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CHAPTER SIXTY
DANNY READ THE report in The Times as Molly poured him a black coffee.
An exchange which had taken place on the floor of the House between the Minister of Sport and Billy Cormack, the Member for Stratford South, was tucked in at the end of the paper's Parliamentary report.
Cormack (Lab., Stratford South): "Can the minister confirm that she has shortlisted two sites for the proposed Olympic velodrome?"
Minister: "Yes I can, and I'm sure my honorable friend will be delighted to learn that the site in his constituency is one of the two still under consideration."
Cormack: "I thank the minister for her reply. Is she aware that the president of the British Cycling Federation has written to me pointing out that his committee voted unanimously in favor of the site in my constituency?"
Minister: "Yes I am, partly because my honorable friend kindly sent me a copy of that letter (laughter). Let me assure him that I shall take the views of the British Cycling Federation very seriously before I make my final decision."
Andrew Crawford (Con., Stratford West): "Does the minister realize that this news will not be welcomed in my constituency, where the other shortlisted site is located, as we have plans to build a new leisure center on that land, and never wanted the velodrome in the first place?"
Minister: "I will take the honorable member's views into consideration before I make my final decision."
Molly placed two boiled eggs in front of Da
"Morning, Nick. Sorry to ring at this hour, but I wondered if you'd read the Parliamentary report in the Telegraph?"
"I don't take the Telegraph," said Da
"That the president of the British Cycling Federation has been invited to address the Olympic Sites Committee next week, four days before the minister makes her final decision. Apparently it's no more than a formality-an inside source has told the Telegraph that the minister is only waiting for the surveyor's report before she confirms her decision."
"The Times has roughly the same story," said Da
"But that isn't why I phoned," said Payne. "I wanted you to know that I've already had a call from the Swiss this morning and they've turned down your offer of four million."
"Hardly surprising, given the circumstances," said Da
"But," said Payne, "they made it clear that they would accept six mil, as long as the full amount is paid before the minister a
"That's still a no-brainer," said Da
"But why not?" said Payne. "Surely they can see what an opportunity this is?"
"Yes, they can, but they still consider it's a risk. Perhaps I should have warned you that I'm a little overstretched at the moment, with one or two other projects that aren't going quite as well as I'd hoped."
"But I thought you made a killing on the Mile End Road site?"
"It didn't turn out quite as well as I anticipated," said Da
"So how much can you put up?" asked Payne.
"A million," said Da
A long silence followed, during which Da
"Nick, I don't suppose you'd allow me to offer this deal to some of my other clients?"
"Why not," said Da
"That's very magnanimous of you," said Payne. "I won't forget it. I owe you one."
"You sure do," said Da
He was just about to attack his egg when the phone rang again. He checked the screen to see if he could ask whoever was calling to ring back later, but realized he couldn't when the word voice flashed up. He opened the phone and listened.
"We've already had several calls this morning with offers for your site, including one of eight million. What do you want me to do about Mr. Payne?"
"You'll be getting a call from him making an offer of six million. You will accept his offer," Da
"Two conditions," repeated the voice.
"He must deposit six hundred thousand with the bank before close of business today and he must also pay the full amount before the minister makes her a
"I'll call you back once he's been in touch," said the voice.
Da
CHAPTER SIXTY-ONE
SPENCER CRAIG LEFT chambers at five o'clock, as it was his turn to host the quarterly Musketeers' di
Craig always used outside caterers so that he didn't have to worry about preparing the meal or the clearing up afterward, although he did like to select the wine himself, and to sample the food before the first guest arrived. Gerald had rung him earlier in the day to say that he had some exciting news to share with the team that could change their whole lives.
Craig would never forget the previous occasion when a meeting of the Musketeers had changed their whole lives, but since Da
The briefs had picked up again as he continued to win cases, and his appearance at the Da
When Craig arrived back at his home in Hambledon Terrace, he checked the wine racks to find he had nothing worthy of a Musketeers' di
As he walked back to the house carrying two bags full of bottles, he heard a siren in the distance, which brought back memories of that night. They didn't seem to fade with time, like other memories. He had called Detective Sergeant Fuller, then run home, stripped off his clothes, had a quick shower without allowing his hair to get wet, dressed in an almost identical suit, shirt and tie, and been back sitting at the bar seventeen minutes later.