived.

  "It's good of you to come over," said Jim. "Sorry about the short notice, but I just had to see you urgently."

  "Whatever's wrong?" asked Robin. "You look awful. Let's have a glass of wine and then we can talk without being interrupted, before we order lunch."

  Jim slipped the CD across the table as their drinks arrived. Robin quickly looked at it. It was, as he had suspected, 'Pay-back time' by The Tellers.

  "You've made good use of this," said Robin.?? "Thanks."

  "Rather better than you think, actually," said Jim.

  "What do you mean?"

  Jim paused.

  "I've been very foolish, and have let you down badly, I'm afraid," said a shamefaced Jim Farlow. "While I was accessing all the accounts you wanted, I couldn't resist creaming off a bit for myself, I'm afraid."

  "Jim, what are you saying," demanded Robin.

  "I've been using that programme to help myself to other people's money, I'm ashamed to admit," said Jim. "Not a lot, but that doesn't alter the fact that I was wrong to do it. It's in several special accounts I opened, and now I've been caught. I've been sacked from the bank, and I'm to be charged with fraud and theft and God knows what."

  Robin was speechless.

  "You don't need to worry about any part of your operation," Jim reassured him. "I've made sure that nothing can be traced to you, and now you have the programme disc, thank the Lord. It's a relief to get rid of it, I can tell you. Nobody will ever be able to find out how I did it now you have the disc."

  "But why," asked an incredulous Robin. "Why on earth did you do it, Jim?"

  "I've never had any money. Neither have my parents. My father was a bus driver until he died, and my mother works as a dinner lady," explained Jim. "It was a hell of a struggle for them to get me through university, which is why I hardly ever went out while I was there. But I wanted to reward them in some way - or at least, reward my mother now that dad's gone."

  "I could have helped, if only you'd said."

  "Kind of you, Robin, but I could never have brought myself to ask you for favours. And then you presented me with a perfect opportunity to help my parents, in the same way that you are helping other people in dire straights."

  "What happens now?" asked Robin.

  "I'm on Police bail," explained Jim quietly. "I shall plead guilty, and tell them where the money is, and where it came from, but not how I got it, of course. Except that I shan't tell them about quite all of it. I still want to be able to help my Mum while I'm inside - probably eight years, they think." Jim was damp-eyed.

  "We'll keep in touch, I promise," said Robin, quite at a loss. "And you must say if I can help - anything."

  Jim Farlow finished his glass of wine, and stood up, holding out his hand.

  "I hope you won't mind if I don't stop for lunch," he said. "Lost my appetite."

  The two friends shook hands, and Jim turned to leave.