Suggestion
The Power of Suggestion
MR. KINCADE, THE
fact that you’re willing and able
to pay my fee doesn’t mean I’ll automatically be willing to take your case. I only take cases I think I can solve. You haven’t given me much to work with.
“You say you bought an expensive Rolex for reasons you have yet to explain. Then, when you got to your office, the watch was gone -- the box that it came in was still in the bag, along with your receipt -- but no watch.
"I’m willing to check surveillance footage at the store, but if it shows conclusively that the watch you purchased was, in fact, put in the box that was put in your bag …”
“Tell me, Mr. Kincade -- is this loss insured?
"Homeowner?
"Corporate?
"A separate rider?
"Because, frankly, that’s the only angle that makes any sense to me …
"But then, you did
ask for my help, now didn’t you … “
* * *
“What can I do for you, Mrs. Summers, is it?
“Let me get this straight: You suddenly take an interest in gold coins. You go to a shop you’ve never been to before and purchase the most expensive coin they have.
"On the way home, the coin just mysteriously disappears? …
“Would you excuse me for a moment? I need to make a phone call.”
* * *
“Mr. Kincade? I’ll take your case.”
* * *
“What led you to my office, Mrs. Sanchez?
"You have no idea?
"You just wandered into the building and took the elevator to the sixth floor? I see … “
* * *
Only a week or two ago I had been thinking of closing up the shop.
It wasn’t fun anymore.
I’ve always said I’d keep doing it as long as it held my interest.
Now this is interesting -- three different cases all in the same week --
Each claiming to have lost something of value right after purchasing it.
Each alone in his or her own personal transportation when it disappeared.
I have permission from each client to dig through their check registers and credit card histories.
All three purchases are not only verified, but security cameras support each vendor’s assertion that the item purchased made it into both box and bag …
While they don’t know each other or work at the same place or frequent the same clubs, restaurants or places of worship, two of them do shop at the same Safeway; and all three have recently been to the new Apple store, albeit on different occasions.
They each purchased Bluetooth earbuds -- from the same salesperson, no less.
Not much to go on, but it’s a start …
* * *
The salesperson I’m interested in is a woman (girl? lady?).
They’ve been trained to introduce themselves -- “Hi, I’m Gretchen. Is there something I can help you with?”
“Just looking,” I say. Gretchen isn’t the salesperson I’m looking for.
“Hi, I’m Suzy. Is there something I can help you with?”
Second verse, same as the first -- nothing like a well-trained sales force.
“Just looking.” Two down.
Maybe Angie’s not on today. I pick up a set of Bluetooth earbuds.
“Hi, I’m Angie. Is there something I can help you with?”
“Yes, I believe there is, and I believe you can,” I say, handing her the earbuds.
“Cash or card?”
“Does it matter?” I ask.
“I can ring you up right here if it’s ‘card,’” she says.
I hand her my plastic.
“What’s your email address? If we have it on file, the receipt will go straight to your inbox. Otherwise I can print one out for you.”
I give her my Gmail account.
“Have you used Bluetooth before?” she asks, as she swipes my card. “I’d be happy to set it up for you if you’d like.”
“Now that’s service with a smile!” I say, before factoring in the fact that she’s way too young to recognize that old filling-station slogan.
“I’ll need your phone. It’ll only take a sec."
Moments later, she returns from the back, handing everything back to me.
“If you have any questions, I’m usually here in the evenings. Here’s my card. If I’m not here, the crew at the Genius Bar will be happy to assist you.”
“Why thank you, Angie. I can see why Apple’s so successful!”
She walks me to the door, shakes my hand and smiles.
* * *
What an incredible experience!
Interesting … but not all that insightful, case wise.
When I get back to the office, I plug in the earbuds.
As soon as I turn on the phone, I hear Angie say: “Thank you again, Mr. Ruskjer. If you have any questions, you have my number.”
Talk about after-sales support! …
I wonder when she recorded that? Prob’ly when she went in the back room for that “sec.”
* * *
Later that evening, I’m listening to my favorite iTunes picks. It is
nice -- not to have to wear some bulky headset as I cozy up to my pillow.
And not having to mess with that tangle of wires … I love it!
Between two songs, I swear I hear Angie’s voice say, “Sweet dreams!”
During the next song, I distinctly hear her. She’s saying:
“You are getting sleepy,” in a dreamy voice.
“You feel like you are floating down an escalator … down … down … down … deeper and deeper …
“Your eyelids are getting heavy …
“You can’t seem to keep them open.”
“It’s OK. Just go with it … “
Her voice is so soothing! I feel myself drifting down … The music has stopped. It’s now just Angie and me …
The last thing I remember her saying is:
“When I count to three, you will wake up, rested and relaxed, feeling totally refreshed. You will have no recollection of our conversation … One, two, three.”
* * *
She’s right!
I feel totally rested and refreshed!
I have no memory now of that conversation …
* * *
I’m anxious to tackle my three new cases. I do remember Angie’s targeted after-sales message and wonder if any of my clients had a similar experience.
Before I can dial the first client, I hear Angle say: “Mont Blanc.”
Suddenly I feel like I deserve a bonus of some sort for finding the common denominator between the three cases.
I tap the space bar to clear my screensaver and Google “Mont Blanc” --
I’ve always admired their workmanship …
In less than a second I’m staring at their homepage.
At the bottom of the page is a “play” icon with no heading. For some reason I feel compelled to click on it.
My screen fills with a close-up of the nub of a Mont Blanc pen luxuriously writing, “This one’s for you!” in seductive cursive (Can cursive even be seductive?!)
The camera pulls back smoothly, revealing a slim, feminine hand directing the pen’s movements.
Continuing to pull back now … two pert breasts come into view just before a bare shoulder connecting the arm with the pen at the end of the note.
Further pullback reveals the owner of this package …
Angie’s angelic face is concentrating on her writing. Her gaze slowly turns upward directly into the lens as the pullback converts to a slow zoom that stops, framing her radiant face.
“See how one thing leads to another?” she says -- more seductively than that cursive pen scrawl.
I instinctively move to capture a screen shot, kicking myself for missing the frame with her breasts.
“I wouldn’t do that --” This from Angie’s now-stern countenance.
“This is what we call a teaser,” she explains as her facial features soften.
“If you like this, just think what the real deal could be like …
You’re right -- it’ll be expensive -- but the money you make from the three clients I sent you should more than cover it. For now, just plug in your earbuds and keep your phone handy.”
Figuring it could help me unravel the cases, I close my laptop and plug in my earbuds.
“That’s better,” Angie coos. “Your keys are on the table.”
* * *
Long story short, I buy the most expensive pen they have and watch as the salesgirl puts it in as box, then puts the box in my bag.
I put the bag on the front seat where I can keep an eye on it.
At Angie’s direction I drive to the bus depot.
I take the bag in with me.
She tells me to put the box in locker 1127.
I take the key to a nearby Starbucks and leave it under my cup as instructed and walk away.
* * *
When I get back to my office, I check my bag.
The pen is gone.
So is the box.
I have no idea where they went or even why I’d buy such an extravagant thing in the first place …
I sheepishly pick up the phone and call my arch competitor . . . to see if she’ll take my case …