“No this is my security guard, Jason Walgrave.” I hesitated. “How do you know I have a brother?”
Naismith ignored the question and said, “ Mr Lever, you are liable to be charged with car theft. Can you please explain the circumstances to us?”
“Inspector Naismith, do you know a Chief Superintendent Fleet in Bristol? We have already discussed this with her and Inspector Lloyd, and while they warned me there were likely to be repercussions I am surprised it is not her dealing with this.”
This seemed to take Naismith by surprise but he recovered quickly and went on, “ Mr Lever, this case is ours, and I don't know Fleet or Lloyd but I will check out with them. In the meantime the owner of the car is upset and is pressing to know why we have not pursued the matter. I require you to come to my office in Bath in the morning when you will be formally charged.” He handed me a card and said, “11 am please,” and with a curt, 'goodnight', he turned towards the door and he and his colleague showed themselves out.
I turned to Jason. “That was strange, it was almost as if they backed off when I mentioned Fleet; and how did they know I had a brother? He did not answer that question. I am going to call Lloyd and ask what is going on.”
Lloyd was working late and he promised to check it out and get back to him but he added that the car theft incident was not his case.
“I can understand that it is not your case but why police in Bath, the 'theft' was in Bristol”?”
“I don't know,” he responded, “It does seem a bit unusual. However I recommend that you keep the appointment in Bath.”
Over breakfast the next day, Jason said that he had also thought the visit was strange and had reported it to his boss who had said that he believed he knew Naismith and that he might have links to Special Branch or some other part of the security services.
“Special Branch! Why are they involved in a car accident, for Christ’s sake! ”
“I have no more idea than you.”
Fleet and Lloyd met later that morning. “I am having trouble getting the Met interested in the Lever case,” said Fleet. “They were distinctly cool and not interested, and if I did not know better I would think they were deliberately playing it down. So I rang an assistant commissioner that I know from Hendon days and he was able to make some interesting observations, although he was cautious, so be careful with this.”
“He observed that he would not be surprised if Asimov was part of a much larger investigation and the last thing they would want is for us to rock the boat or ruin that. He would not however tell me anything more.”
“I asked him if he knew Naismith who called me yesterday. He was reticent to talk but it seems that he knows Naismith and that Special Branch is a bit of a screen for him, and that Naismith is really MI5 nominally reporting to a Nicolas Ridley at MoD, but in reality operating with quite a free hand on anti-terrorist stuff and closely tied in to his opposite numbers in the US. All very woolly and with distinctly dirty ops overtones.”
“So where do we go from here?” said Lloyd. It sounds as though Lever could be in trouble but that our hands are tied.”
“Yes, it is not an easy one, but I am reluctant to allow it to drop quite yet. Lever seems to be a reasonably upright citizen, and it looks like he and his colleagues are building significant business for the community here in Bristol. I am not convinced that he has come completely clean with us however; I suspect he has more of an idea why the Branch are interested in him than he is admitting to us.”
“Yes, I agree,” said Lloyd, “I am not convinced that his brother is not part of this in some way, I have a check running on him. I think we should get them both in for a more formal interview.”
CHAPTER 20
The morning was bright and sunny and the City of Bath looked wonderful sprawled on the bottom and sides of the valleys as we drove down into it. It has many Roman remains including the Roman Baths that have been renovated and are a major tourist attraction. Like Rome it is built on several hills although I am not sure if it is seven! The Georgian buildings and avenues are attractive but the one-way systems and customary traffic problems soon brought me back to earth. We eventually managed to park round the corner from the police station in the Bath Rugby Club car park.
The events of the previous evening had unsettled me and in particular the mention of Adrian and the rev elation that Naismith might be Special B ranch, so I had called our company solicitor, Ron Cheadle, and asked him if he would accompany me. We met on the steps outside the police station and chatted for a few minutes.
“Just tell it as it happened,” said Cheadle. It was dead on 11am as we walked in and I asked for Inspector Naismith.
After a wait of a few minutes while I stood reading the wall posters addressing such issues as how to deal with domestic violence, car theft, and burglary and home security, a young uniformed police woman appeared to guide us upstairs. Jason stayed below to wait for us.
Upstairs we were shown in to a bare windowless room that had a wooden table and four chairs in the middle and virtually no other furniture. There was a large mirror along one wall and long neon strip lights in the ceiling. The woman PC offered us both a cup of tea or coffee and left the room to get them.
She returned a few minutes later with two paper cups of coffee and was followed in to the room by Naismith and his colleague from last night each carrying their own coffee.
“Good morning Mr Lever,” said Naismith in an overly cheerful voice, “this is sergeant Baker, you met him last night but I don't think you were introduced.”
He looked pointedly at Cheadle and I introduced Ron as the Company solicitor, “I believe I am entitled to have legal representation at this meeting, am I not?”
“You are indeed Mr Lever. Mr Cheadle, depending on the outcome of these discussions a decision will be made as to whether to charge your client. The charges being considered are theft of a motor vehicle and absconding from police arrest by escaping from the hospital. I should warn you that if we do decide to proceed with charges we might deny bail, your client having already demonstrated his willingness to run.”
I thought Cheadle was going to explode. “This is preposterous! The fact that my client is here this morning is clear evidence of his willingness to cooperate with the police.” I shivered; these guys were serious and really intent upon applying pressure right from the start.
Naismith smiled obsequiously, “Well why don't we ask Mr Lever to explain his actions and go from there,” he said calmly.
I then went through the story of the men waiting for me at the house and the subsequent escape ending up in the car smash and being in hospital.
“Sounds a bit far fetched if you ask me,” said Baker, “what did these men say they wanted?”
“They were threatening injury if the company I worked for went ahead with its planned stock market flotation.”
“Sounds even less credible,” said Baker aggressively, “why were they searching the house if their main purpose was as you say, to scare you, what could they have been looking for?” Baker was obviously designated the ‘black hat’ in this interrogation.
“Does any one else live at the house, your brother for example?” interrupted Naismith, “He could have had something valuable that these men were looking for Sam,” he said turning to Baker with a 'be reasonable' look.
Definitely a game going on here, I thought. “Why are you so interested in my brother,” I said looking directly at Naismith. “You brought his name up last night and here it is again, nothing to do with a car theft.”
“Does he live with you?” Baker said sharply, ignoring my question.
“No he does not,” I said heatedly.
“When was the last time you saw him?”
“He stayed with me a few nights ago and that was the first time I had seen him for some time.”
“Where is he now,” said Baker.
“I don't know, I assume he went home,” I responded.
“That’s a lie!”
snapped Baker.
“Gentlemen,” said Cheadle, “I must ask you to explain your line of questioning which appears to have little relevance to the reason why we are here this morning.”
Naismith turned to me, “Your brother has a record Mr Lever, a record which indicates that he might be involved in things which are a threat to national security. Are you involved with him Mr Lever?”
“I don't know what you are talking about,” I responded with feigned surprise. “I am the victim here, it is me who has been attacked and threatened, and now you want to turn the whole thing around to blame me, what is your real agenda Inspector?”
Baker snorted and turned to Naismith. “Let's charge him with the car theft and move on.”
“I would advise you to think carefully about this,” said Cheadle. “My client is an important local businessman whose current public interests could be severely damaged if he were wrongfully arrested. Should he be wrongfully arrested we would hold you and this force liable for damages, damages that could be substantial.”
Naismith sat expressionless looking at us for what seemed and age and then with a grim smile “I don't think it helps getting in to threats,” he said looking at Cheadle. “Your client is free to leave now. That does not mean however, that he will not be charged at some future date.” With that he stood up and left the room.
I sat looking at Baker in silence for a few moments and then rose to my feet. The WPC opened the door and gesturing Ron to go first we left the room. As we did so I noticed a door to the left and on an impulse I opened it and walked in. It was an observation room with a one-way window, presumably through the mirror overlooking the interview room we had just left. Standing there talking to a balding middle-aged stranger, was Naismith.
“Sorry Inspector,” I said, “took the wrong turning,” at which I turned and left the room.
Downstairs we picked up Jason and left the station. There was a coffee shop across the road and I asked Ron if he had time for a cup and a chat before leaving.
Having ordered coffees the three of us sat down. “Well Ron, thanks for that. I think you stopped them in their tracks there. Not only was I about to be arrested but I think I was going to see the inside of a cell.”
“Maybe,” said Ron. “What was all that about your brother?”
“I don't know,” I lied. I had told no one of Adrian’s current predicament and I thought it best that it stayed that way for the time being.
“By the way” interrupted Jason, “my boss came back to me again and confirmed that Naismith is definitely Special Branch.”
There was a look of surprise on Ron’s face. “Well they certainly seemed to have something on their mind besides a car theft. Look Martin, reading between the lines I think if this were to go any further you need more specialised help than I can give you. I am basically a commercial lawyer and you need a criminal lawyer, possibly one with experience of anti-terrorism scenarios. I have a partner, Dave Withers, who has a lot of knowledge in this area, I recommend we bring him in if this goes further.”
“Anti Terrorism!” I exclaimed.
“Yes, I thought that at one stage they were going to invoke those regulations there and then to detain you.”
“A sobering thought,” I said, and sat there quietly drinking my coffee and wondering where Adrian was. Who had Naismith been talking to? Whoever it was he had obviously been observing the interview.
Back in the observation room Naismith was talking to Dawson. “Sorry we didn't get too far boss, he didn't scare easily and I judged it too risky to try and invoke special powers.”
“In the circumstances I agree,” said Dawson grudgingly. “However we need some more evidence.” I will stop that jumped up budding millionaire in his tracks and we need to find out where his brother is. Put a full team on him. I assume you have his ‘phone s monitored and house bugged? Hopefully his brother will make contact.”
“What do we do if we do find his brother, just follow and let you know?”
“Yes, unless you have a dead certain opportunity to take him without any one knowing, in which case do so, but make sure there are no mistakes. There is a rendition team on standby should that happen.”
“What about this Chief Super Fleet?” Said Dawson. “Do you know him?”
“It's a she,” said Naismith, “Fleet is a woman.”
“Oh! You can't talk to women, they always have too many scruples.”
“Yes and no better luck with the DI either, Lloyd is as unbendable as they come and follows the book to the letter. I know him of old.”
“Well,” sighed Dawson, “that makes it imperative that there are no cock ups and a snatch of the young Lever is done cleanly. Don't mess this one up Naismith.” he then turned and left.
Down in the squad room Naismith yelled across the room at a WPC in the corner. “Hailey, police constable Hailey, what the hell happened down there? How did Lever end up entering the observation room. He was in your charge.”
“Sorry sir,” said Hailey, “he just turned and opened the door without warning.”
“Well, keep a better eye on your charges in future, in the meantime get me another tea, two sugars mind you,” and he strode off to his office.
CHAPTER 21
Back at the office I went straight in to a development meeting, for which I was very late. I was not surprised to receive some irritable looks from around the room as I entered; I was normally a stickler for time keeping and tended to be sarcastic when other people were late. My presence was particularly important at this meeting as I was expected to guide the discussions in a meeting that was intended to put the final touches to a revised product strategy briefing for the board
That afternoon there was a board meeting at 3pm and I still had not had time to brief Alec on my morning adventures with Bath police. I tried to do so just before the meeting by going to his office only to find him ensconced with Frank. I interrupted; I thought it was urgent that I speak to them before the meeting.
“Good afternoon Frank, sorry to butt in Alec but I have something urgent.” I then went on to explain to them the events of the morning. “So you see Gentlemen it is possible that I could be charged with car theft, not a very good scenario for the director of a company about to list publicly!”
“Incredible, but I see what you mean, ” said Alec. Frank sat there quietly.
“The immediate issue is, do I declare this to the board this afternoon?”
“On balance, my view would be no,” said Frank. “We need more time to think about this and see what happens.”
“You mean to wait and see if I get bumped off!” I laughed grimly. We adjourned to the boardroom.
The board meeting was focussed on the product strategy presentation although Alec and Bill also reported on trading results and the on-going myriad of arrangements for the float.
Afterwards, those who didn't have to rush off went to dinner at a superb Italian restaurant just around the corner from the office. It was an opportunity for informal discussions and the exchange of ideas with the non-executive directors. At the end of the meal after some people had left Ron Armstrong and his fellow director, a woman called Lucy Pageant cornered Alec and me. Ron was the senior of the two representative directors that Armstrong Investments had on the Control Networks board, but Lucy was extremely bright and as sharp as a tack so one had to be careful what one said to her.
“Alec, Martin, is there any development on the security front? I note that the board papers referred to an increased level of expenditure on security leading up to the float. Is everything else OK? No further threats?” Alec glanced at me and then went on to explain the security that had been taken on board.
“But no more threats etc.” said Lucy.
“No,” I said lying through my teeth, to which Lucy looked questioningly.
“On another matter, Alec you need to talk to Frank tomorrow. I have just been talking to him about a US company called Dalrymple. You probably know them as a major co
mpetitor, a Control Networks equivalent in the States. I think that they could be available and might make a really good acquisition for you. The float gives you the weaponry to make the acquisition and the combination would make you a very powerful force.”
“I need an opportunity like that like I need a hole in the head at the moment,” said Alec. “Why are you so keen?”
“Well, I just have a feeling that they might need us and a good deal could be done. They have been going a lot longer than you, and as you would expect they have great penetration in the US market, which would complement Control Networks strong UK and European base. I am also sensing that perhaps their technology is not so advanced and might be aging. They have grown with the aid of quite a few acquisitions and it is possible that the mix of technologies they have acquired is a legacy that is starting to catch up with them. They are the larger Company and their interest is in acquiring you, but I suspect that you are really the stronger.”
“Maybe, once we have the float through we could start looking at it, but not until then.”
“I appreciate that it is not an easy time but you cannot always choose your timing Alec. I don't suggest you do anything about it immediately, but the CEO is over here next week, will you at least have a 'get to know you' lunch so that we can keep it warm as an idea?”
“What was Franks reaction when you mentioned Dalrymple?”
“What do you mean, he just said he would talk to you about it, although…” he paused staring at Alec, “he did seem a little startled, is there anything I should know?”
“No, lets do the lunch,” said Alec reluctantly, “you set it up, but let's make it here in Bristol.”
“Lucy knows the CEO, so I will leave her to set it up and liaise with you. I don't think I will be able to make it down.”
CHAPTER 22
The next morning we were just about to leave the house for the office when Adrian called me on my mobile. Startled, I said, “get off this line immediately and meet me where we used to go fishing I said. Can you do that in 30 minutes?”
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