THE ORANGE MOON AFFAIR (35 page)
I took Julie's arm and we walked from the room.
Our escape from the Tower
was more of a casual stroll to the waiting car than a frantic getaway.
Gerry and the team ran interference on our journey, cutting off the 'tail' Radley had put on us and allowing us to disappear into the late evening London traffic. Even the helicopter circling overhead could not pick out our vehicle because it was a 'blind car', especially equipped with laminar paint that changed the shape and GPS signature, so that it could not be picked up by the city's CCTV cameras or the helicopter's surveillance devices, and the nano transmitter the technician had injected into me, had self-destructed late that afternoon. Paul checked his receiver to make sure.
Radley should have known that we still had access to special forces assets, but he had been too comfortable in his game. Too confident in thinking for us the mission was over, believing that like good soldiers we would just hand in our weapons and say goodbye. Until the next time we were needed.
Edwards and Professor Oldfield were waiting for Julie, Paul and myself in the Golden Lion. Edwards led the way into the basement the room beneath the auction house across the street. Oldfield booted up the computer while I opened the letter Edwards had kept for me.
“Do you want to tell us what this is all about?” Paul stared around the room looking for hidden cameras.
“Money. Gunn Group money.” That caught their attention. “This whole Orange Moon scheme has been about syphoning liquid assets to Banks, Trust funds, and offshore venture capital investment companies. It's been about acquiring mineral resources in foreign countries in order to control the world price. The more ISEC and the members of the Order of the Orange Moon have, the more they could dominate Governments around the globe. My father knew this. When Edwards handed me the letter a few months ago I knew what was going on but not exactly who the players were.”
“So what does it say?” Julie leaned over trying to read the letter upside down.
“It's a list of money transfers. Gunn Group companies that Adrian embezzled from on behalf of ISEC, and a bank account that was set aside for me.” I looked at Edwards. “You are the trustee Mr Edwards, but you knew that didn't you.”
“Indeed sir. Nobody looks at a little old man working as a porter in a gentleman's club.” He smiled as if remembering an old joke. “Your father thought it quite amusing.” He looked up at me and I saw tears in his eyes. “I loved Sir Ivan, Mr Thomas. Loved him like a brother. He told me to look out for you. That you were a contrary man, but he loved you very much and knew you would get to the bottom of this. The trust account is your legacy, because he also knew that you could never inherit the Gunn Group. They wouldn't allow it.”
“Did you receive a call from Morgan Alvarez, Edwards?” I asked.
He looked puzzled. “No sir. I've never heard of her.”
“When she calls, let me know.”
“Of course.”
Paul frowned. “It's not finished?”
“I'm not sure. Maybe not. I have a friend checking some finance companies in the US.”
“Just let us know.”
“You know I will.”
Julie crossed to Edwards and put her arms around his thin shoulders, held him for a moment and then kissed him on each cheek, then kissed each of the team.
I turned to Oldfield and handed him the letter. “I need you to empty the accounts of these companies. Wipe them out.”
“But that will bankrupt them and Gunn Group Industries.”
“Indeed it will, but would you rather Radley and the remnants of ISEC and the Order of the Orange Moon line their pockets instead.”
He nodded. “I see your point.”
“And I would like a payment made every month from my trust account to Saint Theresa's House in Shannon of £30,000 in perpetuity.” I glanced at Edwards. “If that is okay with Mr Edwards.”
“Of course sir. Mr Danny would want it so,” he said with a twinkle in his eye. I looked at him a little more carefully. “Sir Ivan watched you very carefully Mr Thomas.”
“One more thing.” I turned to Paul. “You and the rest of the boys will be out of a job now. The trust will put you all on a retainer. Give Edwards your account details; the Professor will encrypt them so that not even Radley will ever find out. Right Professor?”
“Whatever you say?” There was a lingering question in his reply.
“And I believe you have been looking for a research grant.”
“You have a plane to catch,” he said dryly, with a broad grin.
Coming soon
The second book in the Thomas Gunn thriller series
Other books by the Author
autobiography
CONTACT
literary fiction
COLLISIONS
AN UNQUIET AMERICAN
DRY TORTUGAS
humour & satire
THE BOOK OF BAKER:
Part One -
Dreams from the Death Age
THE BOOK OF BAKER:
Part Two
-
Armageddon
These books are available on
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www.amazon.co.uk
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