It was only a short distance from Claridge’s, but Stone took a taxi to Pall Mall. This was an area with buildings that were solid in their grandeur, and they left Stone feeling intimidated by the place. They smelled of authority, and the reality was that he never trusted what went on inside them. As his taxi pulled up to the porticoed entrance to the Reform Club, Roger was waiting. He walked over to him and, for a moment, forgot the pain that was now incessantly biting at him.
‘Before we go in this expansive place, what’ve you found on those toffs who own Marine House?’
‘You may be pleased to hear that there is no Sir Edwin Jackson around anymore. Rumours are that he is a bit foul-mouthed, and eight years ago, he became divorced from Lady Ruth. He was playing around, and she didn’t take kindly to it. She got Marine House and then only a small share of his sizeable bank balance and rent-free living in a nice house in Mayfair still owned by her ex-husband. But there was a lot of gossip that even then he had managed to hide a lump away. It made the headlines and I think you’re maybe coming in on act two.’
‘Is that all you’ve got? Tittle-tattle?’
‘What did you expect? But there’s more. There’s a son, Josh, the boy we’re going to meet, and a daughter, Edith. I found a county court judgement in June last year against her ladyship for £575 in favour of a wine merchant near Cambridge. Son Josh lives at the same address as his mother and, it would seem, likes his drink. And there’s a dark family secret.’
Stone had started to walk to the Reform Club entrance, but he turned to listen.
‘Just a year ago, Josh was accused of sexual assault of a woman in Hyde Park. Late at night. It never came to trial; the family kept it quiet and damages to the woman were settled out of court. How much was paid to keep Josh free from prison wasn’t disclosed, but it’s believed to have been substantial.’
‘Well, well, well, that could be really useful sometime,’ Stone said.
‘Between them they’re short of ready cash. That’s not something a family like that will admit to, but none of them seem to work and that, maybe, is the reason they’re trying to sell your large pad, Marine House. But have you got £2.5 million sitting around ready to pay over in the next few weeks?’ Roger asked.
‘Don’t you remember you sent me to Nevis? I’m clearing the Panama deposit. So I’m all ready to go. Sign up tomorrow if I can.’
Stone just grinned. He was not ready to go; he was still £500,000 short, but this was not the time to tell Roger that.
It was just ten minutes later, in the grand building of the Reform Club, that Harry Stone was sitting opposite Josh Jackson, a man half his age. But the high-backed leather chair Stone was sitting in was uncomfortable. With his back pain tormenting him, despite all the medication he had taken that morning, he would not be able to sit there long. This meeting was going to be short.
‘It’s good to meet you again, Josh. Is this your bolthole, the place where you usually deal with the family business?’ Stone asked.
‘Only come when I need to meet some important people,’ Josh said and grinned widely.
‘I like that. Good you think we’re key to your plans,’ Stone replied with a mocking grin.
Josh hesitated for a moment; he looked unsure as he stared at Stone and Roger sitting opposite.
‘I want to talk away from the ears of Mother’s office space. And here it’s comfortable, with nobody snooping on you. And I trust we can keep this meeting just between ourselves,’ Josh replied.
‘Let’s not waste our time then. Tell me, did I hear right when we met that your mother wants to keep me off the list of potential buyers? Her shopping list for Marine House?’
‘Mother’s very fickle. Sometime last year you got behind in paying the rent on your lease and she was afraid you would default and have to be evicted. That takes time; it costs money; and she needs the rental income. And there were—’
‘Josh, stop. I don’t want to hear that gossip anymore if that’s what you’re about to spout,’ Stone interrupted quickly.
Josh looked around the room. Raised voices was not the way business was conducted in this panelled place. He almost cringed into his chair.
‘I will tell you as it is, Mr Stone. Can I call you Harry?’
‘I don’t go in for names and fancy titles, so why not?’ Stone replied.
‘Mother doesn’t think you have the funds to buy the property. She doesn’t know where your money’s come from, and maybe it’s, as she calls it, from dubious sources.’
‘That’s nonsense,’ Stone said and stared at Josh.
‘Harry, please, steady a moment – I want to talk about it.’
‘I held up paying the rent until they arranged to secure all the locks and bolts around the property. The place wasn’t safe, and I’d been assaulted right inside my own bedroom by some vicious snarling dogs.’
There was a pause and Josh looked at Stone with an anxious frown on his forehead. And Roger looked away, as if wary of what Stone would say today.
‘You got more to tell me?’ Stone asked.
‘I can help this deal along for you. Mother owns Marine House, but my sister Edith and myself are left equal shares when Mother dies.’
Josh fiddled with his fingers as he had when Stone met with Lady Ruth. Stone could see that Josh was uncomfortable, and he looked at Roger.
‘I advise Harry,’ Roger said. ‘So first, forget the cheap newspaper reports of a few months back. Harry’s not involved in their gossip, never was; the money launderers are in jail where they belong, and we’ll get bank references when you need them.’
Stone let the silence run for several seconds. Josh was now perspiring on his forehead. It was obvious to Stone that doing deals behind closed doors, admitting his family problems, was not Josh’s scene.
‘My sister’s the only person who could persuade Mother to sell you the house,’ Josh blurted and stared at Stone.
‘Let’s get straight to it then. Why isn’t she here with you?’
‘She’s too busy today; she has a lot of friends she sees.’
‘Too busy to do a deal? Let’s get down to it, what are you really after?’ Stone asked.
‘Something upfront.’
Stone fumbled in his pocket. He brought out one of the small diamonds from Nevis and he leant across and put it on the table in front of Josh. Roger made a grimace – although he had seen Harry Stone do some unusual things, this was something quite new.
‘That’s worth something; diamonds always are. It’s for your sister if she’s the one who dictates what happens. Anyway, girls like diamonds – they make them feel good.’ Stone’s tone was flippant.
Josh leant over and picked the stone from the table. He held it in the palm of his hand and studied it closely. He put the stone back on the table and his face became expressionless.
‘Are you prepared to up your offer? Say another fifty grand?’ he asked.
‘I don’t know. You tell me what a small diamond can do first. I want some positive noises of what’s going to seal the deal. And I want it done quick, no playing around. Okay?’ Stone said.
Stone was still feeling pain as he sat upright in his leather chair. He was not sure of Josh, and every time he looked him in the eyes, Josh turned away. He was wearing a blazer that was crumpled in the sleeves and with a pen clipped into the top pocket. His shirt and tie were nondescript, and he looked as down at heel as perhaps the family was. Stone fidgeted; he was feeling very uncomfortable. He wanted this meeting to finish.
‘How much is this stone worth?’ Josh asked.
‘Don’t know. Get it valued and tell me as a surprise. But you listen, Josh, diamonds are all private. You sell it on, pawn it, put it in a bit of jewellery or keep it until its value goes up, which it will. Let’s leave it that it’s a small deposit on Marine House. Speak to your sister and let me know she wants to talk. But don’t leave it too long.’
‘The diamond looks good. But, Harry, straight up, I need some money.’
‘What’re you talking about? Don’t push me too far.’ Stone’s voice was getting loud again.
‘Please get me some hard cash. I need some money upfront to clinch the deal. Can you get me £100,000?’
‘Part of the price in cash. Is that it?’
‘Yeah, that’s what’ll push this along for you.’
‘And your sister’s in on this is she?’ Stone asked.
‘No, but I will tell her. As soon as I get back.’
‘I need to be sure this will work. I give you seven days. You call me back that the deal is certain, then I find some cash for you. Okay?’
‘Okay, Harry. I won’t let you down. But, before we go, there’s something else. I’m going to ask you a favour.’
‘There’s nothing more on Marine House. I’ve gone far enough,’ Stone said.
‘No, this is personal.’
‘Tell me more, Josh?’
‘If you ever need help in your business affairs, I’m always looking for something to do, so can you remember me and give me a call? I’ll run around for you. I have time to spend on it; I have wide connections—’
Stone interrupted Josh. He stood as he wanted to finish the meeting.
‘We’ll meet again, soon. Talk to your sister; remind her where Marine House is, and she can then come and see me any time. And while you’re at it, give your mother my regards,’ Stone said with a sneer of sarcasm.
Stone left the small diamond on the table. As they got up to leave, Josh picked it up and, by the small grin on his face, was satisfied. £100,000 in cash – if he scraped around, Stone could find it. Josh was the family’s dark secret, and as they left the elegant surroundings of the Reform Club, whatever Josh did with that diamond, Stone saw it as putting his foot inside the front door of Marine House.