Treachery

Brad intended to steal from his employers, Pearson Securities. He
would go into work as usual today and would carry an old overnight bag
telling everyone he was going away on his own for the weekend to a
chess conference. He needed the flight bag to hold heaps and heaps of
money and valuables.

He'd planned it all so carefully with his girlfriend, Linda. They had
both worked for Pearson's for 20 years and were considered totally
dependable and honest by their employer. Who would suspect a rather
dull accountant and a frosty senior PA of scheming to steal from the
firm they were both supposed to be loyal to. After all, it was public
knowledge that Linda and he had taken an instant dislike to each other
when they first had joined the firm. They hadn't even tolerated each
other until a short time ago, both being so wrapped up in their own
lives and career hopes. As far as the rest of the work force was
concerned, they still hated each other, but they'd been living together
for the best part of six months.

Both were key holders for the strong room, which contained safety
deposit boxes for all their clients. Mr Pearson, the MD, had been heard
worrying about the legal ownership of the contents of the boxes. Some
of their clients were of dubious reputation. However, the service he
offered paid well, so he didn't want to insult his clients by
questioning them. Linda's key and his own were both required to open
the strong room. It had been Linda's plan in the first instance to
divert some of the assets.

'Think of all that valuable stuff just sitting there. It probably
doesn't belong to them anyway. Why shouldn't we have some instead of
slaving away for a pittance?'

Brad had wholeheartedly agreed, and they had hatched a plan with care
and precision. It was a good plan. Brad would make an excuse to return
to the building after hours to fetch his 'weekend bag' which he had
'forgotten.' The first night security guard would let him in, just at
the end of his shift. When the new man came on, he would assume that
Brad had left. That gave him six hours to open the vault with both
keys, clean out the safety deposit boxes, fill up his 'overnight bag'
with the most valuable loot, and slip out at the next changeover.

Tonight was the night. As planned, he went home to Linda and after
changing into casual (weekend) clothes he set off for Pearson's. Linda
was excited, practically jumping up and down at the thought of all the
money, which would soon be coming her way. She had packed only a few
essentials, as directed by Brad, and had her flight ticket to Mexico
ready in her hand. They said their goodbyes inside the flat. There must
be no drawing attention to themselves, no public display. Brad was calm
and reassuring as he patted the hand holding the tickets.

'Don't lose these. I'll see you tomorrow. Make sure you don't miss
your flight.
You can leave the travel information on Mexico here in the flat. Why
not let them know how clever we've been and where we've gone? Serves
them right.'

Linda laughed shrilly and tried to be calm too, but couldn't quite
manage it. Her voice was tense and tearful, and came out as a
shriek.

'Be careful, be careful, oh Brad, be careful.'

'You know what my father always said, the poor old sod. If you can't be
good, be careful.'

The irony was lost on Linda and he went out quickly.

Everything went according to plan. Much later, as he strolled along
with several million pounds in his 'overnight bag', Brad smiled. He
disposed of the two keys in the river. He got himself to the airport,
and when the flight to Rio de Janeiro was called, he made a phone call
to Margarita just to make sure that she was waiting for him. She
was.

'Be quick,' she said, in a throaty whisper that made Brad's heart beat
faster.

'Oh yes,' he said.