Be Careful What You Wish For: The Clifton Chronicles 4 (41 page)

Diego saw the open palm coming, but he didn’t flinch.

‘You don’t tell your father what he can and cannot do. I’ll leave when it suits me, and not before. Is that understood?’ Diego nodded. ‘Anything else?’

‘I can’t be absolutely certain, but I think I spotted Sebastian Clifton at King’s Cross when I got on the train, although he was some distance away.’

‘Why didn’t you check?’

‘Because the train was about to leave, and—’

‘They’d even worked out that they couldn’t go ahead with their plan if you didn’t get on
The Night Scotsman
. Clever,’ said Don Pedro. ‘So they must
also have had someone at Glenleven watching our every move, otherwise how could they have known you were on your way back to London?’

‘I’m certain that no one followed me when I left the hotel. I checked several times.’

‘But someone must have known you were on that train. It’s too much of a coincidence that the very evening
you
travel on
The Night Scotsman
, it’s an hour and a
half late for the first time in years. Can you remember anything unusual happening during the journey?’

‘A whore called Kitty tried to pick me up, and then the communication cord was pulled—’

‘Too many coincidences.’

‘Later I saw her whispering to the chief steward, and he smiled and walked away.’

‘A prostitute and a steward couldn’t hold up
The Night Scotsman
for an hour and a half on their own. No, someone with real authority must have been on that train pulling the
strings.’ Another long pause. ‘I think they saw us coming, but I’m going to make damn sure they don’t see us coming back. To do that, we’ll have to be as well
organized as they are.’

Diego didn’t offer an opinion in this one-sided conversation.

‘How much cash have I got left?’

‘Around three hundred thousand when I last checked,’ said Karl.

‘And my art collection went on sale in Bond Street last night. Agnew assured me it ought to fetch over a million. So I’ve still got more than enough resources to take them on. Never
forget, it doesn’t matter how many minor skirmishes you lose, as long as you win the final battle.’

Diego felt this was not the right moment to remind his father which of the two generals had voiced that opinion at Waterloo.

Don Pedro closed his eyes, leaned back in his chair and said nothing. Once again, no one attempted to interrupt his thoughts. Suddenly his eyes opened and he sat bolt upright.

‘Now listen carefully,’ he said, turning his gaze on his younger son. ‘Luis, you will be responsible for bringing the Sebastian Clifton file up to date.’

‘Father,’ Diego began, ‘we’ve been warned—’

‘Shut up. If you don’t want to be part of my team you can leave now.’ Diego didn’t move, but he felt the insult more than he had the slap. Don Pedro turned his attention
back to Luis. ‘I want to know where he lives, where he works, and who his friends are. Do you think you can manage that?’

‘Yes, Father,’ said Luis.

Diego didn’t doubt that if his brother had a tail, it would be wagging.

‘Diego,’ Don Pedro said, looking back at his older son. ‘You’ll go down to Bristol and visit Fisher. Don’t let him know you’re coming, better to take him by
surprise. It’s now even more important that he hands in his resignation letter to Mrs Clifton on Friday morning, and then releases it to the press. I want the business editor of every
national newspaper to get a copy, and I expect Fisher to be available to any journalist who wants to interview him. Take a thousand pounds with you. Nothing concentrates Fisher’s mind better
than the sight of cash.’

‘Perhaps they’ve got to him as well,’ suggested Diego.

‘Then take two thousand. And Karl,’ he said, turning to his most trusted ally, ‘I’ve saved the best for you. Book yourself on the sleeper for Edinburgh and find that
whore. And when you do, be sure to give her a night she’ll never forget. I don’t care how you find out, but I want to know who was responsible for that train being held up for an hour
and a half. We’ll all meet again tomorrow evening. By then I’ll have had a chance to visit Agnew’s and find out how the sale is going.’ Don Pedro was silent for some time
before he added, ‘I have a feeling we’re going to need a large amount of cash for what I have in mind.’

Tuesday morning

‘I’
VE GOT A PRESENT
for you.’

‘Let me guess.’

‘No, you’ll have to wait and see.’

‘Ah, it’s a wait-and-see present.’

‘Yes, I admit that I haven’t actually got it yet but . . .’

‘But now that you’ve had your way with me, it will be more
wait
than see?’

‘You’re catching on. But in my defence, I’m hoping to pick it up today from—’

‘Tiffany’s?’

‘Well, no, not—’

‘Asprey’s?’

‘Not exactly.’

‘Cartier?’

‘My second choice.’

‘And your first choice?’

‘Bingham’s.’

‘Bingham’s of Bond Street?’

‘No, Bingham’s of Grimsby.’

‘And what is Bingham’s famous for? Diamonds? Furs? Perfume?’ she asked hopefully.

‘Fish paste.’

‘One or two jars?’

‘One to start with, as I still need to see how this relationship develops.’

‘I suppose that’s about as much as an out-of-work shop girl can hope for,’ said Samantha, as she climbed out of bed. ‘And to think I dreamt of being a kept
woman.’

‘That comes later when I become chairman of the bank,’ Sebastian said, following her into the bathroom.

‘I may not be willing to wait that long,’ said Samantha as she stepped into the shower. She was about to draw the curtain when Sebastian joined her.

‘There isn’t enough room in here for both of us,’ she said.

‘Have you ever made love in a shower?’

‘Wait and see.’

‘Major, it was good of you to find the time to come and see me.’

‘Not at all, Hardcastle. I was in London on business, so it’s worked out rather well.’

‘Can I get you some coffee, old fellow?’

‘Black, no sugar, thank you,’ Fisher said as he took a seat on the other side of the chairman’s desk.

Cedric pressed a button on his phone. ‘Miss Clough, two black coffees, no sugar, and perhaps some biscuits. Exciting times, don’t you think, Fisher?’

‘What in particular did you have in mind?’

‘The naming of the
Buckingham
by the Queen Mother next month, of course, and a maiden voyage which should take the company into a whole new era.’

‘Let’s hope so,’ said Fisher. ‘Although there are still several hurdles to cross before I’ll be totally convinced.’

‘Which is precisely why I wanted to have a word with you, old fellow.’

There was a quiet tap on the door, and Miss Clough entered carrying a tray with two cups of coffee. She placed one in front of the major, the other next to the chairman, and a plate of fat
rascals between them.

‘Let me say straight away how sorry I was that Mr Martinez decided to sell his entire shareholding in Barrington’s. I wondered if you were able to throw some light on what was behind
the decision.’

Fisher dropped his cup back in its saucer, spilling a few drops. ‘I had no idea,’ he mumbled.

‘I’m so sorry, Alex, I rather assumed he would have briefed you before he took such an irreversible decision.’

‘When did this happen?’

‘Yesterday morning, moments after the Stock Exchange opened, which is why I gave you a buzz.’ Fisher looked like a startled fox caught in the headlights of an oncoming car.
‘You see, there’s something I’d like to discuss with you.’ Fisher remained speechless, which allowed Cedric to prolong his agony a little longer. ‘I’ll be
sixty-five in October, and although I have no plans to retire as chairman of the bank, I do intend to shed a few of my outside interests, among them my directorship of Barrington’s.’
Fisher forgot about his coffee and listened intently to Cedric’s every word. ‘With that in mind, I’ve decided to resign from the board, and make way for a younger man.’

‘I’m sorry to hear that,’ said Fisher. ‘I’ve always thought that you brought wisdom and gravitas to our discussions.’

‘It’s kind of you to say so, and indeed that’s why I wanted to see you.’ Fisher smiled, wondering if it was just possible . . . ‘I have watched you carefully over
the past five years, Alex, and what has impressed me most has been your loyal support for our chairman, especially remembering that when you stood against her, she only defeated you because of the
outgoing chairman’s casting vote.’

‘One must never allow one’s personal feelings to get in the way of what is best for the company.’

‘I couldn’t have put it better myself, Alex, which is why I was hoping I might be able to persuade you to take my place on the board now that you will no longer be representing Mr
Martinez’s interests.’

‘That’s a very generous offer, Cedric.’

‘No, it’s quite selfish really, because if you felt able to do so, it would help to guarantee stability and continuity both for Barrington’s and for Farthings Bank.’

‘Yes, I can see that.’

‘In addition to the thousand pounds a year you currently receive as a director, Farthings would pay you a further thousand to represent the bank’s interests. After all, I’ll
need to be fully briefed after every board meeting, which would require you to come up to London and stay overnight. Any expenses would of course be covered by the bank.’

‘That’s most generous of you, Cedric, but I’ll need a little time to think about it,’ said the major, clearly wrestling with a problem.

‘Of course, you will,’ said Cedric, knowing only too well what that problem was.

‘When do you need to know my decision?’

‘By the end of the week. I’d like to have the matter settled before the AGM next Monday. I had originally planned to ask my son Arnold to replace me, but that was before I realized
you might be available.’

‘I’ll let you know by Friday.’

‘That’s good of you, Alex. I’ll write a letter confirming the offer immediately, and put it in the post tonight.’

‘Thank you, Cedric. I’ll certainly give it my full consideration.’

‘Excellent. Now, I won’t detain you any longer, because, if I recall, you said you have a meeting in Westminster.’

‘Indeed I do,’ said Fisher, rising slowly from his place and shaking hands with Cedric, who accompanied him to the door.

Cedric returned to his desk, sat down and began writing his letter to the major, wondering if his offer would be more tempting than the one Martinez was clearly about to make him.

The red Rolls-Royce drew up outside Agnew’s gallery. Don Pedro stepped out on to the pavement and looked in the window to see a full-length portrait of Mrs Kathleen
Newton, Tissot’s beautiful mistress. He smiled when he saw the red dot.

An even bigger smile appeared on his face after he had entered the gallery. It was not the sight of so many magnificent paintings and sculptures that caused him to smile, but the plethora of red
dots by the side of them.

‘Can I help you, sir?’ asked a middle-aged woman.

Don Pedro wondered what had happened to the beautiful young woman who’d met him the last time he’d visited the gallery.

‘I want to speak to Mr Agnew.’

‘I’m not sure if he’s available at the moment. Perhaps I might be able to assist you.’

‘He’ll be available for me,’ said Don Pedro. ‘After all, this is my show,’ he added, raising his arms aloft as if he were blessing a congregation.

She quickly backed off, and without another word knocked on the door of Mr Agnew’s office and disappeared inside. Moments later the owner appeared.

‘Good afternoon, Mr Martinez,’ he said a little stiffly, which Don Pedro dismissed as English reserve.

‘I can see how well the sale is going, but how much have you taken so far?’

‘I wonder if we might go into my office, where it’s a little more private.’

Don Pedro followed him across the gallery, counting the red dots, but waited until the office door was closed before repeating his question.

‘How much have you taken so far?’

‘A little over £170,000 on the opening night, and this morning a gentleman called to reserve two more pieces, the Bonnard and an Utrillo, which will take us comfortably over
£200,000. We’ve also had an enquiry from the National Gallery about the Raphael.’