The Secret Lodge (Jim’s short stories)

The Secret Lodge

The lodge of the secret temple met on selected weekdays in the year. These days were chosen by the position of the moon in relation to earth. No summons was sent. It was strictly word of mouth. There were no lodge records and definitely no ladies’ nights. 

     Harry had planned everything. Nothing was left to chance. All the lads had been briefed, and were ready with the bullshit, should the need arrive.

  The lodge had been meeting a lot lately. He explained to his wife that the moon was shifting its position. Hence the high winds and rain.

Harry  Palmer had been a mason for 30 years and had reached the high office of worshipful master at the age of 24.he had progressed to many degrees including the rare Order of the Secret Monitor, and the mysterious Knights Templar. The lodge of the secret temple how ever was somewhat different.

 It only had one member.

Twenty five years with his own law firm was quite an achievement for a lad from Woolwich .After leaving school in Blackheath Harry joined a law firm in Lewisham. They immediately saw the potential of their young star and encouraged him to study and sent him to law school in Guildford. Their crash three year course was soon over and Harry returned to Penfold and Partners ready to do battle in the scary world of corporate litigation. 

He had met Mary at the office party, she was a temp for one of the senior partners. They got on well and two years later they were married at St Barnabus church in Eltham.

At the age of 32 harry became a partner and a father. Their son Frederick was born at the Brooke Hospital on Shooters Hill road.

 Elizabeth was to follow a year later.

Life was good for Harry.

Stevie Lantell was always good for a boozy lunch, and it was at this that his client Steve suggested that Harry set up his own practice. Steve could promise two of three of his friends and clients would jump ship and come with him. He even offered Harry the use of one of his buildings rent free in lieu of services. It was an offer Harry Couldn’t refuse.

The first year was hard going. As always people promise more than they can deliver. The days were long and the nights restless and sweaty. After a year Harry was ready to pack it all in and go cap in hand back to Penfolds. It was then he met Celia. Celia was a theatrical agent. They met at the lodge ladies night. She was the friend of Stevie’s. They had sat next to each other during dinner. Harry found her fascinating. She was witty, funny and above all she was beautiful. Harry was spell bound. She explained that she handled a number of clients that needed lawyers to negotiate things like recording contracts and dvd deals.Would he be interested?

Harry new nothing about show business but lunch with Celia convinced him it was time to find out.

Within the month Harry was negotiating with Universal pictures the three-year deal being offered to comedian Danny Thompson. There was not much difference between a DVD contract and one for the industrial sector. The one party demanded the other party to produce a product and would pay for it.

Each contract brought Harry a nice fee of several thousand s of pounds.

Within a year Harry had changed car, clothes and haircut. He felt younger he looked younger and, he had fallen in love.

Celia and Harry met twice a week in the evenings and whenever they could sneak away from their respective offices for a daytime quickie. There was never any talk of Harry leaving his wife. Harry liked this .He liked it a lot. He had the best of both worlds; a loving family and a mistress that made his heart beat faster.

Christmas was approaching. Harry had planned his double life with military precision. He would be “working late for two nights prior to the holidays and would have to be in the office for the day after Boxing Day.

Tonight the lodge of the secret temple was meeting. Harry worked from home in the morning, had lunch with Mary. The kids were coming for Christmas and plans would have to be made. Harry loved it when they came it made his life complete. He often thought about what would happen if Mary found out. Would she leave him? He always put the thought out of his head. It was painful to think about it. The tears and the tantrums…and that was just him.

At six o’clock Harry kissed Mary goodbye and got in his car. Mary ran after him.

“Harry You’ve forgotten your case”

In his haste to get away he had forgotten that Masons must take their little secret case. He was getting sloppy and a knot in his stomach growled and warned him to be more cautious. He had been taught to be cautious after all.

The journey to Ealing took forever. It was a journey of questions and what ifs. Harry’s fears left as Celia welcomed him to her home with a smile, a drink and oral sex in front of a roaring fire.

Dinner was exquisite. Roast Leg of Lamb served with mash potatoes and beans. It was different from dinner at home. Celia talked; She talked about things that Harry was interested in. There was no “you’ll have to sort the garden out” stuff.

The wine was perfect. A New Zealand Pinot Noir 2006. Dinner finished at nine, by ten past they were in bed. There lovemaking was fast and frenzied. What would he do without this he thought?

Celia kissed him goodbye, it nine forty five. She checked him for tell tale signs and urged him not to drive. What was he going to do? He had to drive, he had to get home, he never stayed out after a secret lodge meeting. He’d only had a bottle of wine. He’d be over the limit but it was a chance he’d have to take.

Celia closed the door and the air hit him. He staggered to his car thinking that it will pass. It didn’t. By the time he reached the south circular he could see double.

A panic had started. He felt it in his chest. His arms went tingly

                       Where am I?  Where have I been?  Where am I going?

His rear view mirror delivered the good news.  A flashing blue light. Surly this couldn’t be for him, he was a lawyer. He shut one eye and looked into his rear view mirror. E C I L O P 

                       What did that mean? Oh my God! Maybe they’re after someone else

.

The siren ended all doubts. What was once was panic was now bordering on cardiac arrest. His mind went into overdrive.

What would he say to the wife? Why was he in North London? Why was he pissed? The latter he could deal with. It was a well-known fact that Freemasons like a tipple or two at the Festive board.

The instinct to survive kicked in. Fight of flight? In this case, bullshit your way out or run away. He made his choice…the wrong one!

He pulled off the main drag and took the first left onto a council estate

                    Please God, don’t let them follow me

God wasn’t listening. The Police car followed.

                                                          Shit!

Harry drove around a small roundabout and stupidly thought he could lose them. He’d watched 24 too many times. The police flashed their lights and switched the siren back on.

Resigned to his fate…banned, fined, humiliated and divorced Harry pulled over and switched off the engine. He searched in vain for a peppermint, a chewing gum,a magic wand, anything. There was nothing. He sat and awaited his fate.

After what seemed like an age a policeman approached the car. Harry got out to meet him. Somewhere in the past he’d heard that it was less intimidating to face your accuser standing up. Harry tried to focus as what seemed like two policemen approached.

“Can I help you officer?”

He sounded strangely sober. His adrenalin had rushed to help.

“Yes sir “said the policeman. ”You’re a bit out of your way aren’t you sir?”

What did he mean…They must have checked the registration of the car.

“Yes officer, ‘had to visit a client”

“A client Sir?”

“Yes officer I’m a solicitor,” and a freemason, he almost added in the hope of finding a helpful brother.

“Good for you sir.”

The other Policeman joined them

“Have you been drinking sir?”

“No”

“In that case sir, are you a stunt driver?”

“I beg your pardon?” Harry said with as much authority as he could muster.

“You’ve gone through two red lights sir… Two! That might be some kind of record sir.”

Harry searched for an answer.

“I’ve reason to believe you been drinking sir and I am required to ask for a sample of brea………..”

There was a huge crashing noise

All three turned in time to see a car mount the roundabout, hit a sign and then spin over in a shower of sparks.

The two policemen rushed to the upturned car. Harry joined them  

“Stay where you are,” cried one of the policemen

Harry stopped and couldn’t quite take it all in. The car, a small thing that kids drive was on its back, the sound system was blaring out some rap music. Harry could make out the screams even over the deafening bass notes.

The Police were on their radios calling for assistance. One tried to open a door.

Harry thought it was dream- like, he even closed his eyes tight and shook his head in an attempt to find reality. The reality was that he had been nicked for drink driving in a place he should not be.

                                                    Not yet he hadn’t

Harry’s mum had a saying never look a gift horse in the mouth

The Policemen looked back as they heard an engine start and a car drive off at speed.

    It was three o’clock in the morning when the doorbell rang. Harry’s wife answered the door after the fifth ring.

The two policemen stood before her

“Yes,” said a grumpy Mary.

“Sorry to trouble you madam but does a”, he refereed to a notebook, “Mr Harry Palmer live here?”

“Yes he does…do you know what time it is?”

“We’re well aware of the time madam don’t you worry about that?

“Is he in?” The other policeman asked.

“Yes, he’s in bed”

“Well can you get him please”

“Why”?

“We want to talk to him”

“Well can’t it wait till the morning? He’s fast asleep”

“Well can you wake him up?” 

“Hold on officer he’s not been very well, he’s been in bed all day”

The officers shared a look. Obviously the wife’s been well briefed.

“We really would like to speak to him”

“What about?”

“He has left the scene of a crime contrary to the…”

“Don’t be silly he hasn’t been out all night he’s been here with me. What’s all this about?”

Harry appeared in his pyjamas. He looked awful. 

“Yes can I help you?”

“Harry you should go back to bed you’re not well” 

“It’s ok darling I’ve made my self a hot whiskey toddy.” He looked the officers in the eye… “My Third”

“Mr Harry Palmer we are arresting you for…..”

“Just a minute officers you can’t arrest me for anything; I’m a lawyer and I know my rights”

“…You refused to give a sample of breath and left the scene of the alleged offence still under the influence of alco…”

“How dare you I haven’t been out all night, have I darling?”

“No he hasn’t.” barked Mary, “and you’ve got a bloody cheek insinuate..

“So you’ve been in all night?”

“Yes”

“But we spoke to you sir. Both of us, we told you to stay where you were

You drove off thereby breaking….”

“I know nothing of what you’re talking about”

“Yes you do sir”

“Well officer” said Harry like a cat that had got the cream,

“Prove it”

“Where’s your car now sir?”

“In the garage where it’s been all night; isn’t that right darling?”

“Do you mind if we look at it sir?”

“Certainly. “Harry reached for the garage electronic opener.

“This is an outrage”, said Mary, “we’ll speak to your superiors”

“And our MP” added Harry getting over confident, “this is persecution without foundation to say the least.”

The four of them stood by the garage as Harry pressed the button on the fob

The door creaked slowly upwards.

The look on Harry and Mary’s face said it all.

The two coppers smiled and shared another look

“How long have you been driving a Police car sir?”