Erick’s legal team put in a complaint that they were not allowed proper access to their client and that he had been refused permission to make telephone calls to his convalescent wife. The Governor refused to give way, or to agree to Erick’s request for a personal interview with him.
A few days later Erick was summoned for a police visit. DCI Sarah Wilson and Chief Detective Superintendent Sutcliffe were there, waiting for him.
‘I really don’t have time for this,’ he said, indicating his blue overalls. ‘You’re holding up production in the tailor’s shop.’
‘We need to talk to you,’ said Sutcliffe. ‘With or without your solicitors.’
‘Not here. You can’t expect me to talk in a place like this.’ Erick had already thought out his response to any communication from the police and stayed icy calm. ‘I’m surrounded by five hundred drug addicts, permanently stoned out of their minds. There are all kinds of weapons here, including knives which are easily procured. I’m in fear of my life. To have me killed and let it be blamed on some sad sod, would be very easy here. To bring me here from Brixton for security reasons is a sick joke. A grave mistake. It’s supposedly your responsibility to protect me.’
He waited for a response but they did not answer. ‘I haven’t seen my sick wife for days. I can’t phone her, only write. Anyway, if you don’t drop the charges against her, I certainly won’t be talking to you.’
Sutcliffe and Wilson exchanged glances and got up. Nothing further was said at this interview but the same afternoon Erick was secretly moved from Cardiff Prison to the Salvation Army Hostel just outside the city, the top floor of which was completely given over to him and his armed guards. Only unmarked cars were allowed to enter the area and the police staked out the roof and the street surrounding the hostel.
Erick’s new quarters had the look and smell of prison, but at least there were no bars on the windows. His room was clean and newly painted, with a bed, washbasin and cupboard.
After a week he was taken to the Magistrates’ Court for a second time. Again the police objected to bail.
The next day Sarah Wilson came to see him. ‘We’ve arranged for your wife to visit you, and all charges against her have been dropped,’ she announced.
‘Thanks,’ said Erick, relieved. ‘When she’s been here, we can talk again. Have you found Mr Dockett?’
‘No. We’re confident he’s dead. Either drowned or murdered.’ She did not say by whom and Erick knew better than to comment on this.
CHAPTER SEVENTY-FOUR
_________________________
Cardiff, Tuesday, 30th July 1991
Andrea made several visits, DCI Sarah Wilson always accompanied her, and on the four‑hour drive from London and back from Cardiff the two women got to know each other. Soon they were on first‑name terms and gradually an understanding grew between them.
On Andrea’s fifth meeting with her husband she did as she and Sarah had agreed.
‘Could you do me a favour?’ she asked the policeman standing guard. ‘Could you ask Inspector Wilson to come in?’
The man looked surprised but agreed and went to find her.
‘Why do you want her?’ Erick asked.
‘She’s a decent sort,’ his wife said. ‘Erick, we’ve talked about this a lot, Sarah and I, and I’ve got something to say to you.’
When the Inspector came into the room, Andrea said to her, ‘I’ve decided to do as you suggested on the way down. Can I be alone with Erick, with the door closed?’
Sarah nodded in agreement. ‘Of course.’ She indicated to the policeman to leave the room and then went out herself, closing the door behind her.
Erick turned to his wife in amazement. ‘What’s all this about?’
‘Erick, this has gone far enough. The police are insisting that you were in on this plot to kill Inspector Fox because he suddenly knew too much. John’s name has been kept out of it and they seem to think you gave the order. Tell me the truth – were you involved? I want to know if it’s true.’
Erick shook his head. ‘Of course not. I swear I never gave such an order. I knew John’s men were on Mallorca and assumed they were there to ensure Fox didn’t find out anything. I saw him taking photographs of the Cave and thought they’d somehow procure the film and camera. That’s all.’ He looked directly into her eyes. ‘Andrea, you must believe me.’
‘I do.’ She returned his look. ‘I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t. But that doesn’t make it right. John Forbes is a ruthless, amoral man. Maybe we’ve always known that, but after Ann’s and Pedro’s deaths I don’t want us to continue in this business any longer. That is, if you ever get out of here. There’s only one way you can: You’ll have to come clean and tell the police everything they want to know. That includes confirming the identity of John Forbes and all you know about him.’ Andrea hesitated. ‘ I’m not begging you. I am demanding it. For the sake of our marriage.’
She waited for his response but Erick didn’t speak. Andrea went on persuasively. ‘If you do that, Sarah and her bosses have given me their word that they’ll make a plea bargain. The murder charge will be dropped. We’d still have some good years left together.’
Slowly he shook his head. ‘If I do that, Andrea, John would know I’d talked. It’s not only him we’d have to reckon with. He’s arranged for all sorts of people to invest in the Invisible Company who wouldn’t take kindly to being betrayed. Money they’d invested would be lost. They have all, as John, their own interest to protect at any cost whatsoever. We would be up against one of the most powerful criminal fraternities in the world. Certainly the most intelligent. Even with John in a prison cell, our lives would be worthless. I’m sorry, Andrea., I’m not involving him. It’s not realistic. We both have everything to lose by doing that. Something’s going to break soon.’
Her pale eyes narrowed. ‘If you don’t, you’ll lose me. I warn you, Erick, this time I’ll not be waiting when they finally let you out of jail.’
It was the cruellest thing she could find to say and the one he most dreaded to hear. Andrea and her love had kept him sane through his previous spell in prison.
‘I – I’ll think about it.’ he said lamely. Please, let’s talk about something else now. How are the children getting on? Maybe they could visit...’
Andrea allowed herself to soften towards him, confident she had planted a seed, but she was furious when she visited him three days later, having been to the Cave and met Karen there.
‘You’re not going to fob me off any longer,’ she raged. ‘The police have wrecked our beautiful home looking for evidence. They’re after you on another murder charge, would you believe? Someone I’ve never even heard of: David Kennedy. He disappeared several years ago apparently. There’s not much doubt that Paul Dockett is dead and we both know he didn’t die jumping from the yacht. So where is he? I know, you know who’s responsible. You must see this can’t go on. Our lives were never meant to be like this. It’s in your power to stop it.’
Suddenly she calmed down, needing to get her breath back.
‘If you don’t speak out in your own defence, I will be going back to Denmark after giving Sarah Wilson a complete statement.’ His wife was tough and determined. Erick knew she meant it.
‘I wish I could do as you say, Andrea, but I can’t. The consequences don’t even bear thinking about,’ he said wretchedly. ‘Don’t go to Denmark yet – and don’t give any statements. It’s too dangerous for you and the children. Give me time to think. One more week, please.’
‘All right.’ She sighed. ‘I suppose, after thirty years of marriage, I can wait another week.’ Then either you come clean or I go back to Denmark and file for divorce.’
Erick’s choice was simple: betray his friend, save his marriage and risk being killed. Or stay loyal to John and lose the one person he loved above all.
* * *
A long time ago John Forbes had mentioned with surprise the extent of Andrea’s power over her husband.
/>
Erick knew that his friend had filed away the information in his usual methodical way, for use another time, in another situation.
John had to be worried about Andrea more than anyone else.
Erick knew that Denmark and a divorce would not offer Andrea, Christian and Lisette any protection whatsoever.
He had to act, whatever the consequences.
CHAPTER SEVENTY-FIVE
_________________________
The Water Garden, Edgware Road, London, Thursday, 8th August 1991
‘What’s happened?’ Diana asked. Arthur had just finished talking on the telephone.
‘It’s the end of an era.’ He had just been told the outcome of the Magistrates hearing by his contact who had been in the public gallery. ‘Erick’s free.’
Diana gasped. ‘But that’s not what you expected... Start from the beginning and tell me everything?’
‘Erick has obviously done a deal,’ Arthur said slowly. ‘His freedom in return for giving the authorities information about John. All charges against him have been dropped.’
‘No? He wouldn’t do that. Not Erick!’
‘Perhaps.’ Arthur sat down heavily and gazed at her. ‘Who knows? Erick, Andrea, Karen, Sam – any one of them could have been put under intolerable pressure.’
Arthur’s face had gone grey. He seemed to be ageing in front of her eyes, unable to comprehend what had happened.
‘We’re known associates of John’s,’ he finally said. ‘ To be on the safe side we must distance ourselves from him. If we don’t, we won’t be of any help when this all explodes.’
Diana put her arm around him comfortingly. She knew that to him John was much more than a business associate. He was like a brother. Personally she had always found John cold and calculating, but Arthur had a genuine affection for him which had grown over the years.
‘You ought at least to phone John,’ she said. ‘John knows you have a contact in the Magistrate’s court. Give him a call, he’ll be expecting it. Then you can explain to him that you’ll need to be careful about getting in touch from now on.’
‘Of course.’ Arthur sat staring into space. ‘You know, I don’t even blame whoever it was who grassed. Things were getting out of control. Had been for a long time. I wonder what John will do now? What can he do?’
‘Nothing,’ said Diana. ‘Now his identity’s been disclosed, he’s powerless to do anything.’
‘He’ll be thinking of cutting his losses,’ Arthur continued. ‘He might even find a way of silencing Erick.’
‘If he lays a hand on Erick, then even we would turn against him. You’d better tell him that.’ She was growing impatient. ‘Phone him now.’
Slowly Arthur got to his feet and took the telephone out of a small antique cabinet. He dialled John’s number, eyes fixed on Diana.
When John answered, Arthur explained what had happened. He finished by saying, ‘I want your solemn promise that nothing will happen to Erick and Andrea, or Karen and Sam?’
Diana waited while he listened to John’s reply, then put the phone down.
‘He can’t make any promises. He’s not sure what to do. But I am, Di. We’re getting right away from all this. I’ll have to turn my back on his grand concept. You and I will perform “good works in miniature” somewhere else, as Rousseau once wrote. How would you like to live in Paris or Rome? Madrid or New York? I think we should go abroad. We need a change of scene.’
‘You’re not going to see John?’
‘No. He’ll be under surveillance soon, if he isn’t already. I’ll be of more use to him at a distance. But, I’ll never abandon him. I knew John at the beginning and if anyone understands how his mind works, it’s me. I think I know which way out he’ll choose.’
* * *
In Kew, Jim Clark watched the ten o’clock news on the BBC in his large Victorian house in Lawn Crescent. His two children were asleep and his wife Shelley, irritated by his taciturn responses to her tonight, was banging around in the kitchen.
The outcome of Erick Elgberg’s hearing had been mentioned briefly. Pictures of him being driven away, a free man, were shown.
There could be no doubt that Elgberg had made a deal with the authorities. What might he have that the police would accept in exchange for his freedom? Jim thought he knew the answer to that.
Elgberg had detailed knowledge of John Forbes and the Invisible Company.
Jim walked out into the garden. It was a warm night and the sky was clear. Watching the planes approaching Kew Garden Tower, aiming for Heathrow at two‑minute intervals, he thought about his last meeting with the boss. He had been taken aback to realise that John Forbes had been unaware of the dangerous assignments he and Neil had been ordered on by Boucher. He’d thought all along that he and Neil had been under Forbes’s protection, and it had come as a shock to both of them to realise that they had been risking their lives for a man who had no knowledge of what they were doing. A man dangerously out of touch.
They had never telephoned the boss except for explicit instructions during an operation. Jim knew there would be no telephone call from him tonight though doubtless he would have been told the outcome of Elgberg’s court appearance.
Jim thought of his family and how he had always carefully protected them from knowing anything about what he really did. He had never worried about this before, feeling that he and Neil had always been in complete control of the situation.
But now, if no more instructions were forthcoming, if John Forbes himself were under police observation, what would happen to his and Niel’s carefully constructed lives?
He felt edgy and restless, unsure how to handle this unfamiliar situation. After sitting in the dark for half an hour, he telephoned his brother in Chiswick.
Neil, too, had been watching the news and thinking about the way his life would be affected by this turn of events. They agreed to meet and discuss the steps they would have to take to ensure their own safety.
* * *
Bertrand Boucher stood at a tall window behind white voile curtains with his hands clasped behind his back, looking down at the busy Paris traffic.
An hour ago he had been informed by phone of the court’s decision.
He fully understood what had led to Erick Elgberg’s release. He would speak to the Clarks but tomorrow would do. Tonight he had tickets for the Opera and a distinctly chilly professor of psychology to win over.
All Dockett’s fault. But he had paid for it in the end.
‘Monsieur.’ Standing at the door to the living room, the butler interrupted his thoughts. ‘Your car has been waiting for some time. Do you want me to cancel the evening’s arrangements?’
For a moment Bertrand did not answer, then turned.
‘No. Definitely not.’
CHAPTER SEVENTY-SIX
_________________________
Lodeve, France, Friday, 9th August 1991
Erick walked into the empty farm yard and knocked on the front door which stood slightly open. Winston came towards him threateningly.
‘Monsieur Erick! Quelle surprise!’ Madame Popougnot hurried up to him, drying her hands on a cloth. She gave him a big wet kiss on each cheek and pushed the dog aside with one booted foot.
‘Hello, Erick.’ John followed close behind her. For a moment the two men looked at each other without speaking. Then John held out his hand and Erick shook it. Madame Popougnot disappeared back into the house.
‘Cecilia has taken Alina to the supermarket. They’ll be back soon. Let me get you a drink, and something to eat...’
‘I don’t want anything. We need to talk. Now.’
John sighed. ‘I heard you got out.’
‘Can we go for a walk?’
‘OK,’ he answered, then shouted to the others, ‘I’ll be back in an hour.’ Taking his old panama hat from the table and putting it on, he led Erick out of the yard. Winston followed three yards behind. In silence they walked along the edge of the lavender field. Tod
ay the leaves were solid green and the flowers a deep intense violet blue. Maybe it was a trick of the light but Erick could almost have described the colour as threatening. The lavender stretched ahead as far as the eye could see and closed around his feet trapping them in its wiry livid growth.
‘So you made a deal.’ John sat down on the bench when they reached Michael’s Place. ‘And I was the price.’
‘No.’ Erick sat beside him. ‘Andrea, Karen and Sam gave statements – I merely confirmed they were correct. They didn’t want to be associated with the killings.’
‘Ah.’ John turned his gaze towards him, and Erick knew he’d been believed.
‘I’ve come to help you,’ he said in a low, flat voice. ‘There’s not much time before things start to happen. The police could be on their way here at this very moment. Through Interpol in Lyon they have an extradition order so they can get you back to England right away.’
‘I still regard you as my friend, if that means anything, but I need some honest answers. What happened to Malcolm Fox, David Kennedy, Duncan Grace, Paul Dockett... I have to know the truth or I won’t lift a finger to help you.’
John said nothing.
‘Did you have Fox killed?’ Erick pressed him.
‘Yes.’
‘So you lied to me before?’
‘Yes.’
‘Did you have David Kennedy killed?’
‘It was a terrible decision. I regarded him as a friend, but the team members all made a solemn undertaking to me when they joined... Believe me, if there is one thing I regret today, it’s the killing of David. I handled it very badly.’
‘Did you have Duncan Grace killed?
‘That was strictly business.’
‘And Paul Dockett?
‘Boucher saw to that. Dockett made a fool out of him in front of his fiancée. And besides he had no choice. With Dockett alive we would all have been finished and you wouldn’t be here today.’
‘Is there anything else I should know about?’
John shrugged. ‘Depends what you mean. You’re not my confessor.’
At this confirmation of what he had already suspected, maybe even ought to know, Erick felt stricken and empty. The answers had come so fast. John showed no remorse except in the case of Kennedy. Erick knew time was running out and had to force himself to go on talking.