by Gait, Paul;
‘Another one of Geoffery’s sunsets. I wonder if he planned that too,’ he mused.
Andy caught up with the others as they entered the building and was surprised at the transformation between the old exterior architecture and the ultramodern décor inside.
Opulence effused from the expensively carpeted reception area where a silver framed notice, declaring ‘Excellence in Everything we do’, hung behind the reception desk.
The others were in a group waiting by reception as Monique collected their building passes that doubled for door access swipe cards.
She hung the photo ID passes around her arm by the wide lanyard ribbon, emblazoned with the name of the Law firm, ICE, and handed them out to everyonr, except Sue.
‘There appears to be a problem,’ she said, looking perturbed. ‘Excusez, where is Joanne please?’
‘Joanne is in hospital,’ Sue volunteered, while Rupert was clearing his throat to speak. ‘I am Rupert’s wife. I am here instead of her. Could you make out a pass for me?’
‘But of course. I ‘ope the lady gets well soon.’
‘Yes! Quite,’ said Sue, unconvincingly.
As they made their way to the lift, Andy grew more and more impressed about the professionalism of the Law firm as Monique explained about the practice.
‘Here at ICE, we use much computing and do not use too much paperwork. Instead, all documents are scanned and held as electronic files, as are all legal reference books, although we do ’ave a small library for show. Customer papers are stored under the building in a special vault.
The desks are fitted with networked computers that can only be accessed by retina scan login, to access Customer files and latest version of EU legal documents.’
It was a world apart from Andy’s own solicitor’s office in Gloucester. Here most shelves were stacked with dusty legal volumes. Piles of case papers tied up with red ribbon littered most horizontal surfaces. He likened it to piles of legal excreta, just waiting to be poop scooped. Dusty casement windows completed the image of the Dickensian practice.
Monique led them to a modern conference room, in the centre of which was a large rectangular polished oak table. Around it’s periphery were ten, black leather backed wooden chairs. In front of each chair, a notepad, pen and crystal glass tumbler.
Andy’s resolution to be distant with Nadine all but disappeared, as she rushed over to greet him.
‘Andee, Andee, mon cher.’ she said, putting her arms around him and planting a kiss on his lips. ‘It is so good to see you again. I ‘ope you had a good flight. Welcome to my country. I will make sure you ’ave a good time,’ she added, holding his hands and standing back to look into his eyes.
Andy was embarrassed at her gushing welcome. The others were forced to stop behind him by the embrace and wondered, if they too were likely to be given such a ‘warm’ greeting.
Sue, ever vigilant, noted the gushing greeting and pondered whether there was any mileage in using this display of intimacy in any way, to further her own ends.
In the corner of the room was a well-stocked drinks dispenser, from which they were invited to help themselves to tea and coffee.
A uniformed ‘chef’ assisted with their choices, flitting around to ensure that everything was kept meticulously clean and tidy. Used cups were collected almost as soon as they were put down.
Eventually, when everyone had made themselves ‘comfortable’, the law practice Manager asked everybody to be seated.
‘Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to Monaco. I am pleased to welcome you to our practice for the reading of the will of Monsieur Geoffery Foster.
First, I will tell you about your itinerary. After today’s meeting you will be taken to your hotel to freshen up and then you will have a meal in the hotel’s Michelin star restaurant. After this, you will be taken to the Casino to do as you wish- gamble, drink, watch and then you can wander around Monaco.
Tomorrow you will have breakfast and be taken on an exclusive sight- seeing tour up to the Royal Palace and then you will be flown by helicopter back to Nice for your flight home.
But first we have business for which you have travelled from your home.’
The Manager then sat down and operated a key on a small console which was on the table in front of him. A 72 inch video wall lit up behind him showing a sunset, gentle piano music played in the background.
The sunset slowly faded and Geoffery’s face appeared, he was looking straight at the camera which gave the audience the impression that he was staring at them individually.
Ben had readied himself for the moment but still felt uneasy at seeing and hearing Geoffery again.
Andy recognised the background as the pergola that Geoffery had told him he’d built at the hospice when he was a young builder.
‘Hello, it’s me again. Hope you had a good party to send me off and not too many sore heads in the morning. Well this video goes hand in glove with my written will and is my last will and testament. I hope you’ve all been able to make the reading here in Monaco.’
Rupert felt the pinprick of tears as he thought of Joanne lying alone in Bristol.
‘I’ve had time to think…don’t worry this is pre-death. I haven’t been able to find the after-death facilities yet.’
There were some uncomfortable chuckles from the listeners.
‘It seems to me that my three Godsons are like the characters from the Wizard of OZ.
Geoffery’s face was replaced by sepia tinted black and white images of the characters of the 1939 film.
Tim reminds me of the Tin Man. I appreciate that comment might not be too PC, as he has two prosthetic legs…but Tim you can try and sue me if you like.
‘Stupid old git,’ Tim muttered.
‘Ssssh,’ rebuked Carrie, looking at him and shaking her head.
Geoffery continued, ‘I base my comments on my dealings with him and not on his physical condition. For I believe that Tim needs to look for a heart. He needs to be more sympathetic to other’s needs, and less self-centred.’
Kay, sitting the other side of Tim, agreed with Geoffery’s assessment of her son, but kept her counsel
The video Geoffery continued, ‘Rupert reminds me of the Lion looking for courage;’
‘Ha,’ Sue said, under her breath. ‘What! That pathetic piece of shit. And pigs might fly.’
The recording continued. ‘He needs to be more assertive and stand up for himself, especially to that, hopefully, soon to be former wife of his -the wicked witch of the west, currently detained at her majesty’s pleasure.’
Everybody in the room looked round at her, her past now in the public domain again. She ignored their gaze and continued to send ‘daggers’ at Geoffery’s screen image.
‘Well that’s where you got it wrong then isn’t,’ Sue hissed. ‘You under estimated me, didn’t you?…You mouldering heap of bones. Who is still alive? Who danced on your grave?’
‘So it was her that vandalised Geoffery’s grave.’ Rupert noted. I wouldn’t be surprised if she wasn’t involved with the death of that bloke in the burial ground either,’ he concluded, and shuddered at his hypothesis.
Rupert was overwhelmed by Sue’s presence. She had pilfered his newly acquired resolve from him like a thief in the night. She had persuaded him that if he gave her half his inheritance she would leave him for good. He hung on to that hope, but in the back of his mind he knew it wouldn’t be as simple as that to escape her cancerous presence.
The video continued and Geoffery added. ‘Finally James, the Scarecrow; James is looking for a brain, except he has one, a very clever one that he hasn’t used for a long time. He lost it after throwing his life away pining for his lost lover.’
Ben looked at James as he gazed at the ceiling, obviously hurt by Geoffery’s blunt observation and the mention of Sebastian, James’s former partner.
‘Right. The way this will work is that my Godsons will be taken into another room and will hold a mutually beneficial meeting chaired
by Andy and make some important decisions.
The rest of you will have the pleasure of listening to your own individual sections from my will.
The video screen went blank as the law practice manager switched it off. The Godsons sat in stunned silence, looking at each other for some sign of comprehension to Geoffery’s requirements.
As the manager showed Andy, James, Rupert and Tim into an adjoining room, Monique handed out tablet computers to the others, each tablet with an earpiece attached.
Each computer showed a picture of the intended recipient on the screen along with brief instructions on how to access the video file.
They all took the ‘tablets’ and moved to the four corners of the room at Monique’s direction.
In spite of Sue’s insistence that she should be given Joanne’s, Monique stood her ground and refused to give it her.
Sue wandered over to the drinks dispenser and wondered what monetary benefits Rupert would let slip through his pathetic grasp without her guiding hand.
All the video clips started off with the same clip from Geoffery before having their own personalised message.
‘My Godsons are going to have to work to get the money that I’ve bequeathed to them. You will need to support them as they strive to make things work.
It won’t be easy for them, or you.
What! a groan I hear?’ He paused dramatically as if anticipating the reaction.
‘They’ll appreciate it much better when they get it. How much they get depends on their efforts and the results they achieve.
It will not be easy, but, as we all know, there’s no such thing as a free lunch. I have given them an opportunity to do something for the benefit of other people, including themselves. Their pay packet depends on their benevolence.’
CARRIE’s personalised message;
‘Carrie, you have a big challenge ahead of you to support Tim. I know that you have worked a miracle in transforming him into a semblance of a reasonable human being. Thanks for that, but I guess neither of us could have anticipated that Cupid would come calling. I know your love will carry you both through.
Your reward will be staying on my payroll if you continue to support Tim.’
KAY’s personalised message;
‘Kay, how I wish I could have my time over again. I now realise what I have missed by letting you slip out of my life all those years ago. But I took the path I did and well… the rest is history.
Having seen Tim at his worst, I think you have earned your legacy. I have therefore arranged for you to go on a world cruise. The trip will last for nearly four months during which time you will visit forty ports in six continents. Think of me occasionally at sunset. Have a great time.’
BEN’s personalised message;
Ben, You don’t need me to tell you that you have had a tough and confusing life. But I know that you have the makings of a great man inside you. There will be many challenges ahead, but always be true to yourself, always believe in yourself.
I hope that your new bikes will bring you lots of success in future mountain bike races. Enjoy
NADINE’s personalised message:
‘Nadine, Thank you once again for the time we shared together. I’m sorry it ended as it did. As I have said many times before, you have nothing to blame yourself for. I leave you a memento of our life together, a picture of the sunsets we shared on the pent house balcony.’
Had Joanne been there she would have heard the following:-
JOANNE’s personalised message;
‘Joanne, you are probably the best thing to have happened to Rupert in all his life. I know it will be difficult picking up somebody else’s baggage, but I’m sure that with you by his side, he will find his courage and become a better man. Best of luck.
CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN
23rd January
The practice Manager led the quartet into another smaller, but equally well-appointed, conference room and gave Andy a white envelope. After showing them the beverage arrangements he left, advising them to call him when they were ready.
The atmosphere in the room was tense. No-one spoke as Andy opened the sealed envelope. All eyes were focussed on his hands as he reached inside and pulled out a single sheet of paper.
Quickly he read the note to himself.
Tim broke the silence, impatient to hear Geoffery’s apportionment of his fortune.
‘This is the strangest will I’ve ever seen,’ Andy said to his attentive audience.’
‘Basically, there’s no money on the table. He wants you to come up with some schemes to help other people and you all have to work together to achieve it.’
‘What?’ Tim said, incredulously, ‘work together at what, for what? We barely even know each other.’
‘When you’ve come up with the ‘goods’, then you get the money. He is using the ‘over the rainbow’ analogy. He says we, including me, have to go on the way of the yellow brick road.’
‘Yellow Brick road! What drugs were you giving him? He was obviously off his head when he wrote that. Isn’t there something about, being of ‘sound mind’ when you write a will?’
‘Look, I don’t want to play his game. All I want is to get back to Jo. She needs me. He can keep his money,’ Rupert said, disconsolately.
‘What about the operation for your woman friend you were telling us about. Where did you say it was? In the States?’
‘Yeah well, I’ll have to pay for it some other way.’
‘He sent me chasing up bloody mountains and now he wants me to go pissing off down a sodding ‘yellow brick road’, whatever that is.’
‘It’s a metaphor for a path of gold,’ James added, quietly. ‘Remember the story?’
‘This is all a load of bollocks,’ Tim said, standing. ‘For a start we’ve got nothing in common.’
‘Except for him,’ James proffered.
‘And his money. Which is the reason we’re all here in the first place.’ Andy added.
‘So what happens next?’ Tim demanded.
‘It might be a good idea to introduce each other properly. I don’t like being known as the ‘Scarecrow’,’ James said, testily.
Andy noticed that James was starting to sweat and his face lost colour.
‘Are you OK James?’
‘It’s just the withdrawal symptoms;- part of the detox. I’ve been getting a few pains in my stomach since I gave up the booze. I expect it’s my liver trying to adjust to the lack of alcohol.’
At which point he doubled over in agony and let out an oath. ‘Owww, that hurt,’ he said, rubbing his stomach.
‘Are you sure I can’t get you something?’ Andy asked, concerned.
‘No, carry on. I’ll be OK in a minute.’ James insisted.
‘Is there anything else in that letter?’
‘Yes.’ Andy read from the letter;
‘You each have strengths and weaknesses. You can help each other through life. Listen to one another. Decide how you can help your fellow man? I have brought you together. It’s now up to you.’
‘It still doesn’t answer my question. So when do we get the money?’ Tim asked the question they were all wondering.
Geoffery might no longer be with them in body, but he was still manipulating their lives from beyond the grave.
Meanwhile, in the main conference room, the others sat in reverential silence, thinking about Geoffery and their individual messages.
Kay ‘broke the ice’, and deliberately shunning Sue asked everyone else, ‘Would anyone like a nice cup of tea?’
Kay still believed that a ‘nice cup of tea’, was the British panacea for resolving all problems.
Being ignored further antagonised Sue, who was still seething from her earlier excommunication.’
‘Non merci,’ Nadine said, shaking her head, her mind full of emotional memories of her time together with Geoffery.
‘Just as well,’ Kay thought, ‘or I might have been tempted to put some rat poison in it.’
‘Not for me,’ Sue said, determined to barge her way back into the circle, all the time, straining to listen to the conversation from next door.
‘Carrie?’
‘Yes please, I’ll have a brew.’
‘Ben?’
‘Yes. Could I have an orange juice please?’
Relieved to be doing something, Kay busied herself making the drinks. The suspense in the room was palpable as they listened to the beverage making. After a few minutes, Kay again broke the silence putting the glass down in front of Ben. ‘There you are young man,’ she said.
‘Thank you,’ he acknowledged.
As he raised the glass to his lips he caught Sue’s eye looking at him. His heart missed a beat. Surely these were the same hate filled eyes he had seen looking out from the photo on the Gravediggers mobile.
‘What are you looking at?’ Sue said, angrily.
‘Nothing,’ Ben said, tilting the glass to put a barrier between him and her piercing gaze. ‘Was it her…?’ He was frightened by the thought.
Carrie had heard enough from the irritating woman and lapsing in to her native Geordie, she said. ‘Why, the moggie can gandie at a queen.’
‘I don’t know what you’re on about. ‘Sue said dismissively.
‘It means a cat can look at the Queen.’ Carrie explained. ‘Nobody in their right mind would bother to look at you though.’ She added angrily.
Sue ignored her comment. ‘I don’t know why he’s got them in there by themselves. Rupert always needs me to help sort out anything complicated.’ She said, to nobody in particular. ‘Why all the mystery? Why can’t he just give them the money? And there’s an end to it.’
‘Geoffery never does. Excusez,’ Nadine corrected herself. ‘Never did anything simply. E always made sure things were done correctly and people earned zere money.’
‘Mmm,’ Sue tutted.
‘Excusez. I don’t zink we have met. I don’t remember zeeing you at the funeral.’ Nadine said, studying Sue.
‘I am Rupert’s wife. No, unfortunately I was…er detained and couldn’t get there in time.’
‘Mais oui, so oo was the lady there with Rupert?’ she asked naively.