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Chapters (61)
  1. Prologue
  2. Chapter One
  3. Chapter Two
  4. Chapter Three
  5. Chapter Four
  6. Chapter Five
  7. Chapter Six
  8. Chapter Seven
  9. Chapter Eight
  10. Chapter Nine
  11. Chapter Ten
  12. Chapter Eleven
  13. Chapter Twelve
  14. Chapter Thirteen
  15. Chapter Fourteen
  16. Chapter Fifteen
  17. Chapter Sixteen
  18. Chapter Seventeen
  19. Chapter Eighteen
  20. Chapter Nineteen
  21. Chapter Twenty
  22. Chapter Twenty-One
  23. Chapter Twenty-Two
  24. Chapter Twenty-Three
  25. Chapter Twenty-Four
  26. Chapter Twenty-Five
  27. Chapter Twenty-Six
  28. Chapter Twenty-Seven
  29. Chapter Twenty-Eight
  30. Chapter Twenty-Nine
  31. Chapter Thirty
  32. Chapter Thirty-One
  33. Chapter Thirty-Two
  34. Chapter Thirty-Three
  35. Chapter Thirty-Four
  36. Chapter Thirty-Five
  37. Chapter Thirty-Six
  38. Chapter Thirty-Seven
  39. Chapter Thirty-Eight
  40. Chapter Thirty-Nine
  41. Chapter Forty
  42. Chapter Forty-One
  43. Chapter Forty-Two
  44. Chapter Forty-Three
  45. Chapter Forty-Four
  46. Chapter Forty-Five
  47. Chapter Forty-Six
  48. Chapter Forty-Seven
  49. Chapter Forty-Eight
  50. Chapter Forty-Nine
  51. Chapter Fifty
  52. Chapter Fifty-One
  53. Chapter Fifty-Two
  54. Chapter Fifty-Three
  55. Chapter Fifty-Four
  56. Chapter Fifty-Five
  57. Chapter Fifty-Six
  58. Epilogue
  59. Author’s Note
  60. Acknowledgements
  61. About the Author

“Lieutenant, as I’m sure my PA already told you, I really haven’t got much time, so I’d appreciate it if you’d get straight to the point and tell me which member of my management team is causing you some concern.”

“That’s my problem, Mr Franklin. At this point I don’t know, and that’s why I need your help.”

Franklin felt a strange feeling of unease and didn’t enjoy the unusual sensation of not being in total control of events. “Lieutenant, how can I help you?”

Hembury produced a small black notebook from his inside jacket pocket and flicked it open.

“One of your employees uses a direct phone line that bypasses the switchboard system. The number is 742-9898. I’m assuming that only senior management staff would have the facility of a direct line?”

Even though he was completely stunned by Hembury’s question, Franklin kept a totally straight face. “And why would that be of concern to the LAPD?”

“I’m assisting the Buenos Aires Police Department on a complex, high-profile case that involves robbery and murder. They believe that whoever uses that private line is somehow involved, and I’d like to speak to them. I assume it would be easy for you to check who the number is assigned to?”

Franklin answered the question with one of his own. “Lieutenant, is this an official Los Angeles Police Department enquiry?”

“Not at this time, sir. As I said, I’m assisting a fellow detective, Chief Inspector Vargas, who is working the case in Argentina.”

Hembury studied Franklin’s reaction to his deliberate mention of his colleague’s name but there wasn’t even a flicker of recognition on his face. Franklin suddenly stood up, and it was apparent to Hembury that their meeting was over.

“Lieutenant, this is clearly an unofficial enquiry and is of no interest to me whatsoever as, when I last checked, we are not answerable to the Buenos Aires Police Department. They have no jurisdiction here. Also, I refuse to believe that any member of my management team would be involved in the sort of behaviour you refer to. We are one of the most respected companies in the country and, it may have escaped your notice, my son is currently running for the presidential nomination, which means, lieutenant, I’m a very busy man and I’m afraid you are wasting my time.”

Chapter Thirty

18 January 2012

San Francisco