Ring! Ring!
Quickly swallowing a bite of breakfast, Me: IT Department. This is Daniel. How can I help you?
Caller: Do you fix laptops?
Me: Yes I do. Is your laptop broken or just not working right?
Caller: It’s working fine. I just need some stuff removed from it. You know? Before my wife finds it.
Me: Ahhh. Yes. I understand.
Caller: I bet you get calls like this, a lot.
Me: No. I really don’t. What is the timeline?
Caller: Huh? What does that mean?
Me: When do you expect your wife to be inspecting your laptop?
Caller: Today.
Me: OK. I’m in a meeting until 10, this morning. I can meet you at the donut shop on the southwest corner of 96th and Allisonville by 10:15?
Caller: Great! Thanks, man. You are saving my life!
Me: It’s just a gig for me, sir.
Caller: Yeah, but still … it’s nice to know there are people out whom I can call on to help me out of a tight spot.
Me: If you don’t mind my asking, who referred you to me?
Caller: Ronnie did.
Me: OK. Thanks. I’m not sure I know ‘Ronnie.’
Caller: Oh. <CLICK!>
Three hours later.
Ring! Ring!
Me: IT Department, this is Daniel. How can I help you, this afternoon?
Caller: Hello. I’m Roger ***** with *****, ******** & *********. I’m investigating calls made by a client’s husband as part of a divorce. Your number came up as a recently called number by my client’s husband. Would you mind telling me what your conversation was about?
Me: I’ve had two phone calls, this morning who did not identify themselves. So I’m not sure I can help you.
Roger: Can you verify the phone number that called you? That would allow me to verify it was my client.
Me: Your client or your client’s spouse?
Roger: Right, my client’s spouse.
Me: Tell you what, Roger. I’m not wanting to be involved in the domestic squabbles of others. I provide IT services to small businesses, like law firms. If you would like to discuss my services for your business, I would be happy to continue. Otherwise, I need to get back to work for my own clients.
Roger: LISTEN YOU SON OF A BITCH! I WANT TO KNOW IF MY BROTHER IN LAW IS CHEATING ON MY SISTER!
Me: I don’t know either of them, ‘Roger’, so how can I know anything? Oh, and good bye. Have a good day.
<CLICK>