by Duncan More
“That may be true, Pete, but nevertheless you are an accomplice. You aided and abetted him. In the eyes of the law, you are just as guilty. That’s up to a jury to decide. If I were you, I’d get the smartest criminal lawyer you can find. Just sayin’. Never could figure out why a smart successful guy like you ever wanted to hang out with him.”
“Guess I admired him. Almost a pro. Always got the chicks, which meant I usually got to score too.”
“All that skill and look where it’s got him. Under arrest for arson. Already scheduled for trial for assault and battery. Now he’s probably facing five to ten in prison for the attempted arson. Just think if he had time to light it! With well over a hundred people in there tonight, if any of them would have died, you’d be facing murder counts. Let’s get you to the station. I don’t think you want to be there when they bring him in. For your safety, I will recommend that you get a different cell. He might still go off!”
Chapter Ten
It was late on Tuesday afternoon when Susan Forbes and Dillon finished giving their final report to Mr. Fredericks in his office. They were confident that the examiners would find no problems with the books. They had worked diligently for five days correcting all the errors and oversights. They had met with the bank’s attorney to get foreclosure notices sent out to those who were really delinquent and had copies of those notices properly filed away.
“I can’t thank you enough for the hard work you have done in the past week. Words seem to fail me, and any that I could find would never be sufficient enough to convey my gratitude. I will be sure that Mr. Holcomb is aware of your fine service and should reward you both financially.”
“Thank you, Mr. Fredericks,” Susan said. “I know I will appreciate it. I don’t know if I can say the same for Dillon here. He was just a temporary hire. Really knows his stuff. It’s just that we were a little shorthanded when you needed our firm’s services so fast. He was a godsend – no, actually he was a Eugene-send. He overheard your dilemma and had Dillon get in touch with us. I really enjoyed working with Dillon. I just don’t know if Mr. Holcomb plans to keep him on or just use his skill in emergencies. Well, we’ve got everything straightened out for you and should get back to the office. Call us whenever you need us. Have a good day, sir.”
“Before you go, one question. Were all the mistakes widespread throughout the mortgage and loan department or centered primarily on one person?”
“I hate to name names,” she said, “but most of them seemed to be centered on Stan Waters. Carelessness in keeping records up to date and mathematical errors.”
“Thank you again very much. I know I will get a good night’s sleep not worrying about the examiners.” He showed them out. On his way back to his office, he motioned Eugene to follow him. “Young man, it seems I am really in your debt. Miss Forbes just told me that you were responsible for having Dillon contact Holcomb just when we needed their services immediately. May I ask how you got to know him?”
“He was on his way from Maine to Baltimore for a job with Johns Hopkins. He stopped in Wayne’s Wild West Way Station for some food. He took their challenge to eat some sausages, drink a pitcher of beer and some tequila shots. He ended up in no condition to drive. I mean, I thought he was pretty sexy, but I would never take advantage of someone intoxicated, but I had to play Good Samaritan. I gave him a bed to sleep in. He turned down the job in Baltimore and decided to stop in and thank me for taking care of him. Well, one thing led to another and we did end up in bed together. It was sort of like Aladdin’s lamp. I let the genie out. He left in the morning but called me a little over a week later and said he wanted to come visit me. He liked what we did together and wanted more. Bottom line is we’re living together and he’s looking for a permanent job somewhere in the area.”
“I see. That sort of explains why you took your lunch breaks together. I just thought you were laying the groundwork for something. You had that look in your eye that I remember from when I was your age. He seems like a nice young man. I’m happy for you.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“Now, get back to work. It’s almost closing time.” Alone in his office, he thought for several minutes and then had Madge let Sam Waters know that he wished to see him.
In a few minutes there was a knock on his door. “Mr. Waters here to see you as requested.”
“Come in, Sam. Have a seat. As you know, this bank in order to succeed has to be creditable and reliable and financially accurate. The pair from Holcomb and Harrison just finished up their audit of your department and they found a plethora of errors which they just spent five days fixing. And they told me most of the errors were caused by you. You’ve been with this bank for what – twenty-five years?”
“Twenty-seven.”
“Have you thought about retiring?”
“Not really, sir.”
“Well, I would if I were you. I can’t let you continue making major errors. Effective tomorrow I’m assigning you to being a teller again or you can work in the credit card department, though not in charge. Or you can offer your resignation.”
“I really can’t afford to retire yet. I’ve got two kids still in college and my wife is only in the second year of remission. Still paying on all those medical bills.”
“Well then, teller or credit? I’m not an ogre. I appreciate all your years of service.”
“Credit. I don’t think I could stand on my feet all day as a teller.”
“We do have the drive-thru.”
“That would be all right, I guess.”
“Fine. See you tomorrow at ten and I’ll have Mrs. Snyder show you the ropes. Things have changed since you last did teller service. Everything computerized and automated, you know.”
“Thank you for not firing me, sir. I guess I really screwed up. My mind just hasn’t been on the job as much as it should have been – worrying about my wife’s health and all her bills and the kid’s college tuitions. This has been a real wake-up call for me. I promise you that starting tomorrow, you will have my A game.”
He closed the office door behind him as Mr. Fredericks began juggling work schedules to fit Sam Waters into the daily customer contact role without losing any of his regulars. He figured it out eventually by giving them all an extra thirty minutes for lunch, some starting an hour later some days and others getting to leave an hour earlier with no decrease in pay. Bankers are supposed to be ruthless people, but he had gathered a staff that was devoted to the success of his bank. If one compared him to the characters in “It’s a Wonderful Life,” he definitely was Harry Bailey and not Mr. Potter.
As usual, he was the last one to leave the bank, though time had slipped quickly past him. Madge was gone; most of the lights were off; the vault was locked; the building was secure. He was a little disappointed that he was alone, for he would have liked to talk to Eugene a little more about Dillon. The young man knew his business and perhaps he could lure him away from Holcomb and Harrison. There needed to be changes made in the Mortgage and Loan Department, and some fresh blood might be even better than just realigning people to replace Sam Waters. But this could wait a day or two. He had to study completely Susan Forbes and Dillon’s report that evening and prepare for the bank examiners the following day. He had to be ready to answer any questions that might arise. Then he had a brilliant idea. He called Holcomb and Harrison and said he would like to have Dillon available on the premises to answer any questions the examiners might raise. Working together, he could examine closely how well-versed Dillon really was with banking procedures. If he performed admirably, a job offer would be formally extended.
The boys had just begun to snuggle on the sofa to watch Jeopardy when Eugene’s phone jingled and a stranger’s voice was asking to speak to Mr. Evans. Eugene handed the phone to Dillon who listened carefully and agreed.
“Well! Is this the start of something new? Strange men calling you on my phone? I thought only your mother had my number. She’s got an awfully deep voice if
that was her.”
“No, you were right though. That was a strange man. Mr. Southard – the guy who didn’t want my accounting services until he found out I was a CPA. Anyway, he said he wished to change his statement of ‘Thank you for your services. Here’s your check. Don’t call us. We’ll call you again when we need somebody.’ Well, he called. Seems your Mr. Fredericks wants me present tomorrow when the examiners are there to answer any questions they may have.”
“You want to drive us to work tomorrow or do you want me to drive?”
“Do you think it’s wise that we show up in the same car?”
“Oh God, yes. Mr. Fredericks already knows we’re sleeping together. He called me in after you and Susan left, once he found out I had recommended that you go see Holcomb and Harrison. I think I’d better drive – keep my hands on the wheel and not massaging your crotch like I did coming back from Dyson’s pond.”
“Hey, did I complain? Not the slightest. Just like I wouldn’t if you started doing it right now.” Two nude sweaty bodies with throbbing erections soon left the confines of the sofa for the bed and some serious sex.
In the morning, for the first time they showered together with no foreplay. Eugene vetoed Dillon’s planned casual dress. “Wear a long-sleeved white shirt and a tie. Examiners are pretty much an older rather narrow-minded group of guys. You want to appear as conservative as they do. Too bad you don’t wear glasses. The nerdy look would impress them. You still got your pocket protector? Stuff a few pens in it. Sort of dress the part. Mr. Fredericks already knows your skills, even in the casual attire you’ve been working in.”
The examiners arrived shortly after nine and were huddled together with Dillon and Mr. Fredericks for nearly two hours going over facts and figures, while Eugene nervously waited on customers but kept his eye on the elevator door that led to the mortgage and loan department, wondering how things were proceeding there.
Mr. Parkinson, who was heading the team, had several questions about various accounts, and Dillon gave him the satisfactory answers he needed. Finally he gave his team’s summary of the situation that for the most part things appeared to be completely in order. “I do have one comment to make. It seems you’ve been letting some of your accounts be in delinquency rather long before taking action. I noticed that several notices of impending foreclosure were just mailed out within the last week. I do find that lapse a bit questionable.”
“There’s no need to question that,” Dillon immediately chimed in. “The Banking Code, as revised in 2011 – Chapter 6, Subsection C, paragraph 3, I believe – states that a bank has the option to initiate foreclosure action at its discretion, having knowledge of the individuals, the local economy, and whether such action might do harm to the community as a whole. While I don’t know the individuals personally, I’m sure that Mr. Fredericks will attest that that’s the view the board of directors took with each of those loans. Those letters for the most part were sent to our borrowers to prod them into getting them back on a regular repayment schedule. After all, a closed restaurant or other small business or factory puts townspeople out of work and is definitely not good for the economic well-being of the town. And the bank possessing a vacant building is not good, either. After all, gentlemen, you know how 2008 and 2009 affected all of America. And you will agree that this is your average small American town.”
“I guess you’re right,” Mr. Parkinson said. “I’m really not that up to date on those revisions. But if Mr. Fredericks can vouch for that reasoning, who am I to comment?” Mr. Fredericks nodded his agreement. “Well then, gentlemen, have a good day.” He picked up his pocket calculator and followed his peers to the door.
“The revised code of 2011. I’m not familiar with it.” Mr. Fredericks said to Dillon as they watched the examiners get in their car and depart. “Does it really say that?”
“If it doesn’t, it should.”
“So you lied?”
“I like to think I just added my interpretation of the code. It’s been two years since I studied it closely in college.”
“Seems you have twice saved my ass within a week. Do you think Eugene would object to my treating you to a nice lunch just to show my appreciation? I’m sure he has already told you that I’m not a lecherous old man who would use this as a ploy to get you into bed. You’re way too young for me, and my other half would kill me if I even tried. And I’m not one who would risk a 27-year relationship for a one-time roll in the hay.”
“Well, Eugene did tell me how you two met and there was no hint of sex even suggested. Just friendly conversation.”
“And that is all we would be having – friendly conversation. Getting to know people of your generation keeps me from really growing old. That will happen soon enough. Your car or mine?”
“Definitely yours. Eugene drove this morning.”
“I promise to have you back before the bank closes for the day. Give me five minutes.”
When they walked outside, Dillon had his first chauffeured ride.
A short while later they were dining at Granny Platt’s, a rather exclusive restaurant in Scranton, ordering items from an almost all-French cuisine menu. The entire restaurant emanated an atmosphere that Dillon had never before experienced, but being in Mr. Frederick’s company did not make him feel uneasy about the place.
“So tell me, how did a young man like you from Maine become such an expert in accounting?”
“I attended Husson University and majored in accounting and computer information systems. And I scored exceptionally high on my CPA exam the first time. I always enjoyed working with numbers but I wasn’t sure that I wanted to be stuck behind a desk working with them for 30 years. But working on your records for the last week was fun, a challenge and not really work. I found that I really enjoyed it.”
“So how did you ever manage to meet Eugene? I mean, you’re in Maine and he was here in Pennsylvania.”
“I was on my way to a job interview with Johns Hopkins in Baltimore and stopped here to get something to eat. I’m afraid I tried their food challenge and got drunk. Eugene played Good Samaritan. We ended up sharing the same bed that night. We didn’t have sex or anything. I actually was a near total virgin when I started my trip to Baltimore. It was the first time I had ever shared a bed with anyone and I sort of liked the feeling. I let more happen in the morning and really liked it. On the way back, I planned to stop in to thank him and maybe get a repeat. I did and we did. Then I drove back home to Maine, but my father didn’t like the news that I had slept with a man. He figuratively threw me out. That was fine, because I really wanted to come back. Eugene is really someone special. Kind, caring, compassionate. And I liked how he made me feel – also like I was someone special.”
“I can agree with you on that. Eugene is all those things. He is great with the customers. Always has something cheery to say to them. Now what about you? Is that job with Holcomb and Harrison permanent? Eugene led me to believe it was only temporary.”
“It was. Just yesterday I got the Thanks-for-helping-us-out – Don’t-call-us-we’ll-call-you speech. Then last night they called and said they needed me for today. So I don’t know exactly where I stand.”
“Exactly how thorough is your knowledge of banking laws?”
“As I said, I had one course in it two years ago. It dealt with the federal laws and Maine laws.”
“I see. How fast a study are you?”
“Pretty fast. Why?”
“Think if I gave you the books on Pennsylvania laws, you could become completely comfortable with them?”
“Yes.”
“What I’d like you to especially become familiar with are the regulations dealing with mortgage and loans.”
“I could do that.”
“Think you could manage on a $42,500 starting salary?”
“Definitely. That’s more than my father makes now after 25 years.”
“Good. You start working tomorrow morning. Stay home and study the books. Monday m
orning, you come in as manager of the mortgage and loan department. You are already familiar with the department. I’ve already transferred Stan Waters and I think a new head of the department will get the rest of the employees back on their toes. I have confidence in you.” He reached across the table and shook Dillon’s hand. “Welcome to the world of banking.”
“Thank you, sir.” Inside, Dillon’s emotions were running a mile a minute. In less than a week he had just been handed a job where he would be earning more than his father. He thought back to the line he had told his father – ‘I still want to get a job I like that pays well and I can make a lot of money. Same as I presume yours was.’ Now he had it, and his father be damned. “Look out, world! Here comes Dillon!” he thought to himself. His own phone, his own credit card, and a guy who made him happy.
“You like some coffee before we head back north? They have a demitasse here that will put curls in chest hair.”
“Would it be rude of me to pass?”
“No.”
“It’s just that I’m not much of a coffee aficionado. Kahlua maybe, but I don’t even like coffee ice cream, and you can’t get anything with less coffee and more cream and sugar.”
“No problem.” He signaled Maurice for the check, and they were quickly headed back to the bank so Dillon could get the books he needed to study. When they were in the car, Doug pressed a button and told Hernando, the driver, to call Marge. A few seconds later, he was instructing Marge to have Tillie in Human Resources draw up a contract for Dillon Evans with a salary of $42,500 as manager of the mortgage and loan department. “You sign it when we get back and everything is official. Don’t disappoint me.”