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“How much worse can it get?” said Martinez, pushing a copy of the Daily Telegraph across his desk. Fisher stared at the headline: Police believe IRA behind Heysham Ferry sabotage. “That’s put the building of the Buckingham back another six months, and don’t forget, this is all happening on Buchanan’s watch. What else has to go wrong before he begins to consider his position? I can tell you, if the share price falls any further, he’ll be sacked before he’s given the chance to resign. So you ought to be thinking seriously about taking his place. You may not get an opportunity like this again.”
“Even if Buchanan were to go, the obvious choice to replace him would be Mrs. Clifton. Her family founded the firm, they still own twenty-two percent of the stock and she’s well liked by her fellow directors.”
“I’ve no doubt she’s the favorite, but favorites have been known to fall at the first fence. So I suggest you go on loyally supporting the present chairman, because he may end up with the casting vote.” Martinez rose from his place. “Sorry to leave you, but I have an appointment with my bank to discuss this very subject. Ring me this evening. By then I may have an interesting piece of news for you.”
* * *
Once Martinez had climbed into the back of his Rolls-Royce and the driver had eased out into the morning traffic, he said, “Good morning, Kevin. Your lads did a fine job on the Heysham ferry. I only wish I could have seen the faces when the crates were opened at Harland and Wolff. So what have you got planned next?”
“Nothing, until you pay the hundred grand you still owe us.”
“I will be dealing with that this morning. In fact, it’s one of the reasons I’m visiting my bank.”
“I’m glad to hear that,” said Rafferty. “It would be a pity if you were to lose another of your sons so soon after the unfortunate death of Bruno.”
“Don’t threaten me!” shouted Martinez.
“It wasn’t a threat,” said Rafferty, coming to a halt at the next light. “And it’s only because I like you that I’d let you choose which of your sons would be allowed to survive.”
Martinez fell back in his seat and didn’t open his mouth again as the car continued on its journey, before finally coming to a halt outside the Midland Bank in St. James’s.
Whenever Martinez walked up the steps of the bank, he felt he was entering another world, one in which he was made to feel he didn’t belong. He was just about to grasp the door handle, when it swung open and a young man stepped forward.
“Good morning, Mr. Martinez. Mr. Ledbury is looking forward to seeing you.” Without another word, he led one of the bank’s most valued customer
s straight to the manager’s office.
“Good morning, Martinez,” said the manager as Don Pedro entered the room. “Mild weather we’re having for this time of year.”
It had taken Martinez some time to accept that when an Englishman drops the Mr. and refers to you only by your surname, it is in fact a compliment, because they are treating you as an equal. But not until they call you by your first name can you be considered a friend.
“Good morning, Ledbury,” said Martinez, but he still wasn’t sure how to respond to the English obsession with the weather.
“Can I get you some coffee?”
“No, thank you. I have another appointment at twelve.”
“Of course. We have, as you instructed, continued to purchase Barrington’s shares as and when they come on the market. As you are aware, now that you are in possession of twenty-two point five percent of the company’s stock, you are entitled to nominate two more directors to join Major Fisher on the board. However, I must stress that were your shareholding to increase to twenty-five percent, it would be a legal requirement for the bank to inform the Stock Exchange that you intend to make a takeover bid for the entire company.”
“That’s the last thing I want to do,” said Martinez. “Twenty-two point five percent is quite enough to serve my purpose.”
“Excellent, then all I require is the names of the two new directors you have chosen to represent you on the board of Barrington’s.”
Martinez removed an envelope from an inside pocket and handed it to the bank manager. Ledbury opened it, extracted the nomination form and studied the names. Although he was surprised, he didn’t comment. All he said was, “As your banker, I must add that I hope the unfortunate setbacks Barrington’s has experienced recently will not prove a problem for you in the long term.”
“I have never been more confident about the company’s future.”
“I’m delighted to hear that, because the purchase of such a large number of shares has made considerable inroads into your capital. We must hope that the price will not fall any lower.”
“I think you’ll find that the company will shortly be making an announcement that should please both the shareholders and the City.”
“That is indeed good news. Is there anything else I can do for you at the present time?”
“Yes,” said Martinez. “I would like you to transfer one hundred thousand pounds to an account in Zürich.”
* * *
“I’m sorry to have to inform the board that I have decided to resign as chairman.”
