Cashback

by Duncan James

  ***

  "Now we have two lists," said Robin to Marian later. "And we need a third."

  "From Grudge?" she asked.

  "Exactly. I know he has received the details he wanted from Russia, and he should by now have worked out roughly what he and his colleagues are owed. We need to get all three to Switzerland, and I agree with de Burgh - it would be best to deliver them by hand."

  "You also need to get hold of Jim," said Marian.

  "And I should be helping Grudge develop our new computer programme," added Robin.

  "And I should be setting up our new company, Computer Solutions, and finding out about licensing your new software and so on," said Marian.

  "And I need to start moving money about again," said Robin. "Suddenly, there's an awful lot to do!"

  "Don't panic!" said Marian. "There's two of us, so why don't we split up for a while."

  "How do you mean?" asked Robin.

  "Well," replied Marian, "why don't I take these two lists to Montreux, while you get back to Oxford to brief Jim and get the list from Grudge?"

  "That's a good idea," said Robin. "When I've got the Russian list, I can bring it to Montreux and meet up with you again there. Then we could both get back to Oxford. I've been thinking for some time that we ought to run this operation from there, as we've got the computer power on hand," added Robin.

  "And I've been thinking, too, that we should set up Computer Solutions in Oxford, perhaps in the business park on the outskirts of the City. That would make it easier for Grudge to help out as a consultant, and put you close to all your lovely computers at the University."

  "That had occurred to me, too, Marian," agreed Robin. "If you could be setting all that up while I'm completing this project and helping Sergei with our new computer 'thing' as you call it, we'd still be working together."

  "And living together," added Marian.

  "Right!" said Robin. "So let's not panic!"

  They had dinner that evening with Will and Bonkers, and explained that they had agreed to go their own separate ways the following morning.

  "This is all tremendously exciting," said Will. "I really wish I wasn't just a simple farming lad, and that I was clever enough to be able to help you both."

  "Me too," said Bonkers. "But you are much too clever for either of us to be much use, more's the pity."

  "Now listen to me," said Robin crossly. "If it wasn't for you two, we wouldn't be doing what we are doing, so let's get that straight for a start."

  "And you've done wonderfully well providing us with all the information you have been able to get together," added Marian. "We'd have got nowhere without that."

  "You have a particularly important role to play now," said Robin. "You must keep in touch with all your contacts and let us know immediately if there is any reaction, once we start shifting money about. The big-wigs aren't going to be at all happy when they find all their ill-gotten gains fast disappearing."

  "We'll certainly do that, don't you worry," asserted Will.

  "I suggest you don't brief them about what is about to happen," said Robin. "The fewer people who know, the better. I just hope we can trust Wilfred de Burgh."

  "He feels the same about you, as a matter of fact!" said Bonkers.

  "When shall we see you again?" asked Will.

  "I really don't know," replied Robin, "but we certainly shall be back at some time, that's for sure."

  "We'll come with you to the airport in the morning, just to make sure you go!" said Will.

  "That's going to be very sad for us," said Marian. "Not just saying goodbye to you two again, but we shall also be parting, once we get to Nairobi. I go to Zurich and Robin goes to London. It will be the first time we've been apart almost since we met," she said ruefully.

  "It won't be for long," Robin reassured her. "And we shall be in touch over the phone, don't you worry."

  Robin took Will to one side at the airport next morning.

  "How are you off for cash?" he asked, quietly.

  "I'm all right, really," replied Will seriously. "I can just about manage, but I worry about Bonkers. He really has nothing - no work apart from a bit of part-time in bars, no family, nothing."

  "I thought as much," said Robin. "Take this, and use it sensibly, as I know you will. If you get caught, there will be nothing I can do to help you, my friend. I made it specially for you."

  He slipped a new copy of his unique plastic cash card into Will's hand.?

  13. THE LISTS?

  Robin had suddenly decided on a change of plan.

  It had occurred to him on the aircraft that, as he was going through Heathrow anyway, it would be a good idea to see if he could meet with Jim Farlow in central London. Robin had quite a lot to talk to Jim about, and some quite sensitive information to give him. It would be a whole lot more sensible, and certainly much safer, to hand over the details of the various accounts he wanted him to access, rather than send them by email.

  It was quite late when his aircraft landed, so he immediately booked in to one of the airport hotels for the night. He rang the flat - Valya answered the phone - to explain that he wouldn't be there until the next day after all. Then he rang Marian, as he said he would, just to make sure she had got to Montreux safely, and then, re-assured that she was all right, got hold of Jim at his home in Highgate.

  He was surprised to get the call from Robin so late in the evening.

  "I was expecting you to ring from Oxford tomorrow," said Jim.

  "Well, I'm still at Heathrow," explained Robin. "I only landed a short time ago from Nairobi, and I've decided to stay here overnight in the hope that we might be able to meet up in the morning. Any chance, Jim?"

  "As it happens, we could very well meet," replied Farlow. "I'm on the overnight shift tomorrow, and don't have to be at the bank until teatime."

  "That's good news," said Robin. "Where can we rendezvous?"

  "Why don't I come out to the airport?" suggested Jim. "I can get into town easily from there after our chat, and you can catch the coach to Oxford."

  "Are you sure you don't mind coming out here?" asked Robin.

  "Not a bit," enthused Jim. "I like airports - always lots going on."

  "Right then," agreed Robin. "Make it about twelve, and I'll buy you lunch. This looks a bit of a grotty hotel, judging by the room I'm in, but the restaurant on the ground floor doesn't look too bad."

  He gave Jim directions, and decided to try the restaurant himself, for a light evening meal. It was OK, after all. By now, he was tired, so he went to his room to turn in for the night. Not a patch on the Royal Plaza in Montreux, he thought, and envied Marian her luxury stay there. He wished he was with her, but he had a lot to do in England, so it really was sensible of her to suggest splitting up as they had. And with any luck, they would be together again in a couple of days. He resolved that, after breakfast, he would give her another ring, and then use his laptop computer to sort out the information he hoped Jim would be able to get for him. There was a lot of detail Jim wouldn't need, and he could get together on one sheet of paper the framework of Jim's research. It would save so much time if he could get into the encryption codes and find the passwords that Robin would need in order to access the vital accounts. Robin would keep the final details of those to himself.

  They met in the foyer as planned, just before lunch, and headed for the bar for a quick something-or-other first.

  "It seems ages since we last met," said Jim, "although I suppose it really isn't too long, and we have been able to keep in touch on the phone."

  "I'm glad we have been able to meet up again," said Robin. "There's a lot to tell you, and I thought it safer to brief you face-to-face rather than over the phone or by email."

  "I couldn't agree more," said Jim, "not least because I've got some pretty hot news for you, too. I've tracked down some of the banks used by Grudge's old masters, and got all the gen. you will need to get access to their treasury."

  He fished an envelope
from his inside pocket, and handed it to Robin.

  "There are about four banks there, in different parts of the world, which is what Grudge told me you wanted. So far as I can see, all the corporation's accounts are just about bursting at the seams, so you should be able to provide Sergei and his chums with a just settlement."

  "That is good news - well done!" enthused Robin. "At last we can really make some progress, and if you can do the same with these banks" - he handed over his list to Jim - "then we shall be well on the way to finishing the first part of this little exercise."

  "I'll do my best," replied Jim. "I'm just sorry that I shan't be able to join you and your little team for the final phase, as that should be very interesting. I would love to be able to work with Grudge, but I really think I owe it to my mother to stay in a settled job, with a regular income. I think I'm what you'd call 'risk averse', and I really will be happier in a regular job rather than risk setting up on my own with you - although I'm sure you'll make a go of it."

  "I really do understand that," replied Robin.

  "My poor old mother has taken a job as a dinner lady since Dad died. Not for the money, she says, but for the company as much as anything."

  Jim looked quite upset.

  "It's a pity we can't work together," said Robin sadly, "but perhaps one day things will change and you will be able to join the little company I'm setting up. Grudge has said he will be a consultant, and Rupert seems keen to join us as well."

  "Quite like old times," said Jim. "But I did say I would help you with this phase of your charitable work, if I may call it that, and so I shall. I'll get stuck into this lot tonight, and let you know how I get on."

  "It really is handy that you're doing that particular job at the bank," commented Robin. "We'd be lost without your help, and it would take ages to do what you've been able to do so quickly, as you know."

  "I have to say that I really am lucky," admitted Jim, "and not just because I'm able to help you. But it's a really interesting job, and it pays very well. I can give my mother quite a decent allowance and still manage to put some away for a rainy day."

  "I'm very glad," said Robin. "I just hope our little enterprise goes well when we get it up and running. If not, we may all be coming to you for work at some time!"

  "If I am able to get the information you want, how shall I get it to you?" asked Jim.

  "I would rather have it one bank at a time, if that's possible, rather than wait until you've been through all of them," replied Robin. "I think I shall probably do my bit of the exercise from Oxford, where we've got the computers set up, so the sensible thing would be to meet, I suppose, rather than use the post or the telephone or the Internet. They aren't nearly as secure as they should be, and we can't afford to take any risks."

  "I agree," said Jim. "And if you're going to work from here rather than Africa or Switzerland, then we should be able to meet easily enough for me to pass on details by hand. It will be nice to be able to meet you again from time to time."

  As they settled at their table for lunch, Robin opened the envelope Jim had given him, and quickly scanned the contents.

  "Good Lord!" he exclaimed. "One of the banks you have uncovered is also on the list I've just given you."

  "That's quite a coincidence," said Jim. "It'll save a bit of time."

  "And allow me to kill two birds with one stone, so to speak, although I shall need to take care. If I transfer too much from the same bank, even from different accounts, alarm bells might well start ringing."

  "They shouldn't be able to trace you though, using the system you've devised."

  "I hope you're right," replied Robin. "Now, what shall we have? How about a steak?"

  They chatted on over a leisurely lunch, during which Robin was able to brief Jim Farlow on all that had been going on since their last meeting. Eventually, he said, "I really must get that coach to Oxford, you know. I'm dying to know how our friend Sergei is getting on, and then I shall use the information you've given me to try to move some money into one or other of the Swiss accounts. I also want to see how Grudge is getting on developing our new encryption device, and if there's time, perhaps give him a hand with it."

  "There's no hurry for it, is there?" enquired Jim.

  "Not really, but I want to have it ready as soon as possible in case too many alarm bells start ringing too soon at the banks."

  "But there's plenty of work to do now you've opened the door, so to speak, before you close it again?" queried Jim.

  "Yes, there is," replied Robin. "Which is why I'm hoping you'll be able to press on with all speed. The longer we leave this particular door open, as you put it, the more chance there is that we shall get caught out before we've finished."

  "I'll do my best," promised Jim. "I've already volunteered for more over-night shifts, when it's quieter, on the grounds that I need the money now that my father has died. Which is not far from the truth, as it happens," he added, sadly.

  Jim headed for the Underground, and Robin went back to reception to pay his bill and collect his suitcase, before making for the Oxford coach.