Chapter Summary: Jim makes progress in his investigation of the Carrollton issue. Kris and Carol make a plan for Kris to visit and peg Rick.
Tuesday morning Alison was in Pete's office complaining, "Pete, I'm not happy at all about having Engineering taken from me."
"I want you focused on fixing the Operations issues, especially Carrollton. That has gone on too long. We lost money there last quarter."
"I know we lost money at Carrollton but overall my facilities are highly profitable. Engineering was put under me so they could help with Operations issues when we needed it. I'm going to need their help on the Carrollton problems."
"All the Engineering help you need is just a request away Alison. Besides, I had the impression you considered it an Operations issue and didn't want Engineering distracted with it."
"I don't know where you got that idea. If Evers told you that he's lying. I do want Mike Smith to get his house in order, and if he can't do it without engineering help I intend to replace him."
"OK Alison, we are done here. The organization is going to stay the way it is at least until the current problems are fixed, and maybe after."
Alison stormed out of Pete's office no happier than when she arrived, and headed straight to Jim's office.
Once at Jim's office, Alison told Helen "I'm going in to see him," and walked into his office.
"What the fuck are you doing Evers, getting Engineering moved out from under me?"
"Alison, I think we've had a good working relationship so far. This was Pete's decision. Engineering is here to provide the same support as before; you just don't have the administrative burden anymore. That falls to Pete now."
"Pete thinks I don't want your support with the Carrollton problem."
"That was my impression from our discussion when I offered help."
"You must have misunderstood. I expect Engineering to be available when I need you."
"Same support as before Alison, as I said."
Alison turned and left.
Helen told Jim, "Irene called while Alison was here. Pete wants to see you at 4:30."
When Jim arrived at 4:30 Irene sent him in to see Pete.
"You told me Alison said to mind your own business when you offered to help with Carrollton a while back. She says you are lying."
"I can't help what she says Pete, but I can prove I didn't lie to you."
With that, Jim pulled out his phone and played the recording of the conversation. Jim's voice was heard first on the recording.
"Alison, I have heard there are some problems at the Carrollton plant. I can send some engineers up there to see if we can help if you like."
"No Jim, that's an Operations issue. You need to keep your engineers focused on the expansion projects at the other facilities. We don't need schedule slippages because you have engineers sticking their noses in Operations business."
"OK Alison, we are here if you decide otherwise at some point. None of the capital projects are in danger of missing milestones from me reassigning a couple of engineers for a week or two."
"It's Operations business and Operations will handle it."
Let me play another for you Pete, from earlier today. With that he played the recording of Alison in his office for Pete who listened intently and nodded then said "Jim, I don't like it at all that you are recording conversations. Have you been recording me?"
"Just Alison, and I don't like it a bit either, but you can see why I'm doing it."
"I can. Somebody must have warned you about her."
When Jim didn't respond Pete told him "Be careful, Alison has enemies but she has supporters too. No one is going to like these recordings so get to the bottom of what is going on. You have convinced me we have a bigger issue than Carrollton, but I don't want to have to play those recordings for anyone else to prove it. It will reflect badly on you for making them and on me for allowing it to continue. Understand?"
"I do Pete."
Jim headed home that evening looking forward to a run but a cold February rain put an end to that thought. Instead, he stopped at the gym and got a good workout in the weight room. Once home he was told to strip off and come help in the kitchen. While cutting up vegetables for Kris the doorbell rang.
"Go get the door Jim."
"But Miss, I'm naked."
"Do you think I don't know you're naked?"
"No Miss."
"So what was the right response?"
"Yes Miss."
"Right, now do it. We will address your disobedience later."
"Yes Miss."
Opening the front door Jim found Jasmine standing in the rain.
"Miss Jasmine, please come in out of the rain. May I take your coat?"
"Thank you Jim." Jasmine handed Jim her wet coat which he hung in the closet.
"You look splendid tonight Miss. Can I get you something?"
"No, thank you. I'm just going to be here a few minutes. There is something I want to tell you and Kris. By the way, you are looking pumped. Did you workout this afternoon?"
"I did, thanks. Kris is in the kitchen, we can talk there."
"Hi Kris."
"Hi Jas, thanks for coming over. What have you got for us?"
"The name of that woman that hired the PI, Alison Atkins, it sounded familiar to me but I couldn't place it until this afternoon. It finally clicked and I looked through the client list for Harold's chauffeur service and found it. We can put together a record of her travels using the service if that might be of any help."
Jim said "Alison gets chauffeured instead of having a company car. I didn't know it was the Gains service doing it. A record of her travels might help. Can you do it for the last 2 years?"
"Yup, it's all on computer and won't take any time at all."
Kris said "Thanks Jas, we will owe you one."
"That's not necessary but I won't turn it down, especially if it is Jim that pays me back." With that Jasmine took her coat and headed home.
Kris called Jim over to the calendar on the wall. Pointing to the day, she wrote on the calendar 2+2J saying "That's 2 lashes for disobedience to me and 2 more for keeping Jas standing out in the rain. I've decided you need more routine discipline to ensure proper behavior. From now on I am keeping count of infractions and will address them on Friday evenings. That will give your ass time to recover before Monday morning. Any questions?"
"No Miss."