‘Funny little island, Nevis. How do you know it’s alright?’ Stone asked as they walked onto the pavement outside the Reform Club.
‘Personal contacts, Harry. That’s what you need in this business.’
‘I’m trading diamonds from there, stones of big value.’
‘I can see that. I can see they’re easy to give away too.’
Roger took Stone by the arm and turned to face him.
‘How did you know he was asking for a pay-off?’ Roger asked.
‘It’s simple. He wanted to meet away from his mother, out of her shadow. You told me the family is short of cash, and you can’t get signals clearer than that.’
‘Don’t you think that’s a dangerous way of dealing with Marine House? He’ll go straight back to his mother and crow about another fifty grand added to the price. He’ll show up at home as a good boy. And you’ve never met his sister. How do you know how she feels with a small diamond in her hand? And how do you know Josh will really pass the diamond on to her? I bet he’ll sell it and take the money. And asking for a hundred grand in cash upfront is a bit outrageous. Just as him asking for some work, I don’t know, but he looks a layabout to me.’
‘You still don’t know how human nature works, Roger. All I’ve done is give a guy a diamond. They have a fascination; they’re exotic, mysterious bits of rock, and people like Josh will feel grown up at doing such a deal. And that’s just as he tried to feel with the sexual assault in Hyde Park,’ Stone said.
‘Okay, but before we go, Harry, Electric Motors Inc. Shares going up and down like a toy yo-yo. A bit of a dud that one. But your stockbroker account is all waiting for you to pour your money into it.’ There was a gibe in Roger’s voice.
Maybe insider information emerging from a shadow in prison was a false trail. Just to catch him out. He turned away; he heard Roger laugh, and he felt the taunt. Electric Motors Inc was now left dangling in front of him just as if it was bait hanging at the end of a fishing rod on Brighton pier.
And there was Josh, the son of a titled lady. He too had come close to serving time in HMP Belmarsh right alongside Xavier and his cronies. Stone’s time was getting short. He would not forget that.