Chapter 7: The case of the Missing Paper Clips

The following day, I reported to the White House. The Royal Marine sentry on gate duty consulted his list, but was unable to find my name. When I explained my business, he sent for Edmund Roach, the Investigator that I was replacing. A few minutes later he arrived at the gate with my pass and told the sentry that my name would be added to his list.

Edmund led me to our office. It was a windowless cubby hole. Its only advantage was its closeness to the Oval office and the secretary. She served the Minister of Defense, not us, but Edmund told me that she would do the few jobs that we generated. She was also very easy on the eye. He also told me that she complained of losing paper clips.

I couldn't help but chuckle much to Edmund's puzzlement, until I told him what Charles French had said to me.

He said, "So there's a ready-made problem awaiting your investigation."

Two more days and he'd brought me up-to-date on his current work. I also arranged to take over the lease of his apartment as he is being posted to Seattle. The apartment was conveniently situated to both the White House and our Headquarters building.

Then it was time for our formal hand over. We arranged to meet with the Governor-General the next day.

Unfortunately, when we went to the Oval Office, we were told that the Governor-General had been called away. Instead, we were redirected to his Chief of Staff to conduct the hand over. He apologized for the absence and thanked Edmund for his work over the past three years. He told me that I would be seeing Baron Clinton on his return.

The Chief of Staff dismissed us.

I returned to my cubbyhole and sorted out my paper work. I then approached the secretary with the paper clip problem. She showed me a glass container on her desk, which had four separate containers. One of these had paper clips in it.