Checked Out

Checked Out: Daniel Harris

Would you give up your job or take on a second one as a challenge in order to bring a failing company in the red into the black? What would happen if you agreed to take on this job for a short time and you were guaranteed a huge payout at the end? But, when the reality sets in and you learn that you were carefully hand picked for the job to replace the original CEO who was murdered and are offered the job would you take it? Alex Santone was the CEO of Food Basket, which is an 80-store chain that is housed in Providence. But, someone dislikes him and decides to take him out in his own living room but why? Offered the mob at Food Basket Russell Riley with the advice of his wife and lawyer Holly, decides that this would be a great opportunity to use his skills and take this company back to a more lucrative level. But, Russell hires a team of experts in different aspects marketing, promoting, financing and promoting and what he learns sets in motion a chain of events that just might bring down what he has managed to achieve. Someone is taking money from a phantom register and bringing to someone else to use for purposes other than Food Basket. Financial transparency and accountability are not longer viable methods of achieving positive and honest goals but have been replaced with deceit, corruption, betrayals, lies and murder. Money laundering is just the tip of the iceberg as Riley learns when dealing with people from his old company Galetti and the new team on board. Added in we meet police Captain Alan Cummings and his soon to be girlfriend Assistant District Attorney Donna Mitchner who as you will learn is deadly in and out of the courtroom but in different ways. Galetti Supermarkets was where he came from as the past president of this New England based supermarket chain. But, within this company there are those related to the late CEO who have their own separate agendas in mind and although it seems that Russ is the candidate of choice to bring this company back into the black the truth behind his hiring will astound readers. Greed, paybacks, backstabbing, and a two billion dollar family food fight to the finish and a murder that was staged to frame an innocent man, this book is not just about profits but lets add in a touch of revenge. The food brokerage business is not so cut and dry and each market prices its items and strategically places certain ones on their end caps hoping to get more sales for those products but first let’s meet the team. Fired after 30 years with Galetti Supermarkets and claiming his profits were up Riley gets a phone call from Bob Santone, the nephew of the millionaire killed to take on this herculean job. Food Basket is in financial dire straits and for some reason Santone feels that Russ is the man to change it all. Alex Santone was a spender and when murdered in his living room Riley receives a proposition for a one year job as CEO with lots of money and perks. Business partner Bill Hartman is on board and Arnold Cable a longtime friend and his wife Holly who you come to love and respect keeping Russ in check and everyone on point, we hear the boardroom banter, conference calls and more as we enter the world of Food Basket and wonder just what Riley has gotten himself into.

When Bruno Jethroe is arrested for the murder and his wife Lucy seems to be skating on thin ice just who is she working with to create this illusion that Jethroe is the killer when in reality he thinks she into him and much more. Bail payments, bribes and someone higher up is controlling the proceedings and a lifelong friend of Russ is going to take a huge knife and hypothetically plunge it in his back. Trip is the CEO of Galetti who signs off on the three members of his team that Russell borrows for three months at a high price. But, Alan Cummings the police Captain and his Lieutenant are relentless and the facts might be there but are they clouded with a huge mist? Did Lucy have her husband killed for the huge payout of the life insurance policy? Was she really that into Jethroe or was he a pawn in this plot and decided to rollover and take the sentence but why? Why does she claim her life is in danger and the judge needs to give her a lighter sentence? Double indemnity, courtroom scenes that are right out of a Perry Mason episode as Donna Mitchner the ADA takes on the other side and you won’t believe the end result.

Russell Riley is truly a force to be reckoned with and when he learns the truth behind why he was hired and who is behind having him ousted and gone you won’t believe what Bill Hartman learns, what David Williams turns up and the team of loyal friends that feel he’s done a great job but unfortunately too well. The numbers are up and the profits are starting to show and the employees in each store are not gripping but seem happy but someone is not and wants him replaced but success is not the key to someone’s plan.

Garth Brewster knows how to crunch numbers and get the information he needs to continue and hopefully sway the board in his favor. Loyalties are tested, friendships are destroyed and one man is at the center of it all but will he too be a target of this killer who has managed to take down Alex and one other person in the company. But, the ending will open up many questions and the end result will be if Russell can get the votes needed remain as CEO of the company and not ousted and if the ADA and Cummings can arrest the real murderer. Riley and his team turned around Food Basket in a year and with the help of his team he succeeded but what is the reason why a close friend decided to try and take him down and why does he feel a certain slight sense of loyalty to this person? Listen to the voices at the board meeting and learn what Russell really has in mind for Food Basket as author Daniel Harris uses his real life experience in the Food Industry calling on customers to take this book to a high level, help readers understand what it is to market, price and run a supermarket chain and maybe the next time you enter your favorite market you might appreciate the hard work the staff does to make sure you get what you need at a great price. Coupons, price cutting, deals and even 4 percent off of your groceries I would definitely travel further to get quality prices and items.

With Holly and three others banning together they take the board by storm and the end result is quite remarkable. Shirley Macober, Dave Pondorf and David Williams and add in Jim Sneed and Bill Hartman and Trip Galetti into the mix and find out what happens when corruption, deceit, money laundering and murder come into the mix and Russell Riley gets to the counter way before anyone can try and make him CHECK OUT!

Fran Lewis: Just reviews/MJ Magazine

Let’s give this book: FIVE GOLDEN Baskets filled with food from FOOD BASKET!