Page 42 of Next in Line

‘But Khalifah would never share that information with infidels like us, boss.’

‘Possibly not. So we need to convert a True Believer to our cause. How many of them are there in Belmarsh?’

‘A dozen? Possibly more. But they all look on Khalifah as a hero, and they wouldn’t consider crossing him.’

‘Do any of them drink or have a drug problem?’

‘Not one of them,’ said Tulip, who knew his customers. ‘That won’t be the way to make contact with him.’

‘A dozen, you say. Then we need to find the Judas among them, because I’d be happy to supply him with a damn sight more than thirty pieces of silver.’

‘None of them will betray him for money,’ said Tulip. ‘However much you offered.’

‘Find out what theywillbetray him for, and then I’ll have two insurance policies.’

•••

Miles Faulkner read Christina’s note a third time before he spoke. ‘I should have killed the bitch years ago,’ he said, banging a clenched fist on the table.

‘Don’t say that even in jest until the trial is over,’ said Booth Watson. ‘We wouldn’t want to harm your chances of an early release.’

He waited for his client to calm down before carrying on with the rest of his agenda. ‘There are one or two more papersthat require your signature if we’re to have everything in place by the time you’re released.’

Miles nodded.

‘First, I have, as instructed, sold your fifty-one per cent shareholding in Marcel and Neffe.’

‘How much did you get?’

‘Twenty-six million – four million more than you asked for.’

‘Where have you deposited the money?’

‘It’s currently in your client account, but I can transfer it to any bank you choose. Just give me the name and account number.’

‘Put the full amount into my numbered account at the Bank of Zurich. I have no intention of remaining in England once I get out of this place, and I certainly don’t intend to pay forty per cent in tax to the people who put me in here.’

Booth Watson made a note of his client’s instructions, even though he had no intention of carrying them out.

‘You can deduct one per cent for yourself,’ said Miles before adding, ‘of the four million.’

Booth Watson didn’t remind Miles that he’d originally promised him a million – why bother, when he was going to take it in any case?

‘Thank you, Miles,’ said Booth Watson as he passed across two more documents for him to sign. He didn’t realize that the entire amount would eventually be transferred to a private account, not in Zurich, but Hong Kong. Booth Watson didn’t bother to mention that his client’s prized art collection was in storage in a warehouse near Gatwick airport and he’d already arranged a meeting with a prospective buyer who’d shown an interest in purchasing the entire collection.

‘Anything else?’ asked Miles after glancing at his watch to see they had only fifteen minutes left.

‘One more thing. The Frans Hals exhibition opens at theFitzmolean in a few weeks’ time and, with your permission, when it closes, I’ll collect the self-portrait.’

‘On the same day. And you can inform the Fitzmolean that I expect my Raphael and Rembrandt to be returned as well, since they were only ever on loan to them in the first place.’

‘On permanent loan,’ Booth Watson reminded him. ‘But I’m confident I’ve found a loophole in the contract they won’t have considered, that will turn permanent to temporary.’

‘Then you can ship all three of them back to Spain to join the rest of the collection.’

Booth Watson had every intention of making sure the paintings joined the rest of the collection, but not in Spain.

‘What’s the latest on the trial?’