“I didn't notice anything,” going to the window and gently pulling aside the curtain. “There doesn't appear to be anyone outside,” I said.
“Nevertheless, I am going to call it in” and proceeded to use his mobi le. When he finished he said, ‘the boss thinks we need to increase the cover here, y ou are a bit isolated, one of our security cars will sit outside the house all night.”
With that we got down to eating our fish supper at the kitchen table, and then adjourned to the lounge where I wanted to wa tch a recording of the Scotland — England match that I had recorded from the previous Saturday.
“Please don 't feel obliged to entertain me, ” said Jason.
“That's OK, the guest bedroom is at the top of the stairs on the left so you can make your way to bed whenever you're ready. My brother is using the bedroom on the right but he does not seem to be here at the moment. Alternatively feel free to watch the game with me if you like.” We settled down to the match as I wondered if Adrian was OK.
CHAPTER 17
In the meantime in an exclusive restaurant in the West End of London, Dawson was dining. His companion was a balding grey haired man in his mid fifties with a pau nch that butted up to the table and a quietly spoken American accent. So quiet that menace seemed to exude from him every time he spoke; it made Dawson's spine tingle.
“The trouble is, it looked at first as if our threats had worked and we had persuaded them to stop the float,' said Dawson. “Now I hear that somehow that decision got reversed and t hey are full speed ahead. I hear that there could possibly be a date for the IPO fixed sometime this week; it depends on the markets apparently. In addition they have employed a security firm to provide personal protection for Bell and Lever.
“What about the brother? That is the really important project, we have to get to him.”
“We thought Martin Lever would lead us to him, but from what we are overhearing I don't think he knows where he is at the moment. What do we do now?”
“You have to get hold of the brother!”
“To complicate things my boss has detected that I have a project going on that he knows nothing about. I have denied it of course but we both know I am lying. Depends on how concerned he is whether he follows it up.”
“Ridley, you mean? He's just a pen pusher. You should be able to handle him. In the meantime we may have to go to the next stage. I will consult with my colleagues across the pond, as you Brits say, and let you know.”
CHAPTER 18
The next morning I was up bright and early and together with my shadow Jason, we set out to catch the 8am train to London. We met Alec and his shadow, Sue, at the station and boarded the train. Penny had organised restaurant car seat reservations and we sat down to a good English breakfast, Alec and I separately so we could talk privately as we prepared for the trip. Amazing how breakfast on the train is still a good meal when everything else on rail has deteriorated. We both went through our presentations and how they meshed together for the best impact with Alec reminding me of the key selling points and the subjects to avoid. Tiresome, but I sat and listened as his antennae are much better than mine on these things, and after all it was his role to lead on this project.
The journey was just over an hour long so by the time we had finished breakfast we were slowing down for the run in to Paddington Station as we drank a second cup of coffee.
In College Green police station Inspector Lloyd was meeting with Chief Superintendent Fleet to review the Lever case.
“We need help from the Met on this one Boss. It's all originating off our turf, the main players are all London based.”
“I agree we need some help,” said Fleet. “Let me make a few calls and get back to you.”
CHAPTER 19
In London, we checked in to the Intercontinental Hotel at the back of Mayfair. We then caught a taxi over to Frank Whittles offices in the City where we were making the presentation. Our minders went off to have a coffee in the cafe in the basement while we went up to the top floor.
On the way up Frank revealed that his research in to Mendip Finance etc. had revealed a connection to one of our competitors, Dalrymple Technology. The connection was tortuous because of the maze of shell companies involved all leading to the Caymans where company records were not very transparent.
“So Mendips ’ approach is really a guise for a takeover by Dalrymple?” I said.
“Maybe, the information is too tenuous to be certain, but it is a distinct possibility. Come on, we can discuss this later, we can't be distracted from what we are doing now.”
The presentation was to a group of just over a dozen key market players and seemed to go well. According to Frank we only had one no show which he said indicated the high level of interest in the forthcoming float. Alec made the main presentation on the Company and it's future direction while I stepped in and did a short piece on product development and the associated technology. After some questions we all adjourned to a separate private dining room where Frank had laid on lunch. We sat at two tables, Alec hosting one, and me, with Frank to chaperone me, on the other. Lunch was pleasant, the wine flowed and with it the volume increased. Some of them turned out to be very knowledgeable on trends in the technology and some quite interesting questions came up.
Afterwards, Alec had to go off with Frank for a meeting with the brokers and underwriters and I was at a loose end. We were scheduled to do two more of these presentations tomorrow before going up to Birmingham, but for the rest of the day I was free. I decided I might go and visit Plavsic. I don't know why I decided to go, curiosity I suppose, but a call established that he was in and would see me, so off I went collecting Jason on the way.
Mendip Finance was based off City Road in Moorgate. Not far from Frank ’ s office so I decided that we would walk; it was a bright sunny afternoon and it would be good to get some fresh air although I soon found out that vehicle exhaust pollution made that impossible.
The building was an impressive tall city tower of about 40 floors, all glass and gleaming in the sun. In the foyer I scanned the list of tenants and found that in amongst the second stream banks, lawyers, accountants etc. Mendip Finance was on the 32nd floor. We stepped out of the lift in to a large reception area with a huge reception desk to one side occupied by an attractive girl who looked as though she did not have much to do. She greeted us pleasantly and asked us to take a seat. The walls were decorated with pictures of large oil installations; some were aerial shots of deep-sea oilrigs, others of large-scale refineries and pipelines. A few minutes later I was ushered through to a large meeting room in the corner of the building with a spectacular view looking out over the City and down the Thames. Plavsic was already there and waiting to greet me.
“Great view.”
“Yes,” Plavsic responded, “particularly on a clear day like today. Can we get you some coffee or tea. ”
“No thanks,” and we sat down at the table.
“Well Mr Lever, what can I do for you? Have you decided to accept our offer after all?” He smiled.
I returned the smile and hesitated. Now I was here I wasn't sure how to begin, although I would really like to find out if they were behind the personal assaults of the last few days.
