The first thing they will do is visit his apartment to see if they can find any evidence to strengthen their case and then they will look into his various business activities.
Just before he is taken down to the police cells, his solicitor tells the duty officer he needs to speak with his client in private as a matter of some urgency.
“Mr Rex, my secretary has just informed me we received a letter this morning regarding your claim over the Lotto ticket. It seems the other party has made you an offer. They say they reject your claim entirely and are prepared to let the matter go to court, which as they point out could drag on for years. Or, they propose, without accepting any liability, they would make an ‘out of court settlement’ with you. They are offering to pay you fifty million pounds with immediate effect.”
The solicitor pauses, then: “I think you probably know what I’m going to say in the light of your current predicament. Take what they’re offering you. But, of course, the final decision rests with you. I would add that they say the payment can be made within forty-eight hours if you decide to accept.”
Mark Jackson adds, “Mr Rex, perhaps the best thing would be to consider the offer until tomorrow and then if you want to go ahead I can contact Mr Clinton Palmer who is acting for the other party and make him aware of your decision.”
“Yes, that seems the best thing. I’m a bit riled up at the moment. I should be getting the whole amount. I think I’ll follow your advice. After all, one day won’t make much difference, will it?”
As he sits in his cell thoughts race through Dave’s head. For that kind of money I could buy myself an island and live a life of luxury. I could travel anywhere and never have to worry about money ever again. But in the back of his mind is the thought it was his Lotto ticket that had won and he deserves the whole £168 million. Perhaps he could accept the offer and then once safely abroad with his new identity, he could make sure James Sheldon came to some harm.
He’s got until tomorrow to decide and as there won’t be any entertainment in his cell, he’s got time to consider all his options. And right now, what he could really do with, is a large Jack Daniels.
Chapter Fifty
AFTER STEVIE
I must be King Midas in reverse. Everything I touch turns to death. First my wife and kids and now Stevie.
My lovely friend Stevie.
Tell me, God, what have I done to deserve this?
Susan has tried to help, but just like my friends after the hit and run, all I want is to be on my own. I’ve told her I’ll be back in a few days and I’ve driven up to North Wales, to a place close to Snowdonia where Miriam and I came on holiday. It’s a lovely remote hotel called Plas Maenan. I can hide away here and shut out the world. No TV, no newspapers, no awkward questions. I didn’t even bring my mobile phone.
I’ve transferred the fifty million pounds into a suspense account with my solicitors and given written instructions to pay the guy who claims he had the winning Lotto ticket if he agrees to drop the court action.
Just a couple of days ago, Stevie and I were looking forward to helping hundreds of deserving families start a new life and giving something back to the community of Trentbridge. Now I’m mourning the loss of my best friend. I’ve got no idea what’s going on in Trentbridge and for the next day or two I really don’t care.
The only reason I’m going ahead with our plans is because I know that’s what Stevie would have wanted. Since he became involved with the charity, his ideas and enthusiasm transformed it from an idea into a reality and everyone became so much more fired up about what we are doing. I can’t let him down. I just need a couple of days on my own to grieve, remember the friendship he extended me when I needed it most. I need to cherish his memory and find the strength to carry on.
God bless you, Stevie, and I’ll do everything I can to make you proud.
Chapter Fifty-One
DAVE
The raid on Dave’s apartment is being undertaken by DS Will Underwood and DS Rachel Nason, together with two uniformed officers, on the evening of his arrest – just in case he has associates who might get into the apartment and remove any potential evidence.
The two PCs are told to check the bedrooms and kitchen while the two detectives start in the hall, then move through to the lounge and finally check Dave’s office. Armed with the set of keys taken when he was arrested, they unlock the drawers of his desk and also the filing cabinet he keeps next to his bookcase. After more than an hour of combing the apartment, they have found nothing incriminating.
DS Underwood phones DCI Andy Quinn with the news.
“Okay, it was worth a try. As you’re in the area I think you’d better call on Dave’s mum and break the news to her gently. She’s eighty and if she reads about it in the newspaper or she hears it from anyone else, it might come as a big shock. Just tell her we’re holding him for questioning at this stage.”
“Righty-ho boss.”
DS Underwood and DS Nason have her address; she only lives five minutes away from her son’s apartment in a luxury nursing home he has paid for.
Mrs Rex looks a frail old woman and every one of her eighty years. When she is told the news she seems to find it difficult to breathe. She asks DS Nason to find her inhaler in the bedroom.
The DS sees it sitting on top of the bedside cabinet on
