Gentle Extortion – Laura Routley

Another brilliant piece from a GUNNAS WRITING MASTERCLASS WRITER

As a nurse, Felicity could get blood out of a stone and frequently did so.  Her job with Platinum Pathology Insurance (PPI) was perfect for her.  The early hours suited her as did the opportunities to improve upon the meagre wages PPI paid her.

PPI, insurer to the top echelons of society, had their own highly trained nurses such as Felicity, who would visit the homes of people about insure their lives, incomes, luxury homes, holiday retreats, boats and car collections.  The silver-service treatment included a nurse going to their home to perform a medical.  A physical examination including medical history, blood pressure, and urine test and drawing blood for testing was always done.  While the insurance company was happy to provide a fine service, they wanted to be certain their newly insured clients were not going to drop dead in short time.

Felicity always did her preparation for an appointment the night before.  This involved an internet search about the person she was to see and checking Google maps for a picture of the house she was going to, along with any information about the client, especially when their house last traded and its value.  She used this information to calculate how much extra they would pay for the right results.

Tomorrow looked very promising.  The house was in Wolseley Road, Point Piper and had been sold two months ago for $33 million.  Her client was Mr Trent Royle, aged 34, who was a director on seven ASX listed boards and was described as a hedge fund genius.  There was also an older article in the Sydney Morning Herald about some trouble with the tax office, something about tax fraud allegations and denials.

Felicity assessed Trent Royle as possibly a dodgy operator with lots of debt.  His bank had probably told him to increase his insurance policy if he wanted more money.

It was 5:30am, dark and rainy when the alarm went off.  A trace of a smile spread across Felicity’s face as she threw back the covers to get out of bed.  Time to move; she had to get from Tempe to Point Piper by 7am.  Living at the end of the runway of Sydney Airport had few advantages, but she knew she was doing well for time when she stepped out of the shower as the first jet roared overhead at 6am.

Felicity hated paying road tolls, but for this trip they were unavoidable as she faced a trip along the M1.  She gritted her teeth and then reminded herself that with any luck this appointment might turn out well for her.

Pulling up outside in her car at two minutes to seven, the large harbour-side home was as depicted on the internet.  Three white layers of luxury set on a double block of land.  Two security cameras pointed at her as pressed the intercom to be let in through the gate from the street.  Felicity walked past the new 7Series BMW towards the front door, reaching the second intercom.  Trent Royle opened the door to her.  Felicity said, ‘Hello I’m from Platinum Pathology Insurance’.

Trent stood there with a small white sweat towel around his neck and wearing a tight Everlast singlet and shorts.   He was tanned and well-muscled; obviously a man who took great care of himself.  Trent beckoned her in and pointed in the direction of the dining room on the other side of an expanse of marble and carpet.  A stunning view of Sydney Harbour Bridge was laid out in front of her.

Trent Royle was having the standard PPI medical.  Felicity set down her large heavy bag on the floor and the smaller bag on the table.  She carried scales, tape measures, needles, blood tubes, swabs, Band-Aids, cotton balls, a sharps container and urine test reagent sticks and yellow top containers for urine.  It was Felicity’s practice to start off easily with the basic medical questions before moving on to weighing, measuring, collecting the urine sample and drawing blood.  She always saved the bad news for the end.

Few words had been exchanged as Felicity assembled her equipment.  She was trying to gauge what Trent thought of her being there; he appeared slightly uncomfortable, edgy even.  She used her friendly tone saying ‘Please sit down, I have some questions I need to ask you’.

Go Back