This Was a Man (The Clifton Chronicles #7)(39)

Virginia was sitting by the phone at five p.m. on Tuesday, well aware that she only had three minutes in which to deliver her well-prepared script. She had written out several bullet points to make sure she didn’t miss anything of importance. When the phone rang, she picked it up immediately.

‘7784.’

‘Hello, my darling, it’s Priscilla. I thought I’d give you a call and see if you’re free for a spot of lunch on Thursday?’

‘Not now,’ said Virginia, slamming the receiver down. The phone rang again seconds later.

‘7784,’ she repeated.

‘It’s Desmond. Have you been able to—’ He clearly didn’t want to waste a second. She checked her first bullet point.

‘Yes. Knowles has agreed to loan you ten thousand against the flat in Bristol.’

‘Thank God,’ said Mellor, breathing a deep sigh of relief that she could hear clearly.

‘But if you fail to pay him back the full amount within thirty days, he’s demanding extra collateral.’

‘Like what?’

‘Your shares in Mellor Travel.’

‘But they’re worth about a million and a half.’

‘Take it or leave it, if I remember his exact words.’

Mellor paused for a moment, aware that his three minutes were fast running out.

‘I don’t have a lot of choice. Tell the bastard I accept his terms, and I’ll pay him back the moment the flat is sold.’

‘I’ll pass on the message immediately, but he won’t release the money until he’s seen your signature on the document that will transfer ownership of the shares to him should you fail to pay him back within thirty days.’

‘But how can I possibly sign it in time?’ said Mellor, sounding desperate again.

‘Don’t worry. His lawyers have done all the paperwork, and it will be delivered to the prison later this evening. Just be sure you have someone looking out for it.’

‘Address the envelope to Mr Graves. He’s my floor officer, and he’s already done me a couple of favours, so you can trust him. As long as he’s on duty tonight, I should be able to turn it round immediately.’

Virginia made a note of the name, before checking her list again. ‘Where and when do I deliver the money?’

‘Thursday, twelve o’clock, Trafalgar Square. Your contact will be standing between the fountains. Just be sure you’re not late.’

‘Will it be the same woman?’

‘No. Look for a bald middle-aged man wearing a navy blazer and jeans.’ Virginia made another note. ‘You’re a diamond,’ said Mellor. ‘I owe you.’

‘Anything else I can do?’

‘No, but I’ll be sending you a letter that I need you to—’

The line went dead.





Mr Graves put down the phone in his office and waited for his instructions.

‘You’ll need to make sure you’re on duty when the document arrives at the prison gate later this evening.’

‘No problem. Not many officers volunteer for the night shift.’

‘And make sure Mellor signs the agreement, and that you witness his signature.’

‘What do I do then?’

‘Take it out with you when you come off duty and deliver it to the address Mellor writes on the envelope. And don’t forget, you’ve still got one more job to do before you can get paid.’

Graves frowned. ‘You’d better get back to your cell before someone notices you’re missing,’ the prison officer said, trying to re-establish his authority.

‘Whatever you say, guv,’ said Nash, before slipping out of the office and making his way back to his cell.





When Virginia woke the next morning, she found a large envelope lying on the doormat. She didn’t want to know who’d delivered it, or when. She checked her watch: 9.14 a.m. Knowles wasn’t due to pick it up until ten, giving her more than enough time.

She ripped open the envelope and extracted the document, quickly turning to the last page to check that Mellor had signed it. She smiled when she saw his friend, Mr Graves, had witnessed the signature. Virginia placed the agreement back in the envelope, left her little flat in Chelsea and headed for a shop in Pimlico that she’d checked out the previous day.

The young man behind the counter made two copies of the document and charged her ￡2.00 and another 20p for a large brown envelope. She was back in her flat twenty minutes later, reading the morning paper, when there was a knock at the door.

Knowles kissed her on both cheeks as if they were old friends, but once he’d exchanged one brown envelope for another, he left immediately. Virginia returned to the drawing room, ripped open the new envelope and counted the money. Fifteen thousand, as agreed. Not a bad morning’s work. Now all she had to do was decide whether or not to deliver the ten thousand to the bald man in the navy blazer and jeans who would be waiting for her in Trafalgar Square.





When Virginia arrived at the bank, she made her way straight to the manager’s office. Mr Leigh stood up the moment she entered the room. Without a word, she extracted five cellophane packets and the copy of a three-page document from a Swan and Edgar bag, and placed them on his desk.