‘Well, you impress me, Sue. You seem to have covered every angle from the look of your business plan. And this type of work would be right up my street. I think I’ve got the experience, though this little one will get in the way a bit.’ She patted her stomach. ‘I’ve only got about three months of work in me before things get too much.’
‘That’s not a problem. And I’ll include child care in your contract when you come back after the birth. So are you in?’
Marilyn nodded. ‘Yes. I’m in. And Gordon will be as well. Though he doesn’t know it yet.’
* * *
Gordon Mitchell was feeling increasingly uneasy about Wayne Woodruff. He’d always thought Sorrento had been the crooked one, but he was now beginning to see that he’d seriously misjudged the situation. Sorrento had an unpleasant personality, but Wayne was shifty. Sure, he was easier to work with, but his disregard of all legal constraints was becoming a real worry. And Gordon was beginning to suspect that Wayne had been involved in Sorrento’s death. The thought terrified him. He kept thinking back to his conversation with Marilyn the previous week when she’d told him she wanted him to stop working for the Woodruffs and start a new job, one that was clean. How would she react if she got to know his latest suspicions? To cap it all, Wayne had introduced him to that bent cop, and the guy had clearly been unhappy about it. Didn’t Wayne understand that he was playing with fire? And now Sorrento was dead. Would Gordon be expected to take his place? And if he crossed his boss too often would he too end up dead and hidden under a bush in some God-forsaken bog? Christ. What had he got himself into?
His mobile phone rang. It was Marilyn, asking him to come to some posh hotel in Poole for a top-secret meeting, and telling him to keep it secret from Woodruff. As it turned out, Wayne was visiting one of the casinos and wasn’t expected back until later. Gordon drove to Poole and was astonished to see Marilyn in the hotel lounge talking to Sue Woodruff, of all people. What was going on?
He listened to the two women in amazement. He looked at the business plan that Sue had drawn up, along with the financial figures. He asked questions about the legal position and was astounded to discover that Sue was absolutely right in her claim. She was, without a doubt, the major shareholder in both the Woodruff and Frimwell family businesses and so could dictate any future policy. This proposal would solve his dilemma! Not only that, Marilyn would be back at work, using her experience of commercial property management, and working alongside him. Maybe the gods were smiling down on him at last. Sue handed him a glass of champagne, bubbles sparkling in the sunlight streaming in through the window. He looked out at the view, at the blue sea in the distance.
‘I’m with you. What’s the first step?’ Gordon raised his glass.
CHAPTER 35: Stitched Up
Thursday Morning, Week 3
Justin Griffiths poured himself a coffee. ‘So what’s this all about, Wayne? A company meeting at nine o’clock in the morning? Phil would have had a fit.’
Woodruff shrugged. ‘No idea. It’s that wife of mine. She kept going on about it all last night. In the end I agreed just to get a bit of peace. I dunno what’s got into her head. Women!’
Griffiths suspected that something was up, but he had no idea what it could be. He looked up as three women came into the room, followed by Gordy. It wasn’t often that old Betty Woodruff came to any meetings, especially since the death of her husband, Phil. Sue always attended, but Alison Carter, Wayne’s younger sister, had never attended a company meeting before. Justin had only met her a couple of times, most recently at old Phil’s funeral. Well, well.
The group took their places at the table, with Wayne at the head. He stretched out his legs in front of him. ‘Okay, folks. Sue wanted this meeting to discuss the way forward for the company. I’m not really ready with my plans yet, but I can give you a rundown of how far I’ve got.’
Sue interrupted. ‘That isn’t the purpose of this extraordinary meeting. I thought I’d explained that to you last night.’ Wayne looked blank. She turned to the others. ‘I’ve called this meeting in my capacity as majority shareholder. I propose a motion of no confidence in the current chairman and business manager.’
‘I second that,’ said Alison Carter.
Woodruff looked blankly at his wife and sister. ‘What? What do you mean, majority shareholder?’
Sue looked across at Gordon, now company secretary and legal adviser. Griffiths could feel the tension.
‘A motion has been proposed and seconded. We vote according to shareholding stakes in the company.’ Gordon glanced down at the paper in front of him. ‘Wayne holds twenty per cent. Betty has ten per cent, Alison and Justin each have five. Tony Sorrento also held five, which will pass to his next of kin, so obviously his shares can’t be used at present. Sue holds fifty-five percent.’
In the stunned silence that followed, Wayne looked around him. ‘What?’ he said again.
Sue’s face was expressionless. ‘Phil sold his shares to me before he died. Thirty-five per cent. Added to my own, that makes fifty-five. That means I own the company. Can we continue with the vote, Gordon?’
Gordon nodded. ‘All those in favour of the no confidence vote, raise your hand, please.’
Griffiths looked around, and almost laughed. So this was it. The great, all-powerful Wayne Woodruff, outmanoeuvred by little Sue. Stitched up, zipped up and set up. Griffiths watched as Sue raised her hand. No one else need do anything, if those figures were correct, but someone did anyway. Wayne’s sister, Alison, raised hers. Change was on the way. Maybe it was for the good. Griffiths swallowed hard and lifted his hand.
‘All those against.’
Wayne raised his hand, and looked around him. Betty, his mother, kept her hand on the table. ‘I abstain.’
‘Motion carried,’ Gordon said. ‘I think we have a new chairman.’
Sue stood up and walked to Woodruff’s chair at the head of the table. ‘We need to swap places, Wayne. I run the company now.’
Woodruff stood up. ‘How did you fucking do that? How did you get your greedy hands on Phil’s shares?’
Sue sat down. ‘He didn’t trust your judgement, Wayne. He told me so. He knew there was a good chance you’d ruin us all if you got total control, so we partly planned this together. It was all above board. I bought those shares fair and square. The money is in a trust account in the names of your mum, Alison and you. You’ve lost control but you’ve gained a lot of cash. You should be happy. Your share will pay for any number of weekends away with those prostitutes you seem to like so much.’
Woodruff scowled at her, turned and stalked out of the room, slamming the door behind him. Sue looked around her at the intent, silent faces. ‘Gordon, I’d like you to continue as company secretary. You have my full confidence. Justin, would you like to keep the role of vice-chair and assistant manager?’
Griffiths felt a weight lift from his shoulders. Maybe at last the company could put its past behind it and move towards a better future. Maybe they’d become totally legitimate for the first time. ‘Yeah,’ he said. ‘Of course.’
He started slightly at Sue’s next words. ‘Our first priority is to help the police get to the bottom of Tony Sorrento’s murder. We give them absolute co-operation, is that clear? If there is a link to anyone in this company, then that person gets no help from us. Now let’s get on with the other business.’
As she continued, Griffiths looked at Gordy and smiled. Gordon nodded.
* * *
At about the same time, in his cell at Long Lartin prison, Ricky Frimwell was reading a letter from the Frimwell family lawyer. Then he read it again. No, he hadn’t misread it. Sue Woodruff had taken over the running of the Frimwell family business and trust, and his mother agreed.
He recognised Sue’s writing on the second envelope. He looked at it for a long while before opening it and taking out the letter.
Dear Ricky.
You should receive this on the same day as a letter from our solic
itors about a change in the running of all our family concerns. With Mum and Carol’s agreement, I managed to find buyers for a couple of our more rundown properties. With our share of the money, Carol and I bought out Mum’s stake, so we now own the business. Well, I do, with Carol as a minor shareholder who’s agreed to let me run things as I see fit. It means Mum’s comfortably off for the rest of her life without having to scrimp and save. She’s finally agreed to change her name by deed poll and move to somewhere a bit more comfortable, so at long last she can escape from your evil influence and its disastrous effect on her life.
I’m going ahead with the merger plans with Woodruff Holdings, but on my terms. I’ll then get rid of the crappier properties. Don’t bother trying to influence Wayne or hope that he can salvage any of your schemes. I’ve ousted him as well. I’ve had enough of all his floozies and his half-baked business plans that would only spell disaster for us.
I won’t come to visit. I never have before, so why would I start now? I can’t stand the sight of you. It was your influence that set Wayne on the slippery slope. Thank God he’s never quite sunk to your level. Whether Carol comes to see you is up to her.
I might wish you well for the rest of your life, but that would be a lie because I don’t. You wrecked Mum’s life and nearly ruined mine. I hate you for it.
From your sister, Sue.
Ricky flung the letter aside. He got up and kicked at the wall. Then he began to wreck the contents of his cell, item by item, flinging the objects to the floor, turning over the furniture. The noise alerted the wardens, but Ricky had already begun to calm down before the sedative kicked in. He’d been completely outmanoeuvred and he knew it.
CHAPTER 36: Foot in the Door
Thursday Morning, Week 3
Sophie watched Woodruff stalk out of the building, kicking at a large planter filled with spring-flowering blooms.
‘He doesn’t look happy, does he?’ She, Marsh and Rae watched their quarry take out his mobile phone and make a short call. He then got into a shiny, black Mercedes and reversed it out of its parking place, engine revving.
‘Shall I follow, ma’am?’ Marsh asked from the driving seat.
‘Why not? We’re in no hurry, and he looks as though he’s off to meet someone. I may alert some of the mobile squads that we’re on the move.’
They followed the big black limousine towards the centre of Bournemouth, where it pulled up in a side street in the commercial district. Marsh drove Sophie’s car close in behind it.
‘Follow him, Rae. He hasn’t met you. I want to see what he’s up to.’
Rae got out of the car and hurried after the striding figure of Woodruff. He walked down the hill and into a bank. Rae followed, pulling her purse out of her shoulder bag as if she was just about to withdraw some cash. Woodruff spoke to a receptionist. Clearly he was demanding to see a manager. A few seconds later, a smartly dressed man appeared and ushered Woodruff into an office. Rae lingered near the door, leafing through some investment brochures. She didn’t have long to wait. The door crashed open and Woodruff stormed out, his face red. He turned to the bank manager, who held his hands out.
‘There’s nothing I can do, Mr Woodruff. The accounts have all been frozen by the new board. Your wife phoned in the instruction just ten minutes ago.’
‘It’s my fucking money! Mine. Not hers! Christ. What do I have to do to get some cash here?’
The manager glanced over to a bank security guard who’d started to walk towards them. He stood waiting, a few yards away. Woodruff looked around him at the people queuing for the cashier. They were all staring.
‘Ah, fuck the lot of you!’ Wayne marched towards the door, where he hesitated before flinging the door open.
Rae followed Woodruff out of the building, and returned to Sophie’s car.
‘My guess is that he made an attempt to clean out the accounts,’ she reported. ‘But he got nothing. His wife’s blocked him. At least that’s what I think’s happened. He was still arguing with the manager when they came out of his office.’
Sophie was watching Woodruff. ‘He’s making a phone call. Let’s wait and see what he does next.’
The Mercedes turned and headed a short distance back along the road before taking a left turn.
‘I think we need to update the control centre. He may be up to something. Keep talking about where we are, Barry, while I make the call.’
‘This road takes us down past the council chambers,’ Marsh said. ‘Could he have been phoning Blythe?’
The Mercedes pulled up close to the council offices and waited with its engine still running. Within a few minutes, Councillor Blythe hurried out of a side door and crossed the road. He leaned in the passenger window, seeming to argue with the man in the driving seat. Finally, Blythe got in the car and they drove away. Marsh followed, keeping a safe distance, as Woodruff’s car skirted the town centre and made its way west. Sophie asked the mobile units to remain on alert until needed. They trailed the Mercedes towards Poole, and into the entertainment district. Their quarry finally turned into the car park of a casino club, closed at this time of day. Marsh drew up in the street nearby, and they watched as the two men left their vehicle and walked to a side door which opened to Woodruff’s knock.
Marsh checked his notes. ‘The Boulevard Casino Club, one of the Woodruff places. The licensee and manager is Terence Barber, nickname Toffee. He has a record for theft and petty crime plus one conviction for intimidation, none of it recent. He’s kept out of trouble for a long time now.’
‘Or so it seems,’ Sophie added. ‘I know this is difficult for you Barry, but we don’t know how much Bob Thompson was protecting them.’
‘What could they be here for?’ wondered Marsh.
‘A panic meeting, I expect. They’re probably talking through their options,’ Sophie replied. ‘From what Rae overheard at the bank, Woodruff’s wife has just frozen all the accounts. What’s her name, Rae?’
‘Sue. And Blythe’s married to her sister, Carol.’
‘So the locked accounts might have affected both of these two. I’ve been trying to remember their wives from the Frimwell court case two years ago. I think I might have spoken to Sue once. She was with the mother, and they both looked totally devastated. I wonder what’s been going on?’
‘Maybe the rest of the family have discovered what those two have been up to,’ Marsh said. ‘Maybe they were happy to go along with a bit of sleaze and bribery, but once they realised that people were getting murdered, they backed off. They are our prime suspects, aren’t they? For the murders, I mean?’
‘Woodruff and Blythe? It’s looked that way for some time. This guy Barber is new, though. We haven’t looked at him, have we?’
Rae shook her head. ‘No. And this is the nearest of their places to Wareham Forest. It’s easy to get to from here, twenty minutes tops.’ ‘Anything else we need to know?’
Marsh scanned his notes again. ‘You remember the decorating jobs that Pete Armitage did at some of the Woodruff places? Well, this was the first one. From what he told us, I’d guess it was about ten years ago.’
A mobile phone trilled, making them jump.
‘I’ve got Thompson’s mobile in my bag,’ Sophie hissed. ‘Answer it for me, Barry. Keep it to a minimum and try to sound like him.’ She handed the phone over.
‘Yeah?’ grunted Marsh. It was Woodruff.
‘We’ve got a problem. We need to meet. Just you, me and Toffee.’
Sophie shook her head.
‘No,’ Marsh replied.
‘Waddya mean, no? Don’t try to fuck around with me, you creep. You do as I say, or a big, fat dossier lands on your boss’s desk and you’re up shit creek. We’re at the Boulevard club. Get yourself across here now.’ The call ended.
Marsh shook his head. ‘So Bob was being blackmailed. Now we know.’
‘We’d guessed that, Barry. That’s why he seemed so depressed and withdrawn. He couldn’t see a way out. The problem for us
is what do we do now? Any ideas?’
‘They know both of you, ma’am. They don’t know me,’ said Rae. ‘Can we use that?’
‘These men are probably killers, Rae. I’m not sending you in there on some kind of scouting mission.’
‘But isn’t there a standby unit waiting just round the corner? I could be wired up.’
‘What for? No, absolutely not. I’ve been prevaricating far too long. It’s time to confront them, so let’s do it. You stay here, Rae, and keep an eye on the place. I’ll check that the support units are ready, then Barry and I will go in for a chat.’
‘I’m with you, ma’am,’ Marsh said. ‘Let’s stir them up a bit. It’s about time.’
Sophie’s phone rang with an unknown number, and a woman spoke.
‘Is that DCI Allen? It’s Sue Woodruff here. I’ve taken over the business, and I don’t like some of the things that have been happening. Can we talk? Off the record, I mean?’
* * *
The two detectives rapped on the door and waited. It was opened by the same man who’d let Woodruff and Blythe in, ten minutes earlier.
Sophie held out her warrant card. ‘Mr Barber? I’m DCI Allen and this is DS Marsh. We’re responding to a call for police attendance made from this building to a local CID officer a few minutes ago. We have a backup unit just around the corner. May we come in?’
The man looked puzzled. ‘But there was no . . .’
Sophie put her foot in the door. ‘The caller was clearly distressed and seemed to know the CID officer personally. We have a duty to check that everyone is safe. Please let us in. I don’t want to have to force an entry, but I am prepared to do so as a result of the call, which gave us significant cause for concern.’
Detective Sophie Allen Box Set 2 Page 46