On the way out

By the time they discovered what I had stolen, I had the redundancy money out in cash and I was well beyond their reach. It was a good payout, ex gratia, as they say, which means “don't ask any awkward questions”. Nothing like what the other lot would pay for what I stole, of course. But I didn't sell it. I kept it under my bed, and imagined them all squirming to help me off to sleep.