some sort of amicable agreement,’ Frank Michaels said. ‘Let us agree first off that there will be no claim to the contents of Wangallon Homestead.’
Tony Woodbridge had a poor way of showing his displeasure. He rubbed the dark-haired back of his hand with his stubby nails, the action making a rasping noise, and then ruffled the hair above his ear, a shower of dandruff falling on his charcoal-grey suit. ‘My client doesn’t need to hear this preamble. We have a legal case here, Mr Michaels.’
‘Quite. However, so does Ms Gordon should she decide to contest her grandfather’s will.’
‘Contest the will?’ Jim said, his anger rising. ‘She can’t do that, can she?’ His head swivelled from his solicitor back across the blond expanse of wood to Frank.
Frank continued. ‘If Ms Gordon decides to contest there is every possibility that your client may well lose and he would then be required to pay legal costs for both parties.’
‘Is that true?’ Jim asked his lawyer. His father and their Scottish solicitor, Mr Levi, had never mentioned that any of this could happen.
Tony Woodbridge spoke placatingly. ‘Such occasions do occur, however I believe you have a very strong case.’
‘A strong case,’ Jim repeated. ‘In Scotland it sounded like a done deal.’ He listened as Frank Michaels listed all the factual reasons that could be presented on Sarah’s behalf in a court of law. Apparently Sarah could contest based on the length of time she lived on Wangallon, her management of the property and her family’s longstanding attachment.
‘Of course no case is clear-cut as I’m sure Mr Woodbridge has explained,’ Frank continued more pleasantly. ‘Should we end up in court we will use any number of measures to cement our case.’
‘Such as?’ Mr Woodbridge asked.
Frank took a sip of his black coffee.
Tony read from his own pile of copious notes. ‘The use of emotive elements such as, “Sarah’s brother dying in her arms on the property, the floods and droughts the family has withstood –”’
‘Certainly those areas are of interest and of course nowhere has your client been in sight during these tumultuous times, and’ Frank twirled his blue enamel pen in his fingers, ‘the fact remains there is some concern as to your client’s actual parentage.’
‘What?’ Jim stuttered.
‘Come, come, Frank,’ Tony Woodbridge tutted. ‘This is meant to be a conciliatory discussion.’
‘Well it’s all hearsay at this point, however we would require a paternity test,’ Frank continued. ‘In fact the court would demand it.’
Sarah knew this was part of Frank’s plan. It would either delay proceedings or bluff Jim into a reduced settlement. Yet even she thought the test was a little much, after all, everyone accepted Jim as her father’s son.
‘I don’t want my mother dragged into this.’ Jim’s fist hit the table for emphasis, sloshing coffee from his cup.
Frank nodded. ‘I quite understand your protectiveness towards your mother, Jim.’
Tony Woodbridge lay a calming hand on Jim’s shoulder. ‘Paternity to my mind is not an issue,’ he looked furiously at Frank, ‘but my client is only too happy to comply. Consider it a necessary evil, Jim, one that will ensure your entitlement.’ He looked at Jim. ‘I’ll contact Mr Levi in Scotland and he can inform your mother that a blood test will be required.’
‘You are aware, Jim, that this case could go on for years? That there is the possibility, however slight, that your own family will be subjected to slander.’
Sarah kept her eyes glued on the middle of the wooden table. Frank sure knew how to bait a client.
‘Slander?’ Jim repeated.
Frank hunched his shoulders. ‘It happens.’
Tony Woodbridge scratched the back of his hand, coughed politely as if clearing his throat. ‘Let’s keep everything above board shall we?’
‘Of course,’ Frank agreed smoothly, ‘we can talk if you drop all claims to the house contents and stock.’
Jim and his solicitor conferred in whispers. Sarah crossed her fingers, strained to hear their words. Finally, Jim nodded.
Tony Woodbridge sat back in his chair. ‘My client is in agreement to drop his claim towards the contents of Wangallon Homestead and the livestock. This is a gesture of goodwill on his part for the contents are of a historic nature and therefore valuable. However my client is cognisant of the importance of these material possessions to his half-sister, Sarah. Similarly he renounces any claim to the stock. In return my client requests his inheritance as stipulated by the late Angus Gordon.’
Frank swallowed the urge to tell the pugnacious Woodbridge to go to hell. Currently he felt they had