AT 29 (71 page)

Miles shook his head. “No, the Brits are ready to go out on their own. I want to put MacGregor with one of them, Whitehurst with the other, if he's ready. Jimmy gets his own tour. Cindy has a California group coming in. If they come together fast I might want them to do the warm-ups for him.”

“I need Melinda and Eugene.” Jimmy had little interest in developing new backups.”

“Rebellion needs them, too,” Miles countered.

“Who's got the bigger claim?” Ellis demanded, “I'll find people for the Brits.”

“Somebody better ask them,” Cindy offered.”

Jimmy changed the subject. “When's Nigel due?” He had an ulterior motive, getting a firsthand account of what was happening at the orphanage.

“He's in the studio.”

“He's back? When?”

“Yesterday. Why?” Miles eyed Jimmy curiously.

“I'd like to hear the songs.”

“Next week. He's going to do a run through. He wants everybody there to give input. His request. In the meantime, feel out Melinda and Eugene. I'll need an answer soon so we can get some auditions going.”

“Let me handle it,” Ellis volunteered.

Miles nodded then paused momentarily, searching their faces. “I have something else to discuss.” He settled his gaze on Cindy, who nodded. Then he looked at Ellis and Jimmy. “In early December Blossom was put up for sale.”

Ellis spoke first. “Not a word about it on the street.”

“Ellis, it's true,” Cindy interjected. “Let Miles explain.”

“You didn't hear about it because before it went public I made a bid. My offer was accepted. I'm the new owner.”

Jimmy shrugged. “Good. Business as usual.”

“To a point.” Miles looked at Cindy then back again. “I sold everything I own and mortgaged the rest.”

Ellis shook his head. “I don't like the sound of this.”

Miles handed a one-page document to everyone. “I don't normally do this, but I think it's only fair to let you see the numbers.” He waited a minute as the two scanned the page. Ellis spoke first.

“Negative cash flow? Blossom's in the red?” The agent was incredulous. “Even with the album sales and the east coast tour?”

“Temporarily, so I can service the debt.”

“Your debt, not ours.” Ellis' voice rose. “You owe us money. I don't see it in these numbers!”

“Settle down, Ellis.” Cindy gave him a cold stare.

“Not a chance! Where's our money?”

Miles was red-faced. “I need a little time. With the Grammy nominations the cash flow will straighten…”

Ellis cut him off, “And, if it doesn't?”

Miles opened his palms in a gesture of uncertainty. “We'll face that if it happens.” He pulled out another sheet and handed it to Ellis. “The bank owns the paper. Here's the valuation.”

Ellis took the sheet, glaring at Miles. He read it quickly then looked up. “Five million?”

Miles nodded. “If I fail, the bank forecloses.”

“What kind of scam are you running?” Ellis stood to leave, but Jimmy grabbed his sleeve, keeping him in his seat.

“What do you want from us?”

Miles turned to Jimmy. “For starters, I'm in with everything I own. If I screw-up I lose everything.”

“Too bad. We're not going down with you!” Ellis tried to stand again, but Jimmy held him.

“Let him talk.”

“You can call me every name in the book and you'll be right. I went out on a limb and I took everyone with me, especially you. I'm not proud of what I've done, but I think we can make it work if we stick together.”

“Meaning what, exactly?” Jimmy asked.

Cindy moved in her chair and spoke. “Miles didn't account for the post holiday dip. There's no money to pay anyone. There's no money for a tour, but we're fielding calls from promoters. We should have more to work with after the Grammy Awards.”

“Are you saying nobody gets paid for two months?”

“Yes,” Miles answered, “If we play our cards right, we can come out okay later.”

“How much later?” Ellis was calming down.

“Mid-year, maybe sooner as long as I can conserve cash.”

“The future album sales are already factored in?” Jimmy knew the answer.

Miles dropped his chin. “Yes, and I should have known about the holiday dip.”

“That's why the national tour is key.”

“Yes.”

“What are you talking about?” Ellis demanded, looking at Jimmy.

Jimmy kept his eyes on McCabe. “Even if
Back and Blue
goes Platinum?”

Miles nodded without speaking.

Ellis wrenched his arm away and jumped from his chair. “You're telling us you mortgaged future album sales just so you could buy the label? You stole our money?”

“I took a chance.”

Ellis leaned across the desk nose to nose with McCabe.” Well I'm out! I'm suing you and the bank!” He turned back to Jimmy. “Let's go!”

Jimmy shook his head, looking at Cindy. “Where do you stand?”

“I'm with Miles.”

Jimmy took note of the conviction in her voice. Ellis was already out the door by the time he asked his next question. He looked at McCabe. “Where are you living?”

“He's with me.” Cindy said.

“Permanent?”

Cindy looked at Miles. “As far as I'm concerned.”

“As long as she'll have me,” Miles spoke up. “Is that a problem?”

Jimmy looked at their faces. McCabe appeared defiant with a tinge of uncertainty. Cindy seemed to be serenely happy. He shook his head and smiled.

“I'm glad you've found each other.”

He caught up with Ellis in the parking lot. “This is all wrong,” his agent complained. “He has no right to advance his own interests at our expense.”

“It's done. We have to see it through.”

“I'm sure we can get him on a breach of contract.”

“To what purpose? We can wait. Go for a breach if it falls apart later. Besides, we both know the dip is temporary.”

“Except he factored in your future sales. He calculated platinum. We don't know if it will go that high.”

“He didn't expect Kate to get a nomination. Rebellion's going to take off.”

“You trust this guy?”

“About as much as you trusted me when you almost walked out, remember?”

“You had to stop killing yourself.”

“You told me I had to be flexible. Now, I'm telling you. It's only a couple of months. You saw the way he looked. He wants to make it work.”

Nigel was in Studio B. He smiled when Jimmy came in. “Congratulations, mate!”

“Premature,” Jimmy answered, shaking hands. “Tell me what happened to Sister Marie.”

“I was with her in her office when she collapsed. I called for help and followed the ambulance to the hospital. They said she almost died. That's why I called Les to come back.”

“Les says she's out of the woods.”

“That's what the doctors told me.”

“How's Les handling things?”

“Call her and find out.”

“I do everyday, but what do you think?”

Nigel raised his eyebrows. “I think the boys are in good hands.”

They talked about the songs. Whitehurst went through the arrangements, pleased as Jimmy showed increasing enthusiasm.

“You did all this yourself?”

“I had a little help from the session guys, but mostly mine. You like it?”

“I need to hear them, but they look good on paper.”

“Next week.”

“Why do I have to wait?”

“I need to practice. Your songs, mate. I want to do them justice.”

A week later Nigel assembled his session players on chairs randomly placed on the platforms of the larger Studio A. Everyone else took places along the wall to watch and listen. Cindy went into the control booth. Benson made his usual loud entrance, trailing Chase behind.

“I don't know why I need to be here,” he complained. “Where's the suit?”

By the fifth song everyone was still. Cindy worked the controls while simultaneously lifting the phone to call Miles in his office. “You better get over here.”

“What's wrong?”

“No, Miles. It's what's right. Come quickly.”

McCabe heard the music as he opened the door and hurried down the corridor. He stopped outside Studio A and listened through the glass, watching Nigel as he drove his voice to a high pitch only to match it on his fiddle in a harmonious blend with the backing instrumentation. Jimmy was closest to the door, transfixed along with everyone else. Even Benson stood in motionless attention. The song that followed was even better, capturing the essence of the Australian's extraordinary range. Miles looked from face to face. Kate moved to the beat. Every so often she whooped with pleasure. Nigel sang on, taking no notice. Mid-way through the next song, Miles made his way to the control booth. Cindy looked up when he opened the door. She lifted her headsets just enough to hear his urgent question.

“Are you getting this?” She nodded, giving him the thumbs up.

Two days later, Mike Winfield was in Miles' office. “Solid gold,” he said, excitedly. “Buckman wrote them?”

“Three of them. They collaborated on the rest.”

They continued to listen as Winfield, now syndicated on one hundred FM stations across the country and twenty percent owner of WAGZ, schemed for more. “He's going to be big. You need to handle this right.”

“You know my situation. I can't do anything until we see what happens with the Grammy Awards.”

That night Jimmy hosted dinner in New York. Nigel came into the city intending to stay the night at the apartment. Ellis and Sonny met them at the restaurant. They chose a table in the corner.

“What will you call the album?” Ellis asked.

All eyes turned to Whitehurst who glanced at Jimmy.

“
Yarra
.”

“
Yarra
?” Ellis chuckled.

‘It's the name of a river that runs through Melbourne.”

“I suppose it has some significance,” Sonny said, motioning for the waiter to come over.

“Actually, it's not only the river, mate. There's a valley west of the city called Yarra, too. Both are magnificent, just like the songs.”

“It's a catchy title,” Jimmy encouraged. “Don't let McCabe interfere.”

Ellis hit the table with his fist. “You bet!”

“Why the anger?” Sonny asked.

Ellis looked at Jimmy. “They don't know?” Jimmy nodded.

Ellis explained everything, ending with sarcasm. “He's too green to know about the holiday dip. There's no money until after the Grammy Awards. Nobody's gets a dime.” He turned to Nigel. “You won't see
Yarra
in the stores for a while.”

Jimmy turned to Ellis, changing the subject. “Did you talk to Melinda and Eugene?”

“They're in. Cindy is looking for replacements so Rebellion can rehearse.”

“Good. At least something is moving ahead.”

Sonny laughed nervously. “So we're on an unpaid vacation.”

“You could call it that.”

They sat on the rooftop veranda of Jimmy's apartment building. Nigel lit a joint, letting the first drag settle deep into his lungs before exhaling and speaking.

“What's this money problem mean for me?”

“It's a temporary delay. Don't let Ellis get you spooked.”

Whitehurst took another drag. “I need a backup band.”

“Any of your session players available?”

“One or two, maybe. No drummer. That's a problem.”

“Don't go to Chase for ideas. He's trouble.”

“No worries about him or Benson, mate. They're okay.”

“Watch the pot, too.”

Nigel waved him off, changing the subject. “Feels like I need one more song.”

“What do you mean?”

“Just a feeling.
Yarra
, whenever it comes out, needs a twelfth cut.”

“Don't be greedy,” Jimmy smiled. “The eleven you did today are fantastic.”

“By the way, what's with you and Les?”

“Nothing.”

“You call her everyday?”

“Just concerned.”

“Go see her.”

“What?”

“You have some holiday time, what with the money problem at the studio. I think you should get on a plane and go see her.”

“We still have work to do here.”

“I knew a girl from Sydney…” Nigel's voice trailed off. “Just a thought mate.”

The next day Jimmy drove back to Chillingham. What he didn't say to Whitehurst was how certain he was that the Australian's debut album would be a hit. Few recordings have the horsepower to grab a listener on the first hearing. Not so with
Yarra
. In addition, every song was good, rare to the extreme. Jimmy was proud of them, but he realized that it was the Australian who made them special. He didn't want to wait two months for the album to come out.

Miles was also troubled. He saw dollar signs the moment he heard Nigel in the studio. Even Kate's involuntary whoops added an element of excitement. No matter what, he wanted them left in. He liked it so much that he was tempted to go into deeper debt just to get the album into the stores immediately. Of course, that was out of the question. He couldn't borrow more. His frustration was at the boiling point. Miles Michael McCabe hated to wait for anything.

Jimmy made a quick run to Chillingham. As soon as he arrived he found a realtor in the phone book. A day later the house went up for sale. In the evening he drove to Boston's Logan airport and boarded a flight for the west coast. After a two-hour layover in LA he boarded Qantas flight #12 via Sydney to Melbourne.

Jimmy took a cab straight to Saint Malachy's Orphanage. It was ten a.m. when he mounted the steps, suitcase in hand, tired and in need of a shower. None of that entered his mind as he strode down the corridor to her office. She was on the phone with her back to the door when he tapped lightly. She swiveled in her chair and promptly dropped the handset to the floor. In a burst of excitement, she leapt into his arms. They held each other tight, wordlessly. After a while, her grasp loosened and she knelt to pickup the phone. She apologized to the person on the other end then hung-up. She came back into his arms again, this time kissing him on the lips. They spent the rest of the day and all night in his hotel room.