When Evil Wins (8 page)

“I don't know, Richard, I went to the bar,” Janus said, becoming aware that Richard’s comments were not really directed at him.

Janus had never seen his boss get this angry before and had never heard him raise his voice like this.

“Look at this,” Jameson said, thrusting the piece of paper towards Janus.

Taking it, Janus read the note. “I don't know what to say Richard.”

“Here, now,” Jameson demanded to the nearest waiter. “What's the meaning of this? Is this some kind of silly joke, because if it is I don't find it funny at all? What is your restaurant playing at?”

Other people in the Royal Dragon stopped what they were doing to turn from their own private conversations to see what the commotion was about.

“Sir,” the waiter started, “what seems to be the problem?”

“Janus, please show the man the piece of paper.” Richard was now speaking in his usual and considered manner; he had grabbed the waiter's attention as much as he’d needed to. Janus unfolded the paper and held it out for the waiter to read.

“Sir, I can assure you that no employee of this restaurant would ever leave such a note.”

“Well,” Richard said to the waiter, “I can assure you that my friend here,” Richard indicated Janus with a flick of his hand, “did not leave this note and I can tell you this; I will not be paying for this meal and I will certainly make sure my friends never even entertain the idea of coming here. Janus we're going.”

With that said Richard stood up and indicated to Janus they were leaving.

Once outside the restaurant Richard looked at his watch. “Janus I don't know what that note was about, probably some stupid joke. Suffice it to say I don't think we'll be gracing this place with our presence ever again. I've got a meeting in an hour. You'll need to find out a little more information about your Mr Royce before there will be enough to put into print.

“I'll speak to my wife and find out an appropriate date for you to come to the house for dinner. We can talk further then.”

Although abrupt on occasions, Janus knew how Richard was and didn't take it personally. The two men shook hands and went their separate ways.

***

After the short tube journey to Fenchurch Street, Janus dropped himself down on a seat in an almost empty carriage, ready for the trip home.

Janus didn't know what to make of the situation. He took the note from his pocket and read it again.

“
If you carry on publishing work of this kind expect an accident within your family
.”

In preparing the update to his latest manuscript Janus didn't contact Mr Royce again, there were no thanks there, and he felt another call would not be appropriate anyway, so he decided to research the area Mr Royce lived in and use that information to expand his manuscript with historical content.

It was another two weeks before he was happy with his final draft and felt ready to call Richard Jameson.

Although he’d made the decision to call his publisher he still felt apprehensive, it wasn't because of his work this time though, it was to do with the peculiar note which had been left on their table at the restaurant all those weeks ago. It had not been mentioned or referred to in subsequent conversations he'd had with Richard since, but its ominous tone still played upon his mind.

Janus dialled Richard's number, “Jameson,” Richard answered in his usual gruff voice.

“Mr Jameson… Richard, I mean, it's Janus.”

“Ah, Janus. How are you?” Jameson said.

“Good, Richard. I've finished my manuscript, taking on board the comments you made. What would you like me to do next?”

“Bring it to the office,” Jameson said.

“Okay. When?”
 
replied Janus.

“Bring it the day after tomorrow. The appointments I have then can be adjusted, should the need arise.”

“Okay, Mr Jameson,” Janus said, putting the phone down. Even though they had been in partnership for nearly a whole year he still hadn’t found a way to address his boss; he never felt comfortable with just calling him Richard.

Over the next two days Janus re-read his manuscript over and over, changing the parts he felt needed adjustment to make sure it was the best he could provide, not just to please Mr Jameson, but to ensure Jameson's reader didn't come up with some obscure analysis of it.

Janus knew that Richard relied solely upon his readers, the people who commented upon the first drafts which were submitted to the publisher and was aware that their verdict was the only verdict that would be listened to. In essence, it was the readers who decided whether a manuscript would be used or not.

Janus had no idea who these people were, but was sure that, if Richard was without them then Richard's whole publishing business would be of a totally different nature.

Janus Malik walked along London's Museum Street towards the brown tinted, glass fronted building that was R.J. Publishing.

Pushing the translucent doors open he entered the business’s foyer. Opposite him was the back wall of the reception area, the visible parts of which were a light grey colour. Masking it were the enlarged covers of every book R.J. Publishing had commissioned since its inception.

To his left was a seating area consisting of a wooden coffee table, either side of which were placed two deep brown leather sofas.

Crossing the light tiled floor he made his way to the rich wood veneered counter, smiling at the receptionist.

“Hello, Mandy, I'm here to see Mr Jameson,” Janus said to R.J.P’s receptionist cum secretary.

“Hello, Mr Malik. You can go up now. He's expecting you,” she said.

Janus winked at Mandy; “Mandy there's no one around. You can call me Janus you know, but on the other hand you've only known me for the last year, almost; so I understand that we can hardly know each other,” Janus said with a grin.

“Janus, don't be daft,” Mandy replied, “you know how strict Mr Jameson is about the etiquette on reception and I don't want to lose this job. It's the best I've ever had.”

“Mandy, you know you’re too valuable to lose. You could get away with practically anything, I'm sure.” Janus winked once more and made his way to the lifts crossing the tiled floor onto a dark maroon carpet that led into the depths of the building.

Having pressed the call button the doors to the left-hand lift opened immediately and he stepped inside.
 
He pressed the number three button and the lift's doors slid silently shut.

Janus was worried about his work; this time around he had done something quite different from anything he had produced in the last few months. It was less of a paranormal investigation and more of a history, but that was all he had.

Janus knocked on Richard's heavy wooden office door and waited. Within a few short moments Richard said, “Come.” And Janus entered Richard's plush wooden panelled office.

“Janus, thanks for coming. What do you have for me?”

Janus handed Jameson the manuscript. “Thanks,” Jameson said, “I hope there's a bit more bulk to it than you had in your last version of this manuscript. Having said that and looking at the amount of folios in this one, you’ve probably done it again.” Janus almost wilted at this last comment and Richard continued; “Giving me another piece of work I can publish,” the publisher finished. Janus sighed, relieved.

“This one is a little bit different from the work I’ve done before, but I think it will be more enjoyable for it,” Janus said, without complete confidence.

“Okay, Janus. I'll pass it on to my reader and we'll see what he says.”

Normally Janus had no qualms about this; it was a process his other works had been through frequently during the time he had been with R.J. Publishing. This time was different, however. Janus hadn't been able to conclude his investigation in the usual way and he’d had to bulk it out with more history than he’d been used to.

“Janus, I have a meeting in about ten minutes, if there's nothing more, can we conclude?” Jameson asked.

“There's nothing more,” Janus said, “I hope you enjoy it.”

“You know I will, Janus, but you also know it's up to my reader.”

“I know,” Janus said, hoping Jameson’s reader would have as much faith in him as Richard seemed to have.

“Okay. If that's it then I'll meet you again soon,” Jameson said, winding up their meeting.

Janus left Richard's office and on the way out of the building he stopped at reception. “Mandy, it's almost lunchtime. Do you fancy having a bite to eat and a drink? Some oriental cuisine perhaps?” Janus said, knowing there was a bar a few minutes away, just around the corner, which served some excellent Thai food.

Mandy checked the clock on the wall opposite her desk. “If you hang on a few more moments, Janus, I would love to,” she said.

Janus made himself comfortable on one of the sofas in the reception area whilst he waited for Mandy. He liked her, they got on really well. She was an attractive young woman with straight blonde hair and incredibly blue eyes. Their relationship, which had developed over the preceding months Janus had been turning up at the offices of R.J. Publishing, was more akin to a brother and sister relationship rather than anything else.

The clock ticked on and Mandy got her coat from the cupboard built into the wall behind her desk.

“Where are you going to take me then, Janus?” Mandy asked.

“Bar Oporto, it's on High Holborn, not far,” he said.

As they walked to the venue they talked, and after what seemed to be only seconds they were entering the bar through its slate grey door.

For the time of day Bar Oporto was fairly empty and the food they ordered arrived promptly.

“I do like it when you ask me out to lunch,” Mandy said, toying with her tofu.

“I enjoy it too, Mandy. You know, I've not said this before,” Janus paused for a moment contemplating what he was going to say next, “and I hope you don't mind.”

“What?” Mandy said before Janus could finish; she was a little worried about what she thought was coming next.

“And I hope you don't mind,” Janus started again, “you're like the sister I never had. I can just talk to you, and I like to think you feel the same,” he finished.

“That's strange,” Mandy replied, relieved, and before she could say anything else Janus responded; “Why strange?”

“Well… Since the first day I saw you I thought; wouldn't it be nice if you were my brother. I’ve never had one you know.” Mandy frowned, and then added; “Didn't have much of a family either.”

Janus was relieved by Mandy's first statement and knew better about making any comments as to the second. This was as he had hoped. She felt the same way he did and he was glad he hadn't crushed any misconstrued feelings.

He was still getting over the confusion his break-up with his ex-wife had caused, at her behest, and was not really ready to take on another relationship, though the break-up had been along while ago. However, his maintenance payments had now finished and perhaps it was time he should move on.

“Thanks, Mandy, that's really great to know.” Janus changed the subject, not wanting to dwell on the ins and outs of personal relationships. “Do you truly enjoy working at R.J.P as much as you say?”

“Of course I do, Janus. What a silly question. Mr Jameson is a very nice man, but sometimes I do think he’s a bit strict.”

“Yeah,” Janus agreed; then said, “If it wasn't for him I'd probably be destitute by now.”

“Why's that?” Mandy asked.

“Oh… Nothing I want to talk about really. It's history now anyway.”

Their small talk continued and they finished their meal.

“I really ought to be getting back now, Janus. Is that okay?” Mandy asked, tentatively.

“Of course it is you twit,” Janus said smiling at the Jameson Publishing’s secretary. “Can't have you losing your job can we?”

“No, you're right,” Mandy answered seriously. “But I've got plenty of time. It's only a little way.”

“Mandy, I was only joking. Richard would never give you up. You shouldn't get so worried.”

“Are you sure?” Mandy asked seeking reassurance, as she still felt, even after the amount of time she had worked for Jameson that her capability in the job was still up for question.

“Of course I'm sure,” Janus said. “Let me get the bill and we can be on our way.”

The bill was paid and they left the bar. When they reached the beginning of Museum Street Janus said; “I'm going to catch the tube from Holborn. You alright to make your way back to the office from here?”

“Of course I am. What kind of person do you take me for?” Mandy answered.

“Okay then,” Janus said understanding Mandy’s exclamation had been rhetorical; “It's been nice to talk to you outside of that office. Another time soon, then?” he added.

“That would be nice, Janus,” Mandy replied. “See you soon.”

The two friends separated and Janus continued along the road to the underground station.

While he was walking along High Holborn his mind returned to his manuscript; he was in no doubt that very shortly he would receive a balling from Jameson because his script was still not up to par.

As there was nothing he could do about his worries he dismissed the notion and pushed his tube ticket into the ticket barrier, then made his way to the platform to catch the train for the first leg of his journey home.

***

As soon as he got into his flat he turned on his computer; he wanted to check his emails. He hoped that there would be another commission or two, to solve problems that could not be ascribed to anything other than the paranormal. However, there were none, not even junk ones.

Okay,
Janus thought to himself,
I think it's time I had a holiday
.

He shut down his email software and logged on to the Internet. After an hour of searching he found a suitable short break in Norway, one that included lakes and mountains; somewhere that wasn't crowded, somewhere he could get away and forget everything for a while. He would have to leave this time next week if he was going to benefit from the available prices.

Although his holiday was seven days away he started the preparations by packing his suitcase with some of the essentials.