She and I had another means, outside the team, of making sure our views were heard. I reported back to Peter privately, and she likewise reported to one of her firm's most senior partners. We collaborated in suggesting that some significant problems were being underrated, arguing for instance that decision-making would be more cumbersome in a bigger organisation. Some ideas that had been ruled out by the Lindler & Haliburton men on the team we also put to Peter and his counterpart from the other firm who raised them at project meetings. This may have made hostility and suspicion within the team worse, but it helped the project develop in a more thorough and realistic way.
About halfway through our work Lizetta Williams from Personnel came to join us for one day a week to assess staffing implications. We had met briefly a couple of times in the past; she was in her mid-thirties, pleasant and lively, and after her first team meeting came over to me wanting to chat. Later we went to a sandwich bar for lunch where she ordered soup and a roll, saying that she was dieting. I chose a large sandwich of French bread with mixed seafood and salad which, enviously, she said was disgusting.
'How do you find the team?' I asked when we sat down at a tiny metal table.
'All right-ish. How long have you been there?'
'Nearly three months now.'
'Poor thing. The two men are a supercilious pair.'
'Friday lunch times they go to watch a free pub strip show. They took me with them once.'
'Tell-tale. You only went once? Excitement too much for you?'
'No, I'm gay. You're with us to work on the staff savings, I assume. Don't suppose you'll be recommending any cuts in the number of accountants, though. The other staff will be the ones who get the chop.'
'I'm "other staff" too. Don't worry, I don't think we'll be sacking anyone. The losses will be covered by suspending recruitment. People will leave at the usual rate for the usual reasons; a few early retirements may be needed to help see us through. Of course some managers may see this as an opportunity to settle old scores. Anyway you've got nothing to worry about, you're Peter's man, aren't you?'
'I'm not sure I'm his man, exactly.'
'I know him and his wife socially. She and I used to work together, ages ago. I am right aren't I? You're the one who did a disappearing act during their trip to France?'
Surprise at her question made me swallow suddenly. 'You know about that?'