‘One of our colleagues rang you yesterday, I believe?’ Banks said.
‘She talked to Geoffrey Melrose, not to me,’ said Norrington. ‘He’s my partner, to all intents and purposes. I’m afraid he’s had to go to London on business today, but I can help you with anything you need.’
‘I hope so. My colleague said she got rather short shrift.’
‘Geoff’s a busy man. He told me it was something to do with the Drewick development.’
‘That’s right. The old airfield with the hangar. How long have you owned the property?’
‘About four years now. It was run-down for years, going cheap, so we bought it for the land. Ever since then we’ve been trying to get zoning laws and investors in line for a new shopping development. It’s a long haul, I can tell you.’
‘Do such things usually take so long?’
‘It depends. You certainly need patience in this business, though.’
‘While you’re negotiating all this, who takes care of the property?’
‘Again, it depends on the property.’
‘In this case.’
Norrington leaned back in his chair and started stretching a rubber band. ‘In this case, nobody, really. There seemed little point in employing a nightwatchman or a security company as there was nothing there to watch. The chain-link and gates were already in place. We put up all the required signs and padlocks. I suppose some schoolkids might have managed to sneak in through a hole in the fence, but even a nightwatchman probably couldn’t have prevented that. Kids get everywhere.’
‘Too true,’ Banks agreed. ‘And anyone can take a pair of bolt cutters and replace your chain and padlock with their own. Did you ever consider whether the premises were being used for criminal activity?’
‘Why would I? We have many properties awaiting development, and it’s never been an issue before.’ Norrington put his rubber band down and wagged his finger. ‘Now, I do hope you aren’t trying to lay the blame for anything like that at our feet. Is this a matter of liability?’
‘Well, as a legal issue, I suppose it might interest the lawyers and cost everyone else a fortune. But nobody’s blaming anyone. That’s not why we’re here.’
‘I’m very glad to hear it.’
‘So what’s the answer?’
‘Of course we didn’t know anything about criminal activities. I’m shocked to hear that you think we did.’
‘Not only that, Mr Norrington,’ said Annie, ‘but the area is now also a crime scene, a possible murder scene, in fact. What do you think of that?’
‘I don’t know what to think. I find it very hard to believe, as a matter of fact. Besides, you can’t blame any of this on us.’
Banks stood up and walked over to the window. Norrington swivelled his chair so he could keep his eyes on him.
‘Believe me, it’s true,’ Annie went on. Norrington didn’t seem to know who to look at. He finally decided on Annie.
‘But what can I possibly do to help you?’ he asked. ‘I’ve already told you, we’ve been involved in negotiations to develop that property for years now. It’s not as if we stand guard over it or anything. Sometimes these things move very slowly.’
‘What’s the matter? Not managed to grease the right palms yet?’ said Banks, reclaiming his chair again. ‘Not found the right city councillors to enlist in the cause?’
Norrington reddened. ‘I resent that.’
‘Of course you do. But it happens in your business, doesn’t it?’
‘As a matter of fact,’ Norrington went on, ‘that’s not the problem at all. Not that we’d resort to such a thing.’
‘Course not. What is the problem, then?’
‘Not that it’s any of your business, but it’s investors. Lack thereof. To put it crudely, we’re still a bit short of the readies to make a start, even with the requisite planning permission, which we are on the verge of acquiring.’
‘I’m surprised you can’t get anyone to invest in the building of a major shopping centre where there isn’t any competition for miles around.’
‘It surprises me, too, but that’s the way it happens sometimes. Man plans. God laughs.’
‘I’ve had that feeling myself, often,’ said Banks. ‘Wouldn’t it help if you rented the place out for some private venture in the meantime? Perhaps that would bring in the cash you need? Help you keep your heads above water until it’s time to proceed?’
‘Too much hassle,’ said Norrington. ‘Then we would have to hire security and worry about it all the time. We’ll get the money. And by legitimate means.’ Norrington glanced from Banks to Annie and back. ‘What exactly is it that you want from me, Mr Banks? I do have things to do, you know. Important things.’
‘I’m sure you do. And we’ll try not to keep you much longer. For a start, I’d like to know if you have any idea who has been using the old airfield and hangar as a transfer point on a trafficking route.’
‘Trafficking? What do you mean? What trafficking?’
‘Stolen farm equipment and livestock. Maybe other things. People. Drugs. We don’t know the full extent of the operation yet. It’s an ideal location, though. Isolated, unguarded, close to the A1.’
‘I have no knowledge of any such activity.’ Norrington seemed shaken. He stood up, took his jacket from the back of his chair and put it on. ‘Look, I think I’m going to have to ask our legal representatives to come in if our conversation continues in this vein.’
‘Why?’ asked Banks.
‘These insinuations you’re making.’
‘I’m not making any insinuations. Do you have something to hide?’
‘No, of course I don’t. It’s just… well, I don’t know what you’re after.’
Banks scratched his scar. ‘You know, I’m not always too sure myself, Mr Norrington. I often feel as if I’m just digging around until my shovel hits something. I tell you what. Why don’t you just take your jacket off, nice and informal like, then sit down, and we’ll carry on. OK?’
Norrington hesitated, then seemed to relax and did as Banks suggested, though the suspicious expression remained on his face. ‘All right,’ he said, spreading his hands. ‘I’ve nothing to hide.’
‘Good. Can you give us a list of the investors who’ve signed up for Drewick already?’
‘I’m afraid that’s privileged information. I can’t just go around giving out names. Some of these individuals might wish to remain anonymous. Surely you understand that?’
Banks leaned forward. ‘Mr Norrington, perhaps it’s us who ought to bring our legal representatives. In our case, it’s called the Crown Prosecution Service, and they’re very busy, but I’m sure we could persuade someone it’s in a good cause. Next to the Internal Revenue, bankers, town planners and lawyers themselves, property developers are pretty low down in the popularity stakes, you know.’
‘We do an important and necessary job.’
‘Just as we do,’ said Banks. ‘So let’s all do it. Accepting that you are an honest businessman, it doesn’t have to follow that all of your investors are. One of them might have had an idea for putting the property to good use while he waited for a return on his investment.’
Norrington ummed and aahed for a while longer, then rang through to his secretary and asked her to make a photocopy of the Drewick Shopping Centre investor list. ‘Just to show we’ve nothing to hide,’ he added. ‘Though I would appreciate your discretion in the matter.’