A Promising Career
He sat back comfortably, in a large upholstered chair, swirling Camus Cognac Cuvee in the club’s finest lead crystal brandy glass, looking every inch the man about town that he used to be, although we had agreed by mutual consent that this time the bill was on me, given his present little “difficulty” due to imminent forclosure by his bank.
I’d known him since we read for the bar, fell in with his easy charm. Making your way as a young barrister, unless you are extremely well connected, never is very easy – I settled for taking briefs on urban planning and development – steady, safe and reliable – old Gavin decided that his talents would get better recognition if he killed two birds with one stone. Spent his days down at the racetrack, in nightclubs, got invites to all the best parties, started to carve a career and make a name for himself.
Gradually he developed up a busy criminal practice, solicitors that he didn’t know would brief him – on the recommendation of their clients. Within a few years, it was all the rage and fashion to have Gavin take your case and raise a defense to the outrageous claims that society people suffer from – like dui, insider trading and mother’s in law caught shoplifting – Gavin did them all – moving the jury to laughter or to tears, it really was surprising how often he got them off.
I have to admit, deep down inside, I envied Gavin his lifestyle. Until I married several years later, it was usually late nights for me, reading up on the latest amendments to dull and boring laws – with a glass of cheap wine and a take away meal for tea. It got so that although we still had rooms in the same chambers, we didn’t meet up very often – Gavin was popular – in demand – always invited to make up numbers at dinner parties and gatherings. No one saw any warning then of how things would turn out for that promising young barrister, that smart young man about town. He only made one social mistake in his life – that was getting involved with a happy crowd who considered it “chic” to use cocaine.
You wouldn’t think a fellow that had put so much work into building his career, would stand by and watch it go up in smoke, well, wrong, not smoke – Gavin told me once that he was actually snorting coke – made him feel like a champion – he suggested I drop by sometime, but by then I was married – didn’t want to step out of line. Truth to tell that was only an excuse – the whole idea of Gavin using cocaine shocked me to the core, I didn’t even want to go there.
Then I heard around the traps that Gavin wasn’t doing so well. Apparently people thought he’d become arrogant, and difficult to work with. Solicitors were suggesting that their clients might do better putting their case in more professional hands – Gavin got a reputation for being aloof and pompous, and often totally unreachable when his advice was needed. Sometimes I saw him come into chambers late, looking quite worn out, looking to see if there was any work, or unanswered messages. Society people can be fickle, and one day there seemed to be a unanimous decision to drop Gavin from the usual social lists.
It was soon after that Gavin asked if we could speak sometime about a confidential matter, that’s when I invited him to my club and sat down with him to dinner. Over the cognac, he got down to business and put the hard word on me – long friendship, good pals – he needed $50k in a hurry. I hesitated about what to do, I didn’t have that kind of money to spare – I was still making my way. I said Gavin, I’d like to help but I don’t have any money.
His face went hard, his eyes were narrow, I’ve never seen a look of such hate before on anybody’s face – now you don’t fucking let me down, you’re the only hope I’ve got – he stared at me like he was pleading, Well, how much are you good for – how much have you got. Come on man, don’t let me down, I’m in a bit of a fix. A voice in my head said- don’t listen to this, he’ll never pay it back. I told Gavin that I had to leave, an early start next morning – told him that I would have to discuss it with the wife. Gavin gave me a look of withering contempt and strode off out through the door.
A week later it was in all of the papers – Famous Barrister Dies of Cocaine Overdose – I felt deeply sad but had no regrets about refusing him the loan – it wouldn’t have helped him any way – a lot of people owed him money, he couldn’t get any of them to pay. According to the office gossip – he had fully refinanced his house – cashed up all his investments, and recently sold his car – he’d spent the whole lot on cocaine, there was nothing left.
