A Servant of the Company by Alan Cooke Page A

called the agency on his mobile phone, using a company name from the list he had currently trading from the address staffed by Arif Rahman. Giving them the information they required, he left them to advertise, interview and pass the names of successful applicants to his company. It was all very straightforward. The fee asked by the agency was paid up front with a cheque, signed by another nonexistent Managing Director who would never know he had the title or a company with a bank account. Proposed copies of the advert were soon delivered to Rahman’s ‘company office’ and ultimately to him. He agreed the contents, rang the Agency and advised them that he would like one of his senior managers to attend the interviews once they were arranged, he would also like to see all applications before invitations to attend were sent out. The agency readily agreed, they had a good client here, one who paid first. Sometimes they had great difficulty in getting clients to pay their accounts, this must be one of the old school and should be well looked after.
    Once the advert appeared in the press, he cut out a copy from the newspaper, taking care to use rubber gloves while preparing anything he was posting. The next stage of his plan was to send the advert to ex-Corporal Henderson, the only attachment would be a piece of paper with the word APPLY written in red pen.
    It had not taken him long to find Henderson’s girlfriend’s address. The second car showroom he rang in the garrison town was the one he wanted. Saying he was an Open University tutor trying to find a student who had been passed on to his list, the girl answering the phone immediately gave him the information he needed, ‘That’s Anthea Stoddard, she’s not here today, but you will get her at home I think. Would you like her telephone number?’
    ‘That’s very good of you.’ His mind was racing. ‘I’d better have her address too I think, just to keep the records straight.’ Fortunately the girl had been taken in by his casual approach and confident manner, and gave him the address. Something she would never have done with the usual type of caller.
    He was in London the next morning and the letter would join the millions of others on the conveyor belts. Patting the post box, he said, ‘Mr. Henderson, Manchester needs you. Please apply soon.’ This would be a very special assignment, guaranteed to swell the coffers of a company being developed. It was fortunate that he could be mentally alert to all the comings and goings within the enterprises. There was some sorting out to be done in the Manchester area so that the ground was prepared before Henderson took over that patch.

CHAPTER SIX
    Anthea heard the post drop onto the mat in the hall. It was earlier than usual and by the thud there must be quite a batch. Sorting quickly through the letters, one pile for her, junk mail as usual, the smaller pile for Steve. Would there be any responses to the dozens of job applications he had made, she hoped so as she couldn’t bear to see him getting depressed over his lack of employment. He had been devastated by his dismissal from the Army and she knew he had a right to be angry. There was no way he would ever have got involved with drugs, someone had been very clever and left him without a chance of being cleared. She had never seen Corporal Jennings, but Steve must have upset him at some time because he had given evidence against him. Evidence which she knew was untrue, but could not prove. Taking the letters, she went up to the bedroom which she had given to Steve until he could eventually find work and a place of his own. Their relationship was that of very good friends. Steve had never tried to take advantage of her, and she respected him for that. Not that she would reject him if he ever did make the move.
    She knocked on his door half opening it. ‘Are you decent?’ She put her head on one side as she awaited a response. He wouldn’t be asleep at this time, he