The Black Fire by Michael Donovan

Author:Michael Donovan [Donovan, Michael]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: House On The Hill Publishing
Published: 2019-12-27T14:30:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

I guess I got carried away

I got my feet onto the desk and keyed Foxglove's number. The call went through to voicemail.

'This is your friendly private investigation agency,' I said. 'All problems solved and all wrongs righted. In this case the problem is you and the wrong is the writing. Specifically the graffiti on Ms Waters' bedroom door. I do get your message, of course, but you've seen our record. Backing off isn't our thing. And we both know that sticks and stones aren't going to work for either of us. So how about an alternative? A win-win. How about our agency pulls its nose out and forgets the whole thing and you rustle up a golden handshake to express your gratitude. Sound good? I've given it some thought and it seemed to me that doubling the original fee would be about right. But then I gave it some more thought and wondered whether we should factor in our position of now holding information that would be problematic for your operations and might interest the authorities investigating Mr Barker's accident. I'll spare you the detail but we basically know everything and have proof to back things up. And a good business never sells itself short, as you'll agree. So let's set the non-disclosure fee at a hundred K. If we discount your earlier instalments that leaves barely eighty to pay. Eighty K and we're out of your hair forever. How does that sound? Get back to me and we'll arrange the transaction. But let's move fast. This offer ends at close of business tomorrow. After that it will be between you and the authorities and that sounds like nothing but trouble to me.'

I killed the line. Grinned at Shaughnessy. He was leaning against the wall by my barometer.

'I thought you said forty K,' he commented.

'I got carried away. And once it's said you can't change the recording. You think I should call again, drop the price?'

Shaughnessy smiled.

'Might sound weak.'

'Or maybe up it. Would he swallow two hundred K?'

'What if he paid? We'd have an ethical decision on our hands.'

'He might pay the hundred. That's still going to be tricky.'

Shaughnessy held the smile.

'We're worrying about nothing,' he said. 'The guy's not going to pay a penny.'

'It's just nice to dream...'

Shaughnessy twisted and leaned to get a view out into reception.

'Lucy's on the blower,' he said. 'She didn't hear. She'd have been lecturing us on the ethics whilst she ran for the furniture catalogues.'

I leaned back. Clasped my hands behind my head. Watched the sky. A beautiful spring day. Barely a wisp of cloud. A day when your spirits soar. Maybe too high.

'A hundred K is pushing it,' I admitted. 'But it's still credible. The guy needs to believe we're serious, which means the extortion has to be something he might actually pay if he wasn't a psychopath.'

I looked back.

'Give him two hours,' Shaughnessy said. 'He'll have made up his mind by then.'

'My phone is on charge,' I said.

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