Chapter 96
Almost two weeks had passed since Chuck Fairweather had written to Ashby after reading of the judgment in the Captain Stratos case and the threat of liquidation. Both had rung alarm bells.
His letter had diplomatically asked whether all was well. The reply he’d received had been tactfully phrased. Ashby had reassured him that nothing was amiss and that he’d contact him shortly.
Since then, Fairweather had heard nothing despite waiting for Ashby’s call. His interest wasn’t paternal. If Plantation was in trouble, he recognized a business opportunity as much as Gallazone of Specifica or Weber of ADV. Plantation had a trove of gems in its portfolio which Jim Ashby had collected over the years. Texas Fire wanted a London branch office or a solid London partner. There was also the plan agreed between Fairweather and Jim Ashby to set up in Bermuda.
Fairweather had then seen the reports in the insurance press of the war of attrition waged against Plantation, culminating in Hedley’s order for twenty million pounds to be paid into court. Still nothing had been heard from Ashby. Finally, there came the report in the International Herald Tribune of Plantation’s liquidation in the Companies Court. This struck Fairweather like a bolt of lightning.
As soon as it was the start of the business day in London (by then it was late evening in Houston), Fairweather rang Plantation and asked to speak to Ashby personally. He refused to be re-directed and demanded they connect him only to the Managing Director.
One can imagine the confused mess in Plantation’s office. Fortunately, Ashby’s secretary, Tara was one of those who had not yet been turfed out the door. Another survivor was Simon Wells although hints had been made that he was living on borrowed time until the axe fell.
With difficulty, Fairweather was put through to Tara as no-one else knew who he was or what he wanted, just that he was one of Ashby’s contacts from America and was insisting on speaking to him personally. Fortunately, she understood the reason for the call and transferred him to Simon Wells who at that moment was reading the sports page of The Times. Wells had been forbidden to do anything else but had been waiting hourly to hear from Ashby about the latest developments.
“Simon, a ‘Mr Fairweather’ from Texas Fire & Guaranty is on the line from Houston. He wants to talk to Robert.”
“Fairweather ? What ? Chuck Fairweather ?”
“Yes, the man who runs Texas Fire & Guaranty.”
“Oh Lord, what does he want ?”
“I don’t know but he asked to speak to Robert.”
“I suppose you’d better put him through – there’s no-one else here who can speak to him, is there ?”
After the call was transferred, Wells said that Ashby was in Cape Town.
“So....who am I speaking to ?” asked the Texan.
“I’m Simon Wells, the marine underwriter – or I was the marine underwriter until very recently....”
“You mean it’s true that Plantation really is a goner ?”
“I regret to say Mr Fairweather, that is the situation.”
“And if the company has been closed down, tell me – what the hell is Robert Ashby doing in South Africa ? What in perdition is he doing there ?”
Wells then explained the background to the Captain Stratos claim and how Ashby was having to prove that the shipowners were fraudsters while fighting a rear-guard action against his fellow directors.
Fairweather was for a moment speechless. “You mean to tell me that the company was shut down when he wasn’t even around ? And he’s the guy running the show and the major stockholder ? Are these guys crazy ?”
“Unfortunately, that is what happened.”
“I’m trying to get my head round this. Who are these guys ? Who gave them the authority to do such a thing ?”
There followed further explanations about Waring, Grenville, Black and the rumours Wells had heard about the potential sale of Plantation’s main business areas. This immediately caught Fairweather’s attention.
“Am I right that you’re the only one there who is in still in contact with Robbie ? And you know the legal side, huh ? Is that right ?”
At that stage, Wells didn’t want to give too much away : he and Ashby along with Wells and Riordan had opposed the shipowners’ claim ; he was confident Ashby would uncover proof of the fraud and overturn the judgment.
Fairweather then said, “Listen son, I know you can’t tell me too much while your boss is away but let me say this to you – when Robert Ashby rings you, you tell him from me that Texas Fire will stand behind him one hundred per cent – you got that ? One hundred per cent. Against anyone. Tell him that, the first thing you say to him – and tell him to ring me right away. We’ll soon put a stop to all this tomfoolery.”
Plantation A Legal Thriller Page 96