Despite their protests, I cleaned up, and went back to work as they retreated to change into their suits before heading for the pool.
I got sufficiently wrapped up in what I was doing that I didn't notice the time until they came back in late afternoon. Surprised at the time, and pleased with how much progress I'd made, I offered to take us out to any place of their choosing for supper. They quickly decided on a fast-foot chicken place, and went into the bedroom to change – coming out in the shorts-and-halter outfits they'd first put on the day before. I looked at them, and Robyn firmly informed me "It's too hot to dress up any more. Besides, we just want to go through the drive-up window, and take it to the park, so we can sit in the shade." It was a plan that I couldn't argue with, really, so that's what we did – except that at the park, the girls gave a fair number of French fries to the squirrels and birds that congregated around us. Even after we'd finished our meal, it was pleasant to sit there and enjoy the scenery and weather.
Eventually, though, the heat started to get to us, and we elected to head back to my apartment to cool off.
We hadn't any more than gotten in the door when the phone rang – I quickly answered it, finding that it was Lucy. When they heard me use her name, the girls started to go into the bedroom.
"So, how did it go today?", I asked.
"Not so good. First thing this morning, I got our accountants together, and asked them to try an be a little friendlier with the people that they had to deal with; then I got the company's people together, and talked to them like we discussed last night. They took it well enough, but it didn't seem to make the slightest bit of difference – at lunch, the accountants told me that they were still having problems in every office. So I told about half of them to go ahead and start on the managers. When we left today, they told me that absolutely nothing had changed. As I asked, they were a little more descriptive in their reports, so then I had something I could use as 'ammunition' to take to my boss. I told him what we'd run into, and what I'd done and why. He said it sounded like I did exactly the right thing. Then I told him what I thought it meant, and said that if I was right, getting proof of it was more than I or the accountants could do. He understood that, and told me that he couldn't send any of our computer people because it would look like a conflict of interest if they found anything. I told him I'd thought of that, and wanted to hire a consultant for a couple of days, to see if there was anything to my suspicions. He had to talk to our client, and that he'd call me back in a few minutes. When he did, he told me that the client was*very* worried about the situation, and had okayed a consultant."
"So I take it you need me to give you some names, then?"
"No, actually, I told my boss that I knew someone that was very good with a computer, and could let us know if there was anything to our suspicions for a reasonable rate. Think you could spare two or three days of your schedule for say, five thousand bucks a day?"
It took me a second to realize that she was offering me the job, before I could respond, "I could make the time, and would, except for a couple of things."
"What are those?"
"Robyn and Sandra", I told her.
"Oh, pooh. Bring them. It's been a couple of days since I've seen them, and a change in scenery would probably do them some good."
"Fine – but with me gone, who'd be there for them if they needed something?"
"I'm sure that between me, my assistant, you, and the hotel staff, we can figure*something* out."
I could tell that she'd thought this through, and was determined to get help – preferably mine.
I finally told her "Okay, I'll do it – but for a flat rate of ten thousand. That way, there's no reason for me to milk the job, and if there's anything I can do to help, you'll get your answer that much sooner."
"Deal."
"Okay, let me make a couple of calls and see when I can catch a flight out there."
"Already done. You've got reservations for business class leaving at 8:30 tomorrow morning."
"Pretty sure of yourself, aren't you?"
She laughed, and said, "That's why they're gonna pay me the big bucks. Here's the flight info…", and went on to tell me the airline, flight number, and terminal, finishing by saying "I'll be there waiting for you when you get in. And*please*, make the girls wear decent clothes!", making me laugh.
"Hell, tell them yourself. I know they want to talk to you, but we had another talk last night, and they understand how important this is. I don't think they're going to give you any argument about flying out to see you."
She laughed, and said, "Okay, go ahead and put them on, Sandra first."
I put her on hold, and went in to tell Sandra that Lucy wanted to talk to her – and earning myself a confused look from Robyn. Sandra quickly went into the living room, and a couple minutes later, she swooped into the bedroom to tell Robyn "You mom needs to talk to you." Robyn got the message, so she thought, and quickly ran into the living room as Sandra started to laugh, telling me "Lucy told me what you and her did when she got her promotion, and said we should do it again." I laughed with her, and we'd barely stopped when we heard Robyn shriek her pleasure at the news, followed with a "Sandra, you are*so* in trouble!", getting us both going again. We went back into the living room, and when Robyn saw me, gestured that Lucy wanted to talk to me again. When I took the phone, Robyn got a mischievous look on her face, and started to chase Sandra back into the bedroom.
"Nice touch – she fell for it*again*.", I told Lucy.
She laughed, and said, "I heard. Somehow, I don't think the trouble Sandra is in is going to be anything she'll object to."
"I expect you're right. So what's next?"
"Next, I'm going to call Sandra's folks, and let them know what's going on. They were fine with the girls staying with you, but I don't want to leave them out of the loop on something like this."
"Good idea. And after that?"
"After that, I try to figure out where this is going, and with your help, how to fix it. Can you try to do the same, and we'll get together with my people and my boss after you get here, so that we're all working off the same page, okay?"
"Sure, be glad to. Uh, what makes me being a consultant official?"
"If you check your email, you should find a message saying that you've been hired by my company for up to three days at the flat rate of ten thousand dollars, for the purpose of determining if there are any irregularities in the computer system our client insisted these people use. The first day is the day*after* you fly out here, so you'll have three full days to see what's going on before you have to let us know what you think. If you can decide sooner, all the better."
"Do these people know who I am, and what I'm supposed to be doing?"
"Not yet. Tomorrow, I tell them that you're a computer security expert, there to make sure that their system is secure, as our client requested. If asked, the client will verify it. We're going to play it down, so that you don't seem as important as you really are."
"Sounds good. And what about the girls?"
"I've told them how long I expect them to be here, and that I expect them to behave, and why. They promised they would; but I'm counting on you to keep them reined in until you get here."
"You've got it. Okay, I'll get them started packing, and I'll make arrangements to get to the airport on time."