advised refusal of permission for Voronov to build the Crystal Tower until he was ready to … negotiate.’
Dunham nodded.
‘I see what you mean,’ he said. ‘What you’re asking me is how long do we wait for him to try and bribe us before we actually renege on our decision to decline planning permission? I am right aren’t I, Adrian? That is what you meant?’
‘If Voronov is so set on this new project and it is bigger than the Crystal Tower then he should be willing to negotiate.’
‘Offer us more in the way of bribes than he did before we granted building permission for the Crystal Tower you mean?’
‘If you want to put it that way.’
‘Which other way should I put it, Adrian? You’re not only hoping I’ll collude with you in this you’re hoping I’ll ask for more money from Voronov, too.’
‘ He’s a rich man, he can afford it.’
‘He can afford to pay us bribe money, that’s true but whether he should or not remains to be seen.’
‘Oh don’t be so self righteous. You were quick enough to accept what he paid last time. Don’t try and make out you’re above this kind of investment. Don’t pretend that your conscience won’t allow you to accept any gifts he might offer to speed along the building of his next project.’
‘I genuinely don’t believe that this new hotel would be good for London. It has nothing to do with money.’
‘Rubbish. Everyone has their price.’
‘And yours would appear to be somewhat lower than many, Adrian.’
‘I’m talking about oiling the wheels a little. If Voronov wants to do that then why should we refuse?’
‘No one has said Voronov has any intention of oiling wheels or any other pieces of machinery. You’re just hoping that you can blackmail him into paying you some money to help him get his hotel built.’
‘It isn’t blackmail,’ Murray snapped.
‘Prostitution?’
Murray shook his head dismissively.
‘I think we know what you are, Adrian we’re just establishing your going rate,’ Dunham grinned.
‘Save the morality for someone who wants to listen, Brian. Are you telling me that you’d refuse if he approached you?’
Dunham shrugged.
‘Some things aren’t for sale and self respect is one of them,’ he said.
‘Well, I’m glad you value your self respect so highly,’ Murray went on. ‘I am perfectly capable of retaining mine but am also not averse to any incentives that Mr Voronov might wish to offer.’
‘Financial incentives?’
‘If that’s the way it has to be. Listen, it isn’t just money. I don’t like his kind.’
‘You mean rich foreigners?’
‘You know what I mean,’ Murray said agitatedly.
‘Your opposition has been duly noted, Adrian. To Voronov and every other rich foreigner who wants something done in this city.’
Murray regarded his companion silently for a moment, his eyes narrowing slightly.
‘The hotel isn’t going to be built, Adrian. That’s the end of it.’
‘It isn’t your decision alone.’
‘As the leader of this committee …’
‘You are responsible to the people of London,’ Murray cut in. ‘Just like the rest of us on this committee.’
‘And I feel that it would be in London’s best interests if this hotel was not built. Your concerns should be with the citizens and residents of London too, rather than your own bank account.’
‘Don’t preach to me,’ Murray sneered. ‘We’ve known each other too long. You’re no better than I am so don’t try and take a stand on the moral high ground, Brian because it can get very slippery up there. I’ve seen people fall before.’
Dunham turned towards the door.
‘Well if I fall,’ he said, irritably. ‘The splash might just sink a few smaller boats like yours, Adrian. I’d be careful if I were you.’
He pulled the door open and slipped through leaving Murray alone in the deserted office.
LONDON; 1933
Twelve large candles had been placed in a circle in the centre of the cellar floor.
The old
Dunham nodded.
‘I see what you mean,’ he said. ‘What you’re asking me is how long do we wait for him to try and bribe us before we actually renege on our decision to decline planning permission? I am right aren’t I, Adrian? That is what you meant?’
‘If Voronov is so set on this new project and it is bigger than the Crystal Tower then he should be willing to negotiate.’
‘Offer us more in the way of bribes than he did before we granted building permission for the Crystal Tower you mean?’
‘If you want to put it that way.’
‘Which other way should I put it, Adrian? You’re not only hoping I’ll collude with you in this you’re hoping I’ll ask for more money from Voronov, too.’
‘ He’s a rich man, he can afford it.’
‘He can afford to pay us bribe money, that’s true but whether he should or not remains to be seen.’
‘Oh don’t be so self righteous. You were quick enough to accept what he paid last time. Don’t try and make out you’re above this kind of investment. Don’t pretend that your conscience won’t allow you to accept any gifts he might offer to speed along the building of his next project.’
‘I genuinely don’t believe that this new hotel would be good for London. It has nothing to do with money.’
‘Rubbish. Everyone has their price.’
‘And yours would appear to be somewhat lower than many, Adrian.’
‘I’m talking about oiling the wheels a little. If Voronov wants to do that then why should we refuse?’
‘No one has said Voronov has any intention of oiling wheels or any other pieces of machinery. You’re just hoping that you can blackmail him into paying you some money to help him get his hotel built.’
‘It isn’t blackmail,’ Murray snapped.
‘Prostitution?’
Murray shook his head dismissively.
‘I think we know what you are, Adrian we’re just establishing your going rate,’ Dunham grinned.
‘Save the morality for someone who wants to listen, Brian. Are you telling me that you’d refuse if he approached you?’
Dunham shrugged.
‘Some things aren’t for sale and self respect is one of them,’ he said.
‘Well, I’m glad you value your self respect so highly,’ Murray went on. ‘I am perfectly capable of retaining mine but am also not averse to any incentives that Mr Voronov might wish to offer.’
‘Financial incentives?’
‘If that’s the way it has to be. Listen, it isn’t just money. I don’t like his kind.’
‘You mean rich foreigners?’
‘You know what I mean,’ Murray said agitatedly.
‘Your opposition has been duly noted, Adrian. To Voronov and every other rich foreigner who wants something done in this city.’
Murray regarded his companion silently for a moment, his eyes narrowing slightly.
‘The hotel isn’t going to be built, Adrian. That’s the end of it.’
‘It isn’t your decision alone.’
‘As the leader of this committee …’
‘You are responsible to the people of London,’ Murray cut in. ‘Just like the rest of us on this committee.’
‘And I feel that it would be in London’s best interests if this hotel was not built. Your concerns should be with the citizens and residents of London too, rather than your own bank account.’
‘Don’t preach to me,’ Murray sneered. ‘We’ve known each other too long. You’re no better than I am so don’t try and take a stand on the moral high ground, Brian because it can get very slippery up there. I’ve seen people fall before.’
Dunham turned towards the door.
‘Well if I fall,’ he said, irritably. ‘The splash might just sink a few smaller boats like yours, Adrian. I’d be careful if I were you.’
He pulled the door open and slipped through leaving Murray alone in the deserted office.
LONDON; 1933
Twelve large candles had been placed in a circle in the centre of the cellar floor.
The old
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