The Governor introduced himself to the three of them and told them to let him know if there was anything he could do for them. He said he was at their service but Donald had a funny feeling that they would not be seeing him again in a hurry, noting that he seemed to share the same tailor as the Chief of Police.
Rachel, however, smiled for the first time since their arrest, excited at the prospect of the UK government flexing its muscle to get them out.
“Sorry, I’ve not been here sooner but getting from Yaounde in Cameroon where I’m based on a Sunday is not an easy thing.”
“No need to apologise, we’re just very pleased to see you,” replied Donald. “When can you get us out?” He decided that he was as well cut to the chase. He could see that Rachel had decided that the Ambassador’s arrival was their ticket out. If it wasn’t, he wanted her to know then rather than build up her hopes.
“I’m afraid not, the evidence is significant and it seems that further improprieties are being suggested.”
The blood drained from Donald’s face.
“What does ‘suggestion of further improprieties’ mean?” asked Donald carefully.
“Hmm, I’m uncomfortable discussing it third hand. It is at the moment only rumoured.”
“Bugger uncomfortable and rumour, you’re the only person we can talk to,” insisted Donald.
“Well it appears that papers exist which would suggest, only speculation I hasten to add, that Alba International has gained significantly from the recent assassinations.”
“What?” Donald was not a stupid man, he knew exactly what was coming next and began to feel feint.
“Yes,” the Ambassador could see that he did not need to spell it out and added, “I believe the Global media chain will break the story tomorrow. An undercover reporter has papers and evidence which implicate you as the mastermind in the assassinations.”
The words hung in the air, nobody spoke. Donald had gone from the number one businessman in the world to the world’s most wanted murderer in less than 24 hours.
Chapter 32
It had been a long afternoon. Mr Sakamoto had tried all his contacts but to no avail. Tom had also tried a few of his contacts, being the son of the world’s most powerful businessman resulted in an interesting network of friends. His father often joked that Tom and Lela’s contact lists put his one to shame. But nothing, the news was bad from everyone.
Mr Sakamoto had eventually given way to the small crowd of friends who had gathered outside Lela’s room and who had refused to leave. They were good friends and were not going to leave Tom and Lela in their hour of need.
Zach went straight to see Tom and Lela when he returned from dropping his father off. He wasted no time updating them and the small crowd on what had happened to his father, paying particular attention to the conversation between his father and the US President.
Tom realised, listening to Zach, that things could have been much worse. Zach’s father could easily have been killed that day.
The more he thought about things, the more he realised there was more he could do. There was lots more he could do. He was Tom Kennedy and he would find the truth. He looked around for Tristan, where was he? He turned to Lela, she was still very upset. Tom walked over and whispered to her.
“Lela, we’re going to sort this out. We’re not doing our parents any favours being like this. We need to do everything we can to help them, OK?”
He was strong again and Lela took solace in this. She began to brighten. Tom realised then that he had to remain strong for both of them. Lela may have been able to kick anybody’s arse but deep down she was just like most 15 year old girls, emotional and sometimes fragile.
“You’re right,” she said snivelling. “We need to do more, we need to do a lot more.” Tom hugged her, the strong and resilient Lela was returning.
Tristan entered the room
“Can I have a word?” he asked.
“Of course,” replied Tom. “What’s up?” he asked, noticing that something was wrong.
“Not here, let’s go next door to your room,” he said to Tom and gesturing for Lela to come too.
It took Tristan less than two minutes to update Tom and Lela on the latest he had heard from his father. It was the same news the Ambassador had told their parents. Donald was now being linked to the assassinations. Tom looked across at Lela who was obviously waiting for his reaction to gauge how she was going to take this. Tom looked back at Tristan.
“When?” he asked forcefully.
“When what?” asked Tristan who had expected them to break down.
“When are Global Media going to release the story?”
“Tomorrow.”
“That’s it. They’ve gone too far now. Whoever is behind this, has just stepped over the line.” Tom was seething but his mind was working overtime.
“Tristan, could you do me favour and round up these people and have them meet here in 2 hours,” said Tom scribbling down a list of names as fast as he could.
“If any of them ask why, just say it’s an emergency and mention my name, they should come, or at least I hope they will. And now if you don’t mind Trist, I need to make some urgent calls.” Tristan took the hint and went off to round up the list of students.
“What are you going to do?” asked Lela.
“We are going to start giving these bastards a fight,” replied Tom forcefully.
“How?”
“By playing them at their own game. I need your permission to invoke the special condition.”
“Of course, but why?” Lela saw the sparkle in Tom’s eye. He obviously had a plan.
“You’ll see,” said Tom as he made a call.
“Hi, can I speak to Jonathan please?” asked Tom.
“I’m sorry Tom, he’s busy just now, can he call you back?” asked Jonathan’s secretary recognising Tom’s voice. Both she and Jonathan had gone into the office despite it being a Sunday to do whatever they could to help.
“No, I need to speak to him now, interrupt him, it’s urgent,” replied Tom abruptly. Lela kicked him for being so rude.
“I’m sorry but it’s really really urgent,” said Tom trying to justify his rudeness.
“OK, I’ll get him for you now,” she replied impressed at Tom’s ability to apologise even though he was under a huge amount of pressure. Jonathan had been barking at her all day and had not apologised once.
Two seconds later, Jonathan was on the phone.
“Hi Tom, how you holding up?”
“Fine thanks, have you heard the latest?” he didn’t have time for small talk, they had things to do.
“No, what’s happened?”
Tom informed a totally and utterly dumbfounded Head of Legal about the allegations which were due to be made against his father. Jonathan could think of nothing to say and remained speechless.
“Jonathan, are you there?” prompted Tom.
“Yes, yes sorry, I just can’t believe anybody could conceive of this. I mean what utter crap. What can I do?”
“I want to invoke the special conditions laid down by my father this year.”
Jonathan did not need to look them up as he had drafted them himself only two months previously. It had been a rather surprising request but Donald was the boss and what he said went.
“Is Lela with you?”
“Yes, here she is” said Tom handing the phone to Lela.
“Do you agree with this Lela?” asked Jonathan.
