Jigsaw Lovers (12 page)

‘Do you mind if I come along now to collect it, sir.’ he asked.

‘Maybe later. I’m leaving in ten minutes.’

‘I’m outside. I can be there in thirty seconds.’

Before Hamilton had even time to find his wallet, there was a knock at the door. He watched as the man cut his credit card in four and issued him with a receipt.

James had used his contacts to find out who supplied Samuels with his cocaine. After two weeks he had all the evidence he needed; photographs and a recording of two separate sales to Samuels from a man who worked for a firm of City solicitors. The transactions had taken place in a relatively quiet bar near Chancery Lane, just after work. They had not been very discreet.

When James reported this, Ackermann’s face broke into a wolfish grin.

‘Brian Goldman, you say? I wondered when our paths would cross again.’

‘You know him?’ James was surprised.

‘Yes. About ten years ago, I entered briefly into a partnership – a sideline company, of which nothing came – but Goldman acted for me in the drawing up of the contracts. The only problem was to do with the question of Mr Goldman’s loyalty to his client. It seemed he also acted for the other party to the contract, and a man cannot be a servant to two masters,’ Ackermann stated categorically, looking James straight in the eye.

‘Yes.’ James felt a little uneasy under Ackermann’s gaze, even though he knew his own loyalty to be beyond doubt.

‘In my experience, most lawyers that I’ve had any dealings with have no sense of professional ethics generally, and this is especially so if they see a chance to make some quick extra money. Goldman was no exception.’

‘What was the outcome?’

‘I got screwed by my partner, and it cost me a considerable sum of money to get out of the arrangement.’ Ackermann’s expression turned dark as he recalled the events of almost a decade ago.

‘
Did you have complained to the Law Society about his unethical behaviour?’ James asked.

‘
James, there are times when I find your naïveté quite refreshing,’ Ackermann said pleasantly. ‘There wouldn’t have been much point. The Society is made up of lawyers –
Quis custodiet custodes
? They’re not prepared to criticise their own because there’s a very strong possibility that at some stage in their careers they also perpetrated some form of malpractice.’

‘But you didn’t let him get away with it, did you?’ James was astounded. From what he had observed of Ackermann in the time that he had worked for him, this was the last thing he would have expected.

‘Only temporarily. I knew eventually a suitable opportunity would arise. There’s no point in rushing these matters. After all, I learnt long ago that “vengeance is a dish best served cold.”’ Ackermann sat back, a placid, contented smile on his face.

‘Well, I’ve already found enough evidence here to make Mr Goldman’s life very difficult, should you wish to divulge it to certain parties.’

‘Yes, I think its about time the score was settled. When we’re finished with him, send copies of your file to the Law Society, who on this occasion will have to act, the Drug Squad and the newspapers.’

‘That should just about balance the books,’ agreed James.

James made an appointment to see Brian Goldman, the solicitor, at three-thirty on Friday afternoon.

‘Mr James, come through. Very pleased to meet you.’ The hand-shake was clammy and weak, the man a little over-weight, and although only in his late thirties the hairline had receded prematurely.

James resisted the urge to wipe his hand. He sat on the chair that faced an enormous partners desk, placing his briefcase on it to his left.

Goldman settled himself in his chair and pulled a microphone out of his top drawer.

‘You don’t mind if I record our meeting, do you? Then my girl transcribes it, and extracts all the points that we need to take action on. I find it saves a huge amount of time.’

‘Mr Goldman, I think perhaps when you hear what I have to say, you may prefer it if your “girl” doesn’t transcribe our conversation.’

‘Don’t worry, it’s quite routine.’ He obviously hadn’t understood what James had just said.

‘I’m here to discuss Ben Samuels and his coke habit.’

Goldman dropped the microphone.

‘I’ve no idea what you mean,’ he stammered.

‘Is the recorder switched off?’ Goldman nodded. James opened his briefcase. The tiny green light on the inner lip of the case indicated that there were no active recording devices in the room.

‘We know that you supply Ben Samuels with cocaine. These photographs show the last two occasions you made a deal with him.’ James handed over a sequence of photographs that clearly showed envelopes being exchanged.

‘These don’t prove anything,’ Goldman scoffed.

‘By themselves no. But when you view them and listen to this
recording of the conversation between you, they become a lot more credible.’ James pushed play on his portable MP3 player. After Goldman had listened for a few moments he sat back in his seat, visibly shaken.

‘Who are you?
The police?’ Goldman was sweating as he asked these questions.

‘If it puts your mind at rest, I can tell you that we are not the police or the drug squad. However, we have connections in both those organisations who would, no doubt, be very interested in what I’ve just shown you.’

‘What do you want? I don’t have much money, if you’re thinking of blackmail.’ Goldman was beginning to sound pathetic.

‘I have no intention of blackmailing you, Mr Goldman. I also know exactly how much money you have, and what your assets are. As of close of business yesterday
…’ James handed him a sheet of paper.

Goldman scanned it rapidly. It was an incredibly detailed account of everything he owned. His house, his car, his wife’s car, his various bank accounts, his shares, his investment and insurance policies, together with a valuation of each item. Where had this man obtained such detailed and highly accurate information? It was most unnerving.

‘As you see Mr Goldman, at this moment in time, we know an awful lot about you, and your family.’ He now had Goldman’s undivided attention.

‘What do you want of me?’ Goldman hissed, panic underlying the question.

‘It seems you supply Ben Samuels on a regular basis. Usually on a Friday afternoon. Are you seeing him today?’ James made it sound as if he didn’t know the answer to the question he had just posed.

‘Yes, I am.’ Goldman sounded resigned.

‘Good. This is what I’d like you to do.’

James reached into his briefcase and extracted an envelope, similar to those that were used in the photographs he had of Goldman and Samuels.

‘When you see Samuels this afternoon, give him this envelope in place of the one you were intending to give him.’

‘What’s in it?’

‘I think it’s probably better for your continued well-being, and that of your family, if you didn’t concern yourself with unnecessary details.’

‘What if I refuse?’ Goldman asked truculently.

‘Oh dear, dear, dear.’ James tutted, clicking his tongue. ‘I’m sorry. I thought I had explained the situation perfectly clearly, but obviously that isn’t the case. How can I convince you?’ He paused as if to think. ‘Maybe this will help.’ He delved into his briefcase again, and rummaged through some files.

‘You have two very pretty daughters. Aged seven and five.’ James handed over two photographs of Goldman’s children that had been taken the day before, as they were leaving school. The threat was implied. No further words were necessary.

Goldman picked up the envelope and looked at it turning it in his hands.

‘I just give him this?’ he asked.

‘That’s right. Just behave as you normally do. Have a drink, hand it over and take his money.’

‘Then what happens?’

‘Then you forget about this meeting, and ever having met me.’ James lit a cigarette. ‘We, in turn, will forget about you and your family. You won’t be hearing from us again.’

Goldman looked relieved. James was telling the truth; Goldman wouldn’t hear from him again, but others would. Mr Goldman’s career and family life were about to undergo fundamental change.

‘However, I must point out that we will be watching you carefully, to see that you do exactly as I’ve asked. Should you deviate in any way, or think of involving the police, then copies of this material go to them, and your daughters may not see their next birthday. Do I make myself clear?’

‘Perfectly. I’ll do as you wish, just don’t go near my family.’

James stood up, and reached across for the photographs he had shown Goldman. He gathered them together and put them in his briefcase.

‘Co-operate and that won’t be necessary. Good day.’

After James had gone, Goldman looked at the envelope. He had no choice but to do as this man had asked. He couldn’t risk exposing his family to danger, and he had no doubt that he would be, if he didn’t co-operate. Fortunately, Samuels was only a business acquaintance, not a friend. It made the decision slightly easier.

The lady from the mortgage company telephoned Ian Hamilton to enquire when the overdue payments on his bond would be made, and to inform him that if they were not forthcoming within forty-eight hours then the matter would be handed over to the Bank’s attorneys to instigate proceedings for repossession of the flat.

‘Well, I don’t have any funds at the moment but I’m expecting some next week, which should cover it, if you could possibly wait that long.’

‘That’s what you told me a month ago, and we still haven’t received any payments.’

‘I phoned a couple of weeks ago to explain the problem. I spoke to your assistant.’ Hamilton said.

‘We have no record on file of any communication with you, at that time,’ she said officiously.

‘I can assure you that it was the case. I explained that the moneys I was expecting last month, wouldn’t be forthcoming, as the company that owed me had just been put into liquidation. I asked for a further extension, until the end of next month. Your assistant seemed to think that would be possible.’

However, now it seemed that company policy dictated that they could not wait any longer on this occasion.

‘Oh well,’ said Hamilton, ‘in that case you better issue the summons as I don’t have a cent to pay you. Thanks for being so understanding.’

‘Any legal and administrative costs incurred will be to your account,’ she continued.

‘Well, that seems very fair. After all, what’s another couple of thousand when you owe as much as I do. Why don’t I just pop into your office and give you the keys to the property and we’ll call it quits?’

‘That’s not possible, Mr Hamilton. There are specified procedures that have to be followed in these cases.’

‘No doubt there are. Seize any opportunity to squeeze a little bit more money out of the poor customer. So much for having your client’s best interests at heart, but then, I suppose lawyers have to eat too. See you in court.’

Ackermann’s secretary remembered as she began to type up a shortlist of candidates to manage Mr Ackermann’s share portfolio. She telephoned the florists and asked them to arrange for a suitable wreath to be sent to Mr Samuels’s funeral.

Two months after the Bank began proceedings against Hamilton he moved out of his flat. The Bank then sold it at auction for a price that was way below the true market value, being interested only in recovering the outstanding moneys owed to them.

Hamilton had no option but to go and stay with friends. For a time he had very little cash available, the Bank having closed his cheque accounts summarily. The inconvenience this seemingly small action caused was considerable. He had to have payments made out to friends who would then give him cash, and the
n he had to settle his regular bills in cash.

There were times when just feeding himself was extremely difficult. On occasion he was hardly able to afford to eat, subsisting on a diet of rice and tinned pilchards, toast and Bovril. His once active social life had been severely curtailed; he was unable to entertain or go out for drinks even, let alone invite a companion for dinner. Frequently he found he had to rely on the charity of friends, whose unasked for generosity deeply touched him. It was a most embarrassing and unforeseen situation in which to be, and one that he resented terribly. This hand-to-mouth existence continued for almost two years. It was a time of considerable hardship and distress for Hamilton and he spent long hours brooding as to how he had ended up in such a predicament.

In due course, however, his business eventually overcame its temporary day-to-day cashflow problems, and he was able to consolidate and rebuild his financial position.

Whenever he had the time he would spend it developing an idea he had had for a long while for a new-style computer game. Whilst creating the entire game was beyond the limitations of his resources, he was able to produce a framework that would give a potential developer a clear idea as to what the finished product would be like. It was a game that took the player through a series of weird and wonderful landscapes, in which he had to discover clues, solve puzzles, and fight battles in order to progress to the next level. It was a balanced combination of a simplistic shooting game and an intriguing mystery adventure.