The Chip Factory

Once there was a woman named Abbey. Abby had the foresight to see that computer memory was going to become a hot commodity. She invested in a web and mail order presence and laid in a large inventory. She called it “Chip Factory”. It was wildly successful. Then she met Russ. Russ was a shady banker specializing in underhanded real estate deals. Russ met Abby and swept her off her feet. In no time he was running Chip Factory and relegating Abby to secretarial duties.

I was hired as a PC building specialist. I spec’d out custom systems that were as cutting edge as 1997 could be. Early on I found that when I’d spec a component out and the bill had been agreed to the component that I got wasn’t the same. Maybe not same brand, speed, specs. I was always told to build with what I got.

I worked at Chip Factory for one reason: Child Support. I had a $1200 a month child support debt every month. At my previous job, the HR director sat me down and said “after the garnishment and taxes, you have $12 left.” At Chip Factory, I used how crooked Russ was to my benefit. I offered to work 10 hours overtime a week for free if he’d pay me %25 on the books and %75 cash. He agreed to it. I paid Robin $500 at least in cash every month. That left me enough to live in the back of my parent’s garage and eat. It was a job, and at first I liked it. And we got along, until he really got out of line. I was standing at the counter of the stock room one afternoon when I heard a bunch of guffawing. As I approached, I listened to Russ talking about how much Abby likes taking it up the ass. And how good she is at giving head. I was standing behind him as he finished, and I cleared my throat. He turned around and looked at me, “Livingston” he said, and stuck out his hand. I walked past him to the parts counter and handed the guy my build sheet.

I never said anything to Abby.

Russ and his nephew Richard had a little scam going on. They got the exclusive rights to supply Best Buy with components. Best Buy would order them online on a site owned by Russ. After the order was placed, shill bidders would bid up the price, and Best Buy would pay. The were making $1.5M a year this way.  They had a double corner lot in an exclusive Deerfield neighborhood. Russ use to brag that it was the house that Best Buy built.

Eventually, Best Buy of Minnesota got wise and called the Feds because it was an interstate deal. Abby, Russ and Richard were all charged separately. They were charged with a $15M felony. The trials lasted 12 weeks. Abby got 30 months. Russ got 150. Richard got 24. Abby served first. They had 4 kids at home. They auctioned off the collection of vintage sports cars for millions.

I would love to see Russ now. Who is bragging about whose blow jobs now?

I always wondered what happened to Abby. At the height of things she drove a new Jaguar sedan with the license plates “CHP LDY”. After the feds got through with her I doubt she had bus fare. All of her kids went to private schools, I wonder how they liked public schools? Crime may pay, but there is a hell of a revocation clause in there eventually.