Conscious Revenge

by L. J. Greatrex

  I thought about it long and hard. The more I considered the possibility, the more animated I became. “Okay,” I said “the quicker we give the Wests what’s coming to them, the better.”

  “That’s the idea,” Paul said and began once more to check the security history, not showing the part that left me in meltdown but the part that would show us how the roulette tables were performing. He began laughing a deep and meaningful laughter. “Check this out,” he cried, “the Wests must have lost a packet. Looks like my program worked,” he said, “four wins, one loss has certainly given them something to think about without the shipping debacle,” he added.

  We were back checking the casino’s progress when Brandon West seemed to ask to be excused following the roar of the crowds as the table he had rigged became louder. He approached the croupier with a furtive look, what’s going on he seemed to ask just out of earshot of the man currently at the front of the winning table. “Turn it up,” Paul shouted, “I want to hear what he’s saying.”

  We sat spellbound by what was unfolding in front of our eyes. He turned just in time to observe the winner nod to his entourage. “He looks like some sort of Arab,” I said, “maybe some sort of prince.” We looked closer to see what looked like bodyguards standing all around his party.

  “Didn’t think princes gambled, but then what do I know?” Paul laughed.

  We watched as Brandon West moved closer to his man. He appeared to bang on the table, a red mist must have prompted Brandon’s next outburst. When he thought the people the Arab was with had moved to the cashier’s desk, he stared at the croupier and said, “This was not supposed to happen. Although not shouting, we could clearly hear he was livid.

  “Result!” I shouted. “How good are we?!”

  What Brandon didn’t see was a dark-skinned guy built like an all-in wrestler move closer to the Arab’s party. Though we couldn’t hear what was said the Arab moved swiftly to the door leading his ladies out of the casino.

  “He must have taken them for a tidy packet,” Paul said.

  “Brandon was almost purple,” I quipped. “Serves him right, that will teach him to try it on with my woman.”

  Little did we know what was about to unfold in the West’s camp. It was more like a film set as he began to return to Lorna and his family. Taking his brother to one side as he moved through the guests, what he said seemed to worry Phillip but he soon returned to Lorna. Brandon continued to greet his celebrity guests once more, pretending nothing had happened as he approached his family. Lorna turned and asked him, “Is anything wrong?”

  “No, lovely lady,” he replied.

  I wanted to ask Paul to turn the dammed thing off but if we were to learn how our plan was working, I had to steel myself and get on with the job.

  All of a sudden there was mayhem. Paul got closer to the screens. “Come over here!” he shouted. I had gone for a stiff drink to help get me through what I knew was going to be a long night, watching him fawning over Lorna was not an easy task. “Quick, you’ll miss the fun” he cried.

  “What’s up?” I asked.

  “I’m not sure, but there’s police everywhere in riot gear and suits all over the place,” he said, “looks like they’re rounding every one up.” Paul and I looked at each other.

  “The Arab,” I said, “he’s stuffed the bastards.”

  Paul laughed and began giving me a running commentary.

  “O.k., I shouted, I’m here.”

  “This is better than the Terminator,” Paul said, fixed to the screen like a kid in the movies

  “I sincerely hope so,” I quipped, trying to interpret some of the actions as the sound was mostly of the guests complaining about the way they were herded out of the room.

  Some of the guys were moved to one corner of the casino as police dogs sniffed the passing crowds. “This couldn’t be,” Paul laughed, “and we haven’t had to do a thing to get the ball rolling.”

  “Here’s to the Arab,” I said taking another gulp of whiskey, “looks like he has done the dirty work for us.”

  “Quick, take your program down. They mustn’t think the Wests were responsible for rigging the tables in the guests’ favour,” I said.

  “It won’t take long to put things back to how they were,” he replied and began to remove his data. “All done.”

  “Only just in time,” I laughed as the suits stepped forward to take charge of the roulette table that the Arab had been winning on. “If the Arab was winning, what was his problem?” I asked Paul.

  “It’s obvious,” Paul quipped, “the remark Brandon made to his croupier which we heard ‘this should not have happened’ made him realise that the tables were rigged in some way and he is obviously not a man to be messed with, whatever the outcome. Cheating is cheating whichever way you look at it, as far as rich men are concerned.”

  “He must be mega rich to take on the Wests,” I replied.

  “Well, we did,” Paul said, giving me a sideways look

  “Fair comment,” I joked. I wish we knew who he was I would like to shake his hand. “He’s got us off the hook. No phone call to the Revenue by us, then?” I queried laughing and emptying my glass at the same time.

  “All we need to do now is sit and watch as the dominoes fall with all their businesses. Looks like a job well done…”

  But as I said, “Don’t count your chickens,” before he could finish his sentence, I snatched up the phone to speak to Andy until I realised it was Saturday and he wouldn’t be at work, well not in the office anyway.

  “Best thing about this,” he said, “is the drug squad. It’s a plus we couldn’t have guessed.”

  “Twenty-five years for supplying, I hope. He’ll be too old to chat up my wife when he gets out,” I replied.

  “Knowing how the Wests work, a bribe followed by a hand slap may be more like it,” Paul said. “It depends on how influential the Arab is, his bribes may be bigger and better.”

  We sat glued to the monitor watching the coming and going of the various suits when their computer specialists arrived and began to dismantle the tables, there was some mumbling when the chap in charge handed the Police Chief something which he had placed in a plastic bag. “That will be the data receiving device they have used,” Paul said.

  “Got ya! Now the fun can begin,” I joked. When the fuss dies down, we will try to return to normal for a few days, at least. “It will be some time before we can check out the results of tonight and then the only way will be from the newspapers or TV,” I added.

  “I will go into work Monday and collect as many newspapers as I can on the way. I’m not sure how the papers here will report what will be worldwide news. We may need to go to Grand Cayman to get the most up-to-date info,” Paul said. He would have to show his face at work at some point soon, although he had achieved several new accounts working from here, they were expecting a monthly face-to-face report as to how he was making out. “My fictitious aunt will soon have to get well,” he said, “but as I have made good progress at G&F, they may give me a little more time before I have to go back.”

  I also had work to do, not only for Andy, but up at the house as it was getting close to finalising and the last stage payment I had agreed with Julia on behalf of the Worthington-Clays was now due to be made.

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Lorna

  What started as a lovely gesture by the nicest guy has just gone from bad to worse. At least the Chief of Police has finally allowed me to come home after I managed to convince him I was an innocent bystander and the call to Dad just clinched it. I am now in such a state one minute having a great time with a family I would have happily introduced to Mom and Dad, to being told they are next to mafia.

  I can’t believe I could be so gullible. The word is that they have fooled many people. I have no idea how I am going to explain it to the children, let alone Mom and Dad. I feel so betrayed, especially when he became so aggressive towards me asking, “What are you looking at?”
I was flabbergasted.

  I would need all of my resolve to get through this but l know Mom and Dad will be there for me, it was such a relief when Dad arrived I just fell into his arms and cried. I will have to be available for questioning so I gave Mom and Dad’s address as to where they can find me as I am going to take the children and stay with them for a while. I felt like a criminal trying to explain that I really had no idea what it was all about when the police arrived and lead Brandon and his family away. That was the first I was aware there was a problem. After tonight, I hope that is the last time I see him again.

  If this experience has taught me anything, it is how much I lost when William disappeared. It will be a long time before I go down the ‘another man’ route again if ever. I promised myself that the children would now be my life for the foreseeable future.

  I was very relieved to receive Paul’s e-mail asking if I was o.k. I’m not sure if he is aware of what has happened but I doubt it, looking after his aunt and working from home for G&F will be taking up most of his time. I can’t wait for his return although I am not looking forward to going over what has taken place since he last came home. I was also glad to get the e-mail from the office informing me that the Wests had decided to suspend the film for the time being and, due to the circumstances, the staff will be on full pay until further notice.

  At least this will give me an opportunity to get another job as there is no way I will be returning to the film studio. I am sad about that but I wouldn’t be able to take the inevitable flack I would get, I am not sure how I’ll be able to live down the fact that most of the people I have made friends with now know what has happened and must be thinking I was aware of the whole sorry situation.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Paul and I couldn’t help but revel in the fact that the Wests were getting their just deserts, as we observed the computer guys dismantling what they knew was a device deliberately set up to cheat the punters, followed closely by the fraud squad and what looked like revenue inspectors, was the icing on the cake. As we looked back though the security camera history a bit further to watch the sniffer dogs in action, Paul said, “This just can’t get any better.”

  “I hope they throw away the key,” I said, emptying another glass of the hard stuff.

  “If we can’t celebrate tonight, I don’t know when we can,” said Paul.

  This couldn’t happen to a nicer guy. My only concern is for Lorna, seeing her tonight was quite a shock. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to re-run the camera over and over again or shut it down right now. Paul must have sensed my dilemma and closed it down for the night. “You o.k.?” he said. The words wouldn’t form in my mouth so I said nothing.

  It didn’t take long before we were back working our magic. “It is time to deliver another spanner into their works,” Paul said.” I am ready to send the emails to their hotel review pages, the impact of those will be slower and we may not see the results just yet, if at all. That will depend on how long it takes for the bookings to stop, but stop they will, I can assure you after the almost slanderous comments I have dreamed up,” Paul quipped, “It can’t fail.”

  It was my turn now to check the inward bank transfers related to their shipping activities. The program was set up to prevent the money entering their bank account. Instead, I had set up a Swiss account in their name which would soon be receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars. This sting had been set up to coincide with the virus Paul had sent to the servers in the Finance Department. I was logged into the internet banking site set up to monitor how large the balance was at any given time. The money normally received every day into their shipping account would by now be substantial. The best part of this scam was that we had control of these sums and would soon be notifying the authorities of their fraud and have the Wests tucked safely away in prison.

  For the first time in days, I was hopeful that in some way or another I’d be able to contact Lorna in the not too distant future. “Don’t count your chickens before they hatch,” Paul warned. The problem with him saying that was Andy jumped into my head the minute eggs were mentioned, all thoughts of work had disappeared from my mind during the past days. I would have to buck up.

  “I must ring Andy and let him know how I am,” I said to Paul. Sometimes I wish he wasn’t such a great bloke as it wouldn’t bother me so much so much. I picked up the phone to dial his number, keeping one eye on the Swiss bank account. I had to look twice as the balance came onto the screen. I carefully put the phone back down without dialling the number. “Paul, have you got a minute?” I said not quite believing my eyes.

  He took one look. “How many zeros is that? I think I’m dreaming,” he laughed.

  If you’re not dreaming, then I need your help with the maths,” I quipped, printing it out may help to realise what’s involved.

  “Looks like in the few days the program has been running, we have taken not just hundreds of thousands of dollars, but it looks like millions,” he laughed. “A decision will have to be made as to when enough is enough and take the program down, leaving the State Revenue to do the rest.”

  “Music to my ears” I laughed.

  “We only have the tip off to the Revenue Services left to do,” I told him.

  “Hold on,” Paul said, “I think we should wait a while. I’m not sure, but there is a chance when the other investigations into the West’s dealings are done, they may just spread their net a little wider and discover the Swiss bank account without our help.”

  “If only,” I said, “but how will we know?”

  “That may be a problem as we removed the link from between the customers and the West’s real bank account so that legitimate money transfers are now moving correctly.”

  “Will we be able to use the internet banking site we set up to divert the transfers without the Revenue detecting our presence?” I asked.

  “There’s a chance” Paul replied. “I will take a look tomorrow to see if there is a way. We can’t risk the computer specialists picking up our movements, but I will do my best” he said.

  “I’ll put my money on you over them any day,” I joked.

  “It’s not my money I’m worried about, it’s spending time in prison that scares the pants off me” he laughed.

  Having made the decision to travel up to Grand Cayman over the following weekend to check out the newspapers, there would be a greater choice than the ones in the village as the only news of the event was ‘Shipping Moguls arrested on suspicion of fraud’ with very little content.

  “I think we should stop over at Walter’s. I could quiz him about what has happened as I’m sure the jungle drums will have reached him, especially with his involvement when he had the taxi service the Wests used for ferrying the clients to and from their hotels ‘for special services’.”

  “Sounds like a plan,” Paul replied. “The following weekend I will travel back to the office for my monthly report meeting.”

  “I can visit John Lattimar at the mansion to finalize plans for the remaining jobs that will need completing.” I must find time to go over the final stages of the conservation checks with Julia. She is in charge of appointments arranging for them to come up to the house to make sure all the work meets with their approval. I’m sure John has it all in hand but I will need a final certificate before they will give the go ahead to complete the inside.

  Following busy working days on the statistics for Andy, I would go into the news agents for copies of the local papers, hoping there would be some sort of reports regarding the outcome of the arrests. True to form, very little information was available, none which satisfied our curiosity anyway. This made the weekend seem a long way away. When we arrive in Cayman, we would have to visit the local library to get the run-down.

  “I have tried the internet,” Paul said, “but the news is sketchy and gives very little away.” You would think with the importance of the shipping and cruise liner business being in the area the reporters would be all over the West st
ory. Little did we know until later that a blanket of silence had been thrown over the whole event.

  “Someone of great influence must be behind it,” I later told Paul. We could have saved a journey, as the newspapers in Cayman didn’t reveal anything we didn’t already know except ‘Held without bail pending ongoing investigations’ and Major upheaval in the West’s camp’ was all we could discover, but ‘held without bail’ was all I wanted to know.

  Walter, however, was much more forthcoming and we were all ears. “There’s been some very bad stuff going down. It would be that the hotels where I used to take the fares you remember.” I was wondering what was coming next.

  “It’s like this,” he said, “some of the girls were underage and there’s an indictment for people trafficking being filed.” He sounded very worried. “I knew nothing about it but Rose and I are very worried. If it gets out about my association, I’ll be in trouble.”

  I tried to pacify Walter with words of support. “I’m sure,” I began, “they know the difference between Mr. Big and you, Walter, even if your waistline is a little bigger these days.”

  “Thank you, man,” Walter smiled, “when you put it like that, I’m not even a small cog in the wheels of the West’s machine. He smiled, leaving the room to explain my thinking to Rose. I was a little concerned if Walter was questioned, what he might reveal about a mystery man that came out of nowhere. I now began to wonder if the drunken man he took to the holiday cottage at the side of his B&B could have really been me, but drugged not drunk.