Chapter 67
After seeing off Ashby in a taxi, Malory crossed the Embankment to climb slowly up to the Strand. He wasn’t getting any younger : rheumatism dogged him every step of the way. When he reached the Savoy Hotel, he passed through the grand entrance and the doorman who knew him, to the Bar and Grill where he took a table in the far corner away from the crowd. Although it was half past two, the place was heaving. Most of the diners were onto their second brandy or third bottle of wine.
As he scanned the menu, a petite blonde in her early twenties picked him out across the crowded tables. She could have been a junior lawyer or a pupil barrister in her dark dress. The Temple and the High Court were just up the road. It so happened that she’d worked for a time in the legal world but had given it up as dull.
“Hello, Uncle George,” she said as Malory stood up and was kissed lightly on the cheek. “Have you been waiting long ?”
“I’ve only just arrived, my dear. You’re looking well. Are they keeping you busy ?”
“I’m hardly at home these days,” she said with a smile.
“I can well understand. There’s always something on the go, isn’t there ? But I expect you’re getting used to it by now. It’s a different life – not to everyone’s liking.”
“I’m not complaining at all. I’m enjoying every minute of it. And I’m so grateful to you for having helped me get through the vetting and qualifying year. Quite a few of them drop out.”
“I’m not surprised. It’s not like it was when I first joined before the war. But anyway.....I suggest we get through the preliminaries first and then we can enjoy ourselves and you can tell me all about your mother and Aunty Grace.”
“Yes, must be serious – work before pleasure. So, did you see him just now, as arranged ?”
“Yes, I just left him. We were sitting under an umbrella in the rain, looking out across the river.”
“Oh dear. Not very nice for you. And what did he say ?”
“Well, he was surprised to hear about his father. Anyone would be. I mentioned a few words to him about Export and the steel company. He said he’d help in any way he could.”
“That’s good. He could be very useful again. What else did he say ?”
“Let me see.....he’s occupied with the Greeks, at the moment.”
“Yes, I saw the reports in the papers. Doesn’t look too promising, does it ?”
“Not at all. Anyway, he’s having to fend them off first before he can get onto the others. The shipowners are his biggest headache. Tomorrow, he’s going to Athens to find out something about them. He needs a contact there to help him. He asked if I could suggest someone. The local police will be useless of course as will any private investigators.”
“Do you know anyone in Athens ?”
“I do but whether they would take on the job is another matter.”
“No-one in the core or inner circle would do it, would they ? Too much exposure to the light of day.”
“Yes, although one or two in the outer circle sometimes freelance if the money’s right.....anyway, I have to ring him at four with a name.”
“Alright.....if Plantation gets through this, you said that you didn’t want to be involved any further. Is that still the case ?”
“Yes, I’m too old now – you can take over from me. I can have a quiet word with Jarvis upstairs if that would help.”
“No, it’s fine, you needn’t do that – just leave it to me.”
“Right, well that’s settled. Just pick up from where I left off. You have his direct number. That’s really all you need. If he tries to contact me again, he’ll send a telex.”
“And it will go straight to me. Now that we’ve decided that, what are you going to order ?”
Nothing much – perhaps a G&T to start, green salad, Sole Meuniere, pommes frites, asparagus, a bottle of Mosel, crepes and strawberries to finish – mustn’t overdo it, I’m on a diet.”
Plantation A Legal Thriller Page 67