by John Kelly
Of all the opportunities that Amanda had recognized during her life, none thrilled her more than the assignment she was being offered at this moment. She was exhilarated, and when hidden from anyone she thought she might know, carried on like a half-drunk teenager, skipping and jumping along as she hurried back to the office where she blurted out the entire story to Janet. Janet listened intently, making allowances for Amanda's exuberance and thinking it rather refreshing that someone in her employ could demonstrate such energy and high spirits. Rather than try to make any recommendation on the feasibility of such a proposal, Janet immediately rang George Balwyn.
'Are you free? I need to talk with you.'
'Come up,' he answered.
Taking Amanda with her, Janet headed for George's office. The two women entered, Amanda still bubbling with excitement.
'Come in and sit down ladies,' George said cheerfully. 'What's on your mind?'
While Janet filled George in on the call she received from Quentin Avers, Amanda watched George for any of her favourite tell-tale signs. He listened to Janet, occasionally stroking his chin and nodding. Janet then handed over to Amanda who could barely restrain herself as she related the detail of her meeting and the proposal put to her. George took a few moments to absorb all that he had been told. He took it seriously. He always took wild and weird stories seriously. Many a good book had their genesis in similar circumstances. He stroked his chin thoughtfully once more.
'So, what do you think we are looking at here, some sort of expos? on crime, corruption, or some political scandal?' George asked, staring across his desk at Amanda, while Janet Ryan looked on. 'Do you think this Avers fellow is genuine or just out on an ego trip?'
Amanda looked uncomfortable. This was new ground for her, facing up to the reality of the hard questions from her employer. This was the first time she had been invited into George's office. It was plush, with beige coloured carpet, soft leather furniture, and eye-catching paintings on the walls. The office portrayed all the hallmarks of power and success. It was intimidating. She glanced across to Janet for support.
'Mr. Avers was not very forthcoming in his discussion with Amanda, George,' Janet said.
'Has he given you anything in writing?' George asked.
'No, he said he would tell me more, once we agreed to do the story,' Amanda confirmed. 'He's given me a cheque for five thousand dollars as an advance, so I guess that's a good indication of his determination. He says I'll need to travel to Japan.' Amanda spoke of Japan quickly as if it were incidental. She feared George might be frightened off at the prospect.
'Japan? Jesus, he isn't on much of an ego trip is he?' George blurted out sarcastically.
'When you think about it, there's not a lot of risk here, George,' Janet continued. 'We are being paid for our time even if it's wasted. We can pull out of the deal at any stage. If Amanda is in any way uncomfortable about continuing she can say so, and we walk away. On the plus side there just might be something in it. I think it's worth going the next step to find out.'
'There must be some way we can find out more about our Mr. Avers,' George said as he continued to stroke his chin, suggesting a discreet enquiry. There were a multitude of ways to learn something, but most of them involved some kind of personal contact, and George wanted to avoid that. 'Okay,' he said, after a moments thought. 'Let's go the next step. But I want to be kept informed of everything that happens, daily, if not hourly. Contact Avers and tell him we will treat this as an ongoing assignment for Amanda, but that we reserve the right to pull the pin at anytime we choose. Amanda, you report to Janet, and inform her of everything you are doing. Avers will probably want progressive reports and drafts of what you have written. I want to know where the story is heading before you agree to go to Japan, and I want to be on the mailing list of every draft, every piece of paper you give Avers after that. We take this one step at a time. Is that understood?'
Both women nodded. For Amanda this was exhilarating. An assignment such as this was something she dared only to dream about.
'In the meantime,' George said, 'I will see what we can find out about our mystery man.'
That afternoon, when all the staff had left the office, George Balwyn retreated to his mystery room downstairs and retrieved a telephone number from his files. The man he called was a private detective, James Bayswater, a trusted confidant who had carried out work for him previously.
'James,' he said cheerfully, when the phone answered, 'it's George. I have a little job for you.'
5.