Franklin nodded and couldn’t prevent a hint of a smile breaking out, as Paz was exceeding his expectations. “Señor Paz, I think we understand each other, so let me explain how our arrangement will work. You will close down your company and reopen it under a new name, which I will provide. In return, you’ll receive a personal payment of two million dollars and a second payment of five million dollars will be paid into the new company. You will be the CEO, but, in reality, the Franklin Corporation will own it. There will be months, maybe even years, when you won’t hear from me and you can run the business however you deem fit. There will be zero interference. But, whenever I need your assistance, you will immediately turn over the entire resources of the company to take whatever action is required.”

Paz’s mind was spinning at the mind-numbing numbers Franklin had just offered. “So what will the new company be called?”

Franklin was well prepared for the question: he’d already decided to name it after Martin Bormann’s father, in tribute to his mentor.

“You’ll be the CEO of Theodor Consultants. And, in that capacity, you can help me right now with some local advice. Which bank has the most secure safe depository in the city?”

“That’s easy, Señor Franklin. It’s the Banco Estero on Avenida Cabildo.”

Chapter Forty-Eight

29 January 2012

Buenos Aires

Hembury and Vargas were booked on an 8.30 a.m. flight to Los Angeles and were ploughing through an early morning breakfast.

“Troy, these are the best scrambled eggs I’ve ever eaten.”

Vargas used a piece of brown toast to scoop up the remains of his food. Troy grinned back at him. “You can thank Gordon Ramsay. I found the recipe on his YouTube channel.”

Over the meal, Vargas brought Hembury up to speed on the Paz arrest and the clear thread that tied Franklin to Theodor Consultants.

“The problem we have is that everything is circumstantial. We need concrete evidence that proves the Franklin Corporation owns Theodor. Our IT guys are digging deep, trying to establish who the shareholders of the company really are.”

Hembury’s phone buzzed and he glanced down at the text. “That’s our cab, Nic. Let’s continue this on the way to the airport.”

A major crash, involving a transport lorry, resulted in a three-mile backup on the main road to the airport and it was touch and go whether the detectives were going to make their flight. As the taxi crawled towards Terminal A, Hembury unzipped his carry-on bag to check he had his passport and paperwork ready.

“Damn it, I’ve left my laptop at your place. I know exactly where it is. It’s on the breakfast bar in the kitchen. I obviously spent too much time trying to impress you with my culinary skills.”