by Lj McEvoy
The papers had a field day when it was leaked how much this new refurbishment cost, even Paul remembered gulping when he saw the near million figure and with all the cutbacks supposedly happening within the public service, it was not a good day for PR.
An Taoiseach looked up then turned toward Paul, with a familiar devilish grin stretched across his face, ‘I wasn’t going to give you this job you know,’ his short tubby fingers tapping on the folder in a rhythm as if he was still contemplating the matter.
Paul was beginning to feel uneasy and about to interrupt to ask what job when An Taoiseach held his hand up to continue, ‘but I know you’re perfect for this position - despite what some advisors are saying.’
Paul curiously looked at An Taoiseach, of course he knew about Paul’s relationship but it was kept discreetly under wraps. Paul ensured no one outside of his family would ever know, so what was the hell was An Taoiseach talking about?
The brown folder was pushed towards Paul, reluctantly leaning forward he immediately slipped off the thick elastic bands and opened the file while disquietly eyeing An Taoiseach. Photographs of a family he knew and a woman he once loved were glaring out at him, his jaw dropped - so his counsel was right when he was advised not to go to Peter Connolly’s funeral, the pit of his stomach started to churn.
His eyes grew into large dinner plates rather than saucers as he read the incriminating start of the report, the look of disbelief on his face was pretty evident. ‘Oh Christ Lauren,’ immediately grimacing because of the fact he said the name out loud then looking despondently at An Taoiseach who in turn knew of Paul’s concern.
‘Don’t worry according to that file and to our knowledge she and her children are the unfortunate innocent party in this embarrassing mess and safely tucked away in the south of France at the moment. Albeit on a long holiday but my contacts say the holiday co-insides with a view to moving there permanently.’ An Taoiseach paused for a second but then decided to add, ‘Lauren may be innocent but by God she aided and abetted in setting up an extremely difficult contract.’
‘Embarrassing mess!’ Paul was surprised and confused at those words, ‘but it’s not this government’s fault Maguire’s Export has this contract with us. That’s the fault of the opposition when they were in government and … and Lauren was just doing her job,’ he protested feeling the need to defend his old friend - a natural instinct especially when it’s just been stated that she was an innocent party.
He was beginning to get anxious now, will he ever find out what his new role in Government was going to be or was An Taoiseach going to continue playing this guessing game, this was not the type of meeting he was expecting.
‘Yes I know,’ An Taoiseach sighed, ‘but despite all efforts their services are still being used, legally they have to be we can’t get out of the god-damned contract any other way. I want it finished Paul!’ he said angrily sitting up straight, ‘every resource you have, everything you need to do. I want you to do it and close this case, efficiently and as discreetly as possible. As quickly as possible,’ lowering his tone he hit the desk as he delivered Paul’s first assignment, ‘I’m putting my trust in you, as you once did in me. Kill this problem now and for God’s sake don’t let it get out. This is one piece of news I want under wraps Paul, the public are not to know. God knows we have enough public tribunals and protests to handle at the moment.’
Paul cleared his throat, ‘Are you going to tell me what my new title is, that is if I have one. I … I mean the rumours, I mean…’ Oh shit Paul what exactly do you mean feeling his face go red – ‘are you back in school or what,’ he scolded himself!
An Taoiseach relaxed slightly with an almost apologetic look on his face, ‘I’m sorry Paul but the rumours aren’t true I want you to be second to the Minister.’
There was silence for a minute or two the two men just stared at each other, then just as Paul worked out the correct response and tried to express an appeal or debate the decision An Taoiseach immediately pressed a button on his intercom. The action resulted in one of the side doors opening, Paul didn’t even realise it was a door.
‘Allow me to introduce Commissioner Corcoran Head of An Garda Siochana, Deputy Commissioner Childers in charge of operations, Deputy Commissioner Thompson in charge of Strategic and Resource Management and Detective Inspector O’Reilly.’ An Taoiseach leaned back in his large leather chair secretly he sometimes loved seeing people writhe with discomfort. ‘Gotta keep them in their place,’ thinking contently. ‘I hope you will enjoy each other’s company, you’ll be meeting a lot in private and of course in public.’
Turning to the men now filing into the room he stated, ‘Gentlemen, welcome and please come and greet our new Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform.’
Confused, Paul quickly turned to face the head of his government.
‘Privately I want you answerable to the former Minister of Justice and me but in the meantime – meet and greet!’ An Taoiseach gestured his hands towards the new arrivals in his office.
Watching Paul shake the hands of his new colleagues, An Taoiseach knew it was a cruel test to play on him but he wanted to see Paul’s reaction to both the file and a sidestep, would it just be disappointment or would Paul lose his temper and try to persuade him to rethink. An Taoiseach knew straight away by Paul’s body motion that it was disappointment and that Paul had the knack to think before arguing his point, An Taoiseach’s own ability to read people was one of the reasons why he was now in this position of head of the Irish Government. He knew who his genuine supporters were and his ability to pre-empt questions from reporters was renowned. ‘He’s a good lad’ he thought to himself, ‘perhaps my successor if…. no, that’ll never happen. Persuasions, in Paul’s eyes are for his policies and beliefs and he was there for me when I needed support, Paul believed in me and persuaded others to follow in that belief. I’ll try my damnest to be there for him when he needs me and that could happen at any time, I’m taking a big risk with you my son, a big risk.’
‘Right Gentlemen, down to business there’s a lot to cover and I have 30 minutes before I must leave for Brussels.’
Paul left the office nearly an hour later, his jubilation now overshadowed by the battered folder he carried under his arm and two USB keys safely in his jacket pocket. He could hear the sirens outside as An Taoiseach sped out of the grounds to the airport, there will a lot of disgruntled travellers in the airport today, delays did not create happy passengers and Paul knew An Taoiseach’s private jet would get priority in the flight slots. ‘How the hell am I going to sort this mess out?’ His thoughts turned to Lauren, ‘could he help her? And probably just as importantly, could she help him?’
Lauren Maguire Connolly was one of the closest friends he ever had; they shared something special never forgetting each other over the years. Surprised to hear that she was now planning to live in France, it was only now the realisation dawned on him that over the past two years or so that they had somehow lost the genuine contact of close friends. But to just up and leave like that without even a goodbye, it was something he found hard to believe Lauren could do to him. Why would she do such a thing, after all he did for her and visa versa?
The last time they spoke was last March when he telephoned her to offer his condolences on hearing of Peter’s death and of course, to give his excuses for not attending the funeral. His counsel advised him not to attend but gave no reason except to indicate it was to do with a clash of their work and Peter’s business dealings. But now he knew why, Paul wanted to talk more needing advice on his next line of action.
He hesitated stopping his slow walk towards his office, should he explain why? His counsel will understand, yes they will he shouldn’t doubt that, after all his relationship with Lauren was in the past. And Paul had a point to prove – he is the new Minister for Justice, unlike others who considered An Taoiseach being the pinnacle of their political trade the Justice Department was something Paul aimed for since starting his c
areer in politics. Earlier he thought today was going to be the day and now despite his cautiousness… it hadn’t been too much to expect after all.
‘Don’t count your chickens until they’re hatched,’ as his partner would say even though they did think the same earlier. Quietly laughing at some of the silly old phrases they came out with, always trying to be philosophical always trying to have a double meaning, he knew of another person like that and now Paul was carrying her picture in a police investigation file.
Thinking back to when he first met Lauren he smiled remembering the shock and objections of his conservative, religious parents when he informed them he was dating Gerard Maguire’s daughter. Paul knew the objection was more to do with Lauren’s parents, their business tactics and Gerard’s renowned binges in the local pub. But even though he and Lauren were only seventeen, she knew when to act mature in the right company. And he knew his parents were reserved but admittedly impressed when he brought her to their party’s annual political conference dinner, she looked so elegant out of her school uniform thoroughly enjoying exchanging viewpoints with his father on his favourite subject of Irish poets. When they were alone her joy of life, her free soul and almost childlike teasing helped him through some very difficult stages in his late teens and early twenties even when he became practically reclusive during the final years of his law studies.
‘Then there was that first time,’ he sighed leaning on one of the tall roman column pillars at the top of the winding stairs that led to some of the offices. Paul was unaware of the curious stares from passers-by as he recollected that special feeling; it still caused butterflies to bounce around inside him.
It was their eighteenth birthday, being born on the same day was a co-incidence they loved to boast and joke about.
‘I’m the eldest, I make the decisions,’ Lauren would try to pull rank on him.
‘Only by a few hours,’ was Paul’s usual response but she always won and got her way. The amount of chick flicks he saw would drive any young guy mentally unstable!
But instead of the usual big eighteenth party business, Lauren wanted to spend that special birthday alone with him. It was only as she lay asleep in his arms did he realise what he was missing and that it was exactly what Lauren planned as her own birthday present to herself. His face flushed with embarrassment as he remembered admitting to her his feelings, of how he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her but at the time he didn’t blush, he felt so at ease with her - it felt so right. ‘How we say so much at that vulnerable time, how we’re so confident that we can keep the promises we make, it’s only with maturity do we realise the sometime impossibility of it all,’ he regretfully thought. Coming back to present day his eyes darted from side to side now realising the curious looks he was getting, clearing his throat he checked himself and continued walking towards his office.
He often wondered why they drifted apart but with his law and political studies and Lauren wanting to travel ‘to see the world!’ she would exclaim, another one of her many plans in life he chuckled; they became more friends than lovers. Then of course Peter Connolly stepped onto the scene and after six months of an extremely quick courtship Lauren turned twenty-seven and she married Peter, ‘was that another one of her plans’ he wondered, but then there was that time… Paul checked himself. ‘No! Forget about that!’
Financially and through canvassing Lauren helped him throughout his political career never asking for anything in return, not even some connections in government for her family business and very often she was there when he just needed to talk to someone, she’s a special, loyal friend so what was he going to do now?
As he entered his small junior ministerial office, he looked around noticing his secretary’s desk was already cleared with several over-packed boxes sitting neatly on her desk and on the floor, three thick black letters ‘DOJ’ were wrote on the sides of each box along with his name. Mairead was down on her knees behind his desk, packing his files into yet another box. There were more collapsed cartons on the floor ready to be fixed up and packed. She didn’t notice him coming in so he sat on the desk leaning over towards her.
‘I didn’t realise we had so much in this little office.’ As soon as it dawned on her he was there, she embarrassingly looked up to him, he laughed, ‘the announcement won’t be until tonight and we can’t move into the Justice Department’s office until tomorrow you know.’ On seeing the questioning look on her face he proudly confirmed, ‘yep, the top slot!’
Chapter 5
October 2011 Paris - David Corvasieur closely watched his legal team as they spoke to the Judge hoping they knew what they were doing, ‘they sound as if they know what they’re doing,’ he reassured himself. Solemnly turning to the man sitting up on the podium to see if he could read the judge’s reaction and get more encouragement, he sighed noting how the face studiously taking notes was expressionless, an expert in his field the judge gave nothing away. ‘It’s probably the one and only profession in France where we don’t overly express ourselves,’ David felt his body grow languish resigning to that thought.
It was looking bad, extremely bad, David’s soon to be ex-wife employed one of the best and one the most expensive solicitors in France, ‘I’ll probably get the bill for that too,’ he ruefully thought. David curiously watched the man as he carried out his work thoroughly, the research was acute, definitely cut the jugular and leave it to flow business. Three alleged affairs in nearly ten years of marriage with the one true affair still on-going, how could he have been so stupid now everything could be lost.
At the moment, everything to David was full access to his two children. As with French law, all other matters were settled the day they got married - the regime matrimonial, he and Francoise had unusually chosen the regime de la separation des biens where each partner retained their own past and future assets, for Francoise it was mainly on the advice of her family to protect her inheritance. And even though he was advised not to David decided Francoise didn’t deserve this, offering some of the property and money he gained from his successful acting career and investments. He didn’t care anymore if his accountant was suffering from stress Francoise needed some financial back-up if she is going to start a new life without him, especially now her father had squandered the inheritance on bad investments before he kicked the bucket.
But the stickler now was full-visiting rights to Pierre and Chantal – to lose this no way he couldn’t accept it, he wouldn’t bloody allow it. Okay so he understood now the reasons why his marriage fell apart. At first he was stubborn to the reasoning from his father and friends, could she not just accept the fact he was famous, this was the lifestyle that gave her the comforts she was accustomed to. A reality check made him rethink that, she was never one for airs and graces, all the frivolous presents, the expensive jewellery and perfumes – she would never bat an eyelid, her feet were firmly on the ground, perhaps it was her family background, perhaps it just simply his beautiful wife. ‘Francoise, you were a true and honest friend I’ll miss you so much,’ he thought.
Throughout the court proceedings the realisation dawned on him but he put on a brave face, his brothers Joel and Claude seemed surprisingly proud of him. In France it was acceptable by some even making a married man’s standing more reputable the more mistresses he had. He could see them snigger and joke as each alleged lover’s name was read out and the history and photographs were given in as evidence of his ‘shocking behaviour and disrespect towards his wife and children’ as Francoise’s solicitor so insistently stated throughout the proceedings. But are my brothers laughing at me or my prowess, he attempted a smile in their direction needing to put up a front while inside his stomach was truly churning to sour cheese.
He felt he was going to vomit, maybe he should’ve accepted Francoise’s offer of a weekend with the children every month, merde sometimes with this career that would be more often than when we were together as a supposedly happily married couple.
But
he had his pride and what would his family think if he didn’t put up a fight, but then again they probably would understand. ‘Mon Dieu, David what are you doing even the kids want to be with Francoise! You’re a stranger to them an occasional visitor who they name Papa. And with your work, how the hell could you take care of them properly.’ David rubbed his forehead harshly, once again, he knew he’d gone that one step too far, taking a stand then with hindsight knowing that he’d let his pride and emotions take over his better judgement.
Finally his representative finished his speech there was an awkward silence in the courtroom with just the rustling of papers disturbing the tense hush. David inquisitively looked across to Francoise, ‘does she feel as uncertain as I do?’ But just like the previous day she stared straight ahead only responding to her solicitor and the Judge, never looking in his direction.
David noticed she was wearing a classic Dior black suit, I’ve never seen those clothes before either, her long black hair shined as it streamed silently down her small back to her waistline. Her make-up was soft just enough to highlight her full lips and chestnut eyes, always describing her eyes that way they were too beautiful to him to be called just dark brown. She looked wonderful he admitted just like she always did, a woman who always cared and expressed herself to the best of her ability, she’s a natural she never has to try, ‘Christ David look at what you’re losing, what you’ve lost.’
Checking his watch the Judge noted with surprise it was close to his two hour lunch break so hastily ended the proceedings by stating that he wished to re-read the report on the children’s preferences, his judgement would be delivered that afternoon. The assembled rose with relief sweeping through the courtroom, except that is for David.