an hour. I’ll brief you then.’
‘I thought company liaison was your job. I just came in to drop off the file.’
Agnelli’s head did a 270-degree sweep. His voice came through a clenched jaw, low and insistent. ‘Look, Murray...’ ‘I’d love to stand around and bat the breeze like this, fellers,’ said the bike messenger, ‘but I’ve got a previous at the Stock Exchange.’
I wasn’t going to argue the toss in front of Boy George. Reluctantly I stepped out into the corridor. Agnelli took his palm off the button. ‘Well piss off then, buster,’ he told the closing doors. He turned back to me, oozing sweet reason. ‘It’ll only take half an hour.’
‘Corporate relations are your department. What do you need me for?’
Agnelli licked his lips and started talking twenty to the dozen. ‘The manager out at Coolaroo didn’t want to know me. Typical middle management flack. So I thought I’d teach the prick a lesson. Went all the way to the top. Merricks is on the City Revitalisation Committee with Charlene. The Committee met yesterday afternoon, so I buttonholed Merricks afterwards and put him on the spot. Asked about the newspaper story and made a noise like industrial unrest. Really put the wind up him, it did. So then I told him I shared his concerns and put our little look-see proposition. He’s a bit so-so about the idea, obviously doesn’t want the wrong person blundering about out there treading on management’s toes. Said it would all depend on the “consultant”. “Sure,” I said. “I can understand that.” I told him the individual we have in mind is a real professional. “Talk to him yourself,” I said. “If you’re not perfectly comfortable, we’ll shelve the idea.”’
By this stage he had me bailed up against the wall. ‘Ange,’ I said wearily. ‘You’re over-reacting. This whole thing is bullshit. That Sun story yesterday was a beat-up. There’s no mention at all in today’s edition. Do us both a favour, get another boundary rider.’
‘Nonsense, Murray. You’re wasting your talents out in that electorate office. Handle this one right and you never know. Go on, clean yourself up a bit. I’ll see you outside the Amalfi in half an hour.’ He disappeared in the direction of Charlene’s office.
I pulled a tie out of my pocket and went into the men’s. The fluorescent tube above the mirror wasn’t pulling any punches. The cuts had stopped weeping and were beginning to scab up nicely. I’d be able to start shaving again in about a week, but it really wasn’t the sort of face you’d want to go stalking the corporate corridors in. I made a lump in my tie and parked it in the general vicinity of the top of my chest. This Merricks joker would have to take me as he found me. And if he didn’t so much the better. I’d be off the hook with Agnelli.
The ministry was a typical public service set-up—a rabbit warren of chin-high beige partitions, half the desks unattended. I helped myself to one of the empty ones and ransacked the drawers until I found a yellow pages. There were an encouraging six pages of roofing contractors. I dialled the electorate office and ran a pen down the names while I waited for Trish to answer. When she picked up the receiver, I could hear a dog barking in the background. Every day something new.
‘Any messages?’
There were plenty, but none urgent. And the guy with the tatts was back, on the doorstep at nine on the dot. Persistent bastard. I told Trish I wouldn’t be in until later and to tell Mr Tattoo that I was at the Police–Community Liaison Task Force and I’d probably be bringing some of them back with me. ‘And you won’t forget to run off the agenda papers for Wednesday night’s branch meeting?’ There was a bark, but it wasn’t a dog. ‘And, listen, if anybody rings about a roof, take the number and tell them I’ll call back.’
I dialled again, and again, and again, starting at AAAAce Roofing and working my way
‘I thought company liaison was your job. I just came in to drop off the file.’
Agnelli’s head did a 270-degree sweep. His voice came through a clenched jaw, low and insistent. ‘Look, Murray...’ ‘I’d love to stand around and bat the breeze like this, fellers,’ said the bike messenger, ‘but I’ve got a previous at the Stock Exchange.’
I wasn’t going to argue the toss in front of Boy George. Reluctantly I stepped out into the corridor. Agnelli took his palm off the button. ‘Well piss off then, buster,’ he told the closing doors. He turned back to me, oozing sweet reason. ‘It’ll only take half an hour.’
‘Corporate relations are your department. What do you need me for?’
Agnelli licked his lips and started talking twenty to the dozen. ‘The manager out at Coolaroo didn’t want to know me. Typical middle management flack. So I thought I’d teach the prick a lesson. Went all the way to the top. Merricks is on the City Revitalisation Committee with Charlene. The Committee met yesterday afternoon, so I buttonholed Merricks afterwards and put him on the spot. Asked about the newspaper story and made a noise like industrial unrest. Really put the wind up him, it did. So then I told him I shared his concerns and put our little look-see proposition. He’s a bit so-so about the idea, obviously doesn’t want the wrong person blundering about out there treading on management’s toes. Said it would all depend on the “consultant”. “Sure,” I said. “I can understand that.” I told him the individual we have in mind is a real professional. “Talk to him yourself,” I said. “If you’re not perfectly comfortable, we’ll shelve the idea.”’
By this stage he had me bailed up against the wall. ‘Ange,’ I said wearily. ‘You’re over-reacting. This whole thing is bullshit. That Sun story yesterday was a beat-up. There’s no mention at all in today’s edition. Do us both a favour, get another boundary rider.’
‘Nonsense, Murray. You’re wasting your talents out in that electorate office. Handle this one right and you never know. Go on, clean yourself up a bit. I’ll see you outside the Amalfi in half an hour.’ He disappeared in the direction of Charlene’s office.
I pulled a tie out of my pocket and went into the men’s. The fluorescent tube above the mirror wasn’t pulling any punches. The cuts had stopped weeping and were beginning to scab up nicely. I’d be able to start shaving again in about a week, but it really wasn’t the sort of face you’d want to go stalking the corporate corridors in. I made a lump in my tie and parked it in the general vicinity of the top of my chest. This Merricks joker would have to take me as he found me. And if he didn’t so much the better. I’d be off the hook with Agnelli.
The ministry was a typical public service set-up—a rabbit warren of chin-high beige partitions, half the desks unattended. I helped myself to one of the empty ones and ransacked the drawers until I found a yellow pages. There were an encouraging six pages of roofing contractors. I dialled the electorate office and ran a pen down the names while I waited for Trish to answer. When she picked up the receiver, I could hear a dog barking in the background. Every day something new.
‘Any messages?’
There were plenty, but none urgent. And the guy with the tatts was back, on the doorstep at nine on the dot. Persistent bastard. I told Trish I wouldn’t be in until later and to tell Mr Tattoo that I was at the Police–Community Liaison Task Force and I’d probably be bringing some of them back with me. ‘And you won’t forget to run off the agenda papers for Wednesday night’s branch meeting?’ There was a bark, but it wasn’t a dog. ‘And, listen, if anybody rings about a roof, take the number and tell them I’ll call back.’
I dialled again, and again, and again, starting at AAAAce Roofing and working my way
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