Tom Lee had waited three days after he’d heard of Sudovich’s death before he decided he must come out into the open. Make his presence known as Sudovich’s better business half.
So on the morning of the fourth day he’d walked into the reception area of Sudovich’s office, followed by his lawyer and his personal accountant.
Lee caught the receptionist’s attention.
“Hello, you don’t know me. My name is Tom Lee and I own most of this company. I have my lawyer here to answer any questions, and he will make any necessary arrangements for a meeting between me and any other shareholders.” The lawyer introduced himself as Mr. Travers, who then opened his attaché case and extracted a letter which explained the whys and wherefores of Mr. Lees claims.
The receptionist glanced at the document.
“Would you mind waiting a moment please, while I call Mr. Sudovich’s secretary?” She went to her telephone and pressed a single button before she spoke into the hand piece, “Louise, there’s a man here, a Mr. Lee. I think you need to hear what he has to say.”
While they waited Lee looked about the room before walking to the window. He’d never been to this building before, although he owned most of it. It was an impressive older type of structure and well maintained. The foyer was decorated in good taste which made Lee think that someone other than Sudovich had a hand in the choice of decor.
Lee had never felt the need to come to this place in the past. Whenever he had the necessity to see Sudovich, he just called and Sudovich arrived on time.
An older woman entered the room who Lee presumed to be Louise. Her eyes were red rimmed and Lee’s first thought was that it may be the after effects of yesterday’s funeral. On second thought he decided, her eyes were probably showing signs of rebellion against the mascara she had layered onto her eye lashes.
He introduced himself and offered his condolences at her loss before he introduced his accountant Larry Barrett and Mr. Travers. Mr. Travers then showed the letter to Louise, who read it, and then offered coffee before guiding them down a short corridor to a meeting room.
Lee waited twenty minutes quietly as Louise and the lawyer went through the necessities before he broke in.
“I’m sure that you and Mr. Travers can sort out everything between yourselves. So if you wouldn’t mind, I would along with my accountant like access to Mr. Sudovich’s office, all account books and financial statements. That is of course, if you are satisfied with my credentials?”
Louise put her hand to her forehead, as if there was a faint ache in there somewhere.
“Yes of course Mr. Lee. I apologize for keeping you waiting, but this has come as a shock on top of the events of the week, and I do assure you it has been a long week for me.”
“I understand, and there’s no need to apologize.” Lee assured.
He was holding himself in check and just wanted access to Sudovich’s office, not to this woman’s feelings. He was here on business, not to console her for losing the fat pig Sudovich.
Lee visualized his fist in her face, and wondered if he did hit it whether the decades of make up on it might actually crack.
He smiled at the thought. Louise warmed to his smile and smiled back at him.
“Where would you like to start?” She asked.
“Mr. Sudovich’s office will do. Larry will be able to find his way from there, I think. If you could bring in all records and financial statements, we can get underway with those. Oh, if that offer of coffee is still open?” Lee winced inside, unable to get over the fact that he’d actually called Sudovich Mister.
Twice.
Louise smiled before looking to the receptionist who had been standing by the door the whole time.
“Debbie, would you mind organizing coffee for the gentlemen please.”
Lee watched as Debbie left the room.
They’d been here nearly an hour, and no one had come into the building, no phone had rung. What did Debbie do? Was she being paid to make coffee? Shit, he thought. He had girls who could do her job, and they could have given Larry, Travers and himself a head job as well, while they sat and listened to Louise.
Finally Louise led him into an office where he’d made himself at home behind Sudovich’s heavy old desk.
Larry had gone over the books thoroughly to find the business was healthy. There was real estate in many parts of the city which was to Sudovich’s credit, and rental income was high.
The next day Lee had become tired of being cooped up and had left Larry there to oversee the place, until he decided what was to be done with it.
Now, over four weeks later Larry was still running things. He ran a tight ship and business was good.
Things were running smoothly, except that Larry had a frustration and had called Lee earlier to tell him so.
Lee had had a busy morning with the arrival of a kilo of ecstasy. It had needed his attention in overseeing its distribution, so he welcomed the idea of taking an easy afternoon.
Sometimes he found gearing up for the weekend rave parties rather tiresome. Particularly now, when Larry was tied up with Sudovich’s business, and most of the distribution burden fell onto him.
After parking his car and walking up to Sudovich’s, now Larry’s, office. He noticed Debbie’s younger replacement, whom he knew from personal experience could add new meaning to receptionist.
Larry was waiting in his office. He wasn’t satisfied.
“Mr. Lee, I need to find Sudovich’s second set of account books. These won’t stand up to an audit on their own.”
The hairs on the back of Lee’s neck stood firm at the very mention of the word.
“Audit, what audit?”
“I mean in the event of. Sudovich has done a pretty good job on this set, but they won’t stand up under tax office scrutiny, and the end of the financial year is not far away. There’s risk,” he added.
Lee stared at his accountant for a moment as the implications echoed through his brain. He understood taxation risk. It had brought Al Capone to his knees and their career paths were quite similar.
“You’re absolutely sure that a second set exists?”
“Absolutely positive Mr. Lee, there must be.”
“You know. I’m not really surprised Larry. I never trusted that bastard Sudovich. I thought he might be scared enough of me to be very careful and now I find that I was right. He was very careful, the prick.” Lee went on, “Where would the cunning bastard hide them?”
“This was his main office as far as we know, so I think they wouldn’t be far away from here. I’ve found nothing in the way of receipts or entries to suggest a bank safety deposit box. Other than here there is only his home, and if they are there they are out of reach.”
“Well we’ve searched this office high and low,” Lee said.
Larry looked around the walls, his gaze finally resting on Lee’s blue eyes. “Yes, but we haven’t searched within, and I think the situation is serious enough to pull the place apart if necessary.”
Lees face carried a look of amazement.
“Sometimes, Larry, I can’t believe your style man.”
Lee picked up the telephone and dialled.
“Louie, tell Dan the Man to go out and buy me a metal detector. The best he can get and bring it to me at Sudovich’s office.”
Larry listened as Lee spoke on.
“No, a metal detector, a machine people use to look for gold, it goes beep, like they use in the army to look for land mines. Fuck. Look is Dan there? Well put him on then.” There was a pause before Lee spoke again, “Dan, I want you to go out and buy me a metal detector and bring it to me at Sudovich’s office. Get a good one, and be quick will you? Listen, has Louie been into that shit again?”
Larry listened again while Lee listened to Dan, then Lee spoke again.
“Right, yeah I know. I think he needs a lesson. I’ll talk to you about it later. See you soon, eh?
He put the phone down and turned to Larry.
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“Something needs to be done about that fuck wit kid Louie. Do you have any ideas?”
Lee liked to hear Larry evade implication, while his imagination and flair that bordered on feminine amused him.
“I think we should look after him. Maybe get him into a detox program and let him have the opportunity to dry out.” Larry decided.
Lee laughed lightly.
“I’d take that advice, but the nearest desert is at least a thousand kilometres away Larry.” Lee’s voice became firmer as he added, “Isn’t the use of words interesting? You say look after him, and I say take care of him.”
Larry immediately understood the difference. He knew Lee well enough to know that his infrequent word games were meant as veiled words of caution to those in his employ.
Reminders of where their loyalties should lay.
He watched as Lee sat back in Sudovich’s comfortable chair and turned on its in-built massager. Partly annoyed by the steady hum, Larry took his seat behind the desk and strove to concentrate on his work.
Lee had brought a newspaper with him, so while he waited for Dan he flicked through it, occasionally reading to Larry some articles he found interesting.