The Fund. Jeff Edwards

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СКАЧАТЬ you now!’ said Brian as he tried to think of a way to fob them off. After this space of time he had hoped that the question of Jade’s car would have disappeared. ‘I’m afraid I don’t have it.’

      ‘Who does have it?’ asked Sam.

      ‘I’m not sure. I’d really have to ask.’

      ‘You mean you don’t know if someone around here is driving around in a bulletproof Rolls Royce?’ asked Bree.

      ‘Is it all that important that you see it?’ asked Brian as he sought to not answer Bree’s question.

      ‘Are you trying to avoid the question, Brian?’ asked Bree. ‘I thought all it needed was a straightforward answer, especially for a very sharp lawyer like you.’

      Brian decided that the best way forward was to continue on the offensive. ‘So, this is not just some idle whim on Sam’s part? This is official.’

      Bree regarded Brian. He was very good at this sort of thing. By avoiding having to answer their questions he was keeping himself from lying. ‘You still haven’t answered my original question, Brian. Do you know where to find Jade Green’s Roller?’

      ‘And I haven’t received a reply as to the exact nature of your questions,’ countered Brian.

      Sam joined in. ‘Will you answer our question, or do we assume that you have something to hide? It was only a simple question after all.’

      ‘Perhaps I don’t know the answer to your question.’

      Bree doubted that very much. He was trying just altogether too hard to avoid answering. Sloane had been right. There was something very significant about the Roller. ‘So, we can assume that your avoidance of our question means that you know where the car is and that its location is significant.’

      ‘I don’t know what you mean,’ replied Brian, hoping that they weren’t thinking what he was thinking.

      ‘We’ve decided that our search of these premises was exhaustive and that our agents didn’t miss anything. Therefore, Jade Green’s infamous videos are not here. We believe that you and your friends removed them from this building and have them hidden somewhere.

      We have also concluded from our conversation that Jade Green’s Rolls Royce has been hidden and that you also know where it is hidden. We have now formed the opinion that the Rolls Royce was the vehicle used to transport the videos to their new location, and that the missing videos and the now missing Rolls Royce are, in fact, to be found at the same mysterious location.’

      Brian smiled at them. ‘I applaud your deductive reasoning. In fact, I would love to get you both to express your opinions in court. I believe that my cross-examination of your theory would show you just how faulty your reasoning is. I’m afraid you’ve been clutching at straws to make your theories work. Every part of your line of reasoning is faulty. Each and every assumption can readily be explained away.’

      ‘So, you’re going to give us a rational explanation as to why we can’t have a look at Jade Green’s car?’ asked Bree.

      Brian smiled. ‘Not at this time.’

      ‘And you won’t answer our simple question?’ asked Sam.

      ‘Would you believe me if I gave you a simple explanation?’

      ‘Would that simple explanation enable us to locate the car?’

      ‘No, I’m afraid not.’

      ‘Then you’re right. We would find any explanation given by you at this time to be questionable at best.’

      ‘Well, then, I think our little chat is concluded. Unless of course you wish to make a contribution to one of our projects?’

      Sam stood. ‘Not on my wages.’

      As Brian was accompanying the agents to the door, Bree noticed Sloane leaning against the reception desk, deep in conversation with the cheeky receptionist. At their approach he said goodbye to the girl and exited the building ahead of Bree and Sam.

      Eliza had been observing the conversation from the mezzanine balcony and approached the receptionist as Brian was returning from saying his goodbyes.

      ‘Who was that man you were talking to?’ Eliza was asking the receptionist.

      ‘Well, I don’t know his name, but he was talking to me about all the old things around here. I also saw him talking to Blanche in the eco-shop before he came out here.’

      ‘What sort of old things was he asking about?’ asked Eliza.

      ‘Well, we were talking about the bank and its old decor with the marble walls and all and then he asked about your old Rolls Royce.’

      Brian heard part of the conversation as he walked past and his ears pricked up at the words ‘Rolls Royce’. He moved over to the two girls.

      ‘Was someone asking about the Rolls Royce?’

      ‘Yes,’ replied Eliza, ‘and he was in here the other day as well. Snooping?’

      ‘What did he want to know?’ asked Brian.

      ‘Well, he didn’t really ask questions. He already seemed to know about the car. He said he hadn’t seen it around for a while and I said that I hadn’t seen it either. I told him how the others around here were wondering where it was as well. I think he might have asked Blanche as well.’

      Eliza and Brian called into the eco-store where Blanche informed them that she had had a similar conversation with the man.

      ‘He’s up to no good,’ said Eliza. ‘I wonder who he is.’

      ‘Come with me,’ said Brian, leading her into his office.

      Brian consulted his private phone book and rang Dr Rani Smith. ‘Dr Smith, it’s Brian Reynolds. Could you describe the reporter that came to visit you?’

      Brian listened to her reply and nodded. ‘Our visitor was Mr Mick Sloane, a reporter, and I’ve just had a nasty little conversation with Sam Tait and Bree Lake on exactly the same topic.’

      ‘A coincidence?’

      ‘What do you think?’

      ‘Not likely. But why would they be working together? He’s a reporter and they’re Inland Security. One wants to scream the news all over the place and the others want to keep everything under wraps.’

      ‘That’s a question I like to answer. It may be very important to us. If they’re not working together we may be able to play them off against one another, but if they are co-operating we might have to take different measures.’

      Eliza nodded. ‘Leave it with me. Justine and I will check them out.’

      * * *

      Not one month before, Justine had passed all her tests and was now the proud holder of a brand new driver’s licence.

      She demonstrated her newfound skills to Eliza while СКАЧАТЬ