This is the first time I’ve used a false narrator. I have tried to put doubt into the readers’ minds about Katherine’s reliability. I would value constructive criticism about my efforts. Thank you.
Part One
Katherine only remembers three things about the accident, the terrible calamity that killed her parents, or so she started saying, ” each remembrance is like being branded by a hot poker scorching my soul like a disfiguring scar. They are terrifying nightmares that often penetrate my mind… I’m not sure which is worse…the nightmares or the sudden hellish daytime flashbacks.”
One time she said, or was it a friend of her’s visiting who told me, “It’s like bright lights are bothering my eyes and my vision becomes blurry, and everything seems to be whizzing about…all I see is streaks of action …it’s like watching Hanna Barbra’s Wile E. Coyote cartoon …at times, I really find it difficult to see…my eyes struggle to focus…things become just a blur.”
She remembered that they’d attended a masonic Lodge dinner and dance at the Belfry Hotel but leaving is a gap in her tormented mind. Katherine had an inkling, a faint memory, of her parents arguing vociferously; she could see her Penguin suited dad sitting holding the driver’s wheel; he kept moving his head sideways, scowling unpleasantly at Katherine’s mother with an evil, almost murderous glare.
Once she said,” Sometimes I remember the accident…the occasional snatches…I hear a crunching, a tearing sound of metal colliding upon metal, I feel my body flying, flying through the air, but the next instant, it all sounds and feeling vanish…and replaced by a frightening demonic montage of flashing blue and yellow lights mingled with the wail of horns and men shouting and I taste…bile on the back of my throat again and again and again.”
Look, health warning, you deserve to know that I’m not sure if what Katherine says is always true; I have my doubts. Her explanations are as changeable as the seasons; let’s just say she enjoys the attention; perhaps the white lies are some sort of mental aberration or compensation for her Parent’s death. But having got to know her well, I’ve come to the conclusion Katherine is a bit of a Diva.
Her stay in Hospital lasted many weeks; I know because my Boss, Blossom Merriweather, she’s the H.R. Director, asked me to, well, to be honest, it was more of an order. She intimated, but not in so many words, that ‘the powers that be ‘were grooming her for high office.
“ I feel haunted, “ Katherine said to me, “ I hear glass falling and shattering then a babble of voices, particularly one declaring in a sympathetic tone,” this will hurt, ” another utters, ‘”We need to put you on a stretcher …only we have to be careful …as you may have a serious spinal injury,” a third says in a rich Welsh accent,'” she’s lost a lot of blood”‘. Then, she paused, a frown of perplexing confusion rutted her brow the next moment, “I see someone wearing a mask. Then whoosh, he’s gone.”
“You know, “Katherine continued hesitantly, in gaps, gaps punctuated by her wheezing,” Sometimes I see a man in a white coat …I feel pain, terrible pain …I think he’s a doctor, whippet-thin with high cheekbones, worried-looking…he keeps on bellowing something or other he’s so loud it sounds like he’s in an echo chamber. The sight fades away then reappears sitting at my bedside …no, not sitting looming over me saying into my ear very softly, so soft I can only just about hear, ” I’m sorry, but both your mom and dad have passed away …they arrived dead on arrival …I’m sorry.”
Katherine remained in Hospital for the next six months, on occasion on the brink of death, experiencing a series of heart attacks, I thought she wouldn’t survive, but she did. Later she returned to work having, so the Medics said, recovered, physically perhaps, but not mentally.
Katherine told me she had a whole list of P.T.S.D. Symptoms, hearing voices, unstable hysterical trembling, blackouts, and migraine attacks. In these attacks, she sees a kaleidoscope of flashing coloured images and catches sounds of music in her mind, only, and it’s so sad, what she can hear is Mendelson’s funeral march. You can see by the look on her face she has long sleepless nights, feels depressed and oh-so responsible for her Parent’s demise.
I became Katherine’s P.A. when Blossom said to me, “Mary Malone…Could you keep an eye on Katherine? “
But at work, Katherine was no longer the happy, friendly Katherine as she was before. That Katherine was superseded by a sulky temperamental version. A woman who seemed seems lost in a nightmare world of her own.
Yes, she has a façade of superficial charm, a charm that hides the arrogance and callous attitude that’s bubbling up inside her just below the surface. I did tell Blossom, but she just pooh-poohed the idea, so I kept a watch on her so she ‘didn’t get herself, or others, into trouble.
Beep, an email pinged into Katherine Wise’s computer, and, with a sigh, began picking out strands of her hair, “Damn, damn, damn, “she grunted as her bright blue eyes scanned the screen for the fourth time, “He did what…the fool,” she waved a hand aggressively, “How interesting!” she burbled almost chirpily. Then she heard, in her head, the vicious argument between her Parents moments before the terrible crash. Katherine buried her face into her open-palmed hands as a feverish shivering shook her whole body.
Closing her eyes shut tight, she thought, ‘ this is the last thing I wanted to happen on my first day back at work after- ‘suddenly a revelation appeared in her eyes, she saw her father lying dead sprawled on the ground with his head crushed and covered in blood then it disappeared next instant. A numbness coursed through her body momentarily.
The next minute she put her hand to her chest, feeling her heart beating fast as she glanced around her office, so absorbed was Katherine that she’d failed to notice a large box wrapped up in pink ribbons, the gift tag read, “You owe me…you know I love me “.
Unwrapping it, she put a hand to her blurred eyes, shook her head, then saw it was a large yellow teddy bear.” Her stalker had struck again; she gulped and shivered as a cold rage kindled in the pit of her belly. The stalker had left a single rose on her doorstep every day for two weeks and once a pot plant of roses, with a message stating, ‘I’ll always be a part of your life.’ Obviously, the plant died; she didn’t water it once.
Delving through her Radley handbag, she unearthed her cigarettes and lit one up, enjoying the bitter taste at the back of her throat.
There was a knock on her door, a reminder from her P.A. of her forthcoming meeting. Katherine slipped on her shoes from under her desk; they were black and high heeled, showed off her legs; she felt good whatever the bitches said behind her back.
Katherine tensed as she picked up her phone and rang her P.A., telling her to dispose of the Teddy bear at once. A frosty feeling entered her soul. Shooting through her brain was the thought, ‘ Was it a waste ?…were all those years at Uni’ to be wasted on Staff restructuring, shorthand for redundancy… the culling of the inadequates, jobsworths, and inherited oddballs. Have I wasted my life…and my talents by firing bullets for Managers unable… or incapable of managing.’
“Bloody men,” she declared out loud and with feeling.
Mopping her shiny brow, she smiled, ‘The situation is grave, “ she said aloud, “ For Mr Terrence Mopp… Senior Facilities Manager, I ask you what did he think he was doing downloading porn… onto a Company computer…simply an act of suicide….the occupants of floors seven or even floor eight,’ the corridors of power’, will have a fit…when they hear about this…instant dismissal the inevitable outcome. “
Having said ’ the corridors of power’, Katherine’s face went red; she so wanted to be part of that elite …and occupy an office there. Nothing was going to stop her, and she’d walk over shards of glass to achieve this ambition.
Straightening her black suit, she groaned as she grabbed a copy of Croner’s employment law off her shelf, stuffing it under her arm. The legislation was the gun that fired the bullets, and Katherine merely pulled the trigger.
Nose flaring, Katherine exited her office without a backward glance and gasped, seeing the lift door open and abruptly close. The next minute her smartphone baaad, yes baad, it bleated like a sheep.
Giving it a cursory glance, a sense of dread crept up her spine, raising the hair on the back of her neck. Eyes pinched, “F-ing fudge, fudge, fudge…bollocks and peas, “she exclaimed before pocketing the phone; it was a text message from the stalker, a villain harassing her with gifts and lovelorn messages, whose identity was a puzzle.
Katherine had closed her social media account the previous evening when she saw it jam-packed with offensive messages and lewd pictures. With a sinking feeling, she felt as if a cold hand had grasped her and squeezed hard.
She looked up and through blurred vision saw the lights above the closed lift door flash on number five and then number six, quickly rifling through the Croner’s, Katherine strode towards the lift, it opened with a hush, she looked up to see a few bodies and nodding heads occupied it, mere minions, the babble of talk died at her entry.
Unexpectedly Katherine was barged aside by someone unseen; she staggered, and her shoe heel got caught in the floor gap and trapped tight; the heel snapped in two. It cracked, cracked, that’s how Katherine felt,” Bloody, bloody job,” she mouthed under her breath.
Her back slumped, knees buckled, and a tired feeling crept over her body; then Katherine took in a deep breath, saying to herself, ‘concentrate, concentrate,’ and willed her hand to stop shaking.
She opened her eyes and saw a slim young man wearing a smart grey pinstriped suit who apologised profusely. She looked at him squarely in the eyes unblinking; a deep crimson flush highlighted his face.
Katherine felt a curious and inexplicable uneasiness. Her cursory thin eyed glance was her first faint trace of irritation.
“I have an important meeting, “ she growled to everyone in a self-important tone, “Can you press floor seven, please.”
The slim young man brushed past Katherine and pushed the button; he half turned and nodded; Katherine blanked him out.
“That’s where I’m going too,” he replied, “I have a meeting with the Senior H.R. Manager and mister, err, Mr Terrence Mopp…there has been some terrible misunderstanding. “
“I’m the Senior H.R. Manager,” Katherine said crossly, “I didn’t know you were coming…no one told me.” Then, without warning, a picture of her dead father lying in the road crept into her mind, and she shuddered.
“Sorry, my phone battery died,” he said, ” I’m so sorry.”
Katherine gave him an annoyed stare and, mouth turned up a fraction of an inch, said, “Mmmm, I’m sure, ” with a disbelieving taint,” We can talk in the office.”
Katherine emerged from the lift at floor Eight, the ‘D’ suite, her face like thunder, with her broken high heels, peeking out of her black handbag. With Grace Kelly like poise, she walked a few steps ahead of the young man and then glanced back at him as he strolled along the blue and gold carpeted, blue and gold wall painted ‘corridor of power.’
The long passageway snaked left to right and left again in an ‘s’ ‘shape. Light sensitive ceiling lamps lit up and off as they passed, giving the impression they were entering a cavernous minotaur’s lair. Hidden speakers burbled gentle background music. Then abruptly, Verdi’s Requiem dramatically cut through the dark and intimidating funeral atmosphere. In that instant, Katherine was transported back to her Parent’s funeral; she turned cold, shivering imperceptibly.
Between various glass front windowed offices, upon the left wall hung ostentatious photographs of Directors past and present, displayed like garlanded statues of triumphant Roman senators on the Forum steps. On the right were conference room doors, each named after prominent Conservative Prime Ministers.
Stopping unexpectedly, Katherine opened a door; upon it was a brass gold engraved sign that read ‘Thatcher room,’ and entered and sat at the head of the table, the power seat. The table glowed a dark chocolate colour and was embossed with different veneers in designs of grapes and coiled ivy, dragons, clouds, crashing sea waves and, incongruously, winged angels.
There was a knock on the door; a red-haired woman’s head appeared, her curls flowing over her swan-like naked neck eying the occupants nervously.
“Mister Terrence Mopp and another gentleman are here to see you, Mam.’ Shall I show them in, “she said, blushing.
Without looking up, “Yes, please,” Katherine answered with a sigh. Mopp and a young man entered the room the next minute, passing the red-haired woman who shut the door behind her.
Katherine slumped back in her chair, crossed her arms across her chest, and turned to look up with wide eyes. Eyes that glared at Mopp then smiled warmly at the young man as he bounded across the room.
A few moments later, he sat in a chair beside Mopp. Katherine picked up the pencil as if ready to write something, gaped around the room lost in thought and put it down, folding her arms on the desk.
The young man leant back as if mimicking Katherine and squared his shoulders. “Good morning “, he responded with an ironic smile while studying her face. his blue eyes were shining with vigour, “My name is Trelawney Lummock of Lummock, Grabbitt and Runn…I am a qualified solicitor, and-“Trelawney put a well-manicured hand to his mouth and coughed, “I’m, err, mister Mopp’s legal representative, “he disclosed, “On behalf of the National Union of Facilities Management professionals, of which he the Chair.”
They swapped business cards before Katherine shook his hand and blushed as she felt a sensual tingle surge down her spine and travel across her legs; it felt nice; then she drew in a slow controlled breath as she squinted up at him with curiosity in her eyes.
The next moment, she gave a half shrug, looked away, then glanced back at him and felt a craving.
Lummock had an altar boy’s innocent cherubic face, which she found attractive. Nevertheless, she also felt almost embarrassed, as if she had been caught thinking about seducing her elder sister’s son – which Katherine had, and often.
Trelawney met her questioning glance with a twinkle in his eyes. He could see her ‘Cruella de Vil’ behaviour was just a charade, a protective wall that encased a beating seething longing heart. But, as young men do, he sensed she was a ripe, luscious fruit ready for picking. Their eyes met briefly, very briefly, and they shared a shy-ish smile; Trelawney felt their yearnings were mutual.
Dour, gaunt-faced, staring at the two men, Katherine said, in a stern tone, “I have a profoundly serious matter to discuss…the Head of I.T. has informed me of a severe breach of internet protocol contrary to the Companies policy. “Terrence stared at her, his expression a mix of stupefaction mingled with a surly sourness.
“What sort of breach,” asked Trelawney Lummock.
“The downloading of pornography onto a company device during company’s time.”
Terrence caught his breath and glared at her questioningly, perplexed; he looked down at the tabletop, deep in thought. The large clock on the wall rang loudly on the hour.
Gazing at her, he replied, “Unless there are mitigating factors, “Katherine continued, her eyes glittered coldly and vindictively, “It is subject to instant dismissal…at five-thirty pm yesterday …a sweep of the Companies I.T. traffic identified a misuse which seems to have come from Mister Mopp’s desk pc…have you anything to say.”
Suddenly her arm felt cold and then paralysed. Fear bubbled in her stomach like acid, then slowly grimacing eyes half-closed. She gently massaged it with a hand.
“I will answer all these questions on Terry’s behalf, “Trelawney started taking out his spectacles and putting them on, “At what time is the download supposed to have occurred.
“Five fifteen pm.”
“You know fire alarms were set off at five past five yesterday, Trelawney Lummock retorted, “And as Mister Mopp is the chief fire warden, he immediately left to ensure evacuation took place in accordance with the Companies health and safety practice and procedure. His job was to ensure everyone evacuated safely and assembled at the designated meeting point… you could say he counted them in and counted them out. “
Hearing those words, Katherine shuffled in her seat, then lifted her head and stared into Trelawney’s eyes.
Looking away,” Really,” she replied coolly without looking at him, sounding anything but convinced; a smile played across her lips.
“After the ‘all clear’ was given, “Trelawney continued in a pedantic, precise tone of voice, “He met with his fellow fire wardens for a debrief. He didn’t return to his desk until five fifty-five when entering his he found his P.C switched off. Which he thought odd as,” Trelawney shrugged, “Well as you no…it is company policy to leave all devices switched on when such emergency arises…so as not to delay a quick evacuation of the premises.”
He paused a moment, looked at the floor, and went on
“It is our view that it was some other person…or persons…who accessed his P.C. and performed this heinous act.” Trelawney looked solemnly at her and continued, “You have no evidence to say that Mister Mopp is the guilty party, and we have several witnesses who saw Terence acting in his capacity as fire Marshall away from his desk; at that time.”
Lifting her eyes with an expression of perplexity, Kathleen said, trying to make her voice calm and commanding, ” Take me through what happened from when the fire alarms rang,” her right eye ticked as she stared first at Trelawney, then Terrence with a bewildered expression.
“I will answer that question, Trelawney,” uttered Terence Mopp, clearing his throat with a loud cough, then commenced a long rambling monologue detailing all the actions that occurred at this event and the witnesses who could collaborate it. His eyes were fixed, peeking straight ahead; he didn’t look at Katherine or Trelawney.
Non-plussed, Katherine glowered up at him, struggling to decide her next move.
“Was there anyone in your office or beside your desk when you left to attend the emergency, “she asked.
“Yes,” Mopp replied, folding his arms together like a schoolboy in detention.
“Who?” asked Katherine, her cheeks creased, and the crow’s feet waved, then she looked away into the distance through now glazed eyes
Terry flushed and shuddered, replying, “Mister Hugo Clutterbuck.”
Looking back, “What the Managing Director,” Katherine whispered in a tone of astonishment.
Mopp hesitated, “Yes,” he said, setting his palms flat on the table.
Stooping down, Katherine laid a hand upon her twitching knee then looked up, “Why?” she said.
Seconds later, she bit her lip and glanced away and then back at Terry.
“To discuss my concerns, “answered Mopp, with a face torn in conflict, “To talk about project Phoenix. “
“Project Phoenix …concerns? What’s that all about…Terry. “
He looked at her, frowned, and shook his head,” I had been told you knew all about it.”
“But I know nothing about it, nothing at all, ” she responded with one hand hitting the tabletop with a heavy clout. The bang shuddered the table; pencils and pens were flung all across the tabletop ending up rolling onto the carpeted floor below.
Out of the blue, Katherine commenced humming a dirge.
“I was told you did, “Mopp replied with a look of incomprehension, then tilted her head quizzically.
Katherine rested back in her chair, fists clenched by their sides, and rolled her shoulders, glaring at Mopp.
Peering back intently at her, he responded, “But if you say you don’t …well I can’t tell you …you will have to ask him…I have worries bout’ what I found out…which I discussed with him and his assistant Carl.” His face twitched into a rueful smile.
Getting up, she leant forward google-eyed, “Carl,” Katherine retorted as she wandered over to the window then swivelled back to face them, saying, “Aren’t the Pidgeon’s a lovely colour.”
Having uttered that peculiar remark, she strolled back and sat down in her chair, “Can you, “she said, “Do you hear a radio playing? …how rude “. She giggled twice, then raised a hand in mock apology.
Aghast, Terrance stared at Katherine and his brow puckered with confusion.
“Yes, yes. Carl, Carl Futtle,” he answered, frowning.
“They came into my office, ” he said, ” And I left them there when I was called away …to deal with the emergency… So, I asked Sam, my assistant, to see them out …they were still in my office when I left but had gone when I returned.” Katherine’s face lit up with surprise.
“That’s when you first noticed,” Katherine asked, “Your pc was switched off.”
“Yes.” scowled Mopp and looked away.
“And you, “Katherine responded, puffing out her cheeks letting out a long noisy breath, “Didn’t turn it off before you left? “
“No way,” muttered Terry, who looked troubled and hesitated a moment before answering, “…I wouldn’t…it’s against Company policy,” the wrinkles on his forehead deepened.
“You are sure, “responded Katherine drumming her fingers upon the table as if considering her next words. Next minute she balanced her elbows on the table, leaning down looking at her fingers with intent. Her fingertips shuffled up and down as if playing a flute, then looked up, gazing at the ceiling, whispering under her breathe almost silently, “You’re fired.”
“Of course, I am, Terrance countered anger in his tone.
Katherine’s face paled as she screwed up her eyes for a brief second, then, staring at them both, replied, “Okay…I need to investigate this further.”
Trelawney nodded sharply, “What’s going to happen in the meantime, “he asked.
Katherine stared at him in mute silence, seconds after she answered, “Nothing…let sleeping dogs lie …okay, “and gestured with her fingers and threw a swift glance at Mopp.
Trelawney shook his head incredulously, “That’s not all right, “he retorted, shaking his finger at her with an angry expression; he paused, letting his assertion sink in and shook his head again reprovingly, standing up, he motioned to Terence to depart.
His gaze roved over her face, “I will ring you tomorrow. We can discuss it further then,” Trelawney said with a grin as he rubbed the back of his neck and looked away; she looked up at him, surprised. Then, next moment Trelawney slammed the door to a close as he and Mopp started down the hall toward the lift.
In bewilderment, Katherine abruptly stood up for several painful seconds, her face white as a sheet, appearing as if she’d not the strength to scream out; then equally as abruptly, she sat back down on her seat, her fingers twitching to some unheard disordered beat.
“Oh God,” Katherine whined when the door closed, exhaling noisily; she gasped,” Oh, my bloody head hurts. “
Her brows puckered as tears began to fall slowly over her cheeks, as she buried her face into her open-palmed hands, head bent leaning down upon the table; then she cried out, ” Please no …not Project Phoenix.”
