Next day Charlotte organized a phone conference call of all board members. She said Gina had excused herself citing possible vested interests and then outlined the doco Gina had organized. The majority of board members agreed to underwrite half the cost of making the documentary. Murray instructed Charlotte to make sure she was involved in preparing the application to seek State Government funding for the film project and to be on any deputation invited to appear before the fund-granting agency.
That same day when calling a cab Gina learned Salty was sick. On the way home she purchased a paperback and a box of chocolates and had the cab driver take her to Salty's home. She delivered the gifts at the front door to the very handsome Mrs Brown who expressed surprise and then asked why would she be surprised. "You are Miss Lott, I recall your face from TV and the newspaper. Would you like to come and see him? Some passenger has given him a nasty cold."
"No thanks, I've no wish to pass a cold on Clara, if I may call you that? I'm Gina."
"Yes please do. Salty is expecting big things from you. What should I tell him?"
"Tell him the Sergeant Tom campaign is on the march again. He'll know what that means. And tell him to watch local news at 6:00 on Sunday week when I launch the campaign to bring Sergeant Tom in from the cold."
"Right, I'll do that. Who is Sergeant Tom? Salty was in the army in his younger days but I never hear of Sergeant Tom."
"Sergeant Thomas Palin, founder of Palin City."
"Ah yes. The guy who dreamed up Indians were about to attack settlers. Salty said you had a fixation about him. I take it you've found evidence to back up your statement you're bringing him in from the cold, as you put it?"
"You not only have lovely features Clara but a good brain as well. Don't catch Salty's virus. Good afternoon."
"Bye Gina. You are so kind."
As they drove off the cabbie said, "Old Salty is an institution in our outfit."
"I'm not surprised Ivan, but why is that?"
"He has the cleanest cab, I don't think there's ever been a complaint against him, he treats us individually as if we were the best driver in the company but if something is wrong he'll ask ever so softly can he have a quiet word. He treats everyone who rides in his cab with dignity, even loudmouths and drunks. People respect him, like you do Miss Lott. Everyone in the company knows you have a soft spot for him and when you call in the dispatcher automatically looks at the locator on his or her screen for Salty. You are already on our list of top regulars Miss Lott."
"Well please have me removed. I've done nothing to deserve my place there."
"Request denied Miss Lott. Salty would fire me if I did that."
Gina laughed and said no way could one cabbie fire another cabbie.
"Salty is a cabbie, yes, but he also owns half the company with Mrs Ryan owning the other half."
Gina gave Ivan treble the usual tip. He'd told her something very interesting about Salty and that explained his fine house the expensive-looking clothes Clara was wearing about the house. But the big gain was she'd ask Salty if company drivers would spread the word about Sergeant Tom. Ivan chatting to her had given her the idea. It reminded her that cabbies liked to chat. Orange and Green Cabs had the largest taxi fleet in the city. Oh how she wished for a photo or even a drawing of Sergeant Tom. In her mind he was just a shadowy figure. A portrait would bring him alive for her and it would mean the campaign could push for a bronze statue of him.
* * *
Fleur lay in Adam's arms, the smell of sex in the air.
"That was lovely," she said. "You must be excited we're going to purchase this property?"
"Could be. Tell me, you and Gina have become very close, so close I'm suspicious. Have you been to bed with her? Now I want the truth."
"Yes," Fleur said in a small voice.
Adam looked at her menacingly. "Yes what? That you will tell the truth or that you allowed her to fuck you."
"Please darling. Don't get mad at me. We just fooled around a bit. It was lovely."
"Lovely? It was fucking disgusting. I'm having it out with the bitch," Adam said, jumping off the bed and pulling on his pants and shirt. "Now you stay here, do you hear? Move off the bed and you're for it."
Fleur began crying and Adam left the room, slamming the door.
"Oh hello Adam, is everything all right?" Gina asked, stepping back defensively, reading his angry face.
Adam brushed past her and entered the loft. "I suspected something has been going on between you and Fleur. I see touchy, touchy and soft intimate smiles from time to time. I forced it out of Fleur. She said you two had fooled around but I think it's a lot more than that."
"It could have been, perhaps not. I don't see it as any of your business."
"You smart-ass slut. Of course it's my business. I'm Fleur's husband, I have rights."
"Well you have no rights over me. Get out of my rented room."
"Oh I see. Miss High and Mighty are we? Well I'm pulling out of the contract. I don't want any property you've contaminated."
"We have a contract Adam. You pull out and I get to keep the 10% deposit you signed over to my accountant today. No, I'll do more than that -- I'll sue you for breach of contract and seek to take every cent you have in punitive damages."
"Oh yeah?"
"Yeah. You let Fleur do most of the work and you think you are capable of making the executive decisions. Well you attempt to pull out of this deal and it will be the end of you. With you both penniless Fleur will head home and you'll have lost her."
"You bitch."
"My name is Gina."
"Well, the deal sticks but I'll get even with you your filthy slut."
"Good night Adam. I suggest you leave the door on its hinges."
He stomped out, leaving the door wide open.
