So, yes, the call came, not unexpected as such but it set up negative echoes in the future weeks.
If you missed the last issue:
The Ozzy wanted me to do a temporary cover on a shop on the other side of the city, this in itself, due to travel distances, was going to be a challenge. It was also pointed out that this was a “problem shop”, recent stock audits had shown vast shortages and they wanted a fresh pair of eyes on it.
Hey ho, here we go!
The shop itself was quite small and contained in a section of an Edwardian building, with the manager’s living quarters and stockroom occupying the rest of the building.
On arrival, it became clear that the previous manager had departed, whether of his own accord or by being moved on due to the financial problem, which was less clear.
And the Assistant Manageress had taken the reins and seemed efficient and popular with the locals.
My game plan was to do spot checks on the till at varying times. When financial dips rear their ugly heads, there is always the possibility of manipulation of the cash register. Remember, these were the days when tills were a good deal less sophisticated than now.
A pattern soon appeared: the “overs and shorts” varied massively, and when you consider that you have experienced staff, the deviations don’t make sense. Of course, there will always be minor problems, but these were all significant.
I also noticed that the Assistant Manageress seemed cash-rich, had a lavish social life and spent significant amounts on new clothes. This in itself may seem a judgemental call, but wages in the news trade don’t generally run to lavishness.
After a week of noting the discrepancies, basically underpinning what the company already knew, I contacted the Ozzy and appraised him of the situation. To say he was disgruntled about my supposition was an understatement, he sang the praises of the Assistant Manageress and told me to “keep looking”.
So, another week passed, nothing really changed and the money continued to haemorrhage out of the business.
One evening, just as I was locking up for the day a car pulled up and 2 suited guys got out and approached me.
“Hi, we are from Tower Grange, we understand there is possibly a level of theft occurring here?” (Tower Grange was a local Police Station for that side of the City).
Acknowledging this, I expected them to want to sit and have a chat in the shop about my observations, and I thought perhaps Ozzy had contacted them to give them the heads-up after my recent communications with him.
“We need you to come down to the station and we can discuss it there”.
Hmmmm…well I guessed that was fair enough, away from prying eyes and ears.
And so, I locked up and went to meet them at Tower Grange.
Now, going into the interview room, I felt this was going to be a positive move towards nabbing the thief and returning to my own shop…
Good Cop…Bad Cop…
Yup, it turned out, that I had been implicated by the Assistant Manageress…which in itself was pretty weird given the losses were ongoing prior to me even being there!
The interview or more so interrogation, went pretty sour and very quickly.
“We believe that you are having an affair with the Assistant Manageress and she has stated that she has noticed you helping yourself to stock and money…”
To be honest, I laughed out loud…what B.S. was this?
Naturally, Bad Cop jumped on this and pressed further.
“I take it from your laughter you are finding this funny and also not denying it?”
“Look, I respect your job, but this is a fantasy story. No, I am not having an affair with her and no I have never stolen anything from the shop. The discrepancies at the shop were occurring well before I was asked to visit the shop and look into it” I kept my cool but I was, of course, seething at these accusations.
The questioning continued in a similar vein and I let them rattle on for a few more minutes.
“OK, just to clarify, I have no involvement with either her or any losses at the shop…I presume I am not under arrest and would now like to leave!”
“Ah…well…errm…yes, you are free to leave, but we may call you back for a further interview in the future.”
Totally shocked and shaken by this, I immediately stood and left, not really sure what was happening and how this had come about.
The Ozzy was unavailable on the phone at that time of evening so I couldn’t even bounce this off him and see what the hell he was playing at.
It was a long and slow bike ride home and the thoughts of “Did that really happen?” just kept swirling in my head.
Returning home at midnight meant I only had about 3 hours before my return journey to bring in the papers. My wife was already in bed and for me, there was no point in disturbing her so I grabbed an hour in a chair before setting off again.
The motivation to return to the shop that day was very scant although I wanted to both contact the Ozzy and also confront the Assistant Manageress in respect of the conversation with the Police.
Once the shop was opened for business, at around 0630, I knew she would be in at 0900, so not too long to wait and I could fit in a call to the Ozzy before that. As it happened the call with him also went very strangely.
I have to say, I started out ranting at him, I wasn’t bothered about his position in the company, I wanted to clear my name as such and get things sorted out.
He knew nothing about it.
He also said he would be over to the shop within the next couple of hours.
Strange…?
And next?
Well, the Assistant Manageress didn’t turn up for work…hmmmm
So, what happened next?
Cutting a long story a little shorter, it turned, through conversations with other staff and some locals, the Assistant Manageress was “serving” several local police officers after hours (read into that what you will). She was holding private parties in the vacant Managers accommodation above the shop and yes she was working the till to extract money for her entertainment funds.
She had implicated me, using her special relationship with the Police, to take the spotlight off of her. The detectives had been acting on a tip from the boys in blue!
Ha, the phrase “you couldn’t write this” comes to mind eh, but yes this was the reality of that incident. Within a week or so, the disappearing Assistant Manageress had been interviewed by the Police and charged with theft amounting to several thousand pounds. As for the special relationship Police Officers, we never heard any more on that…surprise?
This newsagency gig was starting to be a little too much especially for such a small financial return.
Time to secure new pastures I fancy…
Until Next Time
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