Ever Increasing Steele Part 21
The meeting with Ewan Turner's first wife was a lot more informative than they had anticipated, giving Laura a niggly little worry that it may have been too easy.
The first Mrs Turner could not have been more different in looks and personality to the current holder of the title and yet she had performed much of the same roles within the company. She had been in sole charge of keeping the books, of invoicing for services rendered and also for booking appointments as well as taking care of client needs and inquiries. In short she also had been worked like a slave and for very little reward or appreciation. About the only thing she didn't do, she had informed them was to mow the lawns herself, although Steele had no doubt she would have been able if she had the desire to do so.
"I did try to warn her." Ingrid Turner said blowing out a stream of smoke as she did so.
"If you don't mind", Mildred said nervously her eyes darting around from one to the other, "I need to warn you myself."
"Mildred..." Steele said certain he knew what was coming next.
"I mean no offence, honest...I'd just prefer you not smoke around Laura and the babies, that's all."
Ingrid Turner's eyes narrowed as she looked properly at Laura for the first time, "Fair enough request", she said stubbing out the cigarette, "my apologies, I'd normally ask first."
"No harm, no foul, eh." Steele said, "Now, who did you warn and what did you warn them about?"
"Sarah, the little fool. I told her what he was like but she seemed to think he'd be different with her."
"They always do, dear." Mildred said.
"And at least you gave it a go, eh." Steele said grinning.
"It might have been better I suppose not coming from me, she just assumed I was jealous but the thing was no-one else knew what he was like, he can be very charming when he wants to be you know."
"It's usually the way with con-men." Steele said earning himself a slight glare from Laura.
"So how did you prove that he was lying?" Laura said.
"I never did."
"What?" Mildred said horrified.
"You mean..."
"Yes, people to this day still think I skimmed from the business to increase my wardrobe."
"At least that's a good cause." Steele said, "Or would have been had you'd done it."
"So let me get this straight." Mildred said, "You were accused of embezzling but weren't charged?"
"Not quite, he's not that silly. Accusing me of that would open himself up to more scrutiny, oh no he'll not do that."
"He'll just accuse you of bad management that causes him to lose his company." Laura said.
"Bingo! And half of nothing is nothing, well it was when I was at school. Then amazingly after the split he sets up another business, one he doesn't have to share."
"Genius!" Steele said, before quickly adding, "And so wrong, absolutely immoral in fact."
"Yes, not right but I suppose not quite illegal either." Mildred said.
"Although it certainly does dance along a fine line between the two." Steele said.
"Do you think we could stop him from doing it this time?" Laura said, "Or at least reveal what he's doing."
"I hope so." Ingrid said.
"You do?" Laura said, "It probably wouldn't get back what you've lost."
"I don't really care about that, I've bounced back. Besides if he's stopped this time it will make me feel vindicated for what I went through."
"That's very magnanimous of you." Laura said beginning to warm to the woman.
"Oh I have nothing against Sarah, she's another of his victims, I do wish she heeded my warning though."
"She does seem to be blind to his faults." Mildred said.
"Blind with open eyes." Steele said frowning.
"What does that mean?" Ingrid Turner said.
"She knows what he's doing, or rather suspects what he's doing and yet is hoping we'll prove her wrong." Laura said.
"The question is", Steele said, "how do we prove he's lying and that she isn't the one cooking the books?"
"Good question." Ingrid said, "he's got proof that he sought help in trying to work out where the money was going."
"He's set this up rather well, hasn't he." Mildred said.
"Just think", Laura said, "if he put the same effort into running a valid business in the correct and usual manner he could probably do very well."
""Ha!" Ingrid said, "I often tried to tell him that but he was always looking out for short cuts and angles."
"And all he does is lawn and garden maintenance?" Steele said, "there are no other side lines to his business?"
Ingrid Turner hesitated for an infinitesimal moment but it was enough to make Steele wary, "Not that I know of." she finally said.
"Well let us know if you think of anything that could help, will you please?" Laura said.
"I will, and please can you let me know the outcome of all this?"
"We will." Laura said, "and thankyou for your help."
"I don't really feel I did much."
Laura smiled, she could almost hear the wheels whirring in Steele's head, "I'd say you did a lot more than you realise, Mrs Turner." she said.
"Oh I hope so."
Mildred grinned as she took Ingrid's arm to show her out, "So do we, honey", she said, "so do we."
The first Mrs Turner could not have been more different in looks and personality to the current holder of the title and yet she had performed much of the same roles within the company. She had been in sole charge of keeping the books, of invoicing for services rendered and also for booking appointments as well as taking care of client needs and inquiries. In short she also had been worked like a slave and for very little reward or appreciation. About the only thing she didn't do, she had informed them was to mow the lawns herself, although Steele had no doubt she would have been able if she had the desire to do so.
"I did try to warn her." Ingrid Turner said blowing out a stream of smoke as she did so.
"If you don't mind", Mildred said nervously her eyes darting around from one to the other, "I need to warn you myself."
"Mildred..." Steele said certain he knew what was coming next.
"I mean no offence, honest...I'd just prefer you not smoke around Laura and the babies, that's all."
Ingrid Turner's eyes narrowed as she looked properly at Laura for the first time, "Fair enough request", she said stubbing out the cigarette, "my apologies, I'd normally ask first."
"No harm, no foul, eh." Steele said, "Now, who did you warn and what did you warn them about?"
"Sarah, the little fool. I told her what he was like but she seemed to think he'd be different with her."
"They always do, dear." Mildred said.
"And at least you gave it a go, eh." Steele said grinning.
"It might have been better I suppose not coming from me, she just assumed I was jealous but the thing was no-one else knew what he was like, he can be very charming when he wants to be you know."
"It's usually the way with con-men." Steele said earning himself a slight glare from Laura.
"So how did you prove that he was lying?" Laura said.
"I never did."
"What?" Mildred said horrified.
"You mean..."
"Yes, people to this day still think I skimmed from the business to increase my wardrobe."
"At least that's a good cause." Steele said, "Or would have been had you'd done it."
"So let me get this straight." Mildred said, "You were accused of embezzling but weren't charged?"
"Not quite, he's not that silly. Accusing me of that would open himself up to more scrutiny, oh no he'll not do that."
"He'll just accuse you of bad management that causes him to lose his company." Laura said.
"Bingo! And half of nothing is nothing, well it was when I was at school. Then amazingly after the split he sets up another business, one he doesn't have to share."
"Genius!" Steele said, before quickly adding, "And so wrong, absolutely immoral in fact."
"Yes, not right but I suppose not quite illegal either." Mildred said.
"Although it certainly does dance along a fine line between the two." Steele said.
"Do you think we could stop him from doing it this time?" Laura said, "Or at least reveal what he's doing."
"I hope so." Ingrid said.
"You do?" Laura said, "It probably wouldn't get back what you've lost."
"I don't really care about that, I've bounced back. Besides if he's stopped this time it will make me feel vindicated for what I went through."
"That's very magnanimous of you." Laura said beginning to warm to the woman.
"Oh I have nothing against Sarah, she's another of his victims, I do wish she heeded my warning though."
"She does seem to be blind to his faults." Mildred said.
"Blind with open eyes." Steele said frowning.
"What does that mean?" Ingrid Turner said.
"She knows what he's doing, or rather suspects what he's doing and yet is hoping we'll prove her wrong." Laura said.
"The question is", Steele said, "how do we prove he's lying and that she isn't the one cooking the books?"
"Good question." Ingrid said, "he's got proof that he sought help in trying to work out where the money was going."
"He's set this up rather well, hasn't he." Mildred said.
"Just think", Laura said, "if he put the same effort into running a valid business in the correct and usual manner he could probably do very well."
""Ha!" Ingrid said, "I often tried to tell him that but he was always looking out for short cuts and angles."
"And all he does is lawn and garden maintenance?" Steele said, "there are no other side lines to his business?"
Ingrid Turner hesitated for an infinitesimal moment but it was enough to make Steele wary, "Not that I know of." she finally said.
"Well let us know if you think of anything that could help, will you please?" Laura said.
"I will, and please can you let me know the outcome of all this?"
"We will." Laura said, "and thankyou for your help."
"I don't really feel I did much."
Laura smiled, she could almost hear the wheels whirring in Steele's head, "I'd say you did a lot more than you realise, Mrs Turner." she said.
"Oh I hope so."
Mildred grinned as she took Ingrid's arm to show her out, "So do we, honey", she said, "so do we."