This Was a Man (The Clifton Chronicles 7)

Arnold Hardcastle joined Hakim and Sebastian in the chairman’s office for the third time that week.

“Have you had enough time to consider Mellor’s proposition?” asked Hakim, as the bank’s legal advisor sat down opposite them.

“I most certainly have,” said Arnold, “and there’s no doubt it’s a fair offer, but I have to ask, why is Mellor handing over the company to you of all people?”

“Because he hates Adrian Sloane even more than we do?” suggested Seb. “Don’t forget, Sloane was responsible for him failing to get his hands on the bank.”

“There are other banks in the City,” said Arnold.

“But none that know how Sloane operates as well as we do,” replied Hakim. “Have you made contact with Mellor’s lawyers to find out if they think this deal is for real?”

“It’s real enough,” said Arnold. “Although their senior partner confessed he was as puzzled by it as we are. I think he summed it up best when he suggested it might be a case of better the devil you know.”

“When’s Mellor likely to be released?” asked Seb.

“It may not be for some time,” said Arnold, “as he’s facing further charges.”

“Further charges?” said Hakim.

“Dealing in counterfeit money. And there’s another charge of entrapment.”

“I can’t believe Mellor would do anything quite that stupid, especially when he was already in custody.”

“If you’re locked in a prison cell all day,” said Arnold, “I suspect your judgment might become clouded, especially if the only thought on your mind is how to get even with the man who’s responsible for you being there.”

“I have to admit,” said Hakim, “if I hadn’t had you two watching over me when I was in prison, God knows what I might have got up to.”

“I’m still not convinced,” said Seb. “It’s all too easy. Don’t forget that if Mellor swallowed a nail, it would come out as a corkscrew.”

“Then perhaps we should walk away from the deal,” said Arnold.

“And allow Sloane to go on taking advantage of his position, while growing richer by the minute?” Seb reminded them.

“Fair point,” said Hakim. “And although I’ve never considered myself a vindictive man, I wouldn’t be sorry to see Sloane finally destroyed. But perhaps Seb and I are taking this too personally and should simply look at the deal on its merits. What’s your opinion, Arnold?”

“There’s no doubt that under normal circumstances it would be a worthwhile deal for the bank, but after your past experiences with Mellor, perhaps it would be wise if I were to inform the Bank of England’s Ethics Committee that we’re considering entering into a business transaction with someone who’s in jail. If they have no objection, who are we to disagree?”

“That’s certainly the belt-and-braces solution,” said Hakim. “Why don’t you do that, Arnold, and report back to me once you’ve canvassed their opinion?”

“And I don’t have to remind you,” said Seb, “that Mellor will be phoning me at ten on Friday morning.”

“Just make sure he doesn’t reverse the charges,” said Hakim.

* * *

The two of them sat alone at the end of the bar to be sure they couldn’t be overheard.

“When you think about it,” said Knowles, “it’s surprising that you ended up as the chairman of a travel company. After all, I’ve never known you to take a holiday.”

“I don’t care for foreigners,” said Sloane. “You can’t trust them.” The barman refilled his glass with gin. “And in any case, I can’t swim, and lying on a beach getting burnt isn’t my idea of fun. I prefer to stay in England and enjoy a few days’ shooting, or walking in the hills on my own. Mind you, I don’t think I’ll be in the travel business for much longer.”

“Something I ought to know about?”

“I’ve had one or two offers for Mellor Travel that would make it possible for both of us to retire.”

“But Mellor still owns fifty-one percent of the company, so he’d end up the main beneficiary.”

“I wasn’t planning on selling the company,” said Sloane, “just its assets. Asset-stripping is the new game in the City, and by the time Mellor’s worked out what we’re up to, there won’t be a company left for him to chair, just a shell.”