‘It’s a total cock-up, Mark,’ the client said. ‘And I can’t believe that I’m in this deep and this problem is only just coming up now.’
Mark appeared to be exasperated but was doing his best to remain polite and positive – clearly a real struggle. ‘The thing is, Tim, until we open the ground there’s just no way of knowing what’s under there. That’s what contingency budgets are for.’
‘The contingency budget is already shot to hell after all the issues about access to the site,’ moaned Tim. ‘At this rate, it’ll all be spent, and we won’t have even started the main build. And now this. An Anglo-Saxon burial site right under my beautiful new office block. Honestly, you couldn’t make it up.’
Mark shook his head sympathetically. ‘It is bad luck,’ he said. ‘We might have seen it before if . . .’ But then he cut himself short.
Ah, thought Maggie. The client is one of those that wants all the bells and whistles but is only prepared to pay for the standard model.
‘And I just don’t have time to wait,’ the client continued. ‘Everything I have is sunk into this project. I need to get back on site and digging foundations pronto. Can’t we just turn a blind eye to the bones? I mean, who’s going to know?’
‘I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that,’ said Mark. ‘We have to wait, go through the proper channels. But that can take months, I’m afraid. Forensic archaeology is a very specialised area and the expert I usually use in cases like this is booked up, sometimes for years in advance.’
‘Oh, for God’s sake,’ hissed the client. ‘It just isn’t good enough. It’s just one problem after another. I’m starting to regret using this firm in the first place and you can expect that I’ll be looking for a discount on my bill for all the cock-ups.’
Maggie could see that Mark was really angry now and battling to control his temper.
‘None of this is our fault, Tim,’ he said calmly.
‘Oh no? Well, whose fault is it? Because it sure as hell isn’t mine.’
‘Well, if you’d been prepared to spend a little more on . . .’
Maggie could stand it no longer.
‘Excuse me,’ she said.
Neither man took any notice.
‘Excuse me,’ she said a little louder. ‘Have you tried Professor Vanessa Quinn? She’s based at York St John’s. She’s quick and efficient and extremely good at coming up with solutions for this kind of problem.’
Both men turned to see who had spoken.
‘I’m assuming that you uncovered a skeleton when you were digging the foundations,’ Maggie continued. ‘The contract should cover that kind of delay. It’s got the standard warranties and indemnities, right? But if you get Professor Quinn in then you may find that you can sort the issue out and move on nice and quickly. She’s not cheap, mind you, but considerably cheaper than laying off the entire site and potentially losing all your sub-contractors.’
The client was staring at her and then he shook his head. ‘Who the hell are you? My fairy bloody godmother?’
The old confidence that had flowed through her a moment ago was now leaking out of Maggie as if she was a sieve, and she dropped her gaze.
‘I’m sorry,’ she muttered. ‘I’m sure you have it all under control.’
‘No,’ said the client. ‘We haven’t. And what you just said is the most sensible, and practical, thing I’ve heard all morning.’
Maggie gave him a tight-lipped smile. ‘I can make the call for you,’ she offered, and then, when she saw Mark’s face, added, ‘or give you her number.’
‘That’d be great,’ said the client. ‘Let’s see if we can get her to start straight away. I’ll pay what it costs.’
Maggie saw Mark’s eyebrow rise.
‘Good,’ he said. ‘I’ll get my PA on it straight away.’
‘Bugger your PA,’ said the client. ‘I’d go with your receptionist. What did you say your name was?’ he added.
‘Maggie Summers,’ she said.
His eyes narrowed, as if the name meant something to him, but then he offered her his hand to shake and headed for the door.
‘Get it sorted, Mark,’ he called and then disappeared through the revolving door, leaving the two of them.
Maggie was aware of the awkwardness as keenly as if it had been sitting on her lap and stroking her hair.
‘I hope I didn’t overstep the mark,’ she said. ‘I just thought it might help.’