ABSTRACT
Only last week the finance director was showing you a picture of his house. He called it a farmhouse, but it’s sixteenth century and has a moat round it. You thought you smelled alcohol on his breath and there was a film of sweat on his face.
You didn’t think much about it at the time. But he hasn’t been at his desk for a couple of days. And the bank has been phoning the CEO, which is unusual. Ken in accounts says the business has an overdraft the size of Alaska. That can’t be true because the organization has never been busier, the clients are upmarket and your quotes are never cheap.
The phone interrupts your thoughts. It’s the CEO. ‘Can you come to my office now?’ he says, without the usual pleasantries. You put on your jacket. The staff seem to be watching your face. There’s a sick feeling in your stomach.
