Margaret takes over the organization after Ed's untimely murder.

and a meeting takes place in a tiny apartment

In St Kilda with an agent from the UK 

 

It was becoming obvious that there would be no introductions. Without turning his head, the man on the bed spoke. “You’re Will Brenner.” Will could not reconcile what was transpiring, an uncontrollable resentment was building up inside. “Yes, I’m Will Brenner. Who are you?” The man still didn’t turn his head. “I have a brief for you to take up and I must see that it is instituted before I leave for the U.K. this weekend.” Will was getting ready to burst. “I’ll ask you once again, who are you?” Tony stiffened and the woman shifted from side to side on her chair. “It’s of no importance who I am.” “That being the case whatever you say can’t be of any importance.” Will was certain that he spotted a fleeting smile on the woman’s face. Tony stepped backwards in an effort to get away from the onset of confrontation, but in that cramped room there was nowhere left to go. “You worked with Ed Blake before he died.” “No, I didn’t work with Ed. You know very well that you people have been blackmailing me for years to do things that you’re not capable of doing yourselves, and let’s talk plain. Ed didn’t die, he was killed.” Will was becoming aware that no matter how much he attacked this man verbally it would not make any impression. He pointed to the woman. “This is the person that’s taking over from Ed Blake.” “What do you mean “this person” is she like you, nameless?”

 

Will turned to the woman and addressed her in a soft tone. “What is your name? What do I call you?” “My name is Margaret.” “Do people call you Margaret or Maggie?” “Margaret.” Reaching over Will shook her hand. “I’m pleased to meet you, Margaret. Just call me Will.” The man on the bed showed no reaction whatsoever, but the look on Tony’s face was one of relief during that brief moment without tension. “You’re to assist her as you did with Ed Blake, but on a full-time basis. There’s a lot of work to be done.” “I’ve just told you that I never worked with Ed. Everything I’ve been engaged in was the result of a threat that was held over me, that’s not assisting, that’s being forced. I don’t like your attitude; I can’t trust you so I won’t do anything for you.” The man’s head turned and then in one second returned to its original position. It was the first reaction Will had seen from him since arriving. “If you don’t do as I ask, I’ll have no other option but to make your file on Gourock available to the authorities when I get back to the U.K.” Will turned his attention to Tony and then to Margaret. “Is he your superior?” She nodded. “Take a good look at him and remember that you could be here where I’m standing. Anyone that resorts to blackmail to get what they want is the lowest form of life.” Will pointed at the man on the bed, “and that’s a prime example!” The mixture of fear and anger had surged up into my throat forcing me to stop speaking until I had it partially under control again. “If it’s your intention to blackmail me I have to warn you that within the week I can finish your organization here in Australia for years to come. You surely must know that I’ve been gathering hard information of my own. I have no concerns about what might happen to me, but the slightest thought that you might bring harm down on my family will provoke me into launching the biggest vendetta against you, the likes of which you could not even comprehend!” Tony was beside himself; the smallest excuse would have seen him out of that room like a shot. The man on the bed was now looking directly at Will, and Will’s first look at his full face only made him feel more contemptuous. “Let’s get one thing straight. I didn’t say I wouldn’t do anything; I could probably help Margaret and I’ve already helped Ed, it’s just you I won’t do anything for. You’re a blackmailer and it would be against my principals.” Tensions rose another notch; the man was now sitting up. The two men were staring at each other and it looked as though things were about to get violent. Margaret entered the conversation for the first time. “You’re not rejecting things out of hand then?” “No, I’ve always been able to work something out with Ed or Tony, but this man is crude, I want no more discussion with him. Either he leaves the room and we carry on, or we leave and start afresh elsewhere. I’d prefer that we left, the atmosphere in here is tainted.” Tony scrambled in the confined space to allow Will to get by. With the door half open he spoke to the man on the bed before leaving. “One move toward upsetting my family and you’ll wish you’d never been born.” Finding himself back on the fourth-floor landing Will walked over to a recess nearby and leaned into the corner, his body reacting like a giant spring, unwinding. He was expecting to wait for some time as there would no doubt be some discussion by the others but within the minute Tony and Margaret appeared. She was much taller than he had envisaged standing several inches above Tony. At first, they didn’t see him because he was out of their line of sight and it appeared that they were at a loss, probably thinking that Will had left permanently. Stepping into view, Tony ran forward, a look of relief on his face. “We thought you’d left to find your own way home.” “No, I wouldn’t leave you up in the air.” “There’s a coffee shop five minutes walk from here, could you spare some time for Margaret? There was so much confrontation back there that she didn’t get the chance.” “I’m sorry Tony, but I did warn you what could happen.” The mere act of walking out of the building and into the fresh air was like a tonic and Will began to feel better with every stride. There was only one customer in the coffee shop and he was seated at the counter. Tony went over to order as Will and Margaret found a booth in the corner and sat opposite each other. She looked across at Will a wry smile on her face. “That was quite a performance back there, are you always that aggressive?” “No, only to people that I think deserve it, but I’m glad about one thing.” “What’s that?” “If you had joined in with your friend, I don’t think I could have coped.” Margaret laughed. “He’s no friend of mine, we’ll be glad to see the back of him when he leaves this weekend. He comes from the old school; they always think they can get things done by threats. Those methods were dispensed with years ago.” Will glanced across at the counter. Tony was still standing there waiting for his order. “Before Tony get’s back I’d like to make one thing clear.” “You’re not going to order me about, are you?” “No, if you’re taking over from Ed, I won’t go through a third person. Don’t use Tony as a go between, I’ll only deal with you.” “What about the surveillance equipment?” “Tony can drop that off, but where there’s discussions to take place it’s just you and me. Tony will tell you how to contact me.” “I agree, it’s a relief to know that Derek Bates didn’t foul everything up. I’ll be straight with you and after tonight I know that you’ll be straight with me.” She reached over the table and they shook hands. Tony returned with a tray. He had bought himself a giant size four and twenty meat pie and he proceeded to attack it like a man possessed. Will and Margaret sat watching him, waiting for him to come up for air. “Well Margaret, what did you want to ask Will?” “There’s no need for any more talk at the moment, it’s all sorted out.” Tony looked from Will to Margaret and then back to Will again waiting for some sort of explanation, but no one offered. He shrugged his shoulders and commenced attacking his pie again.

 

During the drive home Will tackled Tony about what had happened immediately he had left the room. He was curious why things had terminated so quickly. Margaret had told Bates in no uncertain terms to stop the use of threats and leave her to do what was necessary. She had also told him that if he implemented anything when he got back to the U.K., she would see to it that his bungling of the affair was made known to his superiors. Will felt better, but once blackmail had been proffered as a possibility, it could rear its ugly head again sometime in the future, and he would still have to carry the burden.