The bottom folder in the pile was unmarked. Lindsay opened it and pulled out a thick sheaf of expenses dockets. Almost all of them were JU forms, though the last few dozen were AMWU ones. Off the top of her head, Lindsay estimated there must be several hundred. A quick flick through the pile revealed they had all been stamped “paid.”

Lindsay sat back in the seat and began to go through the dockets more carefully. Soon, she began to discern a pattern. The earliest went back almost nine years. They covered a wide range of committee and executive meetings. What was fascinating was the signatures on more than three quarters of the dockets. In an assured, sprawling hand, they read “Laura Craig.”

Chapter 13

13

“If you think you’re entitled to loss of earnings expenses for attending conference, you should fill in Form FAD21A and return it to conference office no later than Wednesday morning. If you think you’re entitled to travelling expenses, you’re wrong. (see minutes of NEC meeting 2.3.92)”

from “Advice for New Delegates”, a Standing Orders Sub-Committee booklet.

Feeling slightly dazed, Lindsay walked back through to the outer office, where Sophie had also closed the blinds and switched on a desk lamp. “Find anything?” she said, with an air of preoccupation.

“I think so. I’m just not sure exactly what it is. How about you?” Lindsay asked, leaning over Sophie’s shoulder and peering at the screen.

“Nothing of any interest. Letters, balance sheets, confidential reports about restructuring. I suppose some of it must be controversial, but I can’t for the life of me imagine anyone killing Union Jack because he proposed halving the size of the Printing New Technology Steering Group,” she said drily.

“Is this machine a stand-alone or part of a network?” Lindsay asked.

“My God, Gordon, you’re not finally getting to grips with modern technology, are you? Where did you learn about things like networks? Have you been reading adult magazines again?”

“Very droll. I didn’t just ask for fun, you know,” Lindsay said huffily.

Sophie cast her eyes heavenwards. “So-rree. It’s part of a network.”

“Does it have committee minutes on it?” Lindsay asked.

“I don’t know. Let’s have a look.” Sophie left the file she was reading and made her way back to the main network menu.

Lindsay scanned the list and pointed to the seventh item. “That’ll do. Industrial Sector Councils. Can you get that for me?” Sophie hit a key and brought up a sub-menu. Lindsay consulted her dockets, then said, “Broadcasting Technology.” Sophie selected another key, and an array of dates appeared. “Okay. Let’s try 25.2.92.” Sophie moved the cursor over the date Lindsay had chosen and hit “enter.” On the screen, the minutes of the meeting appeared.