Here is another extract from my novel, Modern Trials. There is an unpleasant tension in the London law firm. Oh boy, there’s going to be trouble…

Gabriel noticed the sheen on Rutter’s forehead. He was convinced that the old man had been persuing some warped gratification in his misjudged solitude. He had seen Rutter rooting through the girl’s desks before. Everyone had, but nothing was ever said. Gabriel spoke to Rutter’s profile because he was looking away, as though checking Ramsdale’s work zone. “I’m sorry Julian. I just wanted an early start today.” 

“Apology accepted boy,” said Rutter smoothing his Club tie, “it’s actually good to see the troops in with the old generals. 5-54,” he said checking his wrist, “above and beyond the call of duty, what?”

Suspicion damned the faint praise. “It’s no duty as you put it. Got to hit those targets. And like I said, if there’s anything I can do to help you.”

Rutter’s gaze was everywhere except on Gabriel whilst he fiddled with the clip of his suspenders. “Yes, no need. Everything’s well controlled. Anyway,” he said drawing a circle in the air, “I’ve enjoyed this chat. Perhaps you can tell Margaret I need to see her when she arrives. As soon as. I’ll be in Flight’s room, but I’m not to be disturbed. Only by Margaret. Need to see her. Understand?” The final words were obscured by stamping feet disappearing down the long corridor.

By the time Alice dropped her handbag under her desk Annie was on her third tissue.

“Oh dear Annie, what is it now?” she said to the broken body behind the partition.

“Nothing much,” she sniffed as Alice unhooked her ipod.

“Doesn’t sound like it,” said Alice, walking round to see her workmate’s puffy face. “Oh Annie, have you been crying again? It can’t be so bad surely. Tell me, what is it?”

“Julian’s had me in his room and, goodness Alice, he was out of control again, like before. He yelled for fifteen minutes. It was terrifying. Said I was late, that my clothes were from Oxfam, that I was failing to keep up with him, to support him. He screwed my typing into a ball and threw it at me. He’s given me all yesterday’s telephone messages back and told me to deal with them. I’ve no idea who half of these people are. Mostly Flight’s cases. I’ll only mess it up, they’re all so complicated. He’s said that I can’t leave until they’re all sorted. I’m only a secretary Alice, what can I do?”

“I tell you exactly what we do. I go in there and tell him what he can do with his messages. This is crazy,” said Alice, scooping the stack of yellow attendance notes off Annie’s table. “He can deal with them, for once. Or I’ll give them to Gabriel. He’ll get through them in no time.” She forced a smile, worrying that Annie was close to another breakdown, and despite her own fear of  Julian. “And if I can’t fix it then I’ll have a word with Cornelius. We can’t have this.”

“Oh please, I don’t want more trouble. I need this job. Derek’s business. They don’t need grocers in Acton with the new superstore. With our mortgage we need every penny.”

“Don’t worry about your job,” said Alice bravely, approaching Rutter’s office. “You nip to the ladies and dry your eyes. By the time you’re back this will be sorted I promise. And then I’ll make us a fresh pot of coffee.”

“Okay,” said Annie cautiously, “but he’s camped in there.”

Alice entered Flight’s forbidding cell without knocking, and gagged on the stench. Rutter was stretched out on the sofa; a steaming Country Life held where his head should have been.

“Good morning Julian, may I have a quick word?”

Rutter was stone. She felt like a trespasser and wondered if he was even awake. She stole herself to repeat the salutation, questioning her decision to go out on a limb, when the magazine slowly descended, gradually revealing a weary Rutter. The fat cigar glowed like an afterburner as he stared into middle space. 

Still silent, Rutter rose and, cigar in mouth, approached her. Alice backpedalled until her heel snagged a pile of files, and she stumbled. Back to the wall, she felt the inconvenient heat of a blush. Rutter’s pursuit stopped within inches of her body. Alice’s lunatic bravado evaporated, leaving a timid lady, dwarfed by the powerful law man.

“How old are you my dear?” asked Rutter, emitting hot smoke like an old power station.

“I’m, er, 25, er no 26, just…” said Alice, wrong footed by the intimate interrogation.

“Hmmm,” said Rutter thoughtfully, “my dear, I can still remember being 25, or even 26. A young lawyer. Corporate man climbing the ladder like all young lawyers strive to do.” He paused as ash fell to the carpet, moved closer still, and in a deep slow voice purred, “But back then my dear, despite my status and talent, I would never have had the arrogance, the damned insolence, to set foot into a partner’s office without first knocking and waiting to be summoned.”

What in heaven’s name am I into here, wondered Alice. She felt like the smallest girl in the biggest trouble. “I’m so sorry Julian, I didn’t mean to interrupt you. It’s just that I’ve been given these. They need dealing with urgently otherwise Flight’s going to have no clients left to come back to. Can we divide them out? I think Gabriel has some capacity. I’d be happy to have a word with him if you like.”

Rutter stiffened at the shaky offering of yellow paper. “Oh goodness,” he said harshly, “why don’t you leave them all with me. It isn’t as though I’m up to my neck with pressure already. I must say madam, it’s a long time since anyone has delegated work to me. And, unless my memory fails, I do believe that this is the first time that a secretary, and one of tender but uncertain years at that, has burst in to give me a stack of calls to make.”

“But I didn’t mean it like that. It’s just that…”

“Oh don’t worry my dear. I’m actually rather impressed. Now let me take these nasty notes from you so that I can spend my morning on the phone.” Rutter teased the paper from Alice’s weak grip. “Now trot on, I’ve got work,” he said without moving so that Alice had to squeeze past him.

She looked back at the old man, who remained stationary, as she hurried out on the brink of tears.

She was met in the corridor by a shinier, smilier Annie. Her mouth moved but Alice could not make out whether she was being thanked or asked how it went. Time, probably seconds, passed by before a click and a woosh and a Rutter emerged.

“Annie!” he roared. “Get in here. Now!”

“Mr Goldman will see you now.”

Evelyn looked up at the attractive nurse and folded her arms to hide trembling hands. “Sorry my dear, did you say something?”

“Yes Mrs Rutter, it’s your turn. Let me show you through. And please call me Mary. Is there anybody with you this time? I’ll find them if you want.”

“No, I’m on my own. Come on then, let’s get it over with.”

Evelyn gripped her little handbag, containing only  No. 5 and car keys, as they walked slowly across the waiting room. Grey carpets and blue walls scratched forever into her memory. The eyes that followed her seemed already to know her fate.

The consultant stood to greet them in his modern room. “Come in ladies. Eve, you take a seat here in this comfy chair.”

Evelyn laughed. “Oh you don’t have to butter me up  Michael. I don’t mind where I sit.”

“I insist. That way we can chat without me preaching from behind that big desk.”

Evelyn complied and Mr Goldman sat opposite her. “No Julian? I hoped he’d be with you today. Is he around?”

“No, I’m afraid he’s at work. You know what he’s like. Work, work, work.” Evelyn crossed her legs and picked at the sleeve of her dark tailored jacket. “He sends his apologies.”

“That’s too bad, he always was a passionate career man. Would you like Mary to sit in with us?”

Evelyn looked beyond the doctor, to the plaque on his desk that read Mr Michael Goldman, Consultant Oncologist. “Yes, I think I would like that very much.”

The door clicked quietly and Mary sat near the small window, where the blinds drew tiger stripes across her face.

“So how have you been getting along with the painkillers? Any side effects?”

“Only every single one you listed,” she joked. “I’m exhausted with being sick all the time. I’ve become an old woman Michael and I hate it. I hope that they’re doing some good. And that you’ve got some good news for me, because I can’t go on like this.”

She watched the doctor for clues. He removed his glasses, closed his brown eyes, and loosened his cheerful tie.

“Any pain?” he asked calmly.

“Yes. In my tummy, worse than ever. I think it’s started shooting into my legs now. And there’s still blood, just a few spots, but blood in the toilet after I’ve been. When I can go that is.” Eve nodded, and lightly brushed her hair from her cheek.

“We’ve known each other a long time Eve haven’t we. It’s unfortunate that Julian couldn’t join us.”

Eve became aware of a ticking clock, a table full of leaflets, and looked at the doctor like a girl to her father. “Yes, well, couldn’t be helped. So,” she continued, swirling an imagined rice grain between finger and thumb, “Ellie well? And the boys? All grown up now I suppose.”

“They are all fine Eve. Thomas starts at Bristol this year.” He paused to look at the beautiful lady, to delay the moment that he would alter her permanently. “Evelyn, I have the results from the tests I did when we last met. I’m so sorry that it has taken so long.” As he continued a tear rolled down Evelyn’s face. “Mary, have you got a tissue?”

“Of course doctor, here let me.”

Mary crouched next to Evelyn’s chair, where she remained, as Evelyn dabbed her eyes and held Mary’s hand.

“Evelyn, I am terribly sorry, but the tests have confirmed my diagnosis. I am afraid that you have cancer of the bowel. I am so sorry.”

His patient hesitated, then smiled bravely. “I know we spoke of it Michael, but tell me again, what does it mean? I don’t understand what you are saying to me.” 

Michael cleared his throat. “Eve, do you remember the sigmoidoscopy. The fancy word for the optical investigation? Don’t worry, we won’t be doing that again, but it has revealed a tumour in your large intestine. The long colon to be precise.”

“Oh, God in heaven Michael,” she whimpered. “Please, is there any, anything that can be done? For all that is good, tell me that. Tell me that there’s hope.”

“I will arrange a CT scan, or maybe ultrasound. We need to know how advanced it is. Whether it has spread into your lymph nodes. That will help me decide on the treatment. We can try surgery…”

Eve wept, gripping the nurse. “Just let me go home,  I can’t face the scalpel. I need to go. Now. Just leave me, I’ll be no trouble.”

“Now Eve listen, surgery can be effective. We can  remove the diseased colon. I’m afraid that we might need to perform a colostomy, but in some cases we can reconnect the colon, in time.” Mr Goldman looked away from Evelyn’s crushed eyes. “Aggressive radiotherapy, or chemo, can also help.”

“I’m not taking this in Michael. For a second I thought you said I’d be left with a bag. You need to tell me again. Again!”

“Of course. But please hear this. I need to progress this treatment urgently. When you next see me I want to see somebody with you. This cannot be faced on your own. Surely Julian can get some time off.”

“No, no, he can’t. Or won’t. I’m all alone. He won’t help. He doesn’t love me. Never did.”

“Come on Eve. What about a friend, or other family? What about Charmian, can she find some time?”

Evelyn Rutter watched teardrops explode and slowly said, “I don’t know, don’t know. I’ve been bad Michael. Cruel and nasty and bad. Charmian won’t help when she learns the truth, what I’ve done to her.”

“Eve, just think over what I have said. I promise that we will do all we can for you. With your determination then who knows.”

Mary reached for Evelyn as her face distorted, and the frail lady shook in her arms.

NOTE: Please click on MODERN TRIALS for further details of the novel from which this extract has been taken and further extracts.

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