‘That’s easy to explain,’ said Ross. ‘The Turner family. They control the drugs racket in Romford, and were among Rashidi’s best customers. I wouldn’t be surprised if Summers is on their payroll.’
‘Then let’s concentrate on the source of the money as it’s always the best motive. Anything new at the Romford end?’
‘PC Bailey has spent the past three nights at Summers’s home. I’m informed by a reliable source that most of his girlfriends last about a week, two at the most. If it goes into a third week, you might have a more serious problem.’
‘That’s the understatement of the year. An officer on my investigation squad sleeping with the person she’s meant to be investigating. How am I going to explain that to the commissioner?’
Marlboro Man didn’t offer an opinion.
‘Keep an eye on both of them,’ the Hawk eventually managed, ‘and let’s meet up again in a week. Same time, same place. If you find out what Lamont’s up to, get in touch with Jackie and let her know immediately.’
The commander came to a halt at the traffic lights opposite the Army and Navy Store. His passenger hopped out of the cab, fare unpaid, and disappeared among the morning shoppers.
‘Can you take me to the Guards Club, my good man?’ enquired an elderly gentleman, tapping a cane on the side window.
‘No, I can’t,’ said the Hawk, and quickly accelerated away.
‘I don’t know what the country’s coming to,’ growled the old man.
The Hawk turned into Victoria Street, still trying to work out what Summers was expecting from Lamont in return for the latest bulky brown envelope. As he parked in his reserved space at Scotland Yard, he said out loud, ‘I can’t believe he’d sink that low.’
‘Dr Goddard, would you please tell the court your occupation?’ said Booth Watson, smiling warmly at his next witness.
‘I am the clinical director of a drugs rehabilitation centre in Bromsgrove.’
‘And how do you know the defendant?’
‘He was a patient of mine at one time, but I am happy to say he is now fully recovered.’
‘Dr Goddard, for how long was Mr Rashidi a patient at your clinic?’
‘He was in rehab for a couple of months.’
‘And during that time did you ever see a photograph on his bedside table?’
‘Yes, a silver-framed photo of his mother, who regularly visited him at the clinic.’
‘And was there a large “A” engraved on the top of the frame?’
‘Yes, sir,’ said Goddard, looking surprised.
‘Do you know what the A stood for?’
‘Asprey. But I only discovered that when his mother told me she had purchased the frame in Bond Street.’
‘And when Mr Rashidi left your care, did he take the photograph with him?’
‘Yes, he did.’
‘How can you be so sure?’
‘Because I saw it again when I had tea with him at his mother’s home in The Boltons.’
‘After being discharged, did Mr Rashidi continue to take an interest in your clinic’s invaluable work?’
‘More than an interest. I would describe him as one of our most committed supporters. Not only does he visit the clinic on a regular basis, but for the past ten years his family company has made an annual donation of a hundred thousand pounds in support of our work.’
‘Just the price of another get-out-of-jail-free card,’ muttered Sir Julian, sotto voce, while Clare wrote down the words Ten years. Another coincidence?
‘So, over a number of years,’ continued Booth Watson, ‘your clinic has benefited to the tune of around a million pounds thanks to Mr Rashidi’s generosity.’
‘Over a million,’ said Goddard, ‘as he recently made a one-off donation when we needed to build a new ward.’
‘After he was arrested no doubt,’ said Sir Julian not so sotto voce.
‘What was your reaction, Dr Goddard, when you heard that Mr Rashidi had been arrested and charged with being a drug trafficker?’
‘I assumed the police would quickly realize they’d arrested the wrong man and release him. After all, no one could have done more to assist the unfortunate victims of drugs.’
‘And no one could have done more to put them there in the first place,’ murmured Sir Julian.
‘You say Mr Rashidi has fully recovered from his addiction, but when he was arrested, he was found in possession of a small quantity of cannabis.’
‘Assem has always been quite open about the fact that he enjoys the occasional marijuana cigarette at weekends, but then so do over five million people in this country. Perhaps they should all be locked up? However, I can assure you, Mr Booth Watson, he hasn’t touched anything more serious for over ten years.’
‘Just sold it to the highest bidder,’ muttered Sir Julian under his breath.
‘I have no further questions, Dr Goddard, and I’m sure we are all grateful for your contribution. But could you remain in the witness box, as I suspect my learned friend will want to question you further, having made so many observations from a sedentary position.’
‘I most certainly do, m’lud,’ said Sir Julian and was about to rise when Grace placed a hand on his arm. ‘Don’t go there, Father,’ she whispered. ‘He’s just an innocent bystander, and unlike Tony Roberts, nothing will be gained by cross-examining him.’
‘But what about the silver frame, it must be the same one—’
‘Possibly,’ said Clare, leaning forward from the row behind, ‘but the manager of Asprey told me that it’s one of their most popular items. They sold more than two hundred of them last year.’
‘But how could Rashidi possibly afford to pay out over a million pounds to Goddard’s clinic when his only official source of income is his declared profits from a small tea-importing company.’
‘Goddard can’t possibly know the answer to that question,’ said Grace.
‘But at least I’d get it on the record,’ insisted Sir Julian.
‘Save your firepower for Rashidi, when it will be far more effective.’
‘That’s assuming Booth Watson allows him to set foot in the witness box.’
‘He’s bound to,’ said Grace, ‘if he’s to have any hope of turning the tables after Roberts’s disastrous testimony.’
Sir Julian sank back onto the bench. ‘I can only wonder where you get your wisdom from,’ he remarked, with the suggestion of a smile.
‘Will you be cross-examining this witness, Sir Julian?’ asked the judge.
‘No, m’lud,’ said the prosecution counsel, bobbing up briefly from his place.
Marlboro Man drove down to Romford soon after he’d left the commander.
He couldn’t risk taking the train, even though he knew exactly where Lamont, Summers and Bailey were at that moment. Lamont was sitting at the back of the public gallery in court number one at the Old Bailey making notes, although Ross still couldn’t work out why. Summers was interviewing a petty crook who specialized in stealing Jaguars, while PC Bailey was out on the beat and wouldn’t be reporting back to the nick much before six.
For the fourth day in a row he parked just down the road from Romford police station. It wasn’t a perfect view, but it had the advantage that he was unlikely to be spotted.
PC Bailey arrived back at the nick just after six o’clock, and reappeared fifteen minutes later, dressed in her civilian clothes. He climbed out of his car and began to follow her, while keeping a safe distance. First surprise, she didn’t head for the station, but their favourite pub.