Chartwell, Bidmore & Cope

If you have never been to a top-flight law firm you really should find an excuse to visit one. One of the most prestigious and esteemed firms in the city is Chartwell, Bidmore & Cope.

Long a bastion of legal thinking, Chartwell, Bidmore & Cope enjoyed an enviable reputation in their field, and their practice was housed across five full floors of an office tower downtown. Our small assemblage (Miss Cousins, Jane, and me) were met by Ardie Beebe and The Late Secretary's chunky niece.

I was more curious than nervous; Jane had suggested that "$5000 might fall your way this afternoon" so that was interesting news.

Chunky Niece was quiet and stayed close to Miss Cousins. The lobby of Chartwell, Bidmore & Cope resembled the entrance hall to a fine stone building. A sweeping staircase lead up or down, and a wall of windows presented the city below as a view. The atmosphere was one of refinement and class, and designed to make visitors forget that they were 37 storeys up in the air.

Mr Andrew Cope Jr (who looked about 70) personally came out to greet Miss Cousins, holding her hand for a moment and exchanging some pleasantries. Chartwell, Bidmore & Cope was old fashioned, and Miss Adelaide Cousins (and her fortune) was a dear old client.

Reading a will is a passive affair and not at all like in the movies. We weren't wearing black (except for Jane, who always did) but Miss C was wearing charcoal. Hell, it was autumn! Everyone was starting to drag out the dark colours.

The great bulk of The Secretary's money--from bank accounts, insurance and other instruments--was given to her Chunky Niece and a large donation to her church. Well, that explained the warm eulogy from her minister!

Miss Cousins was left all the artwork that The Secretary had collected, with a few exceptions here and there. Most of it was actually works from Miss Cousins, so it was a case of some items returning home.

Jane and I were selected for special treatment. Jane just smiled benignly as a managing parnter of Chartwell, Bidmore & Cope informed us that the apartment building owned by The Secretary was to be given to Jane, me, Ardie and Miss Cousins.

Miss Cousins smiled, Jane smiled, Ardie grinned and I was stunned.

It was not an equal ownership; it was more of a trust and the controlling share was owned by Miss Cousins.

I had a funny feeling in my stomach; a cross between nerves and worry. An apartment building?

Coffee was served; Mr Andrew Cope mentioned that "any issues related to the Will and transfer of the property could be easily handled by Chartwell, Bidmore & Cope" prompting me to worry about how much it would all cost.

Ardie seemed cool and collected. He stood to leave and mentioned to Miss Cousin that they had a supper date over the weekend; waved a farewell to Jane and me, and thanked Mr Cope--and his minions who entered and left the boardroom silently--for such excellent care.

He left with a hearty goodbye, and suggested that Jane and I join him for lunch one day soon.

"After all, we're all going to be living under the same roof."

Driving back to the office we were a silent trio until Miss Cousins said that "all of this was because Ardie--the fool--lost all his money. You two should remember that; money is a great responsibility."

Jane sent me an instant message at the office inviting me home for supper. We would take a drive beforehand to look at our building; Jane had some details to share with me.

Later she walked past and suggested that "your days in a basement apartment are coming to an end, Sweetie" and that was that.

The rest of the afternoon was uneventful.