‘Men with their tongues hanging out,’ Bridget said.
‘Not so flippant as it sounds,’ Isaac said. ‘She’s able to control men by her sexuality, but she doesn’t give in. Apart from Aberman, we’ve found no other behaviour unbecoming of the woman. Are we sure that Helen and Aberman were sleeping together?’
‘That’s what we’ve been told,’ Wendy said.
‘But no proof. We know she married Adamant, and that was consummated, and there’s a clear indication she had had sex with Holden, but no proof with Aberman. And if the man’s killed, did she know, did she agree? She has his house, it’s empty, and she could have moved in, but she didn’t. Why not? All the bills have been paid, and she even had a debit card for the incidentals.’
‘What about the solicitor who was looking after it for Aberman? He must have some correspondence with whoever’s paying the money. If it’s not Aberman, then who and why?’
‘We’re ruffling the feathers of some serious criminal figures,’ Larry said.
‘How do we get to them?’
‘Knox mentioned Ugly Pete.’
‘How do we find him?’
‘I’ll use my contacts,’ Larry said.
‘Fine, you follow up on him. Wendy, see what you can find out about Aberman and Helen. See if anyone is certain of their relationship, or whether it’s just smoke and mirrors, and if it is, why? Bridget, do some research into Aberman’s solicitor.’
Chapter 15
Nicholas Slater, the senior partner at the legal firm that Aberman had used, was not in a good mood when Isaac and Wendy entered his premises. ‘I’m severely embarrassed,’ he said.
‘Your client does not appear to be Ben Aberman, does it?’
‘I have carried out my duties meticulously.’
‘Let’s go back to when you took over the responsibility for the Aberman house,’ Isaac said.
‘Mr Aberman has entrusted me with his legal work for many years.’
‘You’ve met him?’
‘A long time ago. I knew his wife as well. I only visited his clubs the one time when there was a dispute over an alcohol licence.’
‘Mr Slater, there are serious concerns regarding your propriety. When you visited the club, was Helen Langdon on the stage?’
‘Aberman introduced me to a woman once. It was probably her.’
‘How can you be unsure? The woman’s picture has been in the newspapers, on the television.’
‘Okay, it was Helen.’
Slater phoned for his receptionist to bring in refreshments. After the tea had been delivered, Slater spoke. ‘Ben Aberman was a friend. We had known each other for many years, and I dealt with all his legal work. In the last couple of years, before he disappeared, he had become more erratic.’
‘Any reason why?’
‘Aberman was interested in expanding. He had split from his wife, a calming influence, and he was enjoying the freedom.’
‘The women in the club?’ Wendy said.
‘Yes. Before that, he had regarded the clubs as places to make money, but there he is, early fifties, recently separated, and in a harem.’
‘Helen Langdon?’
‘Ben, he wants to make his mark. He makes contact with some people who’ll help him out. I advised him against it, but he wasn’t listening.’
‘Can you prove your objection?’
‘It’s on file. Ben agreed to take the money from these people. I wasn’t involved.’
‘Did you see the paperwork?’
‘There wasn’t any. He was dealing with gangsters. They lent the money, you paid them back with interest, or they’d come and take it with force.’
‘Aberman’s got the money. He’s done his homework. Why then, does he get into financial trouble?’
‘He had lined up the purchase of another club, paid money upfront, and then the deal collapsed. Ben was frantic. He’s down fifty thousand pounds, the lenders are after him, and he can’t pay.’
‘How do you know this?’
‘He asked me to get him out of trouble.’
‘What did you do?’
‘I advised bankruptcy as the final solution, or to just walk away from the clubs, but Ben, he wasn’t listening.’
‘Bankruptcy wouldn’t have been an option. The people he was dealing with would have still wanted the money.’
‘I’ve always suspected the premises Ben had been looking at belonged to those who had lent him the money. They forced him into trouble, knowing full well that Dixey and the other clubs were cash cows.’
‘Cash cows?’ Wendy said.
‘It’s a financial term,’ Isaac said. ‘The clubs have been set up, and they’re making a profit. All the gangsters need to do is to maintain the business and cream off as much money as they can. Aberman did the hard work, they reap the rewards.’
Ben, he was a fool,’ Slater said. ‘He decided to take them on.’
‘You know a lot about this.’
‘Ben’s a friend. I advised him to prepare to leave the country. He was still not listening, but at least he was willing to consider my suggestion.’
‘And when he disappeared?’
‘I assumed he’d left the country. I already had access to one of his accounts. Out of friendship, I looked after the house for him.’
‘That still doesn’t explain Helen Langdon or the house being empty.’
‘Helen, she’s Ben’s woman. Two weeks after my last contact with him, she entered this office. She was upset.’
‘Why are you telling us this now?’ Isaac asked.
‘The situation is dangerous. Finding his body will only open old wounds. You’re becoming involved in something dangerous. I hope you’re prepared.’
‘Are you?’
‘I’m not sure I can be.’
‘Continue,’ Isaac said.
‘The woman was not sure what to do. She told me this story about Ben, and how he’d got himself out of trouble by signing over the clubs, and she was going to look after the house for him.’’
‘The money on her debit card?’
‘That’s covered. I asked her where Aberman is. She told me it would be best if
