Three

The next day at eleven o’clock Jack and Sally walked into the offices of Bailiss & Peters, the oldest and most respected firm of solicitors in Swindon. As befitted this status there was no shiny glass frontage, no chrome and brushed steel. Bialiss & Peters was no johnny come lately, flash in the pan, style before substance concern. They were solid and respectable, they were sound, they had bottom. To emphasise solidity in a world of constant change, Bailiss and Peters were housed in an old brick Georgian town house that spoke of centuries gone by. Jack and Sally felt a silence of ages closing in as the solid oak door closed behind them, cutting out the noise from the street like a sudden fall of snow. The deep carpet muffled their nervous footsteps and the cathedral like quiet of the hallway reduced their curious chatter to hushed whispers. Following a mercifully short wait in a tastefully decorated room full of leather armchairs and matching leather bound books they were ushered into the silence of the urbane Mr Bailiss’ office.

“Good morning Mr and Mrs Grenville, I do hope you have not been waiting long”

He was smartly dressed in a grey pin striped suit with matching hair. The only splash of colour being a red tie that fell across his freshly pressed shirt like an unexpected sunset following a gloomy day.

“I expect you are wondering why you have been asked to come here?” he didn’t wait for the reply. “I must admit I almost refused this case when I heard of the conditions”

Sally’s heart missed a beat as he continued.

“Let me assure I have checked the credentials of the solicitors I am dealing with and everything appears to be above board.” At this point Peter Bailiss stalled and mopped his brow with a crisp white handkerchief. Too posh for paper thought Jack

“I’m sorry” he continued less confidently now “but this is the most extraordinary case. I admit I struggled with my conscience, but finally I felt I had to put this to you for the sake of your son”

Sally and Jack sat silently and stared at the vacillating lawyer. The silence was complete and would have remained so if Sally hadn’t broken in

“Please go on” she said quietly Peter Bailiss took a deep breath and visibly calmed.

“Before I begin I am instructed to tell you that you cannot decide to accept, nor decline the client’s offer today. If you wish to accept then you may contact me any time within the next week, I have been instructed to contact the client’s representatives one week from first contact. If you haven’t responded or you have refused the offer by that time it will have lapsed”

Jack was becoming clearly agitated. Not the most patient of men under normal circumstances the stress of Augustus’ illness and the lack of sleep had taken its toll. A posh stuck up lawyer beating about the bush was the final straw.

“Just get on with it will you, what do we have to do?”

This only served to fluster Barclay again, who had only just reacquired his professional poise.

“Well er you Mr Grenville, nothing really”

“So what’s the problem?”

Sally put her hand on her husband’s knee. This calmed him and her. What was she to do?

“Please Mr Bailiss, just put me out of my misery” she asked trying to hide her increasing concern

They watched as Peter Bailiss went through his calming routine again and then continued; the professional lawyer once more.

“Two weeks ago you appeared on a short television news report outlining your son’s illness. I am to replay it to you there is any confusion.”

“No, there is no need, we know it well” Her final words ‘I’ll do anything’ rumbled through her mind like distant thunder. She sat tensely on her chair gripping tightly to her husband as she waited for the lightning.

“My client is prepared to pay all of your son’s hospital fees and your and his travelling expenses for a copy of this news report”

“What” Jack spat the word out, “Is that it? I’ll send him one it’s saved on my computer”

“No, that is not all of it” replied Bailiss. He paused. “First let me tell you our firm has checked and the money is already deposited and is ring fenced until the end of the week. If Mrs Grenville signs the contract then it will remain on deposit until the contract is completed. If you fulfil the terms of the contract as verified by me then the money is yours”

“Right where do we sign” replied Jack, “I’ll bring the DVD straight after lunch, or would you prefer it on tape?”

“You are forgetting Mr Grenville, the earliest you can sign the contract is tomorrow”

“Fine, first thing tomorrow morning then”

“I’m afraid it is not quite as simple as that” This was something Sally had feared.

“My client would like you to record the report again, scene for scene.”

“And how are we supposed to do that” replied Jack testily. The whole thing was taking a bizarre turn. Why all of this, surely this mystery benefactor could get a copy from the TV company. His wife remained silent; unlike her unwary husband she sensed the trap.

“My client will appoint another company; indeed they already have them on retainer, to do the filming”

“OK, OK, I can’t see the point, but OK, we’ll do it again” Jack was almost shouting now.

“There is however to be one significant difference.” Peter Bailiss could feel the beating of his heart as he steeled himself, Jack Grenville was not going to take this well. “In every scene Mrs Grenville must be naked”

Sally wondered if this was how it felt to drown. There she was half way to the New World and salvation, and her speeding liner had struck her own personal iceberg. It seemed to her she was sinking slowly down into an infinite ocean of chilly water, with a calm of acceptance of her fate. Looking around she saw Jack all legs and arms gyrating wildly as he fought against the undertow. Mr Bailiss sat motionless, the broken captain on his bridge staring without emotion at the shipwreck of his folly. Then with a single thought Sally kicked for the surface and, taking Jack firmly by the hand led him away from the dream that she had dared to dream.