met the Tiger – he deals always through intermediaries. It was later, when the banker already worked for him, that the Tiger expanded his reach into the less pleasant activities.”
“Even less pleasant,” Jade qualified.
Ralph raised his glass to her, conceding the point. “And having worked for the Tiger, the Banker knew that he couldn’t step away. He knew what would happen to him if he did. The Tiger is probably the only one of his clients who knew who the Banker really was, from the old days when they were both starting out. It may be because of the Tiger that the Banker finally decided to retire.”
“Not an easy job to retire from,” Dad pointed out. “Which is why he made the death run.”
“The what?” Jade asked.
“Disappeared,” Ralph said. “Started a new life. Risky, but if you pull it off it can be worth it. The death run is the closest some of us get to a retirement plan. But somehow the Tiger found out what the Banker was planning and had him brought to Mont Passat.”
“You want to take the story from there, Dad?” Jade raised her eyebrows.
He shrugged. “Not a lot to tell. OK, so I did a bit of business in Mont Passat. That was why Ardman sent us there. I wasn’t going to tell you and spoil our break, but it was fairly clear it was a condition of the holiday that I get the Banker away from Mont Passat.”
“So you went into the casino, all guns blazing,” Rich said.
Dad smiled. “Hardly. I walked him out and put him in a car.”
“And the drinking and gambling?” Jade said.
“Part of my cover. Had to do it.” He grinned. “It was hell, you know.”
“Oh, I know,” said Jade sarcastically. “We saw the security footage.”
“And that,” Ralph said, “is why you are here.”
“Oh?” Dad held out his glass for more wine. “I haven’t seen them, but the images show nothing. I know that. I made sure of it.”
“True,” Ralph agreed. “I have examined them very carefully. There is no sign of the Banker, nothing to show how he escaped or who helped him. But…” He paused to refill his own glass. “But you are there, my friend. That is what I wanted to warn you. The camera footage I have is a copy, an expensive copy. But the original is still with the man who actually owns the casino at Mont Passat.”
“Guess who,” Dad said. “So those rumours are true as well.”
“There are several holding companies and offshore investment banks in between. But yes, behind it all is a hidden Tiger. A Tiger who will also be examining those security pictures. A Tiger who will, sooner or later, recognise you.”
“A Tiger who, like us, does not believe in coincidence.” It was the first time that Scevola had spoken and his tone was still severe. “This is of very little interest to me and my colleagues. As Ralph has told you, we lost relatively little when the Banker went. But you are a friend of Ralph’s and he tells us he owes you a favour.”
“And the Tiger,” Ralph said, “if the rumours are true, has lost rather more. He entrusted the Banker with almost all his funds. The Banker and the Banker alone has the account numbers and access codes that can release those funds. The Tiger will be desperate to find him, to recover the account numbers and codes before he hands them over.”
“His bargaining chips,” Dad said. “That’s what he’ll be offering in return for the death run – access to the money, and the names and details of the people he worked for. A huge coup for Ardman. But the Banker will hold out for the very best deal he can get.”
“As long as he holds out, the Tiger will be after the money.” Ralph sipped at his wine. “Even after the money is gone, the Tiger will want to get his hands on the Banker. And,” he added significantly, “on anyone who helped him get away.”
“Dad,” said Rich quietly.
“You look for trouble, don’t you?” Jade told him.
“It’s my job,” he replied.
Ralph turned so he was face to face with John Chance. “That is the warning, my friend. If I can find out who helped the Banker to escape, then you can be sure that the Tiger can too. And when he does…” Ralph sighed and shook his head. “Now, who wants ice cream?”
It was evening by the time they got back to the hotel.
“You go up to the room and get packed,” Dad told Rich and Jade as they reached the small lounge bar. “We leave tomorrow, so we might as well be ready.”
“And what are you going to do?” Jade asked. “Just off to smuggle some double agent out of the country?”
Dad forced a laugh. “No. But I am going to call Ardman and give him a piece of my mind.”
“And warn him about this Tiger bloke?” Rich asked.
Dad nodded. “I expect he already knows. But yes, I’ll pass on Ralph’s warning.” He pulled out his mobile.
“You going to phone from down here?” Jade wondered.
“It’s impossible to get a drink when you want one, so I think it’s the best place if you don’t want to be overheard.”
“Meaning you don’t want us to overhear,” Rich said.
“You’re welcome to stay and listen.” He was already dialling.
“Let’s go and pack,” Jade said.
Dad gave them a wave as he spoke into the phone. “This is Chance. Can you have Mr Ardman call me back on this number with maximum encryption… Yes, it is rather urgent.”
The hotel manager arrived and offered Chance a drink while he was waiting for his call. The manager was a stooped, middle-aged man with slicked back hair that was obviously dyed as well as oiled. He poured a double whisky and dropped in two ice cubes that Chance didn’t want.
The phone rang as Chance took a sip of the whisky. He held the mobile up for the manager to see. “Private,” he said simply.
The manager nodded. He was about to leave, then as an afterthought put the bottle of whisky on the table beside Chance.
Chance turned away slightly as he answered the call. “Chance here…” He waved his appreciation at the manager’s disappearing back. “Yeah, I did say it was urgent. I thought you’d like to know that the Mafia and the Krejikistan underworld, and probably Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all, know about what happened at Mont Passat.” Chance explained about his meeting with Ralph and Scevola.
They talked through the implications of Chance’s meeting with Ralph for several minutes. Chance asked: “So, any reason to think the Tiger might be looking for us, apart from what I’ve been told here?”
“None so far,” Ardman’s measured, slightly plummy tones answered. He sounded cautious rather than angry at the events Chance had described. “It’s a possibility. We always knew that.”
“You didn’t tell me.”
“You didn’t need to know.”
“So, what do I need to know, if not that a sadistic criminal mastermind is looking for me.”
“He’s looking for the Banker, not you.” Ardman pointed out. “And the good news is that his ability to find you has been severely curtailed since he can’t get at most of his money. Unfortunately,” he went on, “neither can we. But that’s something for me to worry about.”
“The Banker not coming up with the goods?”
“The