Andrea's Secret

by John Kelly

Warwick Steedman had called the meeting for 10AM sharp. His line managers had responded to the late night call by Jill Toogoods. Warwick was returning to Melbourne from interstate on an early morning flight and wanted everyone ready when he arrived at Steedman and Associates, Public Relations consultants. Alexander Smith, Media manager, Julie Quirk, Accounts and Administration, Michael Anderson, Sales, were present and ready for whatever Warwick wanted. Warwick walked into the manager's meeting room at six minutes past ten. "Good morning everyone, sorry I'm late. We had to circle Lake Eildon for fifteen minutes would you believe; too much traffic at Tullamarine. Jill could you get me some coffee?" Jill nodded and left the room.

  "Okay let's get down to it. Things have got a little behind lately due to the accident. When we met last week we were discussing Doncaster Power and Gas' little dilemma with the old lady from the retirement village. I realise this is a piss-ant little matter, but if we do it well, and wrap it up quickly, there is more work where this came from, so let's treat it as if it were something really big. As of last night, their little dilemma just got worse. I received a call from the manager of the village. It seems the old lady whose name is Myra Applewood, suffered a heart attack last night and has been rushed to hospital. It wasn't fatal and her condition is stable but if the media get hold of it they will crucify the power company. We need a strategy and we need it quickly. Has anybody got any ideas?"

  "Do we know what the lady was doing when she had the attack?" asked Julie Quirk. "Does that matter?" Warwick asked. "Well, replied Julie, "I'm sure she wasn't pushing up weights at the time but if we know what she was doing we might be able to counter any initial assault by the media that it was stress related, brought on by the summons.

  "Good point Julie, we can find out quickly enough. But what if it was stress related? What if she was sitting down reading the paper or watching television last night, and read something about the Power Company's computer crash and that kick-started the whole thing?"

  Silence.

  "Jesus she's ninety-six years old. A cat's fart could frighten her enough to set it off, surely?" Alexander Smith suggested. "She wouldn't need much else."

  "Living in a retirement village, there would be plenty of things that could upset a ninety-six year old. Perhaps an ambulance drove past her unit to attend to someone else. Perhaps a friend of hers took ill and had to be carted off somewhere," Michael Anderson said.

  "Well," Warwick said, "I guess it could have been anything. But we need to find out. Julie, the name of the manager is Jim Coutts. Could you give him a ring at the village and see what you can find out. Michael, I need some sort of statement the Power Company can issue, if and when the spaghetti hits the fan. Make it deeply sincere, sorrowful, heartfelt, all that crap. Liaise with Julie and incorporate anything she finds out from Jim Coutts."

  "Perhaps you could also find out if she has a pacemaker." Michael Anderson suggested. Everyone turned and stared at Michael.

  "No harm in asking," he added as Jill Toogoods entered the room with coffee.

  "That's an excellent idea Michael." Warwick said, taking the coffee from Jill. "What on earth made you think of that?"

  "My Aunty has one," he replied. "She's only eighty-five."

  "I don't get it," Julie said, "Aren't pacemakers supposed to help look after your heart?"

  "Yes," replied Michael, "So long as the battery is charged, and doesn't go flat." Jill Toogoods returned to her desk outside, to answer the phone. It was Brad Murphy calling from Queensland. She quickly signalled to Warwick who excused himself from the meeting, anxious to take the call.

  "Morning Brad, how are things?" he said. Brad was calling from the store at Point Particular and had the morning paper in front of him. "Not very good I'm afraid." Brad gave a detailed report of his efforts the previous day when he visited the Adoption Agency. "That all sounds very positive Brad, so what are you not happy about?"

  "I've just been reading the paper this morning and it says that the second shop front owned by the agency at Aston Park, where they keep all their records from the early years, caught fire and burned down last night."

  "What? You're kidding me?"

  "Not likely. This means that if the records concerning Mary Therese Steedman were there, they are most likely lost to us."

  "How did the fire start? Does the paper say?"

  "It seems the fire began in the adjoining building, a residential property. The Fire Department thinks it was an electrical fault."

  "Seems an incredible coincidence to me," Warwick said as he tried to think it through. "Wait a minute. I gave you another contact didn't I?" "Yes," Brad answered, "Elizabeth Ashford, the person who handled the original application for adoption. Do you want me to follow up on that?"

  "Yes please Brad. That would be appreciated."

  "Okay leave it with me and I'll get back to you."

  No sooner had Warwick hung up and returned to the meeting when Jill Toogoods interrupted once more to let him know that his mother was on the phone.

  "Bloody hell! What now?" He signalled his apologies to the meeting with a shrug of the shoulders and came to the phone. "Yes mother."

  I'm sorry to trouble you Warwick," Elsie said, "but it's just that both Margaret and Robert have been to see me and they are both concerned about Andrea's will."

  "Yes. Well, why am I not surprised? Warwick answered. "Her body is still warm, and those two have stepped over her and gone straight to the money pot," he replied in a terse, irritated manner. "Okay, let's have a meeting and get it all out from under the table. Tell them I'll call them and let them know when we can get together for a preliminary briefing."

  "Briefing? Elsie said surprised. "Can't you just tell them what they are inheriting and how long it will take before they see some money."

  "It's not as simple as that mother. Andrea has made provision for them, but there are other factors to consider and there are one or two conditions."

  "Conditions?" Elsie queried.

  "Yes. Look mother, I'm a little tied up at the moment. Perhaps you could call both Robert and Margaret, and let them know that I'm working on it, that I'll be in touch with them in a day or so, to organize a family meeting, where I will be in a position to answer any of their concerns."

  "They both have problems at the moment Warwick. Margaret more so, I think, although if you had seen Robert when he came here yesterday, I think?.

  "Robert came to see you about Andrea?" Warwick interrupted.

  "Yes. I'm a bit worried about him. I think he may be in a spot of bother." Warwick knew his younger brother and his history well enough to know what sort of bother he might have brought upon himself.

  "If I know Robert, it's either gambling debts or a woman or both."

  "Warwick, he's your brother!"

  "Mother, he's a foul-up waiting to happen, that's what he is! Still, you are right. You can let him know that we will meet as a family in a day or so."

  "Well, you should also know that Maria is still in a coma," Elsie said.

  "I can't do anything about that mother. I have to go now," he said,

  rolling his eyes with indifference, and handing the phone back to Jill Toogoods, who was sitting at her desk listening to the entire conversation.

  "Everything all right?" she asked.

  "Yes. Nothing I can't handle," he replied as he looked into her eyes. Jill replaced the receiver and out of sight of anyone in the office, slid her hand into Warwick's hand, and gave it a gentle squeeze.

  "Can we meet tonight?" she asked.

  "Yes," he answered softly. "Susan thinks I have a meeting with the trustees. Can you get Barry Capper on the phone when I finish with the others? I need to clarify a few things before I call a family meeting." Jill nodded. "And please, no more calls until I wrap up in here," he said pointing to the managers' room.

  Michael Anderson had assumed control of the meeting in Warwick's absence and greeted Warwick as he returned. "We think we have a strategy worked out boss. Julie has j
ust spoken with Jim Coutts at the retirement village. He says that Myra Applewood has a history of heart problems. This is her fourth visit to the hospital in twelve months. And yes, she does have a pacemaker, although he has no idea whether that has anything to do with it."

  "Okay, well," Warwick pondered, "that gives you something to work on with the statement. Julie, if anyone from the power company calls, fill them in, otherwise wait until the statement is ready and then give it to me. No, better still, I'll call them and fill them in now. Better they hear it from me, than I hear it from them. Now, there were one or two other matters. Alex, it would help us if you could make some discreet enquiries with someone in the papers, or the television news department, to see if anyone has picked up on the story yet."

  "Right," said Alexander.

  As the meeting continued, Jill Toogoods heard the sound of the lift door opening and automatically fixed her eyes on the office entrance. There were other tenants on the floor, but Steedman and Associates were the closest to the lift and it was always a distraction. Seconds later, a middle aged man entered the office and approached Jill. "Could I talk to Warwick Steedman please?" the man asked.

  "Er, do you have an appointment?" Jill asked, knowing full well he didn't.

  "No, I'm Robert his brother, I just want to see him for a minute." Robert was nervous and unsteady. Jill smelt alcohol in the air.

  "Mr Steedman is tied up in a meeting at the moment. If you would like to leave a message, I'll see to it that he contacts you as soon as he is available," Jill told him. Robert became agitated, and stepped back, seemingly unsure how to handle this rebuttal.

  "He's always in a bloody meeting isn't he?" he slurred. "Just tell him I want to know about the money. Can you do that? Can you tell him that?" Jill held her nerve.

  "Yes, Robert, I can pass that on to him. Perhaps you would like to take a seat and wait for him?" Robert became further agitated and as he swayed from left to right, the smell of alcohol wafted across Jill's desk.

  "I don't want to sit down," he said abruptly, "I want to know about the money, hic."

  Jill maintained her composure although Robert's aggression unsettled her.

  "I take it, he knows where to contact you?" she said. "I'll make sure he calls you the minute he is out of the meeting." Robert stood there for a few moments, staring at her, swaying slightly.

  "Okay, that'll be okay then," he said incoherently. Jill smiled, barely retaining her posture, and watched as Robert made a slow, stumbling exit. When the lift doors finally closed with Robert inside she called Warwick.

  "Your brother Robert was just here asking after you. I think he was drunk," she said.

  "Bloody hell, what did he want?" Warwick sighed.

  "He said he wanted to know about the money. Does that make sense?" Warwick sighed again. "Yes, he's in some sort of trouble I think, and probably sweating on his share of Andrea's estate. Leave it with me. Sorry, you didn't need that did you?" he said. "That's okay. He was gone as quick as he came. I told him you would contact him later," she answered.

  "Okay, thanks, we'll be through here shortly." Jill hung up and began to check her listing for Sinner, Brady & Capper, Trustees for the Estate of Andrea Steedman. She quickly put the incident with Robert behind her. Barry Capper was responsible for the estate with Warwick Steedman as joint executor. Jill had been instrumental in securing Andrea's estate with Sinner, Brady & Capper. Barry Capper was her brother.

  "Good morning Barry, it's Jill here," she said when Barry answered on his direct line. "Hi Jilly, how's things?" Barry's office was located on the fifty-sixth floor of the new Augustine Tower in Lonsdale Street providing a panoramic view of the city and surrounding suburbs, parks and gardens. He swivelled in his chair to face in the general direction of St. Kilda Road where Steedman & Associates were located. "The weather looks good down your way," he added. "Yes it's fine. Just checking to see if you were in. Warwick would like to talk with you shortly, as soon as he comes out of a staff meeting."

  "That's fine. I'll be in all morning. Is it about Andrea's estate?"

  "Yes I think so." Jill replied.

  "Do you know if he's had any luck finding the missing daughter?"

  "That's what he wants to talk to you about I think, as well as one or two other things. Could I meet you somewhere for a quick lunch, say around half twelve?"

  "Arrmmm?sure. Just let me check my diary??yep. Where?"

  Fifteen minutes later, Warwick emerged from the meeting room, with the others trouping out after him. He smiled at Jill as she looked up.

  "Sorry about Robert," he said, "I'll try to see that doesn't happen again. Could you get me Barry now please?" he asked as he moved into his office closing the door after him. While waiting, he pondered the unpredictable nature of Public Relations. 'Some people pay you to get their names in the papers. Others pay you to keep them out. What a circus! Maybe I should move into the trustee business. Sounds less complicated,' he thought to himself. He spent a few moments reflecting on the evolving way he and Robert's lives had developed. While he, Warwick, had applied himself, taken risks, cut a few corners and come out on top of the pile, Robert on the other hand, had sat back waiting for it all to happen. 'Why should I feel sorry for him?' he thought. His reflections were interrupted when Jill buzzed him to advise that Barry Capper was on the line.

  "Morning Barry, how's the air up there in the clouds," he asked as Jill switched him through.

  "Not a cloud in the sky as you well know," Barry answered. Warwick had often made light of the fact that Barry worked so high off the ground, particularly as Barry had said he suffered from vertigo, and swore he would never work in a high-rise tower.

  "Barry, I just want to run one or two things by you about Andrea's estate." Warwick said, not wanting to prolong the conversation.

  "Sure. What do you need to know?" Barry asked.

  "Well, notwithstanding the annuity provisions for Margaret and Robert, is it possible that one or either of them could receive a small lump sum in the interim just to give them something to help through a temporary hardship?"

  "Are they experiencing a hardship?"

  "Not sure. They might be. Robert probably is. He has a history of gambling debts. It's possible he's in trouble again. I'd just like to give them something to settle them down."

  "Well, as I recall, Andrea specifically wanted Robert to have an annuity rather than a lump sum to stop him from throwing it all away in one hit." Barry replied.

  "Yes, I know. It's just that both of them have been in touch with mother wanting information. She said that Robert in particular was anxious to know what he was to receive. He's just been here looking for me, so I suspect he's in debt and in trouble. I'm planning to have a meeting with them, probably tomorrow night if I can get them together, so I can fill them in on some of the detail," Warwick said.

  "Just offhand I don't know if we can do anything other than comply with Andrea's wishes, but I suppose we could extend him a line of credit, tied directly to the annuity. How much were you thinking of?" Barry asked. "Could we go to ten thousand, say?" Warwick asked. "I wouldn't want it to be more than a few thousand. We are not exactly in the credit business," Barry said. "I'll have another look at it. I suppose if push came to shove, we could approve a one-off payment of ten thousand, and deduct that from the annuity. It means they would get less each month though," he said. "Yes I'm sure you could," Warwick answered. "They don't know how much they are getting each month anyway," he added. "Do they know about Mary Therese?" Barry asked.

  "No. That's the other thing I wanted to talk to you about. I have a friend, Brad Murphy; he's trying to locate Mary Therese by doing some door-knocking for me in Brisbane, but incredibly the building where most of the adoption records were stored burned down last night."

  "You're kidding?"

  "No, I wish I was. That fire might have destroyed some vital information. There is another lead that Brad is going to follow up on. I have the name of the person w
ho handled the adoption twenty odd years ago."

  "How did you get hold of that?"

  "Andrea told me the day she died."

  "Okay, then." Barry concluded. "You need to tell the family about Mary Therese, and the sooner the better. The annuity calculations must include her, so they have to know, and Andrea has also left her one of the residential properties in Melbourne. I'll take a second look at the terms of the will to see if there's any leeway on how the annuity is to be managed and you get back to me if you hear anymore from your friend in Brisbane. What's your plan with the land at Baldargo?"

  "Still working on that," Warwick replied.

  "Incidentally," Barry added, "I'm having lunch with Jill today. If anything else pops up between now and then, just ask her to pass it on." Warwick nodded thoughtfully. "Okay," he said.

  Following the phone call with Barry Capper, Warwick hung up and cleared his desk. He then called Jill back into his office.

  "Jill, I want you to take down a letter for me. It's a personal letter to that idiot taxi driver who smashed into me the other day, so don't use company stationary, use my private letterhead." Jill nodded and sat down opposite Warwick, who began to dictate.

  "It's to a Mr. Julian Knowles, at 51 Reagan Street in Doncaster. Dear Mr. Knowles. I am writing to you in reference to the most unfortunate motor accident you were responsible for on the night of Monday, 14th March. Notwithstanding third party comprehensive insurance claims that are being prepared, I wish to draw your attention to the unintended consequences of your carelessness. These include, but by no means total, time lost, personal trauma to myself and my wife, and the resultant impact of my absence from my business operations. I wish to advise that it is my intention to bring an action against you to claim compensation in respect of this horrendous experience. If however you are willing to settle this matter privately, I would be prepared to accept an amount of Ten thousand dollars as appropriate settlement. Should you chose not to acknowledge this offer, I will instruct my solicitors to commence proceedings against you. Signed, Yours Sincerely, etcetera, etcetera. You can finish it off," he said to Jill.

  Jill finished the transcription and looked up. "I don't think you can do this," she said. "I don't think this will work."

  "Don't worry about it," Warwick said. "Just type it up. You never know. It might turn out to be worth it." Jill raised her eyebrows, but chose not to debate the point. "Okay I'll type it up and hold it for you, in case you change your mind," she said, leaving Warwick's office.

  Warwick sat there for a few moments, before picking up the telephone and dialling. A few moments later, he spoke into the receiver. "I'm on my way," he said, and hung up. He put on his suit coat, and placed some papers into his briefcase, before speaking briefly with Jill Toogoods again. "Jill, I'm going out for an hour or so. Have a nice lunch with your brother. See you later." He then left the office.

  18.