Excerpt of Rogue, Riches & Retribution by Harry Taylor

Chapter 3

THE PAST

Colin Smith, a senior partner in the law fi rm Lawson, Lawson & Smith, was in the office kitchen resting his backside against a work surface and reading the headlines in the morning’s newspaper when he heard footsteps approaching. Looking up he saw Ted Lawson, the Managing partner standing beside the door. “Morning Ted, what’s the event?”

“Morning Colin, what’s the event, how you mean?”

“Simple, it’s rare for you to be here this hour in the morning. The staff won’t be here for another hour yet.”

“I presume that’s the reason you’re making your own drink.”

“Yeah, I’m waiting for the kettle to boil for a cup of tea. Have you read the news?”

“No, not yet why, is anything of interest?”

Colin glanced back to the front page of the Times newspaper and proceeded to read out the headline. “The American space shuttle Challenger exploded 73 seconds after launch yesterday, 28th January 1986, killing all seven crew members. President Ronald Regan described the tragedy as “a national loss.”

“There was a woman school teacher on that mission I recall.”

“Yes, her name was Christa McAuliff e,”

“Does it say how it happened?”

“No, it’s too early at the moment. No doubt the news will come out later.”

“It’s sad, really sad.”

“So what brings you in so early?”

“I have to be in court later this morning and need to work on the papers. I took them home with me last night but we had unexpected visitors that ruined all my plans.”

“Tough. Would you like a cup?”

“I wouldn’t say no, but I’d prefer coffee.”

“Milk and sugar?”

“Black with one sugar.”

“Have you given any thought to the Brooks Steel account?” Colin enquired while passing Ted his hot mug of coffee before following him out of the room.

“Not yet.” Ted led the way along the corridor to his office. “Have a seat.” He indicated to a chair but Colin was already seated in another one. “I’m not sure if I can resurrect it. Brooks is a stubborn bastard at times.”

“Ted, it’s probably our best account. Th e annual fees keep a large section of this office in gainful employment and have done so for years. Not only that but word will quickly go around the to our detriment and it won’t bode well for us.”

“I don’t see it that way.” Ted took a sip coffee from his mug as he sat down.

“Questions will be asked as to we are no longer retained by Brooks Steel. It’s not going good when the stories told that the son of Ted Lawson was to look an idiot in court by a young solicitor on his first court case. Our competition will jump at the chance to put us down by saying we are not the practice we used to be.”

“You’re dramatizing.” Ted felt uncomfortable, he knew Colin was right but at the minute he couldn’t fi gure out a way to resolve the situation. If it had been anyone other than his son he would have fi red him or her but he harboured hope that Toby would take the fi rm over from him when he retired.

“Ted, you know as well as I that on Friday night the boys will get together for their weekly drink in the bar. We’ll be a laughing stock. It was a simple case that we would normally have won with our eyes closed.” Colin paused to take a drink and quietly reflected. ‘Why did I have to go down ill on that day? I could strangle Toby.’

“You’re being a bit harsh on the boy.” Ted responded halfheartedly.

“Harsh! Ted, I know he’s your son but he doesn’t give a toss. Do you know he never read the brief; instead he went out to a cocktail party with some fl oozy. And when he lost the case he made a comment that was overheard by someone from Brooks Steel’s office that Brooks had pots of money so the result was of no consequence.”

Ted Lawson grimaced upon hearing the words. He knew Colin was right and had intended to reprimand Toby but his son spoke to his mother immediately after the trial and persuaded her to pacify matters with his father. Toby could wrap his mother around his finger and knew he could get her on his side. Hilda Lawson then told Ted he shouldn’t take the loss out on Toby. It wasn’t his fault.

“It was an unfortunate incident Colin.”

“Unfortunate be damned.” Colin was getting a little angry at Ted’s complacency. “It was sheer laziness and he couldn’t care a toss. Th e sooner you sort him out the better. Th is practice can do without the likes of Toby. Your son or not Ted, you have to know.”

“He had good results from University and should do well for us.”

“Ted. This is the real world. We have work at what we do not play around.”

“Okay, leave it with me. I’ll see can sort out things with him and make him see reason.” Ted sighed, without any knowledge of what to do.

“You’ll speak with Brooks today, yes?” Colin stared intently across at his partner.

“See what this afternoon.” Ted felt uncomfortable. Colin was like a bull once he got his teeth into something.

“You can’t delay the matter. Th ere has to be some way of getting him to stay with us. Too much money is at stake for the company to lose the business through this one incident.”

“Can’t for the minute see how we can put any leverage on him,”

sighed Ted, now somewhat despondent. “I guess their payments are up to date.”

“Spot on. They never miss; money is in our bank account on the same day every month. Hey, hang on a minute.” Colin paused in thought for a second. “I have an idea. Brooks is a member of your lodge isn’t he?” Colin asked with a glint in his eye.

“He is yes, why the question?”

Colin took a hard look across the desk towards his partner. Ted had the power to get Brooks to reconsider his hasty decision. “Think I’ve got the answer!”

“Go on!”

“You’re the chairman of that particular Masonic Lodge if I’m not mistaken.” He paused, waiting for Ted to acknowledge his statement before continuing. “Well, you must have close friends in the lodge.” He stared pointedly at Ted.

“I’m beginning to see where you’re coming from.”

“Good. These friends could put pressure on Brooks and make him realize that it would not go down well with your committee if his business were seen to dump that of the chairman’s.

“I like it, but dump?” Ted was not in favour of the expression.

“Use whatever adjective you like but that’s what adds up to.”

“Hmm.” Ted eased himself back into his chair. “Okay, I’ll give it some thought.”

Colin rose from his seat to head door. “Ted, please do it today.”

“Okay,” Ted replied.

As the door closed behind his partner Ted Lawson reached for a cigarette from a box desk. God he had enough on his plate without problems this. If it wasn’t one thing it was another. Julia, his adopted daughter, was forever in his thoughts and a constant pain with her behaviour. His wife Hilda complained to him every week about her attitude and insolence and she was getting too stroppy for them to handle. He often wished he had never let Hilda persuade him to adopt her. He only did it to stop Hilda’s constant badgering and had on many an occasion regretted it. He knew little of Julia’s real parents and wondered if they were also arrogant and obnoxious like her. Th e child totally ignored all their instructions. They had had to change at least two schools because of her insolent behaviour but the thing that really angered him was that he had to go cap in hand and sit in front of a school disciplinary board that comprised a load of common upstarts. It was of little surprise that he could no longer stomach Julia.