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The young estate agent who had looked over the property had assured her that the garage was worth at least two hundred thousand. After all, it was a freehold site, situated in an excellent location with easy access to the City. Two hundred thousand pounds would solve all of Beth's financial problems, and mean there was enough left over to ensure that Christy could have the education she and Da
CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO
DANNY WAS READING Milton Friedman's Tax Limitation, Inflation and the Role of Government and taking notes on the chapter about the property cycle and the effects of negative equity when the phone rang. After two hours of studying, he was begi
"Hi, Nick. It's a voice from your past."
"Hi, voice from my past," said Da
"You said you were going to come and see me while I was on tour. Well, I keep looking out into the audience, but you're never there."
"So where are you performing at the moment?" asked Da
" Cambridge, the Arts Theatre."
"Great, which play?"
"A Woman of No Importance."
"Oscar Wilde again," said Da
"Nick, you don't even remember my name, do you?"
"Don't be silly, Katie," he said, just in time. "How could I ever forget my favorite understudy?"
"Well, I've got the lead now, and I was hoping you'd come and see me."
"Sounds good," said Da
"Couldn't be better. We can spend the weekend together."
"I have to be back in London for a meeting on Saturday morning," said Da
"So it will have to be another one-night stand," said Katie. "I can live with that." Da
Da
"There are three men coming up the path," said Molly as she looked out of the kitchen window. "They look foreign."
"They're quite harmless," Da
Da
The three men who were waiting for him looked identical in every way except for their age. They wore well-tailored dark blue suits, white shirts and anonymous ties, and each carried a black leather briefcase. You would have passed them in the street without giving them a second look-which would have pleased them.
"How nice to see you again, Baron," said Da
De Coubertin bowed low. "We are touched that you invited us to your beautiful home, Sir Nicholas. May I introduce Monsieur Bresson, the bank's chief executive, and Monsieur Segat, who handles our major accounts." Da
"Gentlemen," said Da
"Certainly," said Monsieur Bresson, opening an unmarked brown file. "Your number-one account is showing a balance of just over fifty-seven million dollars, which is currently accumulating interest at the rate of 2.75 percent per a
"You can combine the two accounts," said Da
"Can you tell us what you have in mind?" asked Segat.
"Yes," said Da
"Then may I suggest in the circumstances," said Segat, "that we move your money into three separate accounts that ca
"In the circumstances?" repeated Da
"Since 9/11, the Americans and the British are taking far more interest in anyone who moves large sums of money around. It would not be wise for your name to keep popping up on their radar."
"Good thinking," said Da
"Assuming that you agree to our setting up these accounts," added Bresson, "may I ask whether you will wish to make additional use of the bank's expertise in managing your investments? I mention this, because our property department, for example, employs over forty specialists in the field-seven of them in London -who currently manage a portfolio of just under one hundred billion dollars, and our investment department is considerably larger."
"I shall take advantage of everything you have to offer," said Da
"What will be your policy when it comes to purchasing shares in those companies?" asked Segat.
"I would want you to buy in small tranches whenever they come on the market-never aggressively, as I do not wish to be responsible for influencing the market either way. Also, I never want to hold more than two percent of any one company." Da
Bresson ran his finger down the names, and smiled. "We have been keeping an eye on several of these companies ourselves, but I am fascinated to see that you have identified one or two that we have not yet considered."
"Then please double-check them, and if you have any doubts, tell me."
Da
Bresson handed over a card. It had no name on it, no address, just a phone number embossed in black. "That is my private line. We can wire any amount of money you require to any country on earth at the touch of a button. And when you call, you need never give your name, as the line is voice-activated."
"Thank you," said Da
"If I might make a suggestion?" said de Coubertin. "We used to transfer one hundred thousand pounds a month to an account in London for your grandfather. It came from a trust we set up on his behalf. He paid tax on this income in full, and even carried out some of his smaller transactions through a company registered in London."