The Lost Swimmer Read Online Free Page A

I’m really worried what I’m doing to our baby. Ooh!’ A smile split her face. ‘He just kicked!’
    Josie thrust out a hand. ‘I can feel him, there’s another one!’
    â€˜Little bugger,’ chuckled Pam, her hand on her belly noticeably lifting as he kicked again. ‘I reckon he’s going to be a footballer like his granddad. Or a horse. I do really want to stay,’ she added, looking at me with pleading eyes. ‘I’m thinking of going to the union.’
    â€˜Priscilla says the next round won’t be voluntary,’ said Josie.
    I quickly read the letter, trying to quash my feelings of inadequacy. There it was in black and white: the threat of forced redundancies if not enough people took the voluntary packages. ‘Get the union to speak to me. We’ll coordinate our actions,’ I said.
    Pam nodded but I could see she didn’t mean it; she didn’t believe I’d be an asset.
    â€˜We’ll get through this,’ I said.
    â€¢Â Â â€¢Â Â â€¢
    Troubling irregularity found in accounts. Urgently need to meet.
    I sighed as I re-read the email from Alison Wishart, our School Administrator. Alison had been seconded across from Architecture after I became Head, at Priscilla’s insistence, the Dean claiming I lacked experience with money. To Priscilla’s annoyance, Alison and I had grown close and I relied on her when it came to budgets.
    Come straight over , I shot back, and she arrived minutes later in a luscious yellow dress with black stripes. She looked like a bee – and a rather angry one.
    â€˜There’s a very strange account that’s been opened in Athens,’ buzzed Alison as soon as she sat down. ‘Do you know anything about it?’
    â€˜No. Athens . . . why would we have an account there?’
    â€˜Well, that’s what anyone’s going to ask who looks at these books. And, Rebecca – it would appear that you’ve approved this account.’
    â€˜What’s it for? Why on earth would I have signed off on an Athens account? I can be a bit preoccupied when it comes to paperwork but surely I wouldn’t be that vague?’
    â€˜It’s like it’s written by a drunk. Sorry, not casting aspersions . . . but listen to this: “Account for food and wine and accommodation and wine/travels.” ’
    I quickly scanned the printouts. One was a bank statement in the name of Coastal University School of Classics and History with a very large deposit and multiple small withdrawals.
    â€˜Embezzlement is what it looks like.’ Alison peered over the rims of her fashionable glasses with a frosty stare. ‘I’m going to have to report this to Faculty straightaway. You can’t just go opening accounts overseas in the university’s name.’
    â€˜Oh God, Alison, can’t we get to the bottom of it here? That’s all Priscilla needs, ammunition against me that makes it look like I’m party to fraud – and hedonistic fraud at that. There must be an explanation. For a start, if someone was trying to hide that sort of thing they wouldn’t be so explicit, would they?’ I looked up, seeking her approval.
    Alison stiffened. ‘I don’t know, there’ve been a few irregularities I’ve picked up. This one’s just for a great deal more money. And Athens as the location is unacceptable.’
    â€˜Who’s accessed it?’
    â€˜It would appear to be Josie Sweeney.’
    â€˜But Josie has nothing to do with anything Greek.’
    â€˜That’s exactly what I thought,’ said Alison. ‘Whereas . . .’ She paused and her face bloomed. ‘Your work is generally based in Greece, isn’t it?’
    â€˜Oh, maybe I do understand . . .’ I said, as a thought occurred.
    Alison waited in tense silence as I shuffled through more of the paperwork.
    â€˜Pam Edwards