PowerPoint so I was confident that the draft that would come back would be good and only my content would require tweaking.
Lunchtime came and June said that she had organised sandwiches in the boardroom and that Mr Withers was on his way up there.
“Please tell Alec, have you heard anything from my brother Adrian?”
“No, I did not know you were expecting him.”
“Well, show him up to the boardroom when he arrives please?”
The boardroom was fortunate to have a large picture window at one end, and the view out of the window was a stunning view up the Clifton Go rge, a marvellous view of the Suspension Bridge spanning the gorge. Alec always reckoned that it was this view that sold the building to me when we first moved here a few years ago. I must admit I am a fan of Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the designer of the bridge and many other engineering feats of Victorian England, and I find this view inspirational.
When I arrived, Dave Withers was standing admiring the view. “Magnificent isn't it,” I said.
“It sure is, good to meet you Mr Lever,” he responded holding out his hand.
We shook hands, “call me Martin, we are informal here.”
“In which case please call me Dave.”
“OK Dave. I hope you don't mind, but rather than going out to lunch I have taken the liberty of organising some sandwiches here so that we have more time to talk.”
“That's fine. Did you get my message that Fleet is able to see us at 3.30pm?”
Yes, I did th anks. I am expecting Alec Bell to join us shortly, and also my brother Adrian. In fact I don't know where he is,” I said irritably, looking at my watch.
“Well while we are waiting why don't you start telling me what all of this is about.” At that point we were interrupted by the arrival of sandwiches, and coffee etc.
“Would you like me to serve some coffee?” said June.
“No thanks June, we will help ourselves. Any message from Adrian?”
“No, I'm sorry.”
“OK, let me know if you hear anything.”
As June left, Alec joined us and after introducing him to Dave Withers I started from the beginning to relate events to Dave.
CHAPTER 25
Adrian had left the house shortly after Martin and set out for his girlfriend’s house. She lived in a village called Pill that is a charming village on the Avon River not too far from the point where the Avon joins the River Severn. It used to be a passenger ferry point across the Avon.
Driving the old open top MG down through Bristol and then finally through the narrow country lanes to Pill was thoroughly enjoyable and for a short time allowed Adrian to forget his current problems. The fresh air on the face and through the hair was invigorating, but as he dropped down towards the village he became conscious of a red car following closely behind him. Had it been there long? As he pulled over the next rise, he pulled up at a junction where there seemed to be some kind of road works hold up. All of a sudden as he sat waiting he was aware of someone approaching behind him, and then he was thumped in the neck and within seconds he lost consciousness as the drug from the syringe stabbed in to his neck knocked him out. The attacker caught him and with the help of his mate dragged him out of the car and into the red Ford behind. The mate got in to the MG and set off up the road with the red Ford following closely behind.
An hour later Dawson got a call from Naismith. We have the prize and he is on the way to our friends. Dawson smiled to himself; maybe things are looking up at last.
CHAPTER 26
I finished reciting events to Dave Withers. Periodically Alec interrupted to add his own comments and observations.
“Well gentlemen, that is quite a story and I am not sure quite what we should make of it. My recommendation is that you come completely clean with Chief Superintendent Fleet. In my experience she is a straight shooting cop and while she is not immune to pressures she will do the right thing. Frankly I think you need any help she can give.”
“I think we need to get going if we are going to be at Colleg e Green on time, I will get Penny to call us a taxi.” Alec picked up the ‘phone in the corn er of the room and spoke to Penny.
“I am beginning to get a bit worried about Adrian, he is not normally the most punctual or organised of people but I would not think he would be late for this meeting, he knows how important it is.”
“Have you tried calling him?” said Alec
“Yes, but I will try again,… The phone has gone to voicemail again”
“Well let' s get going, he can catch us up, ” said Alec. “The taxi is here.”
CHAPTER 27
Arriving at College Green police station a young constable showed them up to a meeting room on the first floor in which there was a large conference table and a dozen chairs. There were no windows and the room was quite bare.
Before entering the room, Lloyd stopped Fleet and said. “We have had a response on that gun that Jason Walgrave handed in. It appears to have been used before in what the Met believe was a professional killing up there.”
“This gets murkier and murkier,” said Fleet.
Inspector Lloyd entered the meeting room followed by Chief Superintendent Fleet, the young constable left. “Thank you for coming in gentlemen,” she said, “hopefully you can help us get to the bottom of what is going on.”
Dave Withers responded. “First of all Chief Superintendent let me apologise for delaying this meeting from this morning. I trust you will appreciate that it was in all of our interests for my clients to be able to provide me with detailed instructions before we met. I have advised my clients to be totally open and forthright about what has happened to them and I think it best if we allow Mr Lever to start off.
“Before we do,” said Lloyd, “where is Adrian Lever, I was given to understand that he would also be attending today?”
“I don't know where he is,” I said. “He said he would be here and I am becoming increasingly worried about the fact that he has not turned up.”
“There is probably a perfectly simple explanation,” said Fleet, “so why don't we get on with it.”
“One more thing,” said Withers. “I think it would make for a more frank exchange if this meeting, at least initially, were to be an informal meeting, that is no recording. Do you agree?”
Lloyd looked at Fleet, “I will go along with that for now,” she said.
I then proceeded to tell Fleet the whole story, as I knew it:
The threats to myself and Alec purportedly about floating the company, the two attacks I had experienced and the car crash which ended up with me in hospital, followed by my 'escape' as I feared I was too vulnerable lying there in bed.
The approach by Mendip Finance to acquire the Company and the suspicion that somehow they were involved
