The Journalist and Old Man Henwick (standard:humor, 0 words)
Author: Maya	Added: Jul 14 2001	Views/Reads: 3318/2256	Story vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
What's going on at Henwick Steel Mill?

The whistle blew, indicating the end of second shift at the Henwick
Steel Mill. The millworkers filed out of the buildings like rats from a 
sinking ship. All going in the same direction. All relieved to be away 
from the heat and smell of their daily routine. All except for one 
individual – Theodore, an unremarkable, small, young man, with 
spectacles. Contrary to the mill’s understanding, Theo was not a 
millwright, but he could do this job exceptionally well. That is, after 
all, how he was able to gain employment in the company and eventually 
access into the company’s corporate offices without too much notice. 
Theo was an engineer, but he was also a freelance investigative 
reporter currently on assignment on behalf of the State’s largest 
newspaper. 

The newspaper had received a lead from an unknown source indicating
things were not what they appeared at Henwick Steel Mill. The source 
suggested an investigation of the mill, as well as the owner of the 
mill, Mr. Alvin Henwick, was in order. For years it was thought that 
the mill was a front for organized crime, but proof of the connection 
had never been produced. With the arrival of the latest lead Simon, 
Theo’s editor, offered him the job of finally revealing the truth 
behind Henwick Steel Mill’s success. 

The mill ran round the clock. There were workers on the premises 24
hours a day. However, the executives and their assistants worked 
regular “white collar” hours from, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. 

Quietly and as inconspicuously as possible, Theo crept to the now dark
and empty building which housed the corporate offices. Using a key he 
had obtained from an unsuspecting secretary whom he had been romancing 
for the past several weeks, he unlocked the door and slipped inside – 
completely unnoticed. 

Without haste Theo made his way up the stairs to the second floor
executive offices. There he was able to locate the office of the 
president and CEO of Henwick Steel Mill, Alvin Henwick. Alvin Henwick – 
his employees referred to him as Old Man Henwick, but only behind his 
back – was an elderly gentleman, aged 82. He was well beyond retirement 
age, but no one had the audacity or cojones to tell him so. They 
preferred the stability of their jobs to the insecurity of the 
unemployment lines. Henwick was a tall, thin man, with thick gray hair, 
clear green eyes, and a loud booming voice that made people cringe and 
obey regardless of their internal impulses to flee. 

As Theo expected, the office was locked tighter than Ft. Knox. Luckily,
breaking into locked places had become a hobby for Theo in recent 
years. He removed his special lock smithing tools from the inside 
pocket of his jacket and went to work. Within minutes he had secured 
entrance into the private sanctuary of Henwick’s corner office. It was 
much longer than it was wide, with an antique mahogany desk and 
credenza located at one end of the long room. Located at the other end 
of the room was a large conference table with 12 leather executive 
chairs stationed around it. In front of the table was what appeared to 
be a large entertainment center, complete with bar, sink, mini 
refrigerator/freezer and above all this, a flat screen television, DVD 
player and stereo. Another door stood ajar beside the entertainment 
center. A brief glance through the door confirmed to Theo that it was a 
private executive washroom. Along the walls, under the windows were low 
book cases holding a variety of large binders, books, and other 
reference material. Two file cabinets were situated against the wall 
near the entrance to the office on the left side. It was in these file 
cabinets or the credenza that Theo expected to find his prize. 

Meticulously he began to scan the files looking for anything he could
use for his story. Several documents from the file cabinets caught his 
attention. These he laid out on the conference table and snapped photos 
with his small digital camera and put them back just as he found them. 
Though there was some interesting information, nothing really screamed 
to him “illegal operation”, so he continued to the credenza. 

The credenza was also locked tightly against prying eyes. Out came the
lock smithing tools. After several minutes of attempting to free the 
lock mechanism, the credenza remained tightly shut. It was obvious that 
the credenza was going to be more than a little challenge to Theo. This 
fact excited him. Anyone who took the cost and expense to reinforce the 
locks on something as simple as a credenza must be hiding something 


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