Facing the Music

by Brian Smith

  ‘Do come in, Mike,’ she said in a voice and with a look that told him she was curious as to why he had phoned her husband so early in the morning. She took him through to the back room where Jim, dressed much more casually in a grey tracksuit, stood waiting for him.

  ‘G’day, Mike,’ he said. ‘Seems ages since I last saw you. Come and sit over here.’

  He gave Mike his disarming, shaggy smile as they shook hands, but there was something in his eyes: he was anxious about something. It could be he was embarrassed to be receiving Mike when he had been suspended or thought Mike was here to complain about Ben’s treatment of him. Jim carefully lowered himself on to a straight-backed chair and waved Mike into the padded chair opposite him.

  ‘I didn’t knock Ben off his bike,’ Mike said.

  ‘No, I know you didn’t. I’m sorry.’ Jim looked even more sheepish than before. How did he know? Had Ben changed his mind? Was that why he was apologising?

  ‘I know it must be a bit awkward for you, letting me come here when I’ve been suspended.’

  ‘No, that’s OK, Mike. I think I might know why you’re here. That’s what’s awkward for me.’ So he did expect Mike to be complaining about Ben. ‘Best, Mike, you say what you’ve come to say.’

  ‘I’ve come to tell you Vern is trying to white-ant the company and he must be stopped.’

  Mike prepared himself for the hostile rejection of his claim and was staggered to find Jim ruefully shaking his head.

  ‘Yeah, I thought that was why you’d come. I’m told you’ve got a recording of this man, Sarac, telling you about it.’

  Recovering from his surprise, Mike recalled that Mancini had his own source embedded in the police force. Now Jim. Mike looked at him steadily.

  ‘Would you like to hear it?’

  ‘Yes, I would. And if you don’t mind I’d like Vern to hear it as well.’

  This time Mike was not surprised. It was typical of Jim to give Vern the opportunity to explain himself. This was going to be even more awkward than he’d expected. Vern was sure to try to wriggle out of it.

  ‘Darling,’ Jim called, and Judith appeared immediately – she must have been outside waiting for the call. ‘Would you ask Vern to join us, please? And I reckon we could do with a cuppa as well.’

  ‘Tea or coffee, Mike?’ she asked. ‘I know what the others have.’

  Vern entered the room and nodded to Mike.

  ‘I’m sorry about this, Mike.’

  It was the morning for everyone to apologise.

  Mike addressed himself directly to Jim. ‘Before I play you the recording, I need to give you a fair bit of background so you’ll properly understand what led to the conversation.’

  ‘I think I’ve pretty well got the background, thanks Mike. If I need to, I’ll ask questions as we go along.’

  Further surprised and nonplussed, Mike busied himself with setting up the laptop he had brought with him and loading the contents of the data stick. Before he could start playing the conversation, Judith returned with a tray containing three cups – she must have had their drinks already prepared. This whole thing had been set up well before he arrived.

  Mike carefully watched the other two listeners as the recording played. Jim sat with his head bowed as though deep in thought and Mike was unable to gauge his reaction. Vern was more animated, gazing thoughtfully at Mike when Sarac was describing his suspicions of Shane and the beating before his death. His mood appeared to lighten when the conversation moved on to him and he even gave an amused grin when Sarac described how Vern aimed to oust him. Mike couldn’t help admiring his coolness. When the recording finished Vern was the first to speak.

  ‘I bet there was a lot of interest in the recording at police headquarters.’

  ‘Yes, there was,’ Mike replied. Was it going to be up to him to state the obvious –that Vern had been caught out?

  ‘Did they tell you not to share it with anyone else?’

  The gall of this man. Here he was trying to put Mike in the wrong, while Jim sat there like he was watching a show on TV.

  ‘They said something like that, but I felt I owed it to Jim to let him know what you were up to as soon as I could.’ Surely that would get this strange meeting back to the real agenda.

  Vern nodded as if agreeing with him. ‘Yeah, I’d do the same. I just want to make the point that this conversation, just like your recording, has to remain between us. I want to tell you what I have been up to – Jim already knows. My long time golfing partner, Assistant Commissioner Paul Jones, and I have shared our problems and advised one another over many years. Quite recently he told me he had intelligence that Kane, well known to the police, had moved into the building industry but Paul didn’t know any details. The police have been trying to nail Kane for a long time, but he covers his tracks very well and, without any evidence of wrongdoing, the police can’t require a private firm to open its books to them. When I heard some of what was going on at Rubicon, I suspected Kane might be involved and when we began to have our problems, I thought he might be moving on us. So I came to Jim and told him I wanted to present myself as a target for Kane. It all moved much faster than I imagined it would. I hoped I would learn enough on Sunday to give the police some detail of what he was up to, but almost before we got started young Reardon burst on to the scene. I guess you were there, too.’

  Mike nodded without speaking.

  ‘It must have been horrible for you to film. It was shocking to watch even from the distance of the house. I told Paul Jones what had happened and assumed it put an end to the plan we had hatched for bringing Kane into the open. Paul suggested we do nothing for a day or two and see what Kane and his gang did. You changed all that and, from what I’ve been told, the police are now very optimistic they can roll up much of Kane’s operation. I don’t know what will happen at Rubicon and Riverside, but we can start to get back to normal.’

  ‘Back to normal?’ Mike spat the words at Vern. ‘We’ve had two people murdered as a result of this business and you want us to forget about them and go back to normal. One thing I’ve learned is that normal isn’t what I thought it was. My normal isn’t there anymore to go back to.’

  Jim reached out his hand to Mike in a gesture of entreaty. ‘I hear what you say, Mike, and I’ve felt really bad about what we’ve put you through in the past couple of weeks. I’m also very sorry about Shane Francis. I had no idea he was a member of your family. I expect you were close.’

  ‘Yes,’ Vern said before Mike could respond. ‘Did you talk with one another about what was going on at CityView and Riverside?’

  ‘Of course we didn’t. We detested one another. I’m really glad my sister is free of him, but not like this. No one should die that way.’

  ‘No. Sorry,’ Vern said. ‘I’m still too wound up in what’s happened. Someone in Findlay’s has been talking with Sarac or one of his gang. I don’t know who it is.’

  ‘Thank you, Jim,’ Mike said more calmly. ‘I know none of this is down to you. But what about you, Vern? Why did you set up Alan and me on the bribery charge? I still have to deal with that.’

  ‘No, the police will speak with the commission and put it to rest. I had to do something beyond talk to get onside with Sarac and Kane. Sorry.’

  ‘I’m getting used to people using me.’

  ‘Of course, you’re reinstated immediately,’ Jim said. ‘No question. But why don’t you take some time off? A break will do you good and set you up for when you’re back at CityView.’

  Mike was about to say he would prefer to get back to work when it occurred to him Ben probably didn’t know what had been going on, either. Jim needed time to put him in the picture. It would be interesting to see what Ben’s attitude to him would be now. Would he want to stay on, replacing Mike as project manager? That’s what he said he wanted to do when they had that row. Was it only a fortnight ago? It seemed like months had passed.

  18

  Shane’s funeral was a dispiriting affa
ir. Mike, Lissa and Demetri attended, more to support Mary than honour Shane’s memory. Shane’s mother was there – a surprisingly small, mousy woman, Mary had never met, although Shane had mentioned she lived in Bendigo. He had never mentioned his father, and Mrs Francis came with her brother. A few of his mates turned up, but there was no sign of Sarac or any of his gang. There had been nothing on the news about the investigation into Shane’s murder and not even a mention of Alan’s disappearance. The police had told him it would be at least some days before they would be in a position to make any arrests and Mike found it hard to contain his impatience. Angelo Rossi was not there either, although Rubicon sent a man who told them he represented the company and bore commiserations from the owner and staff.

  Lissa prepared food for a wake at their house but only Shane’s mother and uncle came back with them and, after an awkward half hour of desultory conversation, they said they needed to be on the road to Bendigo before the peak traffic. When Lissa and Mary cleared away and were chatting in the kitchen, Mike saw his opportunity.

  ‘Dad,’ he said. ‘I’ve been thinking about what we should do about the shops.’

  Demetri eyed him suspiciously. ‘What is this “we”? You keep telling me you’re not involved.’

  ‘Dad, I’m your son. I want to find a way you can be happy and I can be happy, too. You said you wanted me to honour the promise grandpa made to his father and you made to him – that the Georgiou name would be maintained in Bay Street. Is that what’s most important to you?’

  ‘What good is that if you will not continue in the shop?’

  ‘I’ve seen the new development that’s going on down towards the beach. Whatever you do, one day a development like that will roll along the street and engulf the shop. You know that.’

  Demetri did not reply, his face still dark, but Mike took the almost imperceptible nod of his head as encouragement to continue. ‘What if that development – which is likely to include shops, apartments and possibly even offices – what if it was called The Georgiou Centre?’

  ‘That woman has been at you again.’

  ‘No, I haven’t spoken with Carla. I’ve already told you how Mancini and I worked together. He wanted to bring down Kane, I wanted to clear my name and, through Alan’s tragic death, it’s likely we’ve achieved both. He spoke to me about Bay Street and told me to ignore Carla.’ Mike smiled at his father. ‘Yeah, I thought that’d surprise you. What he actually said was that I should not be coerced by Carla into trying to force you into doing something you’d regret. He also said I should find out what you really want to achieve by having me take over the business. That’s where I got the idea for the Georgiou Centre. Even if I was to take over the shop, one day – quite soon I’d say – I’d have to sell to a developer. Perhaps it would be the Mancini family or perhaps it would be someone else. The result will be the same – the name will go. But if we make a condition of sale that the development must enshrine the Georgiou name, we honour the memory of our family in that place for far longer than could be achieved any other way.’

  ‘Did he put you up to this?’

  Not long ago Mike would have let anger at his father’s apparent mistrust of him show. Today he saw it for what it was – a reluctance to give up the position in which he had so entrenched himself. ‘I’ve discussed this with no one. I don’t even know whether the Mancinis will be willing. Perhaps they want to see a Mancini Centre on that spot. But surely it’s worth a try.’

  ‘And the shops?’

  ‘Apart from maintaining the name you will make a lot of money from the sale of your building. The Mancinis will have to pay well over market value and they know that. Keep the other two shops but bring Peter Roberts into the business and let him run them for you. When it comes to the shops he’s the true heir to you. Let him have his head. It’s high time you were free to come to Christos’ soccer games and the girls would like you to be at their events as well.’

  Mike saw his father’s interest grow as he spoke. Perhaps he might make a negotiator yet.

  ‘You will speak to Mario?’

  At last the TV news led with a report of the sensational disappearance of what the newsreader described as ‘leading union official Alan Reardon’ and the charging of Bruno Kordic with his murder. They had a short interview with a police inspector Mike did not recognise, who said several other men were helping police with their inquiries and he expected that further charges would be laid soon. Before moving on to the next item, George Fowler made a cameo appearance to tell the public what a fine union official Alan had been and how he had been pursuing illegal practices in the building industry before he was cut down. He didn’t name Rubicon as being responsible for Alan’s death, but when the reporter asked him if Rubicon was involved, George said it was one of the firms Alan had been investigating. He did not elaborate – he didn’t need to.

  Mary rang the next day to say that Sergeant Ryan had called to tell her Bruno Kordic had been charged with Shane’s murder as well as Alan Reardon’s. He told her further charges would follow involving other men who had been present when Shane was killed.

  Mike had hardly finished his conversation with Mary when there was a ring on the front door. He opened it to find Vern McKenzie standing with one eye cocked at him. Mike stood squarely in the doorway.

  ‘Didn’t expect to see you, Vern,’

  ‘A few things I have to tell you.’

  ‘Who is it?’ Lissa called from the kitchen.

  ‘You’d better come in,’ Mike said with a reluctance he made no effort to hide. ‘You took a chance not calling me first.’

  ‘Is Lissa home?’

  ‘You just caught her. She’s about to go off to prepare a client’s lunch for a local accountant. She’s in the catering game these days.’

  ‘Hello, Vern,’ Lissa said, the welcome in her voice quite different from her husband’s. ‘Would you like a cup of tea?’

  ‘Thanks, Lissa. Black with sugar, please.’

  ‘Come on through.’

  Lissa ushered Vern into the family room with Mike trailing behind. As she entered the kitchen to put on the kettle, she tossed back over her shoulder, ‘I hear you’ve been causing a lot of trouble for my husband. Not like you, Vern.’

  Vern sat on the couch in the family room. ‘Yeah, we’ve been going through a tough time. Still, I’ve got some good news for him.’

  He lowered his voice and looked directly at Mike, who had come to sit opposite him. ‘I thought you’d like to know, strictly between us, that Sarac has cut a deal with the police and is giving them plenty of material to use against Kane. It will be a while until they charge him – they’re going through the books of Rubicon and several other companies in forensic detail.’

  ‘What about Rubicon and what about Angelo Rossi?’

  ‘After this it will be months before Rubicon can make any progress on the Riverside site. We’ll be well finished before they can give us any competition.’

  ‘I was more interested in whether Rossi would be charged.’

  ‘From the contact I had with him during my two visits to Flinders, I began to feel sorry for the man. He’d got himself in far too deep with Sarac and Kane, and hated them as much as we do. I think the police will realise he’s more a victim than a criminal, but they won’t let him off scot free – they can’t do that.’

  ‘I remember you telling me what a smart guy he was. Have you changed your view, or was all that stuff over lunch a load of crap you were giving me to find out how loyal I was to Jim?’

  ‘Actually, if Ben had stayed as MD, a takeover might have been the only way to save Findlay’s.’

  ‘What do you mean, “If he had stayed”?’

  ‘That’s the main reason I came to see you: Ben’s resigned and is going back to Cunnards.’

  Mike recalled Alan telling him about Ben’s unpopularity and the likelihood of industrial action at CityView. He also remembered Sarac’s description of how Vern was going to disrupt the project.
‘Did you connive with George Fowler to make life impossible for Ben?’

  ‘You really have a low opinion of me these days.’

  ‘Did you?’

  ‘Ben had a row with Jim. He was furious that neither Jim nor I told him what I was up to. At least that’s the reason he gave for leaving. If you want my opinion, I reckon the time he spent trying to do your job finally convinced him to face up to what he’s known for some time: he hasn’t got what it takes to head up a building company.’

  ‘You still haven’t answered my question.’

  ‘Here’s a pot of tea,’ Lissa said depositing a tray on the low table in front of the couch. ‘I have to go now, so you will have to pour your own after it draws.’

  She leant over to kiss Mike on the forehead.

  ‘Don’t let Vern out of here until you and he have sorted out your differences.’

  She turned back to Vern.

  ‘I should say the same to you. I’m sick of having a grumpy husband stuck here at home.’

  She picked up her handbag from the kitchen bench and went down the passage to the front door.

  ‘That wife of yours doesn’t ever hold back, does she?’ Vern said without smiling, although his tone suggested more admiration than offence.

  ‘You still haven’t answered my question.’

  ‘If it’s question time, I have one for you. Jim wants me to sit in for a couple of years as MD while we groom you to take over from me. It’s time for generational change and you’re the best prospect we have. Already you’ve shown you have what it takes to be a top builder like Jim was when he started the company. What you need to run the show is the knowledge and experience I can give you. Jim wanted to put this to you himself, but I told him it would be no good unless you and I could find a way to work together again. Lissa seems to have reached the same conclusion.’