Arthur stood at his office window and watched the young woman walk up the path towards the main entrance. She was wearing a pair of jeans and a t-shirt that was tight on her slim figure; on her feet were a pair of dirty white trainers. She walked with an air of indifference, not bothering to rush despite already being fifteen minutes late.
The DHSS hand been opening on Saturday mornings for the last two months, it was a new initiative designed to try and catch benefit cheats who worked at weekends.
Arthur volunteered for the new Saturday shifts. The four hours he worked on Saturday mornings meant he got a full day off in the week. It also meant he got the chance to interview the likes of Victoria Burns in a deserted office.
Vicky followed the path towards the front entrance, Arthur kept his eye on her until she got to where the path turned away from his office and the young woman went out of sight.
Five minutes passed before the buzzer rang to signal that someone was waiting at the counter. Arthur took his time walking from his office at the rear of the building to the public waiting area at the front.
When he got there the young woman was leaning on the counter, "Vicky Burns, I am supposed to be seeing someone this morning."
Arthur nodded towards the clock on the waiting room wall and said. "It's ten-twenty. Your appointment was at ten o'clock."
Vicky looked around the empty waiting room and shrugged her shoulders.
"This way then please, Miss Burns." Arthur led the way down a long corridor to the interview room. He opened the door and stood back to let the young woman in first. As she passed close to him he could smell a slight body odour.
The interview room was small and cold. The floor was covered with pale blue linoleum; the only furniture was a single desk with a chair on each side. Arthur took a seat and signalled that Vicky should do the same by holding his hand towards the empty chair.
Vicky sat down and started talking immediately. "I don't know why I am here again. I was only here last month with some woman. Told her I couldn't find no work."
Arthur waited for her to stop talking, took a thin blue file from the drawer, and placed it on the desk in front of them. "When was the last time you were engaged in paid employment Miss Burns?"
"I've not worked in two years." Vicky addressed her answer to the wall behind Arthur's head.
"What was your last paid employment?"
"I can't remember." She shrugged her shoulders and answered in an even tone as if she was already bored by the questions. Arthur noticed her glance at the blue folder.
"Do you know it is an offence to claim unemployment benefit whilst engaged in paid employment?"
"Yes" She looked directly at him this time, but he could tell she was nervous.
Arthur took the folder and set it in front of him, "Have you ever worked 'on the side' Miss Burns?"
She shook her head.
Arthur let Vicky see he was surprised by her answer and made a point of stopping in the middle of opening the folder, "Never, Miss Burns?"
"Never."
Arthur tapped the front of the folder with a podgy finger. "You've been working at Aldo's Garden Centre for the last six months Victoria."
"Don't know what you're..."
"You can stop pretending Victoria." Arthur flipped open the folder and took out four sheets of paper. All with neat typing on them and all signed at the bottom. "I have statements from employees, customers and even neighbours who have seen you leaving your house every morning."
"Nosey bastards." She took a stray hair and threaded it behind her ear, "S'pose I have to stop working then. Live off the little dole you lot give me."
"There is a bit more to it than that Victoria." Arthur got up and walked around the desk until he was standing over the seated girl. The T-shirt she was wearing had a round neck that exposed her slender neck and a good amount of her chest. He stared openly for a moment, enjoying the sight of the smooth pale flesh. "You have been fraudulently claiming Jobseekers Allowance for the last six months."
"So."
"So, we can make you pay it back. If you won't or can't pay it back you could end up in prison."
"I can't pay it back and I don't want to go to prison." She was still defiant but there was a nervousness in her hazel eyes.
Arthur had heard what he wanted to hear. He walked back around the desk and sat down. "How old are you Victoria?"