Taboo

Keywords: David, Molly, 05, Ch., and, Patrick:,

*Chapter 5: David and Molly*

"I would like to thank mscandy4 for her assistance in the editing and suggestions for this piece.

Please read the earlier chapters in order for this story to make sense. Feedback is always welcome!"

*

"I suppose you're all wondering why I called you here..."

David knew the line was corny, but he wanted everyone at ease. He wasn't sure if any or all were as nervous as he was. He knew that with the task that they were undertaking everyone needed to be at the top of their game. They would not have time to go back and second-guess their actions. They had to get it as close to 'right' as possible the first time.

"Yeah! It's time for the orgy!" Alicia piped up; referring to David and Molly's parting comments to George before they left the office.

That did bring a chuckle from everyone in the room. David admitted to himself, it was much funnier than his line. He smiled at Alicia and nodded his head.

"If I had known it was orgy time, I would have worn my black boxers. Why didn't you tell me Ingrid?"

"Oh hush, Will! You and I both know they're still in the laundry since the last orgy!"

This brought everyone a laugh. It was clear Ingrid had told Will about the encounter with George earlier in the day. It also included both Ingrid and Will in the camaraderie that had developed over the evening between David, Molly and their daughters.

"OK, for real. Thank you both for coming over this evening. Several things have transpired over the course of the day and evening that brought to light things that need to be accomplished right from the start. Ingrid, you are an integral part of that. Let me re-acquaint everyone. I realize you have all known each other for many years, but the roles each of us will play have changed. Ingrid of course is my secretary. She is more like my 'right hand' or 'deputy' and has been for the last twenty odd years. She will be our 'in-house' eyes, ears, and hands for the coming future. Molly will handle coordinating everything and will be keeping us in order and straight. She will in essence be running an office/command center here from the house. We do not have the luxury of duplicating efforts or missing important things. It seems my eldest daughter, Patricia is a power house CPA and will be crunching numbers. Mostly she will be working out of the house here. I probably have most of the paperwork that I need, in the papers already here. What I don't already have, Ingrid and Alicia will secure. Next is Alicia. Surprise, surprise, surprise... She has taken after her older brother and is the computer whiz kid of our little group. Will, I haven't forgotten you. You are our in-house expert when it comes to running the machines and what is needed to have them performing their best. In some ways, you will be the most important person since balancing what we need and what we have the ability to do will be the 'make or break' of this company."

"Thank you for your faith, David, but I beg to differ. I have been gone for over ten years. I doubt that I can contribute very much. I appreciate you including me, but it really isn't necessary. I'm just a cripple hanging on with Ingrid.'

"Will, shut up. That's not true and you know it."

"I agree with Ingrid, Will. Yes, you have been gone for a long time, but maybe not as long as you think in practical terms. According to what Tom has said and shown me, we have been marking time for at least the last six or so years. Things have not changed for the good in that time. Our technology is not up to date, so what we have to work with is pretty much what we had when you left. Tom will be a big help, but he has to go to work every day and try to keep us afloat. You, we have right here to pass on your knowledge. From what Ingrid tells me, you haven't been as stagnant as we have."

"OK, I guess. We'll see."

"Ingrid, did you really mean it when you said that you can do pretty much everything from home that you can do in the office?"

"Yes, David. I can do everything and access everything from home that I can at the office, short of getting non-computer hard copies."

"That will make our jobs a lot easier then."

"David, I have to go to work! For two reasons, I need my job and two... I can't keep an eye on things from home."

"I understand. I honestly doubt that you really need the job, but I want you at work. What I need is for you to allow Alicia access to your home computer. That way she can amass what we need and snoop for the things we have not been privy too."

"I understand. That would be simple. It's not a problem having Alicia at my place working on the computer. I sincerely doubt anyone knows I have that type of access. No one will be the wiser. Alicia can work without anyone being able to trace it directly to my terminal. Will can be there at least part of the time anyway."

"Good! Do I still have the authority to hire and fire, or has George usurped that as well?"

"As far as I know that hasn't changed. We haven't been doing much hiring for a while, so it really hasn't come up. That was your authority and I have seen nothing to change that."

"Fine. As of eight o'clock this evening we have hired Patricia, Alicia and Will as consultants over my signature. Don't advertise it, but complete all necessary paperwork and file it. Do you have a friend in personnel who can help expedite the hiring paperwork, without the 'powers that be' knowing?"


"Yes, I do. In fact, she dislikes Brian about as much as you dislike George. She will be happy to help. I'll add Molly, too."

"Don't you think that will be a bit much?"

'No, not really. We'll use her maiden name. She'll need the access if it comes up. You have never played the nepotism card and there is actually no rule against it. We have whole families working for us except for yours and a few others. If everyone signs the non-compete/non-disclosure contract, it will look like a regular hiring."

"Ok, I see that. Put everyone on salary commensurate with the department they will be under. Molly, as general office manager, Patricia as a CPA/auditor, Alicia as computer programmer/troubleshooter, Will as plant oversight. You know how to do that; work it out with your contact in personnel. How many people do we have working total? Can you get access to that information?"

"Right now around 100 in the plant. Twenty-five or thirty in the office. I don't know the exact number."

"Close enough. I'm going to need to 'meet' with all the plant workers first thing Monday morning. Do you think we can get away with that, or do we need to do it in small groups?'

"If we have a meeting early enough, in the plant somewhere, we can get away with it. We'll have to have everyone in about 6am."

"Start that in motion. Do not post it; just use word of mouth. Get with Tom, he can handle a lot of it. I do not want George, Tommy-Boy or any of their cronies knowing. If you or Tom knows of any spies on the floor, try your best to bypass them as well."

"Done!"

"Honey, you don't have to put us on salary! We're doing this for you, not the money."

"Yeah, Dad!"

"I'm with them. That's too much, David. I don't really need the money. I haven't worked in over a decade."

"We've talked about money already tonight, Dad."

"Listen to me. As long as I can control this, you are working for me! I don't know how long that will be, but you're not going to work for free. I may keep some of you on, if we pull this off. If we don't, it will be such a short time, it won't matter."

"OK" Chimed in Will, Molly, Patricia and Alicia in unison. David knew however, that he would hear about this later, after everyone had left.

"We also need to know whom we can trust in the other areas. I know Tommy-Boy must have someone in purchasing or accounting. I don't know where else."

"I have a good idea of whom and whom not. You're right about purchasing or accounting, but I believe both. I think sales is the only 'clean' area, that and maintenance."

"That figures. He has to cover up too much for one person to handle. Tom, of course, can handle maintenance. What about sales?"

"Gerald Smythers is as solid as they come. He has been fighting against Tommy-Boy and his cronies for so long, he'll jump at a chance to change things."

"I know Gerry, but can he keep his mouth shut? He always struck me as a bit of a braggart."

"I know him pretty well. A good bit of that is he playing a 'salesman's' part. He is old school; he was good friends with 'Old Man' Garver. I'll talk to him and impress the need for secrecy. He might have some good ideas."

"You handle that, as well as whom we need to have here Saturday morning. Not too many. A secret is best kept to the smallest number possible. Watch the secretarial/steno pool: We don't know who is under the influence of George and Tommy-Boy's secretaries, or any of the secretaries of their cronies. You might even have to come by here after work to give Molly a hand with the secretarial stuff. I know it's a lot of work for you, but I really don't want anything processing through the secretarial staff. Too many eyes and ears. Even if they don't report to Tommy-Boy, George, and company, too many rumors or questions will sink us before we get started."

"I agree. What else?'

"I'm at a stopping point or a blank spot. Let's take a quick break and sample some of the goodies Molly has laid out and visit a minute. Then we'll see if anything else pops to mind."

"Did you call Steve?"

"No, not yet. You're the only one I have called. Since you know him better, maybe you should call him. While we get along, we've never been close."

"Can I use your phone?"

"Go ahead...there's one in the kitchen and in the living room."

Everyone got up and took a small break. The girls and Molly headed for the kitchen and bathrooms. Ingrid went to the living room for her phone call. Will signaled for David to bend down.

"I appreciate what you are trying to do, but you really don't have to include me. You're right, Ingrid does not need to work.

Keywords: David, Molly, 05, Ch., and, Patrick:,