Chapter 7: Chapter 7: Noel does some digging

Chuck Halley took on the job of explaining. 'Bud and I are based here in Sydney but we spend a lot of time out of the country.' He bent his silver head. 'We're importers-exporters. Ross here now, he's our American connection you might say. He's just visiting.'

'Were you all in the military with Mr Donaldson's late partners?'

'I beg your pardon?' Ross d'Allencio as he had introduced himself, looked a little taken aback.

Noel was apologetic. 'Did I get it wrong? William said you were friends of Ronald Patton and Geoff Davies, the original owners of Gem Techtronics. He said you met in Iraq.' In her eye's periphery she saw Donaldson shoot a quick look at William.

Halley answered. 'No honey, you didn't get it wrong. Bud and I have known each other since,' he glanced at the heavyset man at his side, 'well, for a long time. We went through military college together and ended up serving in Iraq at the same time.' With a self-deprecating shrug he said, 'We were pen pushers ourselves and when we met Ron and Geoff we just sorta teamed up. They were great guys. We kept in touch after we went home and it was they who more or less persuaded us to make the move to your beautiful country. Haven't had a moment's regret, have we, Bud?'

Bud shook his jowls. 'That we haven't.'

'Why didn't you stay in the military? I would've thought you were both career men, having gone through military college.'

William growled a low note of censure and Halley put out his hand.

'That's all right, Mr Hall, if you're curious, in my book you just ask. Honey,' he said to Noel, 'I was a bit disenchanted after Iraq. When my time was up I got out. Bud too. And we wanted a change of scenery. So, here we are.'

'And your business, what do you import and export?'

'We-ell,' the retired colonel changed his weight to the back foot and gestured expansively with his glass. 'Artefacts essentially. There's a real interest in some countries for Aboriginal works of art, and Australians will buy anything from anywhere as long as it looks good. The orient's always a favourite.'

'I'd love to see your showrooms.'

'Warehouse, we're wholesalers. Honey, you're welcome any time, you'd be the most decorative item there. Bring your Mr Hall along.' He handed Noel his card. 'Worldwide Products. Ring me and we'll lay on some refreshments. Nick, you come too, son, bring your wife. We'll have a party and Noel can tell us what she thinks of our wares.'

'I'd love to,' Noel said. 'William?'

A waiter was murmuring in his ear. 'Excuse me for a moment would you.' He glanced around the group. 'Minor crisis to sort out.'

'Not run out of booze,' Nick Donaldson said in mock horror.

William seemed to think it not worth an answer and walked off with the waiter by his side.

Noel turned back. 'It's been lovely meeting you but would you mind if I took Mr Donaldson away?'

They didn't. 'You call, young lady,' Chuck said.

'I certainly will,' she said over her shoulder. 'I hope you don't mind, Mr Donaldson. I won't keep you long.'

He steered her to a marble bench at the end of the patio.

'William has explained to me the set up of Gem Techtronics, who owns what, and the situation as it stands with Alexander Patton's death.' She saw annoyance flicker in Donaldson. 'I'm interested professionally. I hate to see a company not making the most of itself.' She leaned out of the shadow. 'William didn't give away any secrets.'

He looked askance. 'You have me on my toes wondering what's next.'

'Mr Donaldson ...'

'Nick.'

Was that encouragement? 'Nick, I'd like to take over Gem's account from William. He's a busy man, too busy to expend the kind of time and effort I think your company needs. William isn't saying yes or no, but if you agreed then I'm sure he would.'

'Why do you think we need your efforts?' At least he was listening.

She used her fingers for emphasis. 'Firstly you've lost the two people who started the company. Ron Patton and Geoff Davies were known for their expertise in the field and were respected and trusted from the years they put in building the company up and establishing a first class reputation for quality and delivering. Secondly you've taken a back seat since becoming involved, you're not known. Thirdly no-one else in the company is known, as far as I'm aware. You may well have good middle management and technical people but from my understanding it was Patton and Davies who fronted the company. They were the ones your customers knew. Actually you should have moved into top gear the day after Geoff Davies died, making yourself known. I'd take a bet and say you haven't done much if anything in the way of assuring customers that nothing except the signature on correspondence is going to change. I imagine you've had too many other things to think about.' She had finished with her fingers. 'Am I right?'

Nicholas Donaldson stroked the smile on his lips. 'Tell me what happened in Cairns. This wanting to help Gem hasn't been prompted by remorse about not being able to help Alexander Patton, has it?'

That pulled her up short. She hadn't thought of that angle. 'Perhaps. It's possible there's an element of that lurking somewhere. But basically it's a matter of seeing a good company with a good product and an established demand not stretching to its full potential and perhaps in danger of falling on its face for want of a little expert handling. You export about 90 per cent of what you make and medical technology is a growing field; the sky should be the limit. You seem complacent and you shouldn't be.' There was something else she was curious about. 'Why haven't you done more to develop the home market? The time's right, what with all the government interest and industry studies you could take advantage of.'

Nick leaned back against the patio wall, Sydney Harbour his back-drop. 'You've been doing some reading.'

'What we have on file, which isn't much. You keep us on a retainer but I'm hard pressed to see what we've ever done to earn it, even if William does have shares. I can't understand ...'

'Nick darling, I feel deserted and come looking, only to find you in a dark corner with some little friend of William's.'

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