“That is your brother?” Said Stewart. “I'm sorry to learn what is happening, but how can I help?”
“I think you have connections in to the security services and I believe that it is the security services either directly or in conjunction with the CIA or other American Services who have organised his kidnap.”
“That is an incredible accusation Mr Lever. I am also afraid that you are mistaken, I do not have any connections of that nature, why would I?”
“Look I am desperate, they have kidnapped him to stop him revealing some images he ha cked from a US government website. I am worried he may now just disappear.”
“You have been reading too many fiction novels, Mr Lever. Things like that don't happen in real life in this country.”
“I think there is enough evidence circulating, even if much of it is from unofficial sources, to make such suspicions potentially credible. The frustrating thing is that I don't know who they are so I can't talk to them. They need to know that if any harm comes to Adrian then the information they don't want revealed will be published around the world and they won't be able to stop that regardless of what happens to us. I thought you might be able to give that message to the right people in the system.”
“ Mr Lever, you have a good imagination, I don't have connections with such people even if they exist.”
“Do you know of a Peter Asimov, a company called Mendip Finance, and a company called Dalrymple. ”
“I have heard of Peter Asimov, as have most people who read the business news, and you know that I am aware that Mendip Finance have made overtures to buy your company. Dalrymple is an American competitor of yours who would dearly love to get MoD business. Are you saying they are in anyway connected with the disappearance of your brother?”
“It appears that they may be connected to some violent attacks on me and threats to my colleagues in recent weeks.”
“That sounds incredible, do you have evidence?”
“The evidence is tenuous but my gut-feel is that it is true.”
“Gut-feel Mr Lever! Surely you should have something more than 'gut-feel' to make such an accusation?”
“Do you know an Inspector Naismith? I believe he is in Special Branch.”
“ Mr Lever, as I keep telling you I have no connection with the security services or police so I don't know him.”
I sighed. “ Well it appears I may have wasted your time.”
“Look Mr Lever, it is not surprising that the stress of your brother disappearing might lead you to jump to some wild conclusions, but that I would suggest, is what they are. I am sorry I cannot help more. I have a friend in Special Branch and will talk to him, but I don't hold out much hope that I can help. I have to go, I am sorry if you feel your journey up here was wasted.” With that he got up, we shook hands and I left.
Perhaps he is right I thought as I walked back to my car. Maybe I am letting my imagination run away with me! But no! I did not imagine the beatings, the car 'accident', the disappearance of Adrian, etc. No, this has to be followed through aggressively. I drove more sedately back to Bristol and home. It then occurred to me. Where was Jason, I had 'lost' him this morning and he was probably feeling put out that I had not been in touch. I called him, he was back at the house, and I told him I would be home shortly.
C HAPTER 30
After Martin Lever had left the Randolph Hotel, Stewart put in a call. “Sir, I think there may be a bit of a situation developing which while not directly involving me I feel obliged to let you know about.”
“Can it wait until the morning?” said Ridley. “Or do we need to discuss it now? Good so it can wait? M y office at 9 am, see you then.”
The next morning Stewart met with Ridley and told him about his conversation with Lever. “Sir, I don't know the background to this, and Naismith is a good officer, if somewhat aggressive and opinionated. I think he is acting on orders from above and I was not sure that you were aware of what is going on.”
“Dawson, you mean?”
“Yes, you know how close he is to the Yanks and this smells of US clandestine activity.”
“OK, I will follow it up, thanks. Dawson is actually in the US at the moment so it will have to wait until Monday.”
CHAPTER 31
Back in Bristol, I went in to the office, Jason tagging along. It was Saturday but there was no news about Adrian and there was loads of work waiting to be done so I thought I might as well get on with it. Alec was also in so we had a chat over coffee and then I went and buried myself in the outstanding paperwork that June had left out on my desk. I reviewed and tweaked the PowerPoint she had prepared for my student lecture; quite an impressive presentation, she had done well. I must remember to compliment her on Monday.
A full in tray, and the results of the stress testing on ForceNet were coming in and the results so far looked good, in fact better than I had expected.
I called Lloyd and found that he also was at work. No news on Adrian, but there had been a sizeable response to the TV appeal. There was one witness report of an incident in Pill where a driver of a car matching the description of my MG had apparently been taken ill and another driver had moved him to his car presumably to take him to a doctor or hospital. There were no corresponding hospital admissions so this could be evidence that Adrian had been abducted not assisted as assumed by the witness. However there were no indications of where Adrian could be now and the only thing the witness could remember was that the car behind the MG had been red, possibly a Ford.
“That sounds like the car that intercepted Jason,” I said.
“Yes it does,” said Lloyd. “Unfortunately the traffic cameras leading on to the motorway where your Jason had his altercation were at the wrong angle to pick up the registration of that car; however digital enhancement of the image has come through and enabled us to identify the driver as Reginald Archer, the other London based heavy that you previously identified when you came in and went through mug shots. We will pick him up if we can find him. The other heavy that Jason so adequately disabled was the big guy, Jackie Peterso n, that you also identified from mug shots.”
“Yes it sounded like him, have you picked him up.”
“No, we have not found him yet, which is surprising as that arm would need treatment and we have an alert out at all local hospitals.”
“Thanks for the update any way,” I said, and hung up.
I worke d for the rest of the afternoon then went out and found Jason and told him that I was going home and that I would be having an early night.
On Sunday I rose early. It was a bright and sunny day and having checked and found that there was no new info on email or voicemail decided I needed to get some fresh air and that a game of golf would probably take my mind off things.
I loaded clubs in to the car and set off to the club. Sunday is usually a very busy day but the Pro said he was sure he could squeeze me in with another group if I gave him some time. He was as good as his word and half an hour later I was on the first tee facing in to a stiff breeze coming up the fairway towards me. This would get rid of the cobwebs!
The Pro had matched me up with a single, a visitor to the area, who therefore did not know the course. That advantage did not help me however. I play off a respectable handicap of 8 but I was really rusty, I had not hit a golf ball for weeks. My playing partner visitor claimed a handicap of 10 and proceeded to thrash me. I bought him a drink in the bar afterwards and then set off home.
At home I decided to do some work in the garden. I am not a keen gardener with green fingers, but I enjoy organising gardens as part of the process of refurbishing a house, and this house I had refurbished, or had paid someone else to refurbish, right from scratch.