01:02 - Faint Memories

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Chapter 2

Grey steps forward towards the police cruiser, glancing inside, verifying no secondary officer sits in the passenger seat, then turns right and not after an additional two steps withdraws a Samsung J3 Galaxy phone from inside his jacket, where it had sat nestled in an inside Scottevest, vest pocket.

Pulling up the Contacts list on the phone, he continues walking while speed-dialing the Regional Manager for the branch. After two rings, a voice responds, "Hello." Grey quickly speaks, "This is Mr. Simon calling about the pre-authorized withdrawal. The work is semi-complete. However, upon my return to the branch, your branch manager seems to have forgotten himself."

The Regional Manager is almost heard to jump out of the phone, "What! He forgot! You and I - both - met with him before the event to discuss your contract and code phrases for the unscheduled event and return of yourself to the branch."

"What can I say? All went as - I - expected. I even lingered in the vicinity to witness both branch and police follow-up, before returning to the branch. After some forty-five minutes had passed, I returned, introduced myself - using the code phrase with a front end CSR who summoned the branch manager. We exchanged pleasantries and as I was about to return the money, his next remark left me doubting his ability to manage a crisis event. My best guess is he and the staff were all still in a state of shock, or there is another reason he didn't want to continue with the monies' return. My question to you now is, before I return into the branch - since there is a police officer back on the scene, likely to follow up some forgotten formality - is how do you want me to proceed? I would prefer to wait for the police to leave - myself - if I am to walk back into the branch and confront your branch manager on your behalf. Tell you what. While you think about it and likely call the branch manager, and I wait for the police to leave, I'll go wander about ."

"But under no circumstances are you to tell your branch manager that your own Liability and Investigations Risk Team, i.e. LIRT, contractor just robbed your bank branch and is returning. Just tell him Mr. Simon needs to speak with him privately. I'll wait for your call."

And, with that said, Grey pressed the disconnect button and replaced his smartphone back into his interior vest pocket, attempting to avoid rubbing his upper right arm against the bulge under his armpit. The bulge under the left side was easily avoided.

Walking slowly along with only a half rearward glance towards the cruiser, Grey's mind started to drift. How do I talk myself into these stupid contracts, he thought? It certainly wasn't for lack of money. Was it for the thrill, the sense of being or was it just a way of keeping his senses toned to the everyday challenge he might possibly face while ... "Curb!" his inner voice yelled, preventing him from stumbling.

Thinking back, it seemed like only yesterday: Grey Mane at 21 years of age, in college, technically very literate and top of his class, taking on any part-time job offered to help pay his way. Then, that one fateful day, when his superior in one job, a former police superintendent, suggested he had an alternative assignment for him aside from his regular ATM repair and security system evaluations, if he'd so like, for an entire summer. Yeah; that was then, and this is now. Thirty years later and look where it got me!

Grey, back across the parkade and now in a coffee shop where he purchased himself a large black coffee - two sugars, no cream - wiles away his time. The coffee would - bare minimum - help both warm and distract him while waiting for the return telephone call.

But he couldn't stop his meandering mind from thinking back to that first summer away. He had already accepted a full-time summer job elsewhere in a large metropolitan city. But he was told by the "super," as everyone called him, that the assignment would not intrude on the other job he had accepted. The super told Grey he would just meet two or three people first, and they would give him an orientation and subsequent job assignments. It would be easy money, apparently.

So, after first arrival in the "big city" and settling in, he took the subway into the city's core, and from the main station walked not far to an office whose address he had been given. He was told it was staffed 24/7 like the one out of which the super worked. Trying to open the lobby door to the building and finding it latched, he approached an intercom and buzzed the unit number on the card he'd been given - #517. A low resonating voice, with a hint of brogue, replied, "Yes?" To which Grey replied, in the rehearsed text he'd been told, "I've a card for #5-1-7. My name is Grey Mane and I'm here to meet someone."

No sound emanates from the intercom, except the unlatching of the door and the voice, official as possible, "Any Lobby elevator - fifth floor. Find the door."

Grey had been thinking at that time, at the back of his mind, "what the hell! Oh well, I've come this far. Keep going like the dog you are."

He was about half way through his coffee, his mind still drifting back, when his smartphone rang bringing him back to present day reality. "Yes?" It was the Regional Manager. "So, he's not expecting me but you've spoken with him. Fine! I'll return to the branch and have a discussion with your manager - Mr. Adams, isn't it. Confirmed. I shan't be long. Then, later we'll discuss the matter of follow-up for corrective measures."

With that complete, Grey disconnected the call, placed the phone on Call Forward and returned to the branch. The front desk customer service teller who upon noticing his entrance immediately telephoned Mr. Adams. It wasn't long before Mr. Adams was back at the front desk and then escorting "Mr. Simon" to his office.

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