AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Is this some kind of joke?” she demanded.
“Not at all. I just wanted to be sure I caught your attention.”
“Well, you’ve succeeded. So what do I have to do to get you to sign the check?”
“Supply me with a copy of the document Mr. Carter wanted to see before he was willing to hand over ten thousand pounds.”
There was a long pause before Virginia spoke again. “Ten thousand won’t be enough for that, because I know exactly why you’re so desperate to get your hands on it.”
“How much?”
“Twenty thousand.”
“I’ve been authorized to go up to fifteen,” said Giles, hoping he sounded convincing.
Another long pause. “Once I’m in possession of a check for fifteen thousand pounds, I’ll send you a copy of the document.”
“I don’t think so, Virginia. I’ll hand over the check when you give me a copy of the document.”
Virginia fell silent once again, before she said, “When and where?”
* * *
Giles pushed his way through the revolving doors into the Ritz Hotel just after 2:45 the following afternoon. He made his way straight to the Palm Court and selected a table from which he would be able to see Virginia the moment she appeared.
He flicked through the pages of The Evening Standard to pass the time, but still found himself looking up every few moments and repeatedly checking his watch. He knew Virginia wouldn’t be on time, especially after he’d provoked her, but he was equally confident that she wouldn’t be too late, because Coutts closed their doors at five o’clock, and she would want to bank the check before going home.
When Virginia entered the tea room at eleven minutes past three, Giles gasped. No one would have thought it possible that this elegant woman was over sixty. In fact, several men stole a second glance as “the most classy broad in the joint,” to quote Bogart, walked slowly across to join her ex-husband.
Giles stood up to greet her. As he bent down to kiss her on both cheeks, the slight fragrance of gardenia brought back many memories.
“It’s been too long, my darling,” purred Virginia as she sat down opposite him. After the slightest of pauses, she added, “And you’ve put on so much weight.”
The spell was broken, and Giles was quickly reminded why he didn’t miss her.
“Shall we get the business out of the way,” she continued, opening her handbag and extracting an envelope. “I’ll give you what you came for, but not before you hand over my check.”
“I need to see the document before I’m willing to part with any money.”
“You’re just going to have to trust me, my darling.” Giles stifled a smile. “Because if I let you read it, you may feel you no longer need to pay me.”
Giles couldn’t fault her logic. “Perhaps we can agree on a compromise,” he suggested. “You turn to the last page of the document and show me Mellor’s signature and the date, and I’ll show you the check.”
Virginia thought for a moment before she said, “First I want to see the money.”
Giles produced a check for £15,000 from an inside pocket and held it up for her to see.
“You haven’t signed it.”
“I will, as soon as I see Mellor’s signature.”
Virginia slowly unsealed the envelope, extracted a thin legal document, and turned to the third page. Giles leaned forward and studied Mellor’s signature, which had been witnessed by a Mr. Colin Graves, senior prison officer, and dated
May 12th, 1981.
He placed the check on the table, signed it, and passed it across to Virginia. She hesitated for a moment, then smiled mischievously before slipping the document back into the envelope and handing it to Giles. He placed it in his briefcase, before saying casually, “If you only got the copy, who has the original?”
“That will cost you another five thousand.”
