Ben arrived at his solicitor’s office at twenty-five to one the next day. He was feeling slightly tense from shock, shortage of sleep and several hours’ frantic activity trying to get the business ready to re-open. In the end they made it – just after eleven o’clock – only two hours late.
Peggy, his middle-aged secretary, was still tidying the office. He was confident that she would have everything cleared away and running smoothly by the end of the day. The rest of the staff were all working as usual. Ben had told them about Toni’s death but spared tyhem the gory details. Of course they had been shocked when they heard the news but they hadn’t known him very well because he was away travelling most of the time. He seldom spent long in the shop during working hours. Perhaps that made it easier for them.
Then, surprisingly, his solicitor had telephoned at eleven thirty.
“Hello, Benjamin.” He always called him Benjamin. “It’s James here – James Meredith. I thought I should ring you to tell you how desperately sorry I was to hear about Toni’s death.”
“Oh! Bad news travels fast. But that’s kind of you, James.”
“It must be a terrible shock for you. He was such a nice fellow. You’ll be devastated to be left on your own so suddenly. It must be a great loss to the business.”
“Yes, it is, but we’ll get over it. Don’t worry about that.”
“Well, I’m here to help in times like these.” Ben could hear the man’s oily smile at the other end of the line. “Why don’t you come and have lunch with me? We might be able to sort a few things out.”
“It’s a bit difficult this morning, James. We’re still trying to get the shop sorted out and I don’t feel I should leave . . .”
“What I want to discuss with you is important, Benjamin. I think we ought to sort it out straight away.”
“What do you mean?”
“I can’t explain over the phone. I suggest we have a relaxed conversation face to face. I’ll book us a table at the Hyde Park.”
That made Ben gulp. Lunch was going to set James back the best part of two hundred pounds. He wouldn’t do that unless there something important at the end of it.
“All right, James. I’ll be there.” Ben didn’t like the sound of this at all. He supposed there were quite a lot of things which needed sorting out when your partner died suddenly, but he was worried about the apparent desperate urgency of resolving them.
“Can you be at my chambers at half past twelve? We can have a little chat before going out for lunch.”
“Very well, James. I’ll see you at twelve-thirty.”
“Fine.” There was a sharp click and the dialling tone whirred in his ear.
Ben put down the phone thoughtfully. Something was worrying him about that call. It wasn’t James’ smugness – he always sounded like that. But something was wrong and Ben couldn’t put his finger on it.
It was only later that he began to ask himself how exactly James had heard about Toni’s death so soon.
As soon as he walked in, Ben was shown straight into James’ office by the glamorous secretary. She was yet another in the series which James seemed to regard as an essential part of the solicitor’s service. This little foible had always amused Ben because the man seemed so staid in other ways.
The office was unusually quiet today. James came forward to greet him with his hand outstretched and his head on one side in the characteristic attitude he adopted with his clients.
“Hello, Benjamin. What a terrible business this is!”
Ben had never felt quite comfortable in conversation with James. The cultured accents bred at Harrow and Oxford always seemed a little false to him. However his father had used Merediths for many years and had held a high opinion of the partnership. Ben felt a little guilty for condemning a man for such artificial reasons.
James ushered him to a comfortable chair near the window which looked down onto one of the courtyards in the Inner Temple. From here he could see the strolling lawyers enjoying the autumn sun while they discussed their cases.
“A small sherry as an aperitif?”
“Please.” Ben declined the offer of the cigar box and instead watched the secretary as she poured it out. He was sure she was aware of his observation. It didn’t prevent her from displaying plenty of cleavage as she bent to put the glass on the coffee table beside him. Why was he getting this special treatment?
Ben resolutely turned his attention to the sherry which was a good Amontillado and none too small. He took a draught, at the same time warning himself to stay alert.
“It’s all right, Stephanie,” said James to the glamour bird. “You can go to lunch. I’ll drop the latch when we go out.”
He rested his elbows on the desk, put the tips of his fingers together and regarded the young man seriously. “Well Benjamin, have you considered what you should do now?”
Ben shook his head. “I hadn’t really got as far as thinking about it. The police didn’t leave till after one last night and I was up at seven to get the shop ready to open as usual this morning.” He shrugged at James’ raised eyebrows. “Well, the staff were available. The police had no objections. There didn’t seem to be any reason to stay closed. It might have inconvenienced our customers if we hadn’t opened as usual.” Somehow the excuses appeared a bit lame when they were spelled out.
But James seemed to agree. “Quite right. Quite right.” He nodded emphatically. “You always did have a sound head on your shoulders. I remember your father had no fears about you taking over the business.” He smiled in a paternal way. “In fact it’s about the business that I wished to speak to you. You may feel it’s a little premature but – well, as you indicated just now, life has to go on.”
What was all this was leading up to? James seemed to be taking a long time to get to the point. The man hesitated, almost as though he was steeling himself before he plunged in. Ben realised that the solicitor was worried about something. At last he continued.
“Benjamin, I have been asked to have a word with you. The Cimbrone family has been in touch with me. In short, they wish to acquire your shareholding in Cartwright Cimbrone. They are willing to offer you nine hundred and fifty thousand pounds for your stake in the business. You realise that is a very handsome offer without them even looking at the books.” He paused dramatically. “What do you say?”