|
A 17-page humorous mystery by Laurie Lamson Synopsis The woman who runs the Compliance Department of a broker/dealer and investment fund worries about the boss seducing her secretary. But it turns out her secretary can take care of herself - she's actually an undercover agent investigating the boss for white-collar crimes. Excerpt follows: I really liked Rosie, she did a great job and had a sweet disposition. Maybe too sweet for this place. They didn't call it the vulture fund for nothing. The traders are real predators with 'good old boy' attitudes towards the women. This was no place for an innocent girl. Stanley, the lawyer, is a portly man who walks like a duck but has a surprisingly handsome face with a playful smile. I could see Rosie enjoyed his company in the mornings when he would invariably tease her about finding a husband. "Eventually you will want to settle down," he was saying. It was hard to tell if he was dead serious or mock serious, and that always seemed to make Rosie laugh. "And you may as well marry a rich man as a poor one. Like Don Logan, for instance." I gagged on my cappuccino as Rose answered, looking rather coy, "Oh, I don't know if I'm his type." Rosie was too nice, too young to get mixed up with a guy like Don. I don't care if he makes 300K in a bad year with no one to spend it on but himself. "I've seen it a thousand times. When you're young you only care about romance," Stanley was saying. "I had secretary friends at my old job who argued with me all the time. But by the time they hit 29 they finally admitted they had wasted their time. It's true! Now they want rich men, every one them." Rosie was shaking her head, but listening. "It's true! 'Oh, Stanley,' they would say 'you were right all along.'" Rosie laughed. "Yeah, that's right! So listen to me, I'm just trying to help you save time." He gave her an encouraging pat on the back. "Look, Miriam is here, I have to get to work." "Think about what I said." He headed to his office. Rosie shook her head, still laughing. "Don't worry about me." "I do worry," Stanley called over his shoulder. "You deserve a rich guy." "I hope you're not taking him too seriously," I offered. "Nah." "Come in here I have some work for you." I lead her into my broom closet-cum-office where we sorted through paperwork for the State of Arizona. "Manny, my husband, is blue collar," I began. "A pipe fitter." She looked at me, mildly amused. Still I continued, "But I wouldn't trade him for anything. We have fun together, that's what's important." "That's romantic, Miriam. But maybe Stanley's right," she grinned mischievously. "It's just as easy to love a rich man as a poor one!" "Do you really think you could love Don Logan?" "Um, honestly, no. I don't." I'm sure she detected my relief, but I wasn't totally convinced. It was clear he had his eye on her, and the lure of his wealth, the gifts he could buy - they could be seductive for a young woman - even one as sharp as Rosie appeared to be. "Don't worry, I can handle myself." I had my doubts, but when she said that, she looked older and wiser than her years. Maybe she reminded me of my grown daughter, Diane. I guess I had developed a maternal feeling, because I couldn't help but worry. 
END EXCERPT |