To Save a Son by Brian Freemantle Page A

as a front, for criminals to operate,” protested Franks. “Are you suggesting we become criminals too?”
    â€œThere’s been nothing criminal in the operation of the company,” insisted the lawyer.
    â€œSurely in American law it’s criminal to withhold information in a criminal investigation?”
    â€œI’m not a criminal lawyer, as you said,” agreed Nicky. “But my understanding is that we comply with the law if we respond to the requests that are made of us. But no more.”
    â€œWhat are you saying?”
    â€œJust that,” said Nicky. “We comply, but we don’t offer any more than what’s asked of us.”
    â€œYou mean there might not be any prosecution?”
    â€œI’ve no idea if there’s going to be any sort of prosecution. Certainly, from what was said yesterday, they seem to know a lot, but it’s a lot about Pascara and Dukes and Flamini. It’s not about this company. And that’s our only involvement. The hotels and the subsidiary casino operation.”
    â€œThrough which they’ve washed their money!”
    â€œIs it provable?” asked Nicky.
    Franks waved the folder at the other man. “The offshore accounts listed here would probably make it so.”
    â€œWe haven’t been asked for that.”
    â€œAre you suggesting we go on fronting for a bunch of gangsters?”
    â€œNo,” said Nicky. “I’m suggesting that we try to protect ourselves. In every way. If there’s no prosecution, then we quietly withdraw and divest ourselves of the holding.”
    â€œWhat if there is a prosecution?”
    â€œThen we’re innocent victims. Stupid maybe, but still people who were cheated.”
    Franks shook his head. “That won’t work.”
    â€œWhy not?”
    â€œAre you prepared to lie on oath?”
    â€œYes,” said Nicky, without any hesitation. “I don’t give a damn about perjury if I’m thinking about survival; I went to church to get christened, confirmed, and married.”
    He didn’t have any religion, thought Franks. So did perjury matter if it meant minimizing the damage that was likely? “What would you say?”
    â€œNothing,” said Nicky. “That I only knew them as business investors with whom every dealing was absolutely satisfactory.”
    â€œThat sounds like a character reference.”
    â€œTo me it sounds like common sense.”
    â€œI asked for anything that wasn’t in me official company records. Because it seemed obvious mat there would be something. What happens if me investigators ask as well?”
    Nicky spread his hands. “I don’t have it anymore.”
    â€œDon’t be glib,” said Franks.
    â€œLet’s destroy it, while we’ve got the chance,” said Nicky, suddenly urgent.
    â€œI haven’t looked at it yet.”
    â€œTake my word for what’s there.”
    â€œI took your word. And got trapped because of it. Don’t be fucking stupid.”
    â€œYou’re not in England now, Eddie. Here things are different. Pascara and Flamini and Dukes aren’t small time. They’re important, really important. We’re not talking of bicycle thefts and parking tickets.”
    â€œWhat are we talking about?”
    â€œWe’re talking about getting killed.”
    â€œDon’t be ridiculous!” Franks’ rejection was automatic but there was an immediate feeling of chill. He’d read about gangland assassinations, in newspapers and magazines. Read about them in fictionalized books, too, and seen the films. But that’s what it was. Newspaper stories about other people. And fiction. Not something that happened to him.
    â€œI’m not being ridiculous, Eddie. I’m being desperately serious.”
    â€œAre you telling me that you won’t testify against them if a case is made?”
    â€œExactly that.”
    â€œHow can