The following day at the office I received a call from Nicolas Ridley at the MoD. I was surprised because while he had spoken to Alec prior to our first meeting with his people, I had never spoken to him.
“ Mr Lever, I wanted to talk privately with you, I wonder if we could meet? I am currently in Bristol for a couple of days staying at the Marriott; perhaps we could meet there?
“Do you have news of my brother?”
“I think we need to talk face to face, perhaps even this evening? About 6pm in the foyer?”
“Alright, I will see you then.”
At the same time Naismith dropped in to Dawson ’s office, to see his PA, Anne, whom he secretly fancied.
“Martin Lever has been calling you.”
“Well I don't want to talk to him at the moment, where's the boss?”
“He's gone,” she said.
“Gone! Gone where?”
“Just g one, and rumoured never to be coming back. The grapevine says he has been posted to East Timor! Seems to have really blotted his copy book this time.”
“Well it couldn't have happened to a more deserving bloke! Fancy a drink after work to celebrate. I have been posted to London to join the big boys with immediate effect so two things to celebrate.
“Yes OK,” she smiled.
I walked in to the Marriott at dead on 6pm. As I did so a tall guy in a leather jacket approached, “ Mr Lever?”
“Yes.”
“Can you follow me please, Mr Ridley is waiting for you.”
We took the lift to the third floor and knocked on one of the bedroom doors. He then unlocked the door and we both entered.
He then turned, “before we go any further Mr Lever I have to scan you for recording devices. A routine precaution, I hope you don't mind,” at which point he took a small box from his coat pocket and scanned me front and rear.
He then led the way through a connecting door in to a large suite. As we entered a man in a blue pin stripe suit walked up to us, “ Mr Lever,” he said proffering a hand. “Please excuse those little theatrics, but I am afraid one has to take precautions these days. My name is Ridley. Thank you for coming, why don't we take a seat over here in the corner.” We sat down in armchairs arranged in a small group in the corner.
“Can I offer you some tea or coffee, we have both here, or something a little stronger perhaps? Scotch?”
“A mineral water would be fine if you have it.”
He got up and poured himself a cup of tea, and retrieved a mineral water from the fridge beneath the bar for me.
“I think we will be alright now Jack,” he said to the guy who had escorted me upstairs and who then left the room.
“I am pleased we could get the chance to talk.”
“Have you got news of my brother?”
“Maybe, that's what I wanted to talk to you about?
“ Mr Ridley, who exactly are you?” I said somewhat exasperated, “Alec was under the impression that you are with the Ministry of Defence, is that the case?”
“Oh yes I am,” he said, “but I also have some other involvements or responsibilities of a confidential nature.”
“You mean you are with the security services?”
“In a way,” he said, “suffice it to say that while I was not responsible for what happened to you both, I know what happened and who was involved. A very regrettable series of events for which I apologise?”
“Apologise! I was beaten up and threatened and my brother has been kidnapped, how can security services do that in this country?”
“I have said I am sorry and apologised. The people in this country that did this have been dealt with, and are n ot in a position to do it again, and t he subject of your brothers snooping has paid the ultimate price.
“You mean the suicide rumours are true?”
“I am sure you have kept up with all of the speculation. I cannot confirm it one way or the other and it is now all history; t he question is where do we go from here?”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, you feel aggrieved at what has been done to you, but on the other hand your brother is under threat of arrest and prosecution for breaking the law. You yourself may be prosecuted for car theft etc.”
“My car theft was a direct result of the threats from your people, I would enjoy explaining the story in court!”
“Look Mr Lever, I don't think any of us want to be getting involved with courts. It would not be in any of our interests.”
“What about my brother, where is he?”
“Well that is where the problem lies. To some extent his whereabouts are not under my control.”
“Where is he?”
“Lets just say he is with 'others'. And the 'others' need to be persuaded to release him.”
“This is preposterous, you mean the Americans or CIA; you cannot get away with this!”
“ Mr Lever, if asked I shall deny that this conversation ever took place. Let's look at this rationally. You want your brother back unharmed, and I want you to get him back unharmed. As a quid pro quo 'others' do not want the material that your brother stole released.”
“Surely, that is not important now following the Vice Presidents death.”
“Yes, his untimely demise has reduced the seriousness of the issue, although the circumstances means that emotions are high and 'others' do not want the embarrassment of having to deal with the repercussions if your brothers stolen material did beco me public knowledge. As I see it t hey not only have your brother at this time, if they were per suaded to release him they would still have the legal right to demand his extradition to the USA in the future for his crime of hacking in to their systems.”
I sat there quietly waiting for him to follow through.
“If they could be assured that the stolen material would not be released then I am sure they would be prepared to forego any prosecution. I think at a push they could also be persuaded to reimburse you both for any out of pocket expenses.”
“And what if we do not accept?”
“That would not be in my control but I would expect that your brother could be prosecuted in the USA, and it is my belief that they would probably obtain a conviction.”
“We don't have much choice, do we? Has this proposal been put to Adrian?”
“I expect so, but if not then I am sure that if I convey your acceptance it will be.”
“So when will Adrian be freed?”
“There will be some paperwork to prepare before they are prepared to do that. I understand you have retained the services of Bill Withers, an excellent choice if I might say so.”
“What paperwork?”
“They will need to get an agreement in writing. I suggest that they get their lawyers to talk to Bill Withers and get something drafted, would that be OK?”
“Alright, I think we can agree. While we are talking what do you know of Mendip Finance and Dalrymple Technology? Are they connected to all of this?”
“Not directly, I am aware of your allegations about Mendip, but I think their interest is merely on behalf of Dalrymple in making a deal with you and the connection was coincidental. The two matters then merged together when this whole other matter arose.”
