Dunstone, Limited, was not simply an industrial-development company; that was to say, its objectives went far beyond those of a conglomerate. And it was not solely British, as its listed board of directors implied. In actuality, Dunstone, Limited, London, was the «corporate» headquarters of an organization of international financiers dedicated to building global cartels beyond the interferences and controls of the European Common Market and its trade alliances.
That was to say—by conjecture—eliminating the economic intervention of governments: Washington, London, Berlin, Paris, The Hague, and all other points of the financial compass. Ultimately, these were to be reduced to the status of clients, not origins of resource or negotiation.
«You’re saying, in essence, that Dunstone is in the process of setting up its own government.»
«Precisely. A government based solely on economic trade factors. A concentration of financial resources unheard of since the pharaohs. Along with this economic catastrophe, and no less important, is the absorption of the government of Jamaica by Dunstone, Limited. Jamaica is Dunstone’s projected base of operations. They can succeed, Mr. McAuliff.»
Alex put his glass on the wide windowsill. He began slowly trying to find words, looking out at the slate rooftops converging into the Savoy Court. «Let me try to understand, from what you’ve told me and from what I know. Dunstone anticipates investing heavily in Jamaican development. All right, we agree on that, and the figures are astronomical. Now, in exchange for this investment, they expect to be awarded a lot of clout from a grateful Kingston government. At least, that’s what I’d expect if I were Dunstone. The normal tax credits, importing concessions, employment breaks, real estate … general incentives. Nothing new.» McAuliff turned his head and looked at Hammond. «I’m not sure I see any financial catastrophe … except, maybe, an English financial catastrophe.»
«You stand corrected; I stand rebuked,» said Hammond. «But only in a minor way. You’re quite perceptive; it’s true that our concerns were—at first—U.K. oriented. English perversity, if you will. Dunstone is an important factor in Britain’s balance of trade. We’d hate to lose it.»
«So you build a conspiracy—»
«Now, just a minute, Mr. McAuliff,» the agent broke in, without raising his voice. «The highest echelons of the British government do not invent conspiracies. If Dunstone were what it is purported to be, those responsible in Downing Street would fight openly for our interests. I’m afraid that is not the case. Dunstone reaches into extremely sensitive areas in London, Berlin, Paris, Rome … and, most assuredly, in Washington. But I shall return to that. I’d like to concentrate on Jamaica for the moment. You used the terms ‘concessions,’ ‘tax breaks,’ … ‘clout’ and ‘incentives.’ I say ‘absorption.’»
«Words.»
«Laws, Mr. McAuliff. Sovereign; sanctioned by prime ministers and cabinets and parliaments. Think for a minute, Mr. McAuliff. An existing, viable government in a strategically located independent nation controlled by a huge industrial monopoly with world markets. It’s not outlandish. It’s around the corner.»
Alex did think about it. For more than a minute. Prodded by Hammond’s gently spoken, authoritatively phrased «clarifications.»
Without disclosing M.I.5’s methods of discovery, the Britisher explained Dunstone’s modus operandi. Enormous sums of capital had been transferred from Swiss banks to Kingston’s King Street, that short stretch of the block that housed major international banking institutions. But the massive cash flow was not deposited in British, American, or Canadian banks. Those went begging, while the less secure Jamaican banks were stunned by an influx of hard money unheard of in their histories.
Few knew that the vast new Jamaican riches were solely Dunstone’s. But for these few, proof was supplied by the revolving transfers of a thousand accounts within an eight-hour business day.
Heads spun in astonishment. A few heads. Selected men in extraordinarily high places were shown incontrovertibly that a new force had invaded Kingston, a force so powerful that Wall Street and Whitehall would tremble at its presence.
«If you know this much, why don’t you move in? Stop them.»
«Not possible,» answered Hammond. «All transactions are covered; there’s no one to accuse. It’s too complex a web of financing. Dunstone is masterminded by Warfield. He operates on the premise that a closed society is efficient only when its various arms have little or no knowledge of each other.»
«In other words, you can’t prove your case and—»
«We cannot expose what we cannot prove,» interrupted Hammond. «That is correct.»
«You could threaten. I mean, on the basis of what you know damn well is true, you could raise one hell of a cry… But you can’t chance it. It goes back to these ‘sensitive’ areas in Berlin, Washington, Paris, et cetera. Am I correct about that, too?»
«You are.»
«They must be goddamn sensitive.»
«We believe they compromise an international cross-section of extraordinarily powerful men.»
«In governments?»
«Allied with major industries.»
«For instance?»
Hammond held Alex’s eyes with his own. His message was clear. «You understand that what I say is merely conjecture.»
«All right. And my memory is short.»
«Very well.» The Britisher got out of the chair and walked around it. His voice remained quiet, but there was no lack of precision. «Your own country: conceivably the Vice President of the United States or someone in his office and, certainly, unknown members of the Senate and the President’s cabinet. England: prominent figures in the House of Commons and undoubtedly various department directors at Inland Revenue. Germany: ranking vorsitzen in the Bundestag. France: elitist holdovers from the pre-Algerian Gaullists. Such men as I have described must exist relative to Warfield. The progress made by Dunstone would have been impossible without influence in such places. Of that we are certain.»
«But you don’t know who, specifically.»
«No.»
«And you think, somehow, I can help you?»
«We do, Mr. McAuliff.»
«With all the resources you have, you come to me? I’ve been contracted for a Dunstone field survey, nothing else.»
«The second Dunstone survey, Mr. McAuliff.»
Alexander stared at the Englishman.
«And you say that team is dead.»
Hammond returned to his chair and sat down once more. «Yes, Mr. McAuliff. Which means Dunstone has an adversary. One that’s as deadly and powerful as Warfield’s forces. And we haven’t the slightest idea what it is, who they are. Only that it exists, they exist. We wish to make contact with those who want the same thing we do. We can guarantee the safety of your expedition. You are the key. Without you, we’re stymied. Without us, you and your people might well be in extreme jeopardy.»
McAuliff shot out of the chair and stood above the British agent. He took several short, deep breaths and walked purposefully away from Hammond; then he aimlessly paced the Savoy room. The Englishman seemed to understand Alex’s action. He let the moment subside; he said nothing.
«Jesus! You’re something, Hammond!» McAuliff returned to his chair, but he did not sit down. He reached for his drink on the windowsill, not so much for the whiskey as to hold the glass. «You come in here, build a case against Warfield by way of an economics lecture, and then calmly tell me that I’ve signed what amounts to my last contract if I don’t cooperate with you.»