Kane and Abel by Jeffrey Archer

Author:Jeffrey Archer [Archer, Jeffrey]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, azw3, pdf
Tags: Thrillers, Jeffrey Archer, Sagas, Azizex666, Fiction
ISBN: 9780330513029
Google: 9h-EWAFa1SQC
Amazon: 0312942729
Goodreads: 8731725
Publisher: Pan Books
Published: 1979-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

The next item on Abel’s agenda was the insurance man.

Henry Osborne turned out to be tall and good-looking, with dark eyes and a mop of dark hair turning grey around the temples, and an easy, congenial manner. He had little to add to what Lieutenant O’Malley had told Abel. The Great Western Casualty Insurance Company had no intention of paying any part of the claim while the police were pressing for a charge of arson against Desmond Pacey, and until it was proved that Abel himself was in no way involved. Despite the blunt statement, Osborne seemed to be very understanding about the whole problem.

‘Has the Richmond Group enough money to rebuild the hotel?’ he asked.

‘Not a red cent,’ said Abel. ‘The rest of the group is mortgaged up to the hilt, and the bank is pressing me to sell.’

‘Why you?’ said Osborne.

Abel explained how he had come to own the group’s shares without actually owning the hotels.

‘Surely the bank can see for themselves how well you ran this hotel? Every businessman in Chicago knows that you were the first manager ever to make a profit for Davis Leroy. I realize the banks are going through hard times, but even they ought to know when to make an exception, especially when it’s in their own interest.’

‘Not this bank.’

‘Continental Trust?’ said Osborne. ‘I’ve always found old Curtis Fenton a bit starchy, but amenable enough.’

‘It’s not Continental any more. The hotels are now owned by a Boston outfit called Kane and Cabot.’

Henry Osborne went white and sank back in his chair.

‘Are you okay?’ asked Abel.

‘Yes, I’m fine.’

‘Have you had dealings with Kane and Cabot in the past?’

‘Off the record?’ said Henry Osborne.

‘Sure.’

‘Yes, my company came up against them once before, and we ended up losing every penny.’

‘How come?’

‘I can’t reveal the details. A messy business - let’s just say one of the directors took advantage of a carefully worded contract.’

‘Which one?’ asked Abel.

‘Which one have you been dealing with?’

‘William Kane.’

Osborne didn’t regain his colour. ‘Be careful,’ he said. ‘He’s the world’s meanest son of a bitch. I could give you the lowdown on him, but it would have to be in the strictest confidence because he’s not a man to cross.’

‘I intend to cross him,’ said Abel, ‘so I may well be in touch. I have a score to settle with Mr Kane.’

‘Well, you can count on me to help in any way I can if William Kane is involved,’ said Osborne, rising from behind his desk, ‘but that must be strictly between us. And if the court finds that Desmond Pacey set fire to the Richmond and no one else was involved, the company will pay your claim in full the same day.’ He opened the door for Abel. ‘Then perhaps we can do some additional business with your other hotels.’

‘Perhaps,’ said Abel.

Abel walked back to the Stevens, to find another message awaiting him. A Mr David Maxton wondered if he was free to join him for lunch at one.

‘David Maxton,’ he said out loud, and the receptionist looked up.

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