De Jersey was angry. “So, contrary to my request that you keep my financial documents confidential, it seems you have been using them.”
“Well, David often stopped off with me to do some homework. He left a few files and I looked through them,” she admitted.
“Homework?” de Jersey asked, feigning surprise.
“It was such a long journey home that he often waited here until the rush hour was over.”
“You should tread carefully. If you are privy to my private transactions-”
“Not all of them,” she interjected.
“That is beside the point. As I have told you, I am distressed to think that my financial documents are being discussed without my permission. It is highly irregular, not to mention illegal.”
“I am aware of that. But under the circumstances with his suicide-”
“The manner of his death has little to do with me, Miss Hewitt. If you continue to search through my private papers, I will be forced to consult a lawyer to-”
“I haven’t shown them to anyone else. In fact, I’d have thought you’d be pleased that I’m making progress in trying to trace the man responsible for the losses you have incurred.”
“I am here to request again that you cease doing this.”
“But why? You have lost a substantial fortune, Mr. de Jersey. Don’t you want it back?”
“I am more than aware of what I have lost-”
“But I have some information. My private investigator has discovered that a man called Philip Simmons has been acting on Alex Moreno’s behalf in financial matters, and I am determined to track him down. I think they made some kind of deal that enables Moreno to benefit from the sale of his property without having to worry about creditors seizing the funds.”
De Jersey clenched his teeth.
“I’ll get the details for you.” Sylvia scurried from the room and returned with a bulging file. She sat down at the table and began to take out documents. She handed them to de Jersey with a flourish. “The same man, Philip Simmons, organized the continued refurbishment of the East Hampton property and apparently intends selling it as soon as it is completed. He also sold Moreno’s apartment. I have searched through file after file, and I can find no one of that name in David’s records. I’ve asked his assistant, Daniel Gatley, and he cannot recall meeting him. So who is he? Is he in partnership with Moreno? At the very least this Mr. Simmons must know how to contact him. Or maybe it’s something more sinister.”
“Sinister?” de Jersey repeated.
“Moreno has disappeared without a trace. Maybe Simmons is using an assumed name. I’m sure we’re on to something because Mr. Matheson has confirmed via some contact he has in Immigration that no one by that name ever arrived in the U.S. from Canada. In fact, they have no record of him entering the U.S. at all.”
De Jersey thanked God he had used his Cummings passport to enter the United States. “Is Simmons among the investors?” he asked.
“No, he isn’t. He might be Canadian, but I assume he lives in the States, because why would Alex Moreno use a Canada-based financial adviser? It doesn’t make sense. I have a list of the other investors if you would like to see it. None suffered the losses you, Mr. Driscoll, or Mr. Wilcox did.”
Every time she mentioned their names together he cringed inwardly.
“I have paid this detective a substantial amount already, so to just let it go would be silly,” she went on. “I have therefore asked him to continue. I think it would be sensible to pool our resources, split the cost of hiring Mr. Matheson. I’m sure he will get us results.”
“How much do you believe the house and the apartment in America are worth?” de Jersey asked.
“You mean, what has Simmons got away with?” she asked.
“Didn’t you say he was just a business adviser that Moreno employed?”
“Yes, but even if he isn’t profiting himself from the sale, he will know who the money goes to when it’s sold, won’t he?”
“And if you trace that person, do you think he will just hand over the money?”
“Well, whether it’s Simmons, Moreno, or someone else, they should be forced to split it with us. If we can’t make them, we’ll get the police and the courts involved.”
De Jersey remained silent for a moment as she began to collect the papers. Then he asked, “These two other major investors, have you their permission to act on their behalf?”
“No, as I said earlier, they’re rather dismissive. All the other investors I’ve spoken to are eager for results. I’ve also discovered David began to communicate with Moreno six months before the crash. He was e-mailing him daily. These are copies of the e-mails.” She passed the printouts to de Jersey. “As you can see, around five months ago Moreno wasn’t giving David any hint of the company’s financial troubles and instead was suggesting that he bring in more financial backers. And he did. You yourself remortgaged your property, as did Mr. Wilcox.”
“It seems suspicious to me that you have access to such sensitive information,” de Jersey remarked, in a cold but even tone.
“What do you mean?” Sylvia said, unnerved.
“I’m not sure if you want me to discuss this here,” de Jersey said and glanced toward Helen’s bedroom.
“Is it to do with Helen?”
“Yes. You see, David was an old and trusted friend. He often confided in me.”
“Really?” Now it was her turn to tense.
“I have said that my business with your brother-in-law was highly confidential. The fact that he embezzled substantial amounts of my money is shocking, and I was not prepared when my solicitors informed me of another perplexing and deeply worrying discovery.”
Her face took on a puzzled expression.
“Perhaps David had a partner assisting him in the fraud. Someone with access to his papers, to his clients, someone to whom he was very close.”
Sylvia sat back nervously. “I don’t follow.”
“I think I should make it clear, then. I’m presently taking legal advice, and we have been discussing action against you, as we believe you assisted David in embezzling money from my accounts which I had not authorized to be invested.”
Sylvia sat in shocked silence.
“There is also a trust fund that David stole from me, and we believe he must have had an accomplice.”
“That is ridiculous.” Sylvia bristled.
“Is it? Well, then, perhaps you should know we are aware that you and David were involved sexually. We have photographs of the two of you together in-”
“That isn’t true!”
“I’m afraid it is.” He knew he’d got her. “I know that you were his mistress.”
Sylvia stood up, her face drained of color.
“I’m sure poor Helen has no idea that you and David had been having an affair for years. You may have hired a private investigator, Miss Hewitt, but so did I. I can assure you that my information regarding your connections to David could have you charged with conspiracy.”
“No, no! I swear before God it’s not true.”
“Isn’t it? Maybe you’re pretending to pay for a detective when what you’re really doing is attempting to squeeze even more money out of the investors.”
“You’re wrong.”
De Jersey stood up and stared at her. “I’m warning you, Miss Hewitt. You will return my financial documents and everything else in your possession that concerns me or I shall proceed with legal action.”
Sylvia began to weep. “I admit that David and I were lovers, but I did nothing illegal. Nothing.”
“Well, I would like to believe you, but my solicitors do not agree. I came here today to warn you. I care for Helen and don’t want to see her hurt any more than she already is.”
“Please don’t tell her this, she’ll have a breakdown.”
De Jersey ran his fingers through his hair. “Then you had better call off this chap in America. My financial situation is not your problem. My people do research on my behalf. If they prove to me without a doubt you had no involvement-”