Doc's Place

© 2008, Michel Grover. All rights reserved.
Chapter 19 | Part 2
Monday, October 15, 1984

Walk back inside to find Lloyd, Soji and Sara sitting on stools around the kitchen counter, snacking and talking. Lloyd has on a long tee shirt and shorts. Sara is wearing gold silk shorts, cut loose and brief, and a matching sleeveless top'quite beguiling because it reveals glimpses of breast, butt and crotch with her every move. Her hair is loose now. Thick and dark, her hair falls to her shoulders. Sara has little if any fat on her. Pull up a stool and join them.

"So, what did you find out about this guy who jumped you?" asks Lloyd.

"Remember the fat guy wearing the Hawaiian shirt in the poker game?"

"Yeah," says Lloyd. "Glenn told me the guy's name is Skinny Jon. Said Jon took you for an easy mark but you took him to the cleaners." She turns to Sara and Soji. "Glenn is Director of Table Games at Doc's Place where Jill works. Glenn gave me a running commentary on the game while Jill won over ten grand in a couple hours tonight. Slick, she was."

"Skinny Jon sent that guy after me to get his money back," I say. "Don will follow up with Tony but I think this is over."

Sara says, "So Tony will be security operations chief. Lloyd's your assistant. Soji's your nurse and physical therapist until you recover. Don is a detective with the local police."

"And a friend." Throw an arm over Soji's shoulders. "Both these two are friends. They also do stand up comedy when they're in the mood."

"Only at your expense, boss," says Soji.

"And only when you deserve it," adds Lloyd.

"I see what you mean, Jill," says Sara with a smile.

Soji moves to the sink and washes his hands. "Please excuse me. I'm going to bed. Jill, in the morning?"

"I'll be there," I tell him.

Soji hugs Lloyd and Sara, says good night and walks down the hall.

"Physical therapy," I tell Sara. "Soji and I do it every morning and afternoon, except when I play hooky like I did today."

"Mind if I join you in the morning?" asks Sara. "I'm an early riser."

Lloyd and I exchange a glance. Lloyd says, "She doesn't mean early like six or seven, Sara. They start at four, so she and Soji are up by three-thirty. I don't know about you but to me, that's the middle of the goddamn night."

Sara laughs easily as Lloyd and I look at her. Sara's laugh is musical. The sight and sound evoke pleasure. "Ah, I like it here," she says. "I thought I was the only weird one."

"You're welcome to join us," I tell her.

Sara walks around the counter into the kitchen and begins returning food to containers and putting them in the refrigerator. Lloyd hops down to help. "Okay, now that we have the morning workout scheduled, what am I doing here, Jill?" asks Sara.

Watch her move. The woman is beautiful. She moves as if she hears music all about her. "Aren't you tired from your trip?"

She grins again, which transmits an electrical current down my spine and tickles my fancy enough to make me shift my seat. "Eric and I slept almost the entire trip. Fill me in tonight so I can hit the ground running tomorrow."

We clean up the kitchen, make tea and move to the floor in front of the fireplace. Kick off my jeans. Lloyd lights a fire and we huddle. See Sara glance at my wound but she says nothing.

Explain, "You're here to audit my business and personal finances, security, information systems, the works."

"Did recent events tip you to a problem?"

"I discovered this morning that two of my executives began an intimate relationship five weeks ago. They appear genuinely to have fallen in love. I have no reason to distrust either one but I want to know if they've missed something."

"Missed something."

"Yes, perhaps from glossing over details or inadvertently covering for each other."

"Any other recent behavior that seems, in retrospect, out of line?"

"Yes. How about I start at the beginning?" When she nods, I continue, "I established a foundation that sponsors small loans to women so they can set up a business of their own and become independent. Lloyd will help run this foundation as president."

Sara glances at Lloyd, who nods, listening. "Sounds like Aliversal," says Sara.

"You've heard of it?"

"Oh yes, but please continue."

"This morning, Lloyd mentions that some cultures would threaten these women."

"Or worse," interjects Sara.

"So I call Le and Mei, my two CEOs, about security. When we finish, they begin discussing Mei's idea to buy banks, then turn around and sell them. This plan will produce enough profit that I ask why she doesn't take the deal on her own as she has planned to do for some time."

"A couple questions," says Sara. When I nod, she asks, "Le and Mei, did they appear to be lesbians previously?"

"No."

"Do both come from restrictive, male-dominated cultures or backgrounds?"

"Yes. Why do you ask, Sara?"

"Bear with me for a moment. What are those backgrounds?"

Lloyd says, "Mei is Chinese in a household dominated by her father. Le comes from a Latter-Day Saint home."

"Mm, and are they loyal to you, Jill?"

"Intensely loyal."

"Fascinating. They sought and found refuge in one another's embrace, you see. These are powerful women, driven to succeed, yet they consult closely every day. To bring dominating males into such a close association would violate your trust and their loyalty to you, Jill."

"Hmm, so I have fostered an environment that enabled this situation."

"It may happen again." When she sees my frown, she adds, "Almost all the people whom you have gathered around you are female. They are confident and ambitious women who see independence and power in you, Jill. Your example inspires emulation and loyalty."

Look at Lloyd.

"Hey," she says, "Before I met you, Jill, I was ready to retire and tend grandchildren. Now I want to get a master's degree and help run a billion-dollar, worldwide foundation. And as for loyalty, I consider your interests to be my interests, boss."

Sara looks at me. "See what I mean? However, let's continue the narrative. What does Mei say when you ask why she doesn't take this opportunity to break out on her own?"

"Her parents told her that she is not ready yet. On top of that, when she did look for money to pursue the bank deal, she `woke up a dragon.' Asian gang boys approach her, demanding money to protect the restaurant that the family owns. They're coming back Wednesday night."

"Le probably encouraged Mei to seek your help with the Asian gang," says Lloyd.

Considering that, I nod and say, "So I hire Tony away from federal service to head up operational security. He handled my attempted assassination better than I could have handled it myself. He is decisive, relentless and one of the most ruthless men I've ever met."

Sara chuckles and glances at Lloyd, who smiles.

"What?"

Lloyd asks, "Remind you anyone, Jill?"

"Okay, he reminds me of me."

"Do you like him?" asks Sara.

"Not particularly. Tony's an opinionated smart-ass who questions everything."

"Again, you attract people like Tony, Jill," says Sara. "Even Soji gives you a ration whenever he feels like it. Everyone around you feels free to speak their mind and even dump on you if they feel like it. Do you know why?"

"I insist upon it."

Sara raises her hands in an exaggerated shrug that seems to say, `My point exactly.' She stands up, stretches and says, "Okay, I understand. I have one more question. If you have a business empire to run, why do you work for a dinky Reno casino?"

Standing slowly, I face her. "Why do you think I do?"

"Two reasons. First, you want to fit in somewhere not of your own making and second, you want to protect your anonymity."

As I stare at Sara, Lloyd chuckles. Glance at her and then back at Sara. "Not exactly how I would say it, but essentially, yes."

"I'm going to bed," says Sara. She hugs Lloyd and then me. "Good night. Jill, I'll see you and Soji at oh-dark-thirty."

After cleaning up, I lie in bed thinking about our conversation but not for long.

Pursue a mouse that runs around me to its hole. Catch it, wriggling in my teeth. When I bite it, I taste the blood and feel the hot little life extinguish.

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Doc's Place Chat
© 2008, Michel Grover.
Chapter 19 | Part 2
Spring 2010

Lucia :
Mic has posted in the left frame paragraphs from Doc's Place, one of his copyrighted stories. I'm moderating chat here in the right frame. I post every day, but I don't post everything. I have formed a secondary group from which I may also post comments.

Marcus :
Does anyone besides me consider it risky that Jill is about to offer a complete stranger the CEO position in her corporation?

Jules :
It works out eventually, doesn't it, Marcus?

Benny :

Besides, Ume used SIA to perform the executive search, selection process and background checks—all before Jill even met Sara.

Maria :
Don't forget that Jill makes a call to Ume in dp17:2 before proceeding with the hire. Ume has a chance to stop or slow the process if she feels it necessary. In fact, Ume probably leaves the decision to Jill because she trusts Jill's instincts even more than Jill trusts Ume's SIA team to perform thorough search, selection and background checks. As far as I know, Jill has been 100% at selecting people who can (a) turn a profit, (b) show loyalty and (c) stay in the position for his or her entire working life.

Benny :
Those are 3 excellent points, Maria. Do you mind sharing how you arrived at those gems?

Doug :
Christ, Benny, who cares?

Benny :
Shut up, Doug. Please tell us, Maria.

Maria :

Don't worry, Doug. This is the first request I've ever received from Benny to describe my thought process. I won't delude myself into thinking I'm getting smarter.

I simply remembered the call to Ume, Benny. Once I looked it up and re-read it, I realized Ume could have warned Jill off if she had wanted to, so she must trust Jill's instincts. That led me to the next point. When I first typed it, I was about to click send when I realized that Jill's instincts—the 3rd point—have been perfect, so I paused to edit my 2nd point. As I re-read my entire submission for grammar and spelling errors, I realized that the perfection of Jill's instinctive executive selections had measurement criteria, so I listed them, re-read my submission and clicked send.

Benny :
I've had the same experiences, Maria. Often, when I check the accuracy of my memory or my grammar and spelling, I either change or add something. Personally, I don't believe you are just lucky in this instance. Your thoroughness paid off, and I recommend that you use the process you just described more often. In fact, we would all do well to learn from Maria's example, especially you, Doug and Snuze.

Suze :
Why are you criticizing me, Benny? I didn't submit anything.

Benny :
Yes, but when you do, you usually rely upon others to remember things, probably because you're fat and lazy.

Suze :
Damn it, Benny, I've been nice to you all month.

Alice :
This is probably Benny's way of asking all of us to check our submissions for accuracy in memory and in grammar and spelling. Just out of interest, Lucia, of those who submit the most often, whose submissions must you correct for inaccuracies most often?

Lucia :
Doug, Suze and Stephanie

Alice :
My pet theory is that pretty people like Doug and Stephanie become lazy because they depend upon those of us who are plain or even trolls to enable their behavior by checking their accuracy for them. I don't know if you truly are fat, Suze, but my other pet theory is that fat people are lazy for the same reason. For some reason, modern society enables laziness in pretty and fat people. Again, this is not fact but my unsubstantiated theory.

Les :
I happen to have the same two pet theories, Alice, and have had them almost all my life. This brings up 2 people I consider exceptions to the general rule that society enables laziness in pretty people. Look at Lupita, of whom I have seen photos, and Sara, of whom I have only read descriptions. Both are pretty, yet neither is lazy.

Lupita :
Thank you on behalf of Sara and myself, Les, for the veiled compliment. Add KMark's wife Lara to that list of pretty people who are not lazy. Lara is not only energetic, she's one of the most effective and yet relaxed people you'll ever meet. I've spent time with her, and Lara is anything but lazy.

Raj :

Back to Benny's reminder, I hope that all of us will edit our submissions for accuracy.

Mic takes up almost this entire part following Sara's query into the reasons Jill hired her for this audit. Both women do a fair job of getting to the reasons that Jill hired her. However, I believe that Sara's series of questions and comments reveals her ulterior motive behind the subtle nudges she gives the conversation's direction.

Sara is preparing to ask Jill for a job with a unique and specific list of benefits. Look closely at Sara's questions and comments. She isn't asking about audit stuff; she's pretending to, and not all that well because she wants Jill to see through her words. I'll analyze a few to prove my point.

When Sara asks "a couple questions" about Lei and Mei, she's not asking about the audit. She's showing off her ability to summarize scattered data points, identify essential facts and teach Jill some things she obviously hadn't realized about her own people, organization and self.

Sara even uses Lloyd to duplicate her feat just to prove that the first one wasn't an accident. Once Lloyd makes Sara's point, Sara simply says, "See what I mean?" She does it a third time regarding Jill's hiring of Tony George. Once Jill confirms Sara's point, Sara doesn't say a word. She shrugs.

When Sara stands, stretches, and says she understands, she is simply saying that she has enough information to pop the question once she decides the timing is right, probably tomorrow. Even when Sara asks her final question, she knows that Jill will almost certainly ask Sara to answer it, which she does. She amazes Jill with the accuracy of her answer.

However, we should not suppose that Sara controls this situation. Sara may think she has Jill exactly where she wants her, but, in fact, Ume controls both women. The Ainu spider has spun her web with patience and skill. Perhaps Sara is entering willingly, but if she looks around, she will see that she is in Jill's house, under Jill's protection and she is starting to like it here. In fact, Jill and Ume have Sara exactly where they want her. She and Jill are about to capture another loyal, profitable executive for life.

Maria :
Wow, you and your Bengaluru group have outdone your selves this time. Not only have you dissected the discussion in this story part and wrapped it into a neat package, but also you have related it back to my point at the beginning of this chat. Nicely done, Raj.

Cyril :
Please accept my compliments as well, Raj. That piece of analysis is spot on. We won't have to wait long to find out if you're right, either. Confirmation will no doubt come within a couple parts or so.

Doug :
It's an average post at best, people. I'm not saying Raj's post sucks, nor am I saying that I have a specific complaint about it. I'm not even saying that I could do better, but it doesn't warrant this gushing praise from you two, Maria and Cyril. What's so great about it?

Cyril :

I disagree, of course. Your mewling criticism of Raj's post as mundane illustrates the ennui with which you view life, Doug. Obviously, you read the first couple of paragraphs, lost interest, glanced at the posts by Maria and me, and began typing your response. Without the analysis by Raj and his excellent Bengaluru group, we might have missed the nuance that Ume, the Ainu spider, has set up this confrontation over months of skillful manipulation precisely so she could snare and control Sara.

Raj's entire post sets up his final paragraph, which is both startling and prescient. Your comments, on the other hand, are predictable and boring. You could at least try to be droll, couldn't you? Return to your vapid and sterile life if you wish, Doug. I've finished with you.

Maria :
Ouch, but you deserved Cyril's zinger, Doug. You are rather predictable and boring.

Doug :
Yawn, can we move on to something interesting, please?

Bill Jr. :
If no one objects, I'd like to ask Marcus if the group has addressed his issue to his satisfaction.

Marcus :

Thank you for asking, Bill. I appreciate the consideration, my young friend. To answer, no, the group has not addressed my question. Jill does not know anything about Sara at this point, other than the fact that Ume has gathered some sketchy information about Sara. I'm not making light of your point, Benny, but you must admit that Ume has not been able to collect much solid information about Sara to this point.

Now, I readily admit that Jules and Maria also make substantial points. However, Jules, you must also admit that your point that Sara eventually proves to be successful does not pertain to Jill's decision because Sara's success occurs in the future. Maria, your point is probably the best in addressing my issue. On this late Monday evening of October 15, 1984, Jill has little to go on but instinct. However, as you say, Maria, Jill's instincts have been 100% correct as far as we know.

Taking all of these points into consideration, I ask again. Does anyone besides me consider it risky that Jill is about to offer a complete stranger the CEO position in her domestic corporation?

Bill Jr. :
Now that you have had the opportunity to develop your issue, Marcus, perhaps you'd like to respond to the substantial points that Raj made regarding who has the real advantage on this late Monday evening in October of 1984.

Marcus :

Please accept my apologies to both you and Raj, Bill. I had intended to address your point, Raj, but I forgot. Raj, I believe your discussion sets the stage, the milieu, if you will, for whatever is about to take place between Jill and Sara. Since Jill has just finished playing poker, I'll use that metaphor to develop this point.

Sara believes she holds a strong hand as the newcomer at the table. However, in support of Raj's point, Sara should have remembered the aphorism in poker: if you don't know who the mark is, you're the mark. Benny used this aphorism back in dpc18:3 to admit his own failure and embarrassment at identifying the mark and discovering too late that the mark was him.

Bill Jr. :

Well said, Marcus, and well developed. I would like to add that anyone—and I mean anyone on earth—who assumes to have evaluated Jill and Ume, and finds them either ill prepared or unable to handle a situation would do well to reconsider. I don't know the details of this encounter. In fact, I'm learning of the details as we read, just as all of you are.

However, I can tell all of you from personal experience that these two women working in tandem are not just formidable; they are utterly overwhelming, unstoppable and patient, but when they act, they are breathtakingly quick. Jill and Ume work with an economy of motion, effort and communication that is literally unbelievable. They not only read one another's minds; they read one another's intent based upon the flimsiest amount of information imaginable.

As prepared as Sara may believe she is, she is about to learn a lesson in profound humility. Jill and Ume have worked together as an effective team for almost four decades. During all those years, frankly, Jill and Ume have yet even to meet a significant challenge, let alone meet their match. Despite seeming under-informed and under-prepared, these two women have so much experience at precise timing and effective execution, that they seem lucky, when in fact, they are simply overwhelmingly good.

Suze :
This love fest over Jill and Ume's formidability and 100% success rate at recruiting successful and loyal talent is cute, but get real, people. Jill and Ume are human, so we know they have made mistakes recruiting executives, don't we? We just don't know who those mistakes are. Perhaps Le can help us on this point.

Carlo :
I suppose one example is Harold Pineki, the director of IS at Chief Financial in 1984. You selected him, Le, but Ume approved his hire.

Le :
You suppose correctly, Carlo. However, in Ume's defense, when I reviewed my proposed hires with her, she asked me if I was sure about Harold. I defended his abilities for the current situation and the near future. She relented but she told me at the time that I would end up firing him. The lesson I learned from that experience was not only to listen to Ume's advice, but also to evaluate candidates based upon a variety of situations, not just the current one or the near term.

Maria :
Have we met executives whom Ume and Jill recruited but turned out to be a mistake?

Les :
That's easy to answer, Maria. Who was in the story in 1984 but now 26yrs later is no longer in Pere?

Le :
Les is right, Maria. Someone is in the story but no longer around, but I won't tell you who it is because this appears in the story.

Maria :
Does anyone have any ideas? Les? Benny?

Les :
Avani and I know, because we've studied Pere history, but we won't tell.

Benny :
Amalie, Lupita and I know for the same reason. In fact, we learned of both Harold Pineki and this other person from Ume. We won't tell either.

Doug :
Wow, we've never had this situation within this group before now. We have a clear delineation between those of you who know Pere history and those of us who do not. Cyril, Annie, do you already know?

Annie :
I don't.

Cyril :
I don't either.

Doug :
Alice?

Alice :
I am among those who know but I won't tell.

Doug :
I imagine Lizzie knows.

Lizzie :
Lizzie does know but Lizzie won't tell. However, I will say that you have enough information to figure out the executive's identity by the process of elimination.

Raj :
We in the Bangalore group do not know. However, we have been working with Amalie's on-line database of characters from the story, chatters in the 2 groups and so on. We have not only identified a list of executives hired by Jill and Ume who probably turned out to be mistakes, but we have identified the individual by the process of elimination, as Lizzie said. Her name is Julie Meese, the chair of Aliversal in 1984.

Maria :
Le, Lizzie, is Raj correct?

Le :
You tell us, girl.

Doug :
That's not the point, is it, Maria?

Maria :
No, I suppose it's not, Doug. We have just discovered that the individuals within our two groups are not on a level playing field. We are divided into `the haves' and `the have nots' when it comes to inside information and that makes my heart heavy. Is that what you mean, Doug?

Doug :
That's exactly what I mean. Obviously, those with inside information are manipulating those of us who do not.

Lupita :
Welcome to the world of Pere, people.

Les :

Not that it's any consolation, Doug and Maria, but many of us who have inside information have little or no influence—Avani and I, for example.

Alice :
Further, among those of us with influence, those who have the most influence severely limit and define the amount and scope of those who have the least.

Benny :
This is interesting. Most have no insider information, which means few do. Of the few who do, most have little or no influence, which means even fewer do. Of those few with substantial insider information and influence, those with unlimited amounts of both limit and define the amounts of the others. It's easy to deduce the two at the top of that pyramid.

Lupita :
Amalie and I do have unlimited access to information and influence, and that is growing by the day. In fact, the only limitations we know are those we place upon ourselves.

Maria :
Lupita, are you saying that the two of you are rapidly moving to take over control of Pere from Ume and Sara?

Lupita :
Oh no, I don't mean to say that at all, Maria. What I'm saying is that Amalie and I have already taken over. Both Ume and Sara essentially work for us now. We have substantially changed Pere's direction and velocity.

Benny :
Holy shit, I didn't know that. How long has this been going on?

Lupita :
Amalie and I have been running Pere for weeks, if not months. We're not sure at what precise hour we took control, but we know we did.

Alice :
Lizzie and Le, can you confirm this?

Le :
Oh yes, Lizzie and I, and the other executives as well, have become aware, especially over the past few weeks, that Pere has dramatically changed direction and accelerated toward those new directions. We still receive guidance and orders from Ume and Sara, but it's obvious that they don't run things any longer.

Jules :
How do you have time to run Pere, Lupita? Neither you nor Amalie have even graduated from high school yet, let alone started university.

Lupita :
Time? Running Pere doesn't take time or even effort, for that matter, Julesie. We have but to express our wishes to see the executives eagerly implement them. It's not as if we sit at desks staring at computer screens all day. Both Amalie and I are finishing our preparatory education in anticipation of attending university. We have active social and athletic lives.

Les :
Are you making Pere grow in revenue and profit?

Amalie :
Ha, you are truly funny, Les. As wise as you are, you just don't get it, do you? Avani wouldn't ask that question, would you, Avani?

Avani :
No, I wouldn't, because I know, and you should too, Les, that Ume and Sara are still in charge of such mundane matters as managing revenue and profit. Amalie, where are you taking humanity and how soon will we get there?

Suze :

Wait a moment, please. Are you telling us that you two teenaged girls—one brown and a virgin, and the other black and a lesbian—are changing the direction and velocity of all humanity as we speak? What have we done? What can we do to stop you?

Amalie :
Yes and nothing, my inert, white friend, yes and nothing.

Les :
I'm afraid to ask this, but I'll ask anyway. Will you answer Avani's question, Amalie?

Amalie :
No, I will not, Les. Just as the story will answer Maria's question about Jill and Ume's recruiting mistakes, unfolding events will reveal the future of the human race.

Les :
Well, perhaps someone will answer this question, then. Who will mind Pere's revenue and profit while you two teenaged girls play your silly games experimenting with the future of the human race?

Amalie :
I empathize with your impatience, Les, having demonstrated plenty of it myself. Ume and Sara, with the help of Le and Mei, have recruited and developed business executives who have assumed most of the control over Pere's revenue and profit under Sara's leadership. These women form the second generation of executives who will run Pere now that Ume has begun moving into retirement. As Lupita and I complete our education and gain experience over the next couple of decades, we will begin to take over as the third generation when Sara begins moving into retirement. Meanwhile, both Ume and Sara are in excellent health and should be around to advise us for decades.