Free The Eden Effect by David Finchley Page A

admittedly never before quite so vast.
    Arthur took charge. The disgraced partner of the prestigious firm of Lowe and Brown, accountant to the wealthy was back in the game. His new position and the challenges ahead invigorated Arthur. He had not felt this good for over two years. With newfound zeal and determination, he set about his task. The project he was about to embark on could not be accomplished alone. He needed to bring in the big guns. And Arthur knew them all. In matters of the money and how to spend it, Martin had given him a free hand. To get in the talent he required he had to buy it. Arthur had a saying in the old days. Money talks. And if it talks loud enough, everyone will listen. No exceptions. He knew that to make things work he needed lawyers. One lawyer in particular. Robert Mackie, senior partner of Mackie and Sloan, Melbourne’s premier commercial legal firm. Arthur had dealt with Robert on quite a few occasions when he was back at Lowe and Brown, and there was no one better to coordinate and run the project. Arthur had known Robert personally as well as professionally and Robert Mackie was one of only a handful of people who actually sought Arthur out after his downfall and offered help.
    But Robert Mackie was in Melbourne, still running a multi-million dollar legal firm. Arthur doubted that Robert had even heard of Eden, let alone would he be prepared to move there for the twelve months that the undertaking required. But money did talk. Robert Mackie was initially surprised to hear from Arthur. He assumed when he received Arthur’s message to call him back that Arthur was after financial help. His initial surprise turned to disbelief when instead of asking for help, Arthur was actually offering him for a job. A job in some godforsaken Victorian country town, no less. Once he realised that Arthur was actually serious, his mind scrambled for a response that would not belittle or ridicule Arthur for whom he had a great deal of respect. But before he could frame his response, Arthur landed what was a knockout blow. One million dollars per week after tax and guaranteed for twelve months, even if he was not needed for the full twelve months. Fifty two million after tax dollars! That talk was loud enough, even for Robert Mackie.
    â€˜I’ll do it, Arthur. I don’t know what you are getting me into exactly, but I’ll do it. I just hope that it’s legal.’
    Arthur, on the other end of the phone replied, ‘thanks Robert. I really appreciate it. I promise you won’t regret this. And Robert, you will need a team on this. I think three or four should do it. Pick your own people. Anyone you want. Tell them one million each after tax that should buy you some quality.’
    As it turned out, Robert decided only to bring two. One of the junior, but up and coming lawyers in the firm, Adam Chapel and Robert’s P.A, without whom Robert knew, he could not function. He arranged leave for the three of them from the firm. No one objected. Who would? Robert was the boss.
    The next issue for Arthur was suitable accommodation. He knew that Robert lived in five bedroom mansion in Toorak, complete with a swimming pool, tennis court and a five car garage. Such properties were in short supply in Eden. However, the local real estate agent, there was only one, solved the problem. He had on his books a four bedroom Victorian, a little run down, but nothing that minor decorating and repair could not solve. It was centrally located and quite spectacular internally. Behind the grime and peeling paint, there were all the magnificent original Victorian features. Arthur took out a twelve month lease, paying twenty percent more than the asking price. Jack Small, the agent, put Arthur onto a handyman who fortunately was available. The $100,000 that Arthur offered him for what would turn out to be two weeks work assured his availability. Eden had no appliance store or furniture store, so Arthur, by way