Read Online For the Sake of the Children: The first Chloe Webster thriller (Chloe Webster Thrillers Book 1) by Alex Highcliffe - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Alex Highcliffe
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well as I…’
‘Chloe, please, I’ve got a stack of calls to get through here. Talk to Ray, he’ll be able to put your mind at rest I’m sure.’
Talk to Ray, that’s all I ever hear.
She had no option but to leave his office and once outside she looked around for Ray, catching sight of him over the far side of the office where he was chatting to a secretary. As she approached she could see the secretary laughing and flicking her hair in what Chloe thought was a rather obvious manner.
Really? Ray Fuller?
‘Ray, can I have a word please? It’s urgent.’ Chloe wasn’t in the mood for pleasantries and gave Ray a look which left him in no doubt of that fact.
‘Sounds important,’ said Ray and pulled a face at the secretary as if he was in trouble. He looked back at Chloe but she had already marched off to the side of the office out of earshot of those working in the area. Ray strolled over as if he had all the time on the world.
‘Listen, Ray, I saw that client of yours this morning, Mr Crawford. I have to say, he gave me the creeps. But more importantly he tried to give me a bundle of cash - one hundred thousand pounds, according to him. Now as far as I’m concerned that screams money laundering and I’m not prepared to take that kind of risk with my career…’
‘So what have you done with the cash?’ interrupted Ray.
‘What do you mean, what have I done with the cash? I didn’t accept it of course. He took it away with him.’
‘He did what?’ Ray’s voice was louder than before, and he seemed agitated all of a sudden. His face turned noticeably pale.
‘He took it away with him. I refused to take it, in accordance with all the guidance, training and advice I’ve ever received on the issue.’
Ray loosened his collar as if he needed more air. ‘Mr Crawford’s an important client. He and his colleagues provide many thousands of pounds of work to the trust department downstairs. He’s involved with a lot of overseas business.’
‘I bet he is…’
‘Chloe, you’ve possibly just lost us one of our best clients. I suggest you go and get on with some work. I’ll give him a call and try to smooth things over.’
‘I’m amazed at how relaxed everyone seems to be with this. Are you not the slightest bit concerned by how he conducts his business?’
Ray broke eye contact with her for the first time. For a moment, he seemed lost for words.
‘Just leave it Chloe.’
‘But...’
‘I said, leave it.’ Again his voice was louder than it needed to be and several people looked up from desks nearby.
‘Well just don’t ask me to see him again.’
Chloe walked off back to her desk. She sat down and tried to put things out of her mind.
Leave it to Ray. Let him take responsibility, and the blame.
24
The ringtone from the mobile phone that the firm had provided was still unfamiliar to her, and it took a few seconds for Chloe to realise it was her phone that was ringing. She checked the screen - it was an external call displaying an unknown caller. Her heart skipped a beat as she pressed the green button and placed it to her ear.
‘Hello, Chloe Webster speaking.’ She knew she sounded less sure of herself than she would like.
‘Chloe, it’s Chelsie.’
She breathed a small sigh of relief.
‘Oh hello Chelsie, what can I do for you? Is everything okay?’
‘No it’s not. It couldn’t be much worse. They’ve only let him out.’
‘Who, Mark? When?’
‘This morning. Apparently the court granted bail and so he’s back at home. Can you believe that?’
‘Has he been in contact with you?’ Chloe grabbed a pen and started to make a note of their conversation for the file.
‘No, not yet. I won’t let him in if he comes round. Anyway, George is still at mum’s house. He doesn’t know that.’ Chelsie sounded scared, but also assertive and determined.
‘Okay. Thanks for letting me know Chelsie. I’ll give the local authority a
‘Chloe, please, I’ve got a stack of calls to get through here. Talk to Ray, he’ll be able to put your mind at rest I’m sure.’
Talk to Ray, that’s all I ever hear.
She had no option but to leave his office and once outside she looked around for Ray, catching sight of him over the far side of the office where he was chatting to a secretary. As she approached she could see the secretary laughing and flicking her hair in what Chloe thought was a rather obvious manner.
Really? Ray Fuller?
‘Ray, can I have a word please? It’s urgent.’ Chloe wasn’t in the mood for pleasantries and gave Ray a look which left him in no doubt of that fact.
‘Sounds important,’ said Ray and pulled a face at the secretary as if he was in trouble. He looked back at Chloe but she had already marched off to the side of the office out of earshot of those working in the area. Ray strolled over as if he had all the time on the world.
‘Listen, Ray, I saw that client of yours this morning, Mr Crawford. I have to say, he gave me the creeps. But more importantly he tried to give me a bundle of cash - one hundred thousand pounds, according to him. Now as far as I’m concerned that screams money laundering and I’m not prepared to take that kind of risk with my career…’
‘So what have you done with the cash?’ interrupted Ray.
‘What do you mean, what have I done with the cash? I didn’t accept it of course. He took it away with him.’
‘He did what?’ Ray’s voice was louder than before, and he seemed agitated all of a sudden. His face turned noticeably pale.
‘He took it away with him. I refused to take it, in accordance with all the guidance, training and advice I’ve ever received on the issue.’
Ray loosened his collar as if he needed more air. ‘Mr Crawford’s an important client. He and his colleagues provide many thousands of pounds of work to the trust department downstairs. He’s involved with a lot of overseas business.’
‘I bet he is…’
‘Chloe, you’ve possibly just lost us one of our best clients. I suggest you go and get on with some work. I’ll give him a call and try to smooth things over.’
‘I’m amazed at how relaxed everyone seems to be with this. Are you not the slightest bit concerned by how he conducts his business?’
Ray broke eye contact with her for the first time. For a moment, he seemed lost for words.
‘Just leave it Chloe.’
‘But...’
‘I said, leave it.’ Again his voice was louder than it needed to be and several people looked up from desks nearby.
‘Well just don’t ask me to see him again.’
Chloe walked off back to her desk. She sat down and tried to put things out of her mind.
Leave it to Ray. Let him take responsibility, and the blame.
24
The ringtone from the mobile phone that the firm had provided was still unfamiliar to her, and it took a few seconds for Chloe to realise it was her phone that was ringing. She checked the screen - it was an external call displaying an unknown caller. Her heart skipped a beat as she pressed the green button and placed it to her ear.
‘Hello, Chloe Webster speaking.’ She knew she sounded less sure of herself than she would like.
‘Chloe, it’s Chelsie.’
She breathed a small sigh of relief.
‘Oh hello Chelsie, what can I do for you? Is everything okay?’
‘No it’s not. It couldn’t be much worse. They’ve only let him out.’
‘Who, Mark? When?’
‘This morning. Apparently the court granted bail and so he’s back at home. Can you believe that?’
‘Has he been in contact with you?’ Chloe grabbed a pen and started to make a note of their conversation for the file.
‘No, not yet. I won’t let him in if he comes round. Anyway, George is still at mum’s house. He doesn’t know that.’ Chelsie sounded scared, but also assertive and determined.
‘Okay. Thanks for letting me know Chelsie. I’ll give the local authority a
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