Chapter 23

"Elizabeth, I'm sorry. This wasn't your fault. When you brought me that file of inconsistencies that you said you didn't understand, you were quite correct. Those inconsistencies were not your misunderstanding of the procurement system. As I read through, and then when I investigated more deeply, it was quickly clear that what appeared to you to be the case, in fact, was the case. Someone was, in effect, having the same goods and services charged for twice, and sometimes more than twice. It would have been discovered at some point with a physical inventory count, but that could have been months away, and in the meantime, you have saved the company a great deal of money."

Francis comes in with the coffee, deposits the tray, and leaves again. Richard pours two coffees, and I sip at mine, a bit lost for words.

He leans forward and takes my hand. "Elizabeth, I can't tell you how grateful I am for your quick wits and your eye for detail. A lot of people would have, if they had spotted t