William David - ForceNet

Jason then advanced on the driver who was reaching inside his jacket, but Jason got there first and a chop across the side of the neck laid him out. Taking the gun that the driver had been reaching for he turned to the Gorilla, “when he wakes up you had better take your mate home. Keep out of my way!” and with that he pushed the Gorilla away from the car, got in and drove on up the motorway ramp.

Dawson looked up as Naismith walked in to his office. “What have you got for me?”

“Not too good,” said Naismith. “Lever might have met up with his younger brother, and he seems to have disappeared.”

“How can that be?”

Naismith related the events of an hour earlier.

“So who was the guy driving Levers car?”

“It appears that Lever and his mate Bell at Control Networks have engaged a security company to provide protection and this guy was one of them. Fro m what we have learned he is ex- SAS and knows how to handle himself.”

“Well that's pretty obvious from what he did to your men.”

“Lever seems to have switched off his ‘‘‘phone as does his brother, so finding them is proving difficult; however they have to surface at some stage.”

Now what do we do, I thought? Get so me new SIM cards for a start. “Adrian, there is a mobile ‘phone kiosk just down the road from the office, let’s stop there on the way to the office and pick up some new SIM s.”

When we got to the office I made for Alec’s office but could not find him. He was apparently out at a meeting and would not be back until lunchtime. Sitting in my office with Adrian we discussed 'what next'.

“I think we had better update our 'friendly' policemen, and see if they have any ideas.”

I rang Lloyd who said that he was currently in the area and would be able to drop in and see us some time after twelve. I told Adrian that there were a few items of work I had to attend to, but he was welcome to wait around and meet the police with me although I had told no one of his hacking escapade and the consequences, which I was increasingly sure were at least partially responsible for what was happening. There did however seem to be an element of the problem linked to the forthcoming stock market flotation, but I could not understand why, and even less could I understand how there could be a link between that and Adrian.

“Do you have a computer I can use while I wait?” asked Adrian.

“Use mine on the desk there, I will be gone for the next hour or so.”

Later I returned to the office to find that Lloyd and Jason had turned up and were both sitting chatting to Adrian. They had both managed to scrounge some coffee.

“I see you have met my brother Adrian, and Jason my personal security man. Has any one updated you with events?” I asked.

“No, they haven't but have you heard about Jason’s happenings this morning?” Lloyd nodded at Jason who went on to describe the attack on him that morning.

“Wow, I said, this is really getting serious. I bet that the big guy whose arm you broke is the same guy who attacked me in the lane that night. The London based hard man that I identified from your photos,” I said turning towards Lloyd.

“Why are you here?” said Lloyd turning to Adrian. “Are you somehow involved or are you just visiting?”

Adrian hesitated, and I interrupted to say that Adrian was just visiting me. Lloyd looked quizzically at me over the top of his spectacles as if not totally convinced.

“I want to call my boss and br ing her up to date can I use a ‘phone?”

“You can use the office next door, it's empty at the moment.” Lloyd left the room.

“I turned to Jason, are you OK?”

Before he could reply Alec walked in to the room. 'Are you guys OK? I hear that it has been an eventful morning. I introduced him to Adrian whom he had not seen since he was a child, and quickly explained what had been going on, but again no mention of Adrian’s involvement. I was going to have to come clean with Alec sooner or later; he and or his family could be in danger so I owed him the truth. Alec had to leave for another meeting but he invited Adrian and I to dinner at his place. Lisa was still away, so he would be cooking some steaks on the barbecue, if the rain held off. By definition the invitation had to be open to our respective security personnel. “As he left Alec looked at me and said “I have had a call from Lucy Pageant, that meeting with Dalrymple has firmed up for Monday lunch time, don't forget.”

Jason also left leaving Adrian and I to mull over the current situation. Lloyd walked back in to the room fresh from a conversation with his boss, Chief Superintendent Fleet, and looked at Adrian and me. “Look I don't think you are telling us the whole story,” he said. “Inspector Naismith is Special Branch and there has to be a reason for them to be interested in you. His boss, Dawson has talked to my boss and while he has not provided details he has confirmed their interest. Dawson is pretty high up in the Branch, so his interests are not normally trivial. What are you not telling me? Are you really involved and not just a bystander?” he said looking at Adrian.

Adrian denied it but Lloyd did not look convinced. “Well, I would not mess around with the Branch if I were you. Dawson has some real pull and could make life very unpleasant for you both. My boss would like you both to come in to the station and see her, I will call you and set up a time when I know when she is free.” I also want to talk to your Mr Jason Walgrave. The traffic cameras on the motorway picked up his altercation this morning. It appears your Mr Walgrave can handle himself.” With that he left.

After a brief silence Adrian said, “I have some thing else.”

“Not another confession I hope!”

“No. I was doing some research earlier using your computer and I think I might have come up with something interesting. I did not realise it until Alec mentioned the name Dalrymple. I was doing some research in to Mendip Finance, you said you had done some, but I think I got quite a bit further than you.”

I squirmed, “legally I hope?”

“As you know, the ownership structure of Mendip Finance is extremely complex and convoluted, hiding behind various shells and off shore barriers. Ultimately a substantial proportion, if not all of the beneficial ownership, is connected to a guy called Asimov.”

“That's the name the police came up with when following Plavsic but could prove no actual connection.”

“Maybe,” said Adrian, “but what is more interesting perhaps, is that when I delved in to Asimov’s interests, and the tentacles are also long and tenuous, I came up with the name Dalrymple.”

“Yes, our chairman has been doing some research on Mendip and has come up with the same information.”

We both sat there in silence for a few moments.

“This is crazy I said. Are we saying that Dalrymple and Mendip are part of a plot to stop us floating the business? Why? And what has this to do with you. The link of your video hacking seems a great coincidence.”

“My involvement could just be a coincidence,” said Adrian. “Coincidences do happen. Maybe they, whoever 'they' are, think that it gives them more leverage with you.”

“Maybe, but I am not convinced. By the way what have you done with the copy of that video footage? Is it safe, I hope you are not carrying it around?”

“No, of course not. Not only is it safe, if anything happens to me I have arranged for it to go viral on the Internet. I thought that would give me some bargaining power if it is needed.”

“Yes, OK,” I said uncertainly, “but whatever happens make sure it is not published inadvertently. If it did get out you would lose that bargaining power and you never know what might happen then. Perhaps you should also let me know where a copy is in case I need to be able to use it?”