Robert Goddard - Name To a Face

“How do you and… Unsworth… expect me to get this evidence?”

“You’re in control of the company now. You couldn’t be better placed to get it. Tony probably plans to let you in on Starburst’s trade secrets little by little. His strategy will be to persuade you to turn a blind eye to what he’s up to and enjoy your share-Barney’s share-of the profits. All you have to do is play along, keep Unsworth advised, then, when the time comes, pull the rug out from under Tony’s feet.”

“And when would the time come?”

“I don’t know. That’d be for you and Unsworth to agree between you. It could be quite a while. But don’t they say revenge is a dish best served cold?”

“You’ll be long gone, of course. With Hayley”

“Does that matter?”

“No. It doesn’t.” A deep, last draw on the cigarette. She crushed it out in the ashtray with studious emphasis, then looked up at Harding. “I don’t know whether to laugh or cry”

“What d’you mean?”

“It won’t work, Tim. None of it will. I went to see Barney’s lawyer this afternoon. There’s a… wrinkle in the paperwork. It seems Barney signed an agreement with Tony last year giving Tony the right to buy Barney’s shares in Starburst International at a fixed-meaning knockdown-price should Barney wish to retire or, in the lawyer’s words, ‘seek otherwise to divest himself of his shareholding.’ And that, apparently, includes bequeathing it to me. Tony can buy me out. Will buy me out. For a sum he’s budgeted for. Which won’t leave me in the gutter, but does mean I’ll never get my feet under Barney’s desk at Starburst-or my hands on any Starburst accounts.”

A lengthy, heavy silence settled between them. The significance of what Carol had said ate into Harding’s thoughts like acid. Whybrow had known from the outset that he would gain complete and overall control of the company. The agreement was a vital part of his calculations. Maybe there had been no ultimatum, no suspicion whatever on Tozer’s part. Maybe Whybrow had simply greeted Hayley’s intervention as an ideal opportunity to stage a long-contemplated coup.

“This deal you’ve struck may suit you and the sainted Hayley,” Carol resumed bitterly, “but it does nothing for me. Nothing at all. So, thanks, Tim. Thanks a bunch.”

“It can’t be-”

“But it is.” The words were spoken by Whybrow, enunciated with all his syrupy precision. For a second, Harding thought he was hallucinating. Then he looked towards the doorway leading to the hall. And there was Whybrow, smiling in at them.

“Shit,” Carol murmured.

“I promised to return those things of Barney’s he had with him when he was killed, if you remember, Carol,” Whybrow said softly. “That parcel from the Kriminal-Polizei you asked me to collect. It included his keys, of course. So, I let myself in earlier. I thought I’d wait for you to turn up. Then I decided to take a nap. Well, it’s been a stressful day, as Tim will confirm. The waterbed’s very comfortable, isn’t it? I might buy one myself. I’m not sure how long I slept, but I certainly feel refreshed. Your voices woke me. Sound carries in this apartment, don’t you find? Open plan. Hard surfaces. Nothing to soak it up, I suppose. Anyway, the acoustics are remarkable. And revealing. From the landing, I heard every word you said. So, there’s no need to worry about losing out under the deal Tim negotiated with me, Carol. Because that’s off. As of now.”

I don’t like people who welch on deals,” said Whybrow, advancing slowly into the room. “We shook on this one, as I recall, Tim.” He circled round them to the window and gazed out at the city. “You were going to tell Carol you were no longer certain it was Hayley who shot Barney. That was to be it. Nothing else. No… elaboration. Instead, what do you do? Allege I arranged Barney’s murder. Explain our confidential agreement. And suggest ways for Carol to betray me. Now, that’s not nice, is it? Not nice at all.” He turned to face Harding. “Of course, I’m grateful to you for drawing my attention to…” He picked up the card from the table. “Detective Chief Inspector Unsworth. Yes. I’m obviously going to have to do something about him.” He slipped the card into his pocket. “But you’ve had plenty of chances to tell me about him before and you haven’t taken them. So, there’s really no way to salvage your bona fides in this situation, is there?”

Harding looked across at Carol. They held each other’s gaze. Harding did not doubt that the helplessness he read in her eyes was mirrored in his own. There was nothing he could do now. There was no ploy left to resort to.

“Let me tell you both how we’re going to proceed from this point on.” Whybrow moved round the table and sat down on the couch between them. “We’ll forget the idea of fitting up Nathan Gashry That kite’s not going to fly. Hayley remains the prime suspect. Now, I don’t mind if she’s never actually convicted. I’m a reasonable man. I bear her no ill will. If you can cobble together a workable alibi for her, Tim, or if you still want to withdraw your positive identification of her as Barney’s murderer, that’s fine by me. Just as long as we’re clear nothing’s to be said or done that encourages the police to look elsewhere. Because, if that happens, I’ll be forced to invoke certain sanctions against both of you. Various documents you signed at Barney’s request, Carol, doubtless without bothering to read them, will find their way into Detective Chief Inspector Unsworth’s in-tray. They’ll convince him you’ve been a willing party to all of Starburst International’s… off-balance-sheet transactions. As for you, Tim, a witness will come forward who not only saw you talking to Hayley at Marienplatz U-Bahn station in Munich the night before Barney’s murder but overheard part of your conversation. A highly incriminating part, naturally. And then, of course, there’s the tape recording that proves you and Carol were lovers. I wonder what the Kriminal-Polizei would make of that.”

“You never intended to honour your deal with Tim, did you?” Carol interrupted. “You were always planning to do this.”

“I can’t stop you thinking so,” Whybrow responded. “The fact remains, however, that it was Tim who vitiated our agreement.”

“Why did you do it?” Carol persisted.

“Do what?”

“Have Barney killed.”

“Oh dear.” Whybrow leant back and clasped his hands behind his head. “This really does serve no purpose. Accusation and denial merely form a Möbius strip if persisted with. Business is business, Carol. It’s not one of those television soaps you spend so much of your time watching. It’s a clinical process. When someone loses his edge, his focus, his… nerve, well, then he has to make way for someone else. He has to move aside. Or be moved. It’s as simple as that.”

“Barney trusted you.”

“Yes. I’m glad to say he did. And what he trusted me to do was exactly what I’ve done ever since he hired me. Keep my eye on the ball. Exploit every opportunity. Look to the future. Plan ahead. Seize the day.”

“He thought of you as a friend.”

“That wasn’t in my job description. Tim here was always more promising buddy material. Although he didn’t really live up to the billing, did he? Just as you failed in the loyal and loving wife department. Barney never knew how spectacularly you failed, of course. He was spared that at least.”

“You are such a cold-hearted bastard.”

“My ex-wife once told me I was emotionally stunted. It was just about the last thing she ever told me, as a matter of fact. I have the impression you’d agree with her. Well, so be it. The management of money requires a cool head. I’ve always had that. Fortunately for you, as it turns out. Since the sum I’ll be paying you for Barney’s share of Starburst International will keep you in Chanel suits and Jimmy Choo shoes for the foreseeable future. Will you be staying here, incidentally? Do let me know if you’re thinking of selling the apartment. I might be interested. I adore the view from this room.”