that jumped up budding millionaire in his tracks and we need to find out where his brother is. Put a full team on him. I assume you have his ‘phone s monitored and house bugged? Hopefully his brother will make contact.”
“What do we do if we do find his brother, just follow and let you know?”
“Yes, unless you have a dead certain opportunity to take him without any one knowing, in which case do so, but make sure there are no mistakes. There is a rendition team on standby should that happen.”
“What about this Chief Super Fleet?” Said Dawson. “Do you know him?”
“It's a she,” said Naismith, “Fleet is a woman.”
“Oh! You can't talk to women, they always have too many scruples.”
“Yes and no better luck with the DI either, Lloyd is as unbendable as they come and follows the book to the letter. I know him of old.”
“Well,” sighed Dawson, “that makes it imperative that there are no cock ups and a snatch of the young Lever is done cleanly. Don't mess this one up Naismith.” he then turned and left.
Down in the squad room Naismith yelled across the room at a WPC in the corner. “Hailey, police constable Hailey, what the hell happened down there? How did Lever end up entering the observation room. He was in your charge.”
“Sorry sir,” said Hailey, “he just turned and opened the door without warning.”
“Well, keep a better eye on your charges in future, in the meantime get me another tea, two sugars mind you,” and he strode off to his office.
CHAPTER 21
Back at the office I went straight in to a development meeting, for which I was very late. I was not surprised to receive some irritable looks from around the room as I entered; I was normally a stickler for time keeping and tended to be sarcastic when other people were late. My presence was particularly important at this meeting as I was expected to guide the discussions in a meeting that was intended to put the final touches to a revised product strategy briefing for the board
That afternoon there was a board meeting at 3pm and I still had not had time to brief Alec on my morning adventures with Bath police. I tried to do so just before the meeting by going to his office only to find him ensconced with Frank. I interrupted; I thought it was urgent that I speak to them before the meeting.
“Good afternoon Frank, sorry to butt in Alec but I have something urgent.” I then went on to explain to them the events of the morning. “So you see Gentlemen it is possible that I could be charged with car theft, not a very good scenario for the director of a company about to list publicly!”
“Incredible, but I see what you mean, ” said Alec. Frank sat there quietly.
“The immediate issue is, do I declare this to the board this afternoon?”
“On balance, my view would be no,” said Frank. “We need more time to think about this and see what happens.”
“You mean to wait and see if I get bumped off!” I laughed grimly. We adjourned to the boardroom.
The board meeting was focussed on the product strategy presentation although Alec and Bill also reported on trading results and the on-going myriad of arrangements for the float.
Afterwards, those who didn't have to rush off went to dinner at a superb Italian restaurant just around the corner from the office. It was an opportunity for informal discussions and the exchange of ideas with the non- executive directors. At the end of the meal after some people had left Ron Armstrong and his fellow director, a woman called Lucy Pageant cornered Alec and me. Ron was the senior of the two representative directors that Armstrong Investments had on the Control Networks board, but Lucy was extremely bright and as sharp as a tack so one had to be careful what one said to her.
“Alec, Martin, is there any development on the security front? I note that the board papers referred to an increased level of expenditure on security leading up to the float. Is everything else OK? No further threats?” Alec glanced at me and then went on to explain the security that had been taken on board.
“But no more threats etc.” said Lucy.
“No,” I said lying through my teeth, to which Lucy looked questioningly.
“On another matter, Alec you need to talk to Frank tomorrow. I have just been talking to him about a US company called Dalrymple. You probably know them as a major competitor, a Control Networks equivalent in the States. I think that they could be available and might make a really good acquisition for you. The float gives you the weaponry to make the acquisition and the combination would make you a very powerful force.”
“I need an opportunity like that like I need a hole in the head at the moment,” said Alec. “Why are you so keen?”
“Well, I just have a feeling that they might need us and a good deal could be done. They have been going a lot longer than you, and as you would expect they have great penetration in the US market, which would complement Control Networks strong UK and European base. I am also sensing that perhaps their technology is not so advanced and might be aging. They have grown with the aid of quite a few acquisitions and it is possible that the mix of technologies they have acquired is a legacy that is starting to catch up with them. They are the larger Company and their interest is in acquiring you, but I suspect that you are really the stronger.”
“Maybe, once we have the float through we could start looking at it, but not until then.”
“I appreciate that it is not an easy time but you cannot always choose your timing Alec. I don't suggest you do anything about it immediately, but the CEO is over here next week, will you at least have a 'get to know you' lunch so that we can keep it warm as an idea?”
“What was Franks reaction when you mentioned Dalrymple?”
“What do you mean, he just said he would talk to you about it, although…” he paused staring at Alec, “he did seem a little startled, is there anything I should know?”
“No, lets do the lunch,” said Alec reluctantly, “you set it up, but let's make it here in Bristol.”
“Lucy knows the CEO, so I will leave her to set it up and liaise with you. I don't think I will be able to make it down.”
CHAPTER 22
The next morning we were just about to leave the house for the office when Adrian called me on my mobile. Startled, I said, “get off this line immediately and meet me where we used to go fishing I said. Can you do that in 30 minutes?”
“Yes,” said Adrian hesitantly, and I hung up.
Once outside I turned to Jason and said. “Since that session with Naismith yesterday I have become convinced that there is something serious going on so I want to take all precautions including assuming that the house is bugged and that my ‘‘‘phone s are bugged. I am sure we will be followed this morning from the house here to the office. How can I lose the tail, got any ideas?”
“Its not my role to let you go off on your own but I am sure we will be followed. I could take your Range Rover and let them follow me, while you sneak off over the back fence.” Where did you used to go fishing by the way?”
“Over the back fence, at a small stream about a mile away,” I said laughing. With that we parted company.
Twenty minutes later I was looking down in to Combe Dell at the stream where Adrian and I had fished when he was a young kid and I was a teenager. I stood behind the trees staring down. There didn't seem to be any one around and then my old MG sports appeare d in the lane below by the stream and pulling to a stop, Adrian got out.
“Glad to see you have not wrecked it,” I said emerging from the woods.
“What was that about?” said Adrian.
“I think our ‘ phone s etc. might be bugged.” I then went on to tell him about the events of the last few days.
