What Is The Meaning Of This?

What Is The Meaning Of This?

“What does this mean?” North Shore asked his secretary, waving a single sheet of paper at her.

“Just what it says, sir” she told him.

“This is gibberish. It might as well be hieroglyphics for all I can tell. Is your computer on the fritz or is it you?” Mr. Shore roared into her face.

“Please calm down sir, or you’ll make yourself ill,” his secretary said solicitously.

She watched impassively as he grabbed his chest and collapsed into his office chair. She dialed 911 and loosened his collar. When the EMTs arrived, she was holding his wrist.

“What happened?”

“He claimed he couldn’t read the letter I typed up for him. I felt sure he was ill, but he just kept getting more and more angry until he collapsed.”

“Let’s get him to the hospital. Does he have family, you might want to call them and send them to North Bay General.”

The secretary carefully lit the letter she had handed her boss on fire and watched it burn in his giant ashtray. Taking it to his private bathroom, she washed it down the sink then scrubbed it thoroughly. She returned to the office, and picked up the phone, using a hankie.

“May I speak to Abel Shore please? Mr. Abel, it worked. Your father is on his way to the hospital.

“Yes, sir. I did just as you asked. Any evidence there was is gone. About what we discussed...” she looked at the receiver in dismay when he had hung up.

She popped the tape out of the answering machine and put it in her purse. Then she grabbed it and coat, then left the building. As she was about to exit the parking lot, her car was surrounded by police cruisers.