The Girlflesh Institute (Nexus) Read Free Page A

wouldn’t it be better to use someone more experienced?’
    Sir Harvey shook his head. ‘I have a hunch this’ll need a different approach, a fresh angle. Maybe by somebody who doesn’t look like a reporter. It might mean undercover work and may be risky. Well?’
    Thrilled and excited, Vanessa took a deep breath. ‘I’ll do my best, Sir Harvey.’
    Sir Harvey favoured her with a craggy smile. ‘Good for you. Now, tell me what you know about the F. G. Shiller Company?’
    ‘Uh … well, Shiller Co. is based in London. It’s a successful medium-sized general management company with a range of service, technical and medical subsidiaries. That’s about it.’
    ‘That’ll do for a start,’ Sir Harvey said. ‘Your job is to find out all about them. I mean everything. Find out how they earn their last penny! I have my suspicions about what’s going at Shillers, something so shocking you’d hardly believe it possible …’ He frowned. ‘But I won’t say any more. You must go in absolutely unprejudiced, find out the truth for yourself and get cast-iron evidence to prove it! Start with their London office. You can have any resources you need to get the job done. Report directly to Enwright. Nobody else must know what you’re working on. Understand?’
    ‘Yes, Sir Harvey.’
    ‘Then get started, Vanessa. And good luck.’
    The conference screen went blank.
    The next week was spent on intensive research. Vanessa obtained copies of Shillers’ financial statements , business reports, corporate structure and even architectural plans of its London offices.
    The company appeared perfectly legitimate. Service sector interests were its most profitable division, and obviously provided the capital for additional investment in its other areas. It was efficiently run and was well thought of in the City, who regarded it as a safe investment. However, her enquiries did unearth a couple of curious facts.
    First, Shillers was very selective about hiring its staff, never using temping agencies or advertising in the usual papers. In fact it had an unusually low turnover of personnel for a company of its size. What induced such loyalty?
    Then there was the matter of the construction of its London offices, which occupied a modern tower block overlooking the Thames. Vanessa noticed that the entrance foyer, reception rooms and a few general office spaces on the landward side were separated from the bulk of the building by a comprehensive system of security doors, with key-card locks specified on the plans. It was well beyond what Vanessa would have considered normal for such a building. That section also had separate lift access to the tower’s two levels of underground car parking. Entry to the lowest of these levels was further restricted by a set of internal security gates.
    It was curious, but to find out more would mean somehow penetrating Shillers’ apparently loyal and close-knit structure from the outside. That would be risky, and such questioning might only alert the company. Winning an employee’s confidence by contriving an acquaintance could also take months.
    The next option was to get a job at Shillers and work from the inside. Considering its highly selective employment policy, that might come to nothing, but it was worth trying. With her paper’s help Vanessa created a glowing if semi-fictitious CV, and sent it off. While she was waiting for the response she surreptitiously reconnoitred Shiller Tower.
    For two weeks she photographed the building and anyone entering or leaving from every angle. Her attention was soon drawn to the traffic using the car-park entrance at the side of the building. Some vehicles were obviously employees’ cars while others were from office supply and service companies, which appeared about as often as might be expected. But there were also cars with tinted windows, small unmarked vans, 7.5 tonne lorries, even a horse transporter.
    Vanessa rented an empty office in a building almost