“Good idea, do that.” Let's go back in and join the rest, I have some steaks to cook!”
Lisa looked daggers at me as we walked back in to the main living room, but Alec bounced over, gave her a peck on the cheek and demanded to know where the steaks were. He was planning to cook them on the barbecue out on the deck.
The tensions soon dissipated, and the rest of the evening was relaxed with no further discussion of business. Alec was cooking marinated filet steak. Two types of marinade, a spicy Indonesian style peanut marinade, and a plain garlic and mustard marinade. Served with salads and a baked potato with a mayonnaise garnish, the steaks were spectacula r, and a glorious Italian red wine to accompany them finished it all off well.
The woman PC was present and Alec made sure to include her and our two security personnel, Jason and Sue, in the evening. I had already discovered that Jason could be pleasant company and Sue proved equally engaging once she relaxed.
At about 11pm I made a move to go and Jason got up as well.
“See you in the office in the morning Alec?”
“Yes, OK,” said Alec.
Giving Lisa a hug and a thank you for the meal, we left for the lift down to the car park to pick up the Range Rover.
Arriving home it was good to see that we had no welcoming party and the house looked undisturbed. I went straight to bed.
During breakfast the next morning, Lloyd called and asked us to come in at 10am to see him and Fleet. “Can we make it a bit later?” I said, “Alec Bell would like to join us and I would also like to bring a lawyer if I can.”
“You think you need a lawyer do you?” said Lloyd, sounding surprised.
“We have a few things to tell you and I think it only best to be prepared, can I call you back?”
“Fine” he said, “but make it quick please.”
I called Ron Cheadle in his office and asked him if he could make the introductions to his partner Dave Withers. We were due to have another session with police today.
“I took the liberty of talking to Dave after we last met so he is partly up to speed. Let me check if he is in.” there was a click on the line as he put me on hold.
Shortly there was a broad Yorkshire voice on the ‘‘‘phone. “ Mr Lever, my name is Dave Withers, Ron has been telling me something about you. What is happening?” I then went on to explain that we were planning to attend a police interview today with Fleet and Lloyd and asked if he could be available to attend. “Well I am in court this morning but the afternoon is free. You are based near the harbour I believe. Why don't I come in to your office so you can brief me before going down to College Green? If you agree, I will call Chief Superintendent Fleet and check that is convenient. I know her quite well.”
“OK,” I said. See you about lunchtime at our office.
Out of courtesy I called Lloyd and explained what was happening. “Dave Withers,” he said, “pulling out the big guns aren't you? I will find out from the Chief Super what she agrees.”
Adrian said he had to go to his girlfriend ’ s and get some clean clothes and that he would come down to my office later in the morning.
In the office, I talked to Alec and explained what I had set up.
“I will have to shuffle a few things round from this afternoon but I will make it. Why don't you organise some sandwiches in for lunch so we can discuss what we do while we eat. I assume Adrian will be there?”
“Yes, he is coming in later this morning, the problem is how much he should admit to, thereby incriminating himself. These days there is a danger he could be extradited to the US!”
“Withers should be able to advise on that. Let's play it by ear.”
I then sat down in front of my computer to start dealing with my email. With everything that was going on I had got seriously behind with my mail, more than 150+ unread. However there would not be anything too urgent, as my PA June wou ld have drawn my attention to it if she couldn't deal with it.
She however did remind me that I was committed to giving a lecture next week to some software students at Bristol Uni. Had I prepared anything? It was customary to provide a hard copy of such talks so I couldn't just wing it. The subject was 'The Planning of Software Development.” With the office door closed, I got down to roughing something out with indications of schematics needed and by the time lunchtime had come I was able to email something to June that she could convert in to PowerPoint with suitable suggested graphics. June was a wiz on PowerPoint so I was confident that the draft that would come back would be good and only my content would require tweaking.
Lunchtime came and June said that she had organised sandwiches in the boardroom and that Mr Withers was on his way up there.
“Please tell Alec, have you heard anything from my brother Adrian?”
“No, I did not know you were expecting him.”
“Well, show him up to the boardroom when he arrives please?”
The boardroom was fortunate to have a large picture window at one end, and the view out of the window was a stunning view up the Clifton Go rge, a marvellous view of the Suspension Bridge spanning the gorge. Alec always reckoned that it was this view that sold the building to me when we first moved here a few years ago. I must admit I am a fan of Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the designer of the bridge and many other engineering feats of Victorian England, and I find this view inspirational.
When I arrived, Dave Withers was standing admiring the view. “Magnificent isn't it,” I said.
“It sure is, good to meet you Mr Lever,” he responded holding out his hand.
We shook hands, “call me Martin, we are informal here.”
“In which case please call me Dave.”
“OK Dave. I hope you don't mind, but rather than going out to lunch I have taken the liberty of organising some sandwiches here so that we have more time to talk.”
“That's fine. Did you get my message that Fleet is able to see us at 3.30pm?”
Yes, I did th anks. I am expecting Alec Bell to join us shortly, and also my brother Adrian. In fact I don't know where he is,” I said irritably, looking at my watch.
“Well while we are waiting why don't you start telling me what all of this is about.” At that point we were interrupted by the arrival of sandwiches, and coffee etc.
“Would you like me to serve some coffee?” said June.
“No thanks June, we will help ourselves. Any message from Adrian?”
“No, I'm sorry.”
“OK, let me know if you hear anything.”
As June left, Alec joined us and after introducing him to Dave Withers I started from the beginning to relate events to Dave.
CHAPTER 25
Adrian had left the house shortly after Martin and set out for his girlfriend’s house. She lived in a village called Pill that is a charming village on the Avon River not too far from the point where the Avon joins the River Severn. It used to be a passenger ferry point across the Avon.
Driving the old open top MG down through Bristol and then finally through the narrow country lanes to Pill was thoroughly enjoyable and for a short time allowed Adrian to forget his current problems. The fresh air on the face and through the hair was invigorating, but as he dropped down towards the village he became conscious of a red car following closely behind him. Had it been there long? As he pulled over the next rise, he pulled up at a junction where there seemed to be some kind of road works hold up. All of a sudden as he sat waiting he was aware of someone approaching behind him, and then he was thumped in the neck and within seconds he lost consciousness as the drug from the syringe stabbed in to his neck knocked him out. The attacker caught him and with the help of his mate dragged him out of the car and into the red Ford behind. The mate got in to the MG and set off up the road with the red Ford following closely behind.