“Two weeks ago, a safe depository in Buenos Aires was broken into and a number of boxes were raided, one of which was owned by the Franklin Corporation. The criminals who took part in the heist were systematically tortured and murdered by agents working for a security company called Theodor Consultants. It would appear Theodor was desperate to locate and repatriate the contents of Box 1321, the box owned by your company. Media reports suggest a rival gang was trying to steal the haul. But that’s not true.”

Richard Franklin sat stony-faced in his chair while John perched on the end of the desk, looking distinctly uneasy.

Hembury maintained eye contact with the older man. “Theodor was taking its instructions directly from you, Mr Franklin.”

“Lieutenant, this is getting very tiresome. As I told you last time, a bank robbery in Argentina does not fall under the jurisdiction of the LAPD, so I can’t see why it should be of any interest to you.”

Hembury had been expecting Franklin to use the same ploy as last time. “It became of great interest to me and the LAPD last night when you employed a hitman to try and take me out.”

Although the blood was visibly draining from Franklin’s face, he managed to keep his composure. “Lieutenant, I would imagine that hundreds of boxes were hit in the robbery, so it’s impossible to know what specific box was being chased down by this Theodor company and, secondly, they have no connection either to me or to the corporation. So, right now, I’d like you to leave, and you can be certain I will be speaking to the governor directly to ensure you are seriously reprimanded for coming to my home with this outrageous accusation.”

It was time for Hembury to play his first major card. “Mr Franklin, Interpol is now working with the Buenos Aires Police Department and using all the considerable means at their disposal to break through the cloak of secrecy surrounding the true share ownership of Theodor and I have no doubt they will discover a direct link to the Franklin Corporation. In addition, Theodor’s CEO, Matias Paz, is currently in police custody. He has been charged with multiple counts of murder and is facing a life sentence. I wonder how long it will be before he decides to cut a deal with the authorities in order to gain immunity?”

Hembury let the last sentence hang in the air for maximum effect. John Franklin went to speak for the first time but his father gestured to him to remain silent.

“By the way, Mr Franklin, we now know that a mobile we found at one of the crime scenes, containing a contact number for your San Francisco office, belonged to Paz. I assume it was a direct line running straight to your office?”