Breath of Corruption

by Caro Fraser

  He rose and strolled to the foot of the gardens and along the broad gravel walk, then across the grass towards the pond and the statue of the little boy which stood as a memorial to Charles Lamb. The pond had been rebuilt in the millennium year, and a fountain added, and Leo reflected that its bright waters might still be splashing two hundred years hence, and seem as much a part of the Inn’s history as the rest of it. The little boy in the statue was holding an open book – although he had passed it many times, Leo had never looked to see what might be written on its pages. He did so now, and saw Lamb’s words engraved there: ‘Lawyers, I suppose, were children once.’

  He walked back round the gardens, and by the time he had reached the gates once more, he had decided that he had no real wish to join Roger in his virtual chambers, with its efficient working practices, its members toiling away in the seclusion of their own ambitions for greater profits, their working days shorn of the pleasures of a place such as this. What would his working life be, after all, without the stimulus of the Temple and its inhabitants, and the beauty of its buildings, courts and gardens? It would be work and no more, and solitary work at that. No, thought Leo, Oliver would have to forego the pleasure of being picked up by his father each day from school. He wasn’t ready to jack this all in just yet.

  He glanced at his watch, saw it was ten to two, and went back to chambers. Anthony was returning to his room with a cup of coffee as Leo came upstairs, looking subdued. ‘You OK?’ Anthony asked him.

  ‘Sort of. Remember that Ukrainian I told you about – the one who came to the house? I’ve just been taking a stroll round Inner Temple Gardens with him.’

  ‘Good God,’ said Anthony, opening his door. ‘Come in and tell me about it.’

  Leo sat down in a chair opposite Anthony’s desk and told him about Irina’s arrival at his house, and his meeting with Viktor Kroitor.

  ‘I don’t understand,’ said Anthony. ‘Why didn’t you just call the police?’

  ‘I had no idea of his whereabouts. The girl Irina was pretty much disoriented – she had no idea where she’d been kept. All I had was this mobile phone which the girl gave me. At least it was a way of getting hold of him.’

  ‘But the police might have been able to trace him through the phone. I don’t know. Or maybe if you’d let them speak to the girl—’

  ‘Oh, for Christ’s sake, Anthony! Don’t you understand? I don’t care about Viktor Kroitor! I don’t care whether he’s selling girls, drugs or AK-42 rifles! I only care about my son, and putting a stop to the threats to his safety. Christ, ever since that conference on Tuesday with Sir Dudley, when I indicated that I knew what he was up to—’

  ‘I told you – you did the right thing.’

  Leo gave an irritable sigh. ‘So you’ve already said. But it was only later that I realised that I’d put the wind up Sir Dudley, and that I might just have achieved the opposite of what I’d intended. What if he told Viktor Kroitor to do as he’d threatened? I had to talk to Kroitor, to convince him he had everything to lose.’

  ‘And did you?’

  ‘Yes – I think so. Kroitor doesn’t work for Sir Dudley. As I had suspected, it’s rather the other way round, though they have shared interests. He uses Sir Dudley’s company – or companies – to launder his criminal profits. He’s by no means a stupid man.

  ‘I’ve pretty much made him see that I’m irrelevant. In fact, I get the impression that it’s Sir Dudley he blames for jeopardising affairs.’

  ‘Oh dear.’

  Leo shrugged. ‘I don’t care. Just as I don’t care about Kroitor.’ His eyes met Anthony’s. ‘You think that’s immoral, don’t you? You think I’ve shirked my duty to help put a stop to organised crime by putting my interests first.’ He rose from his chair with a sigh. ‘I don’t know what’s bloody well right or wrong these days. I just know I want to get on with my life in peace.’ He paced the room for a moment, detesting the silence, and the sense that Anthony was judging him. At last he said, ‘Oh for God’s sake – say what you think.’

  Mildly surprised, Anthony replied, ‘I’m sorry, I was thinking about something else entirely. I was thinking about Roger’s proposal, and wondering if you’d come to a decision yet. But you probably haven’t had time to think about it, with all that’s been going on—’

  ‘No, no,’ sighed Leo, ‘I’ve been thinking about it in the last half hour, as it happens.’

  ‘And?’

  ‘I don’t think I’m going to buy into it, after all. They all see it as an escape, a way of avoiding all the unsatisfactory aspects of chambers life. But that means leaving behind all the good things – things which don’t necessarily manifest themselves in terms of money or efficiency. This place, for instance. This world. I like it too much. I like talking to people, and seeing them every day. I like seeing you.’ He glanced at Anthony’s face, unable to decipher his expression. ‘What? Are you disappointed?’

  ‘In a way.’ Anthony hesitated. ‘I had this idea, you see – OK, probably utterly ridiculous—’ He stopped again, evidently mildly embarrassed.

  ‘Go on. Tell me.’

  ‘Well, I had this idea that if we left Caper Court and joined Roger’s virtual chambers, that we might work together. Be together. You and I.’ His eyes met Leo’s.

  ‘It would be nice,’ said Leo. How inadequate the words were. How ridiculously paltry as a means of expressing how much he would have liked to share his entire world with Anthony. But such a step, such an enormous emotional and physical step, would destroy the fragile compromise with Rachel, who had the power to remove Oliver from his life for good, if she chose to. It wasn’t a risk he could ever afford to take, no matter how much he might have wanted to. ‘It would have been nice, I mean. But as things are—’ Leo moved away from the window, aware that he mustn’t, above all, let this become a moment of weakness. ‘The status quo must prevail, I’m afraid.’

  Anthony nodded. He had just about laid his heart on the line. Leo’s pragmatic response had left him numb. ‘Of course.’

  ‘Anyway, I have to get on. See you about.’

  Leo left the room. He stood on the landing for some moments, listening to the various sounds of chambers – a door closing somewhere, Peter whistling as he went downstairs with a stack of briefs, the faint sound of two of the girls talking as they made coffee in the kitchen – and fought the urge to go back into Anthony’s room and say, yes. Yes, come and be with me, work with me, exist with me. Love me. No good, he thought at last. No good. Where Anthony was concerned, it was all too little or not enough.

  After a few moments he turned and went upstairs to his room. Too much of the day had been spent on other business. He had to get some work done before the chambers’ meeting at half five.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

  The chambers’ meeting was to be held in one of the conference rooms, and barristers began to drift in shortly before the appointed time, chatting and finding seats. Leo was just about to leave his room to chair the meeting, when Henry knocked. He handed Leo an envelope. ‘Mr Faber asked me to give you this, sir.’

  ‘Thank you, Henry.’

  When Henry had left, Leo opened the envelope and read its contents. Then he folded it up, slipped it into his jacket pocket, and went to the conference room.

  ‘Are we all here?’ asked Leo, taking his seat and slipping on his spectacles as he glanced round the long oval table.

  ‘All except Maurice,’ said Simon.

  ‘Maurice won’t be joining us,’ said Leo. He took the letter from his pocket. ‘I received his letter of resignation just a moment ago.’ A murmur of consternation rippled round the room. ‘I shall read it to you.’

  Leo read out the letter; its contents were perfunctory, and its tone amiable and unapologetic. Maurice said that in the light of recent events he had decided that in the circumstances it would be best if he were to leave chambers, that he had much enjoyed his time at 5 Caper Court, and that he wished everyone well for the future.

 
; Leo folded the letter up. ‘In the light of this I don’t see any point in dwelling on the events of the past few days. Suffice to say that the relevant committees will meet to deal with outstanding issues relating to Maurice’s finances. In the meantime, there is the matter of the unauthorised access by one member of chambers of another member’s computer.’ Leo cast a glance in Roger’s direction. ‘Roger, I think you have something to say to us?’

  Henry and Felicity glanced up expectantly as Leo came into the clerks’ room half an hour later. He came over to where they were working and sat on the edge of Felicity’s desk.

  ‘Well, that’s that,’ he told them. ‘Maurice is leaving chambers.’

  ‘What? He announced that at the meeting?’

  ‘He didn’t attend. He gave Henry a letter.’

  ‘I had a hunch about that letter,’ observed Henry. ‘He gave it me as he was going out at lunchtime. I said, “By the way, sir, are there any other matters we should know about?” He knew I was talking about those fee notes. He gave me such a look.’

  ‘Cheeky sod,’ said Felicity. ‘I’m surprised he’s leaving, though. I thought he had all kinds of excuses?’

  ‘All kinds, and all somewhat bogus,’ said Leo. ‘I think he knew his position was untenable.’

  Felicity leant her chin on her hand. ‘He’d got a nerve, billing direct like that. Then again, I’m sometimes amazed you lot don’t do more of it. I mean, if Mr Fry hadn’t done what he did, no one would have known. How much did it all add up to? Half a million nearly, wasn’t it?’

  ‘If we all just looked out for our own self-interest, the whole point of chambers would collapse. It’s a team game. Maurice forgot that.’

  ‘He was a stirrer, anyway. He made more trouble round here than you know about, Mr Davies,’ said Felicity darkly.

  ‘Well, he won’t make any more. By the way, what happened to that application notice I gave you earlier? It needs to be served by Monday.’

  ‘Right on top of it, Mr D,’ said Felicity briskly.

  A few moments later Leo was checking the contents of his pigeonhole when Anthony came into the clerks’ room.

  ‘That was an interesting little meeting, wasn’t it?’

  ‘Something of a surprise, Maurice departing so quickly,’ said Leo.

  ‘Someone said there have been rumours that he’s been in talks with Matrix Chambers for a while now.’

  ‘Double hearsay, Anthony – you know how unreliable that is.’

  ‘I’ll bet it’s true, though. He hasn’t been happy since he lost the vote on becoming head of chambers.’

  ‘He’s been a difficult man to live with, certainly. But I’ll miss his expertise on the marketing side of things. We’ll need to find someone else to take that on.’ Leo reflected for a moment. ‘Do you suppose Roger and the others would have become so restless if it hadn’t been for Maurice?’

  ‘I don’t think it would have made any difference. They’re pretty much set on this virtual chambers project. I hadn’t expected Roger to lay his cards on the table at today’s meeting, though.’

  ‘I think he felt it was timely,’ said Leo. ‘More than a few members of chambers thought that going into Maurice’s computer was pretty reprehensible. Personally, I thought it was merely daft.’ He glanced at Anthony. ‘You haven’t had second thoughts about joining them?’

  Anthony met his gaze. ‘You know I haven’t. I’m happy here.’

  ‘Good,’ nodded Leo. ‘Good.’ There was a pause. ‘Free for a drink?’

  ‘Absolutely.’

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

  That evening Anthea went to see Lola. She hadn’t heard from Leo since Wednesday evening, when she’d hung up on him, and although she’d told him that she never wanted to see him in her life again, she had expected him to make a bit more effort. But there had simply been silence. She’d had thoughts of going round and gouging Lucy’s evil eyes out with one of her school pencils but, cathartic and pleasurable as such an act might be, it would also constitute an acknowledgement that her own younger sister had managed to rob, crush, humiliate and hurt her, and she was not prepared openly to concede this, certainly not in front of their mother.

  So she repaired to Lola’s in search of the customary comforts, and took as a present for her friend a nifty Marc Jacobs dress which she’d been given as a freebie at a fashion shoot that day. Possibly a little on the small side, but Lolly might as well try it on.

  She arrived at Lola’s penthouse to find Lola and a very pretty dark-haired girl watching a rerun of Project Catwalk on Sky.

  Lola kissed her friend, then made introductions. ‘Ant, darling, this is Irina. I met her at Leo’s house. She’s staying with me for a couple of days. Irina, this is Anthea – she’s Leo’s girlfriend.’

  Irina shook Anthea’s slim, cool hand. ‘You are lucky,’ she said tentatively. ‘He is lovely man.’

  ‘Not the word I would use,’ said Anthea, still busy unravelling Lola’s introduction. ‘And I’m not his girlfriend – not any more.’ She turned to Lola. ‘What d’you mean, you met her at Leo’s house? Is this another one he hasn’t told me about?’ Anthea gave a little sigh of confusion and despair and handed Lola the Marc Jacobs bag. ‘Here, this is for you. Have you got any wine open? I need a drink.’ She sank down on a sofa, kicking off her shoes and stretching out her legs.

  ‘Darling, thank you – I’ll open it in a moment. I thought you’d have spoken to Leo by now. He said it was all sorted out.’ Lola disappeared in the direction of the kitchen, calling out, ‘Shall we have some champers? It is Friday, after all.’ She reappeared a moment later with a chilled bottle of Taittinger, one of a stack she kept in the fridge. Irina stared in astonishment. How rich this girl was! She’d already had a tour of Lola’s enormous walk-in closet and marvelled at the racks of expensive clothes and shoes.

  ‘What do you mean – all sorted out?’ said Anthea. ‘I haven’t spoken to him since I saw you. When did you see him?’ Her eyes strayed in the direction of the television. ‘D’you think Liz Hurley’s had a boob job?’

  ‘No – not perky enough. Last night. Hold on – I’ll get some glasses. You pop the cork.’

  Irina watched as Anthea wedged the bottle between her slim thighs and prised the cork out with practised ease. Lola came back with glasses and set them out on the coffee table, grinning at Irina. ‘Isn’t this fun? Anthea and I find any old excuse for champers.’ She poured the champagne, continuing to Anthea, ‘Leo told me Lucy had admitted to him she’d been lying her head off – like that’s unusual – and that he’d sent you a text. Haven’t you spoken to her?’

  ‘I haven’t spoken to anyone. I’ve been too miserable. My God, I was a wreck today – the make-up artist had to use about a gallon of Touche Éclat. Anyway, I deleted his text without reading it. I knew it was just him trying to get off the hook.’

  ‘Well, give the man a chance! He said you should talk to Lucy.’

  ‘Talk to that little bitch? As if.’

  Irina had been sitting mystified, unable to follow the speed of their chatter. Anthea caught her dazed expression and lifted her glass in Irina’s direction. ‘Cheers, sweetie. Don’t look so stunned. What’s her name again? Irina. OK, here’s to you, Irina.’ Then Anthea turned to Lola. ‘You still haven’t told me how you came to meet her at Leo’s.’

  Lola swallowed a hasty mouthful of champagne. ‘You are not going to believe this story!’ And she recounted everything which Leo had told her, with a few embellishments, with Irina nodding away in confirmation of such parts as she could understand.

  When Lola had finished, Anthea gazed at Irina in shock and pity. ‘Oh, you poor girl! That is so horrible! What did Leo say he was going to do?’

  Irina shrugged. ‘He say he get my passport.’

  ‘I can’t imagine how he thinks he’s going to do that,’ murmured Anthea.

  They discussed the matter for some time, pouring out glasses of champagne, asking Irina questions about her home, and her life be
fore London. ‘Darling,’ said Anthea, ‘you truly don’t want to work as a cabaret dancer. I mean, truly, truly.’

  ‘Is lot of money,’ said Irina. ‘I need money to study.’

  ‘What were you studying – before you came here?’

  ‘Medicine. Is very expensive. I cannot buy books.’

  Lola and Anthea exchanged glances. ‘Well,’ said Lola, ‘books can’t cost much more than champagne. I think you should go back and try to finish your studies.’ She picked up the empty bottle and shook it, then noticed the Marc Jacobs bag. ‘Oh, let’s see what you brought me!’ She took out the dress and held it up. ‘Ant, it’s divine! What size is it? Oh God! I can’t get into a ten, you know I can’t.’ She glanced at Irina. ‘I’ll bet you’re a ten, Irina. Would you like to try it on?’

  Irina smiled and nodded. ‘Go on, then – hop off to the bedroom and slip it on.’

  A few minutes later Irina came back in the dress, which fitted beautifully.

  ‘Baby, it’s yours,’ said Lola. ‘In fact—’ She got up. ‘Come on – I’m going to raid my wardrobe and give you every size ten I’ve got. Time I gave up pretending I’m going to diet and get into them one day.’