Adrian's Bordereaux

Roger was emphatic that to backdate the deal to January 1st, even though only six days, he would need a formal statement from Tony on Redcroft letterhead that he knew of no losses since January first.  While requiring the letter, Roger also blamed its necessity on new “bloody transparency” standards saying, “Every file is now an open book.  Nowadays, I’ve got six minders, each second-guessing my every move.  Christ Almighty, had a guy call today tells me he’s a chartered auditor of some Bermuda gang we reinsured back in ’97.  Wants a tabulation of our commission payouts and credits I took on a 1500 unit motorcar fleet they wrote for Prentice Manufacturing.  There had to have been 500 booking entries.  It will take us a week to reconstruct the file.  That deal’s ancient history.”

Roger continued, “Tony, I’ll take some of that short-term run-off you offered last week.  Let me look at it more closely and I’ll give you terms.  Small pieces of big U.S. properties.  Looked pretty rich to me.  But, what I really want is first-dibs on that lumber transit slip.  Up in March if I remember.  Well priced.  I looked at it last year but it was gone before I made up my mind.  I think Axton took most of what you offered.  So, it strikes me as only fair.  What do you think?”

Tony wanted to tell his friend to slow down and shut-up.  First he had stumbled on Roger’s word “transparency”, not a word he had ever used.  And not a concept he would ever embrace.  But, Roger was not wrong, transparency was a new necessity.  But for Tony it could wait until Crystal Palace was itself ancient history.  Roger’s reference to some “short-term-run-off” business was a direct reference to Crystal Palace and, absolutely, not something to discuss in front of Hank.

******

“Come on over and have a seat,” invited Lincoln.  “I was thinking about this all weekend.  There’s work to be done and I need you to tackle a special project that’s been overlooked for too long.”  Lincoln smiled enthusiastically, reminding Hank of his neighbor playing Harold Hill in the community-theater production of The Music Man. 

Hank took three steps into the office, but did not sit down.

Lincoln got up from behind his desk and slowly shook his head, “I tell ya, those too-clever-for-their-own-good Brits have finally created a monster they can’t control.  Another Frankenstein.  Do you know what I’m talking about?”  Lincoln sat down.  It was obvious to Hank that Lincoln was getting wound-up for a major sales-pitch.

“Not exactly,” said Hank cautiously.  “There’s always a buzz about something or other in the London market.I’ve always thought it was inherent in the way they do business.