Free Finder's Fee by Alton Gansky

knees felt weak, and her stomach flopped like a fish on a wood dock.
    â€œAre you okay?” Marlin reentered the office through the same door he had fled a few seconds before.
    â€œI … think so. I feel a little funny. Maybe I should see a doctor.”
    â€œOf course, of course. Was that Judith on the phone?”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œFocus, girl. Was that Judith on the phone?”
    Terri wondered how long the jail sentence was for stabbing an obnoxious clown with a letter opener. For a few seconds, Terri was ready to pay the price. “Yes.”
    â€œWhat did she say?”
    â€œNothing. Well, nothing I could hear.” She looked at the pieces of the phone on her desk. “How can a phone fracture like that?”
    â€œI don’t know. Are you sure she didn’t say anything?”
    Terri reached for the letter opener with her undamaged right hand, took it, then used it to push the phone’s receiver toward Marlin. “Here. Why don’t you call her yourself?”
    Marlin looked at the phone. “No, thanks.”
    Terri put down the letter opener and opened her handbag. She removed a compact and popped it open, using the mirror to look at her ear. Other than a slight reddening, it seemed fine. Returning the compact, she examined her hand. The red mark was already fading and would probably be gone by the time she could be seen by a doctor at any urgent care.
    She looked at Marlin.
    Marlin looked at her.
    Finally, Terri spoke. “We should do something. I’m calling the police.”
    â€œFor a technical failure?”
    â€œTechnical failure? Look, I’m a little too rattled to play good-employee-bad-boss. So get as angry as you like, but this is not technical failure. When was the last time you heard of a phone zapping its user and blowing itself apart?”
    â€œIt didn’t really blow up. It just sort of fell to pieces.”
    â€œWith all due respect, Mr. Find, you didn’t stay around long enough to see what happened. It went off and you disappeared.”
    â€œA reflex action. You’d have done the same.”
    She moved into Judith’s office, Marlin close behind. “Call it what you will, it was abnormal. I’m calling the police.”
    â€œWe don’t need the negative publicity. I forbid you to call.”
    She stopped at Judith’s desk and looked at the phone. She hesitated. She looked up in time to see Marlin smile.
    â€œI see you’re coming around. Do not make that call.”
    â€œI’m not coming around.” She walked past him, through her office, and to the elevator. She punched the call button.
    â€œWhat are you doing?”
    â€œI think I’ll use the pay phone in the lobby. Whoever rigged my phone may have rigged Judith … Ms. Find’s.”
    Marlin seized her arm. It felt like a vise had closed on her flesh. She refused to wince or reveal any sign of pain.
    â€œLet go of me or the phone will not be the only thing lying in pieces up here.”
    â€œYou think I’m afraid of you?” He laughed.
    â€œCan you say assault and battery? If you fear bad press about the police investigating my phone, imagine what the press will do with a story about the senior VP of Find, Inc., abusing a female employee. It might even have an effect on stock prices. Who knows?”
    â€œYou wouldn’t do that.”
    â€œTry me.”
    The elevator arrived. Terri stared into the cold eyes of Marlin. He relented, releasing her. Without a word she stepped into the elevator and let its doors shut. The look on Marlin’s face chilled her.
    As the elevator descended, a wave of nausea rolled through her. She had never stood up to someone as rich and powerful as Marlin Find. In truth, she had parroted what she had seen Judith do a few times. Courage was not her strong suit.
    She thought of the phone.
    She thought of Judith’s call.
    Soon a blizzard of fear drove the nausea away.
    Terri