lover, a real stallion. At least six times a night.’
‘Well, I’ll try not to disappoint you.’ he said with a grin. The holiday had begun well.
The house was large, on two storeys, with thick stone walls which kept the interior refreshingly cool in the height of summer. Upstairs was a living area that lead onto a huge tiled balcony, with stone balustrade. They spent the first evening here, under the stars, having a supper of cold meats and cheeses, with slightly chilled red Chianti Classico, and then fresh fruit, grapes, figs and peaches.
‘I’m so glad you decided to come.’ Ben looked at her. She was wearing a cream silk shirt, the front tails of which she had tied at the waist. It revealed her flat tanned stomach above frayed denim shorts.
‘So am I. It’s so romantic. Just look at all those stars.’ She tilted her head back. ‘You never see them like that in London.’
The air, becoming slightly cooler now as the evening wore on, was filled with the gentle rhythmic sound of crickets chirping.
He reached slowly across the table and took her hand. She looked down for a moment, then stood up and walked round behind him. She bent down, put her arms around his chest and rubbed her face against the side of his head, kissing his ear. Her long blonde hair dangled in his face.
‘Shall we go to bed?’ she whispered. ‘I want to see if what I told those waiters really is true.’
She led him slowly by the hand into the house.
A loud, continuous, sharp knocking awoke Hamilton just before seven o’clock in the morning. It stopped for a few seconds and then resumed. He climbed out of bed, grabbed a dressing gown and headed for the front door. Upon opening it he was confronted by a short, well-built man with greasy hair and a shiny shirt and tie. He had an air of confidence and efficiency about him.
‘Good morning, sir. Are you Mr Ian Hamilton?’
‘Yes, I am.’
‘Sorry to call so early, sir. Its just that we find its easier to get hold of most people at this time. Before they leave for the day.’ He had obviously used this line a hundred times and he certainly didn’t sound the least bit sorry.
‘What do you want?’
‘I’ve been instructed by Motor Finance to collect the car registration CA227158. Unless of course you can give me a cheque for the outstanding balance.’
‘No, I’m afraid I can’t.’ Hamilton smiled with quiet resignation to the fact that from now on he’d be walking.
‘Then I must ask you for the keys, please sir. I have all the documentation and authorisations from the company here, if you’d like to check it, or phone them to confirm my identity.’
Hamilton gave it a cursory glance and signed where indicated.
‘Let me put some clothes on, and I’ll come down with you. There are a few CDs and maps in the car I need.’
A few minutes later Hamilton stood on the pavement as his repossessed car disappeared round the corner at the end of the road.
‘They arrived at the house on Saturday afternoon. Fabio and Maria had everything in place. He’s been sending DVDs back by DHL every day.’ James was briefing Ackermann on what they had found out from Ben Samuels.
‘For the first five days there was nothing of any interest to us concerning his share dealings for you. She hadn’t brought the subject up and he hadn’t volunteered any information.’
‘She’s taking her time, isn’t she? It’s not meant to be a holiday for her.’ Ackermann was gruff.
‘I think she’s gaining his confidence, putting him at ease. She doesn’t have to rush things. That way she’ll probably get far more out of him without arousing his suspicions.’
‘Let’s hope you’re right.’ His disposition this morning was not the best.
‘There is one thing that has come to light, which may or may not be related to your specific enquiry, but is certainly of interest to us.’
Ackermann looked up. ‘Go on.’
‘He’s a relatively heavy coke user.’
‘Is that so?’
‘Well, I’ll try not to disappoint you.’ he said with a grin. The holiday had begun well.
The house was large, on two storeys, with thick stone walls which kept the interior refreshingly cool in the height of summer. Upstairs was a living area that lead onto a huge tiled balcony, with stone balustrade. They spent the first evening here, under the stars, having a supper of cold meats and cheeses, with slightly chilled red Chianti Classico, and then fresh fruit, grapes, figs and peaches.
‘I’m so glad you decided to come.’ Ben looked at her. She was wearing a cream silk shirt, the front tails of which she had tied at the waist. It revealed her flat tanned stomach above frayed denim shorts.
‘So am I. It’s so romantic. Just look at all those stars.’ She tilted her head back. ‘You never see them like that in London.’
The air, becoming slightly cooler now as the evening wore on, was filled with the gentle rhythmic sound of crickets chirping.
He reached slowly across the table and took her hand. She looked down for a moment, then stood up and walked round behind him. She bent down, put her arms around his chest and rubbed her face against the side of his head, kissing his ear. Her long blonde hair dangled in his face.
‘Shall we go to bed?’ she whispered. ‘I want to see if what I told those waiters really is true.’
She led him slowly by the hand into the house.
A loud, continuous, sharp knocking awoke Hamilton just before seven o’clock in the morning. It stopped for a few seconds and then resumed. He climbed out of bed, grabbed a dressing gown and headed for the front door. Upon opening it he was confronted by a short, well-built man with greasy hair and a shiny shirt and tie. He had an air of confidence and efficiency about him.
‘Good morning, sir. Are you Mr Ian Hamilton?’
‘Yes, I am.’
‘Sorry to call so early, sir. Its just that we find its easier to get hold of most people at this time. Before they leave for the day.’ He had obviously used this line a hundred times and he certainly didn’t sound the least bit sorry.
‘What do you want?’
‘I’ve been instructed by Motor Finance to collect the car registration CA227158. Unless of course you can give me a cheque for the outstanding balance.’
‘No, I’m afraid I can’t.’ Hamilton smiled with quiet resignation to the fact that from now on he’d be walking.
‘Then I must ask you for the keys, please sir. I have all the documentation and authorisations from the company here, if you’d like to check it, or phone them to confirm my identity.’
Hamilton gave it a cursory glance and signed where indicated.
‘Let me put some clothes on, and I’ll come down with you. There are a few CDs and maps in the car I need.’
A few minutes later Hamilton stood on the pavement as his repossessed car disappeared round the corner at the end of the road.
‘They arrived at the house on Saturday afternoon. Fabio and Maria had everything in place. He’s been sending DVDs back by DHL every day.’ James was briefing Ackermann on what they had found out from Ben Samuels.
‘For the first five days there was nothing of any interest to us concerning his share dealings for you. She hadn’t brought the subject up and he hadn’t volunteered any information.’
‘She’s taking her time, isn’t she? It’s not meant to be a holiday for her.’ Ackermann was gruff.
‘I think she’s gaining his confidence, putting him at ease. She doesn’t have to rush things. That way she’ll probably get far more out of him without arousing his suspicions.’
‘Let’s hope you’re right.’ His disposition this morning was not the best.
‘There is one thing that has come to light, which may or may not be related to your specific enquiry, but is certainly of interest to us.’
Ackermann looked up. ‘Go on.’
‘He’s a relatively heavy coke user.’
‘Is that so?’
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