Turner stood up, nodding his head deferentially. “I thought you might say that, sir,” he responded. “If I might have a moment of your time, I think I have something that might interest you.”
Aurelian smiled. “Please, won’t you join me in my office?”
“I thought we might like to go for a walk, Mr. Reynard.”
Aurelian hid his surprise. “Elayna, I’ll be back in my office in half an hour or so.”
“Yes, Mr. Reynard,” said Elayna. “Would you like coffee to be waiting for you on your return?”
Will wonders never cease!“Thank you, Elayna, that would be lovely.”
His assistant smiled.
Five minutes later, the two men were walking through the front courtyard of the Pleasure House headquarters. It was a spacious area of several hundred square meters, with winding pathways and small ornamental gardens.
“Now, Mr. Turner, what do you have to say that could not be said within the confines of my office?” asked Aurelian.
Turner looked around a little bit. “Well, Mr. Reynard, I just thought given what I found, it might be a good idea to make sure no one else can hear us, if you know what I mean.”
“Are you suggesting my office might be bugged?” That was a disturbing thought…
“Dunno, Mr. Reynard. But a little bit of discretion never hurt.” Turner was fidgeting with nervous energy.
The pair turned down a gravel path. “Understood, Mr. Turner, and fair enough. Now please tell me what you have found.”
“And then we can consider that other matter closed?” asked Turner anxiously.
“We’ll see.”
“Well, sir, I did as you asked, and did a little bit of digging for financial oddities around the time of…around the date in question,” Turner began. “I think I found something.”
“Go on.”
“About a month before the date, two senior members of the House formed a new holding company. Think of it like…a little pocket inside the House. You wouldn’t necessarily notice it unless you already knew it was there. Anyways, as soon as the holding company was formed, a substantial amount of money was transferred into it from outside.”
“How much money?” asked Aurelian.
“A cool ten mill.”
Certainly enough to kill for.He whistled. “Any idea where the money came from?”
“Luxury liner, Mr. Reynard. TheStella Maris.”
Where had he heard that name before? Just last night. Marc had said the cutter that had landed last night had come from theStella Maris.
“Any activity on the account since then?” Aurelian asked.
“I was about to say, sir. Just this morning, another ten mill. I might not have spotted the first one if it hadn’t been for that,” answered Turner.
“All right. Who are the members who opened the holding company?”
“Rachel Gentry and Harold Dawes, sir.” Turner swallowed. He had just named two of the most powerful senior members of the Pleasure House of Tarma.
“I see,” said Aurelian carefully. “And the name of the holding company?”
“Holloway Holdings, Mr. Reynard.”
***
