‘I know.’
‘The article was in German, and we’re waiting to have it translated. Could you tell me what it was about?’
‘It was libellous. I almost sued them over it.’
‘What did it say?’
‘It suggested that Contracts International consultants, they called them mercenaries, were involved in drug smuggling through Bosnia and into western Europe. They never produced any hard evidence other than that photo yet it helped to ruin the reputation of an organization that employed a lot of people and, whatever anyone likes to think, provided a service that was needed. Ever since that article came out, I’ve had problems. Scotland Yard were round like a shot, asking all sorts of questions, and our client base simply dried up. That’s why I’m perhaps not as co-operative as I might otherwise have been.’
‘I understand that, sir, but I can assure you I’m not interested in having a go at your company or you, I’m simply interested in solving this murder.’
Leppel observed me for a few moments as if trying to gauge how genuine I was. I gave him my standard I-won’t-piss-you-about look back, thinking that I might just be winning this sanctimonious bastard over. ‘As I’ve said, they never actually named names but said that our consultants were in partnership with organized crime figures in Britain and were using UN aid convoys to transport the contraband into western Europe. But they had no proof, nothing.’
‘Do you think, Mr Leppel, in all honesty, that one or two of your employees might have had some contact with these organized crime figures?’
‘That photograph was taken close to two years after we ceased operations in Bosnia. Yes, it’s clear from the picture that Tony Franks had at least some dealings with them, and others might have done so too, but it was entirely off their own bats. Until that article was written, I knew nothing about it.’
I nodded, trying to work out whether Leppel was telling the truth or not. He was certainly exhibiting the right level of indignation, but it was difficult to say for sure. ‘And Tony Franks? Do you know where he is now?’
‘The last I heard he was doing some work for a company called Tiger Solutions run by two of Contracts’ ex-employees.’
Tiger Solutions. Things kept coming back to them. ‘Can you give me the names of these two ex-employees?’ I asked, wanting to get it confirmed.
‘Joe Riggs was one of them; the other was Max Iversson.’
‘Do you know if they had anything to do with Jack Merriweather or any of his associates?’
‘No, as far as I know, they didn’t.’
‘Have you got a list anywhere of the employees of Contracts who served in Bosnia?’
He sighed. ‘I thought you might ask that. I haven’t, no.’
‘But presumably you could dig up the information?’
He sighed again. ‘It means going back over the old accounts for the company, but yes, the information can be dug up, as you put it. Though it would probably take a bit of time.’
‘I would greatly appreciate it, sir, if you could provide us with a complete list. It may well be very useful to our inquiry.’
‘I’ll see what I can come up with.’
I stood up, and Berrin followed suit. ‘Thank you very much for that, Mr Leppel,’ I said, putting out my hand, ‘and for your time.’
Leppel stepped forward and gave it a brief shake. ‘You’re certainly a lot less difficult to deal with than the last lot who paid me a visit.’
‘Glad to hear it.’
‘If you do get to speak to Tony, send him my regards, will you?’ he said as he led us out to the lifts.
I nodded, and said that I would. ‘Did you get on well with him, then?’
‘He was good company, and very professional. I like dealing with people like him.’
When we were outside, I looked at my watch. Twenty past five. The streets of the City of London were beginning to fill with the first wave of smartly dressed workers hurrying like ants in every direction, none looking as if they had a moment to spare.
‘Do you think this Tony Franks character could have something to do with Matthews’s death, then, Sarge?’ asked Berrin as we started walking towards Moorgate Tube.
‘He’s linked to the Holtzes, albeit fairly indirectly, and he’s linked, again indirectly, to the snake poison. It’s not a lot to go on, but it’s something. Did the name mean anything to you?’
Berrin shook his head. ‘No, never heard of him. Does it to you?’
‘It does, but I can’t think from where.’
‘Something’s going on at that Tiger Solutions, though, isn’t it?’
‘The name keeps coming up, that’s for sure, and it’s not a name you’re going to forget. We’re going to have to pay another visit to Joe Riggs, but I think maybe we should leave it for a day or two. I’d like to have something to pressure him with, and at the moment we haven’t got much.’
‘At least now we’re beginning to get somewhere, though.’ For the first time in a while, he sounded enthused.
When we got to Moorgate Tube it was shut by a security alert, and the traffic had near enough ground to a halt. I called Malik on my mobile but he wasn’t answering, so I left a message, asking him to call back urgently. I’d intended to go back to the station, but by the time the two of us had walked up to Old Street it was twenty to six and hardly worth it, so we went our separate ways.
But on the Underground, heading back home, sweating with the commuters, I couldn’t get the name Tony Franks out of my mind. It bugged me, so much so that I got off at Highbury and Islington and returned to work, thinking that I’d never be able to relax until I’d satisfied my curiosity.
As usual, the incident room was empty, which suited me just fine. I switched on my PC, got a coffee while it booted up, and logged on to our criminal database. I then
