Jeffrey Archer - Sons of Fortune

‘If you don’t tell Mr Alexander the truth about his nephew, both of you will live to regret it.’

‘It’s not that easy,’ said Fletcher.

‘The truth is always that easy,’ said Annie. ‘Logan has been treated disgracefully, and if it hadn’t been for you, he might never have been offered another job. Your only mistake was not telling Alexander the moment the meeting was over; that’s given Elliot the confidence to go on undermining you.’

‘And if he sacks me as well?’

‘Then it isn’t a firm you should have joined in the first place, Fletcher Davenport, and you would certainly not be the man I chose to marry.’

When Fletcher arrived outside Mr Alexander’s door a few minutes before nine, Mrs Townsend ushered him straight though to the senior partner’s office.

‘Have a seat,’ said Bill Alexander pointing to the chair on the other side of the desk. No ‘nice to see you, Fletcher’, just ‘have a seat’. No ‘how’s Annie and Lucy’, just have a seat. Those three words resolved Fletcher in the belief that Annie was right, and he must not be fearful of standing up for what he believed in.

‘Fletcher, when you first came to Alexander Dupont and Bell nearly two years ago, I had high hopes for you, and indeed during your first year you more than lived up to my expectations. We all recall with some considerable pleasure the Higgs and Dunlop incident. But of late, you have not shown the same resolution.’ Fletcher looked puzzled. He had seen Matt Cunliffe’s most recent report on him, and the word exemplary had stuck in his mind. ‘I think we have the right to assume a standard of loyalty second to none in the legal profession,’ continued Alexander. Fletcher remained silent, not yet sure of the crime he was about to be charged with. ‘It has been brought to my attention that you were also in the bar with Fitzgerald on the night he was having a drink with his friend.’

‘Information supplied by your nephew, no doubt,’ said Fletcher, ‘whose role in this whole affair has been far from impartial.’

‘What do you mean by that?’

‘Quite simply that Mr Elliot’s version of events is based totally on self-interest, as I feel sure a man of your perspicacity has already worked out.’

‘Perspicacity?’ said Alexander. ‘Was it perspicacious of you to be seen in the company of Fitzgerald’s friend?’ He emphasized the word again.

‘I did not meet Logan’s friend, as I feel sure Mr Elliot told you, unless he only wanted you to know half the story. I left for Ridgewood...’

‘But Ralph told me that you later returned.’

‘Yes I did, and like any good spy, your nephew must also have reported that I only went back to pick up my scarf, which had fallen out of the sleeve of my overcoat.’

‘No, he did not report that,’ said Alexander.

‘Which is what I mean by only telling you half the story,’ said Fletcher.

‘So you didn’t speak to Logan or his friend?’

‘No, I didn’t,’ said Fletcher, ‘but that was only because I was in a hurry, and didn’t have time.’

‘So you would have spoken to him?’

‘Yes, I would.’

‘Even if you’d known that Logan was a homosexual?’

‘I neither knew nor cared.’

‘You didn’t care?’

‘No, I did not consider Logan’s private life was any of my business.’

‘But it might have been the firm’s business, which brings me on to more important matters. Are you aware that Logan Fitzgerald has since joined the firm that employs your brother-in-law?’

‘Yes, I am,’ said Fletcher, ‘I told Mr Gates that Logan would be looking for a job and they’d be lucky to get a man of his calibre.’

‘I wonder if that was wise,’ said Bill Alexander.

‘When it comes to dealing with a friend, I have a tendency to put decency and fairness ahead of my own self-interest.’

‘And ahead of the firm’s?’

‘Yes, if it’s morally right. That’s what Professor Abrahams taught me.’

‘Don’t bandy words with me, Mr Davenport.’

‘Why not? You’ve been bandying them with me, Mr Alexander.’

The senior partner turned scarlet. ‘You must realize that I could have you thrown out of this firm.’

‘Two of us leaving in the same week may take some explaining, Mr Alexander.’

‘Are you threatening me?’

‘No, I think it’s you who is threatening me.’

‘It may not be that easy to get rid of you, Mr Davenport, but I can make damn sure you never become a partner while I’m a member of this firm. Now get out.’

As he rose to leave, Fletcher recalled Annie’s words. Then it’s not the firm you should have joined in the first place.

He returned to his office to find the phone ringing. Was Alexander calling him back? He picked it up ready to offer his resignation. It was Jimmy.

‘Sorry to bother you at work, Fletcher, but Dad’s had a heart attack. He’s been taken to St Patrick’s. Can you and Annie get over to Hartford as quickly as possible?’

‘I’ve got myself a proper job,’ said Nat as Su Ling walked through the door.

‘You’re going to be a New York cab driver?’

‘No,’ replied Nat. ‘I don’t have the qualifications for that job.’

‘That’s never seemed to hinder anyone in the past.’

‘But not living in New York might.’

‘We’re leaving New York? Please tell me that we’re going somewhere civilized where skyscrapers will be replaced with trees and exhaust fumes by fresh air.’

‘We’re going home.’

‘Hartford? Then it can only be Russell’s.’

‘You’re right, Mr Russell has offered me a job as vice-president of the bank, working alongside Tom.’

‘Serious banking? Not just speculating in the currency market?’

‘I’ll oversee his currency department, but I can promise you that it concentrates mainly on foreign exchange, not speculation. What Mr Russell most needs is for Tom and me to work on a complete reorganization of the bank. During the past few years Russell’s has been falling behind its competitors and...’ Su Ling placed her bag on the hall table and walked over to the phone. ‘Who are you calling?’ asked Nat.

‘My mother, of course, we must start looking for a house, and then we’ll have to consider a school for Luke, and once she’s got to work on that, I’ll need to be in touch with some former colleagues about a job, and then...’

‘Hold on, little flower,’ said Nat, taking his wife in his arms. ‘Am I to assume from this that you approve of the idea?’

‘Approve? I can’t wait to get out of New York. The idea of Luke starting his education in a school where the kids use machetes to sharpen their pencils horrifies me. I also can’t wait...’ The phone rang and Su Ling picked it up. She cupped her hand over the mouthpiece. ‘It’s someone named Jason, from Chase Manhattan. Shall I tell him you’re no longer available?’

Nat smiled and took the phone.

‘Hi, Jason, what can I do for you?’

‘I’ve been thinking about your call, Nat, and we may just have an opening for you at Chase.’

‘That’s kind of you, Jason, but I’ve already accepted another offer.’

‘Not one of our rivals, I hope?’

‘Not yet, but give me a little time,’ said Nat, smiling.

When Fletcher reported to Matt Cunliffe that his father-in-law had been taken into the hospital, he was surprised to find that he was not all that sympathetic.

‘Domestic crises arise fairly often,’ Cunliffe remarked curtly. ‘We all have families to worry about. Are you sure this can’t wait until the weekend?’

‘Yes, I’m sure,’ said Fletcher, ‘I owe more to this man than anyone other than my parents.’