Stone’s mobile rang. He did not recognise the number, and he stared at the phone for some seconds before he picked it up.
‘Yes?’ Stone snapped in his usual, offhand manner.
‘That is Harry Stone, mate of my boss Xavier?’
‘Who are you?’
‘My name’s Chad. I’ve got a message for you from the man himself, yeah, right from his comfortable little cell. He says he can’t call you today and he asks me to be friendly and tell you something that’ll make you rich.’
‘Get on with it. I’ve got better things to do than listen to you all day.’ At that moment Stone could not control feeling irritable at anything he had to think about.
‘Give me a minute, Harry, and I’ll tell you of a big money-making swoop about to bounce out. Xavier’s insider mate has had another top tip, a mega deal going to break out from backroom privacy in some big bank and right onto the stock market.’
Stone reached for a pad and a pen on a side table.
‘Okay. I’m listening, but be quick.’
‘This jumbo money grab’ll be spread to the world by the end of the week. So, he says you gotta act fast if you want to get in on it. Do you know what I mean?’
‘I’ll decide that when I’ve checked it out,’ Stone said.
‘Yeah, but first you got to understand you’re not to let it out to anyone else, this one is too valuable.’
‘Why can’t that thug Xavier call me? I want to hear about this direct from him.’
‘He’s had some human rights taken away. No television, no talking to his mates. He hit a warder who was getting a bit narky, and they searched his cell and took his phone before he could hide it. Putting it in a pocket under his pillow was not good enough to keep it away from the screws. You must know what it’s like, Harry. Poor man, he’ll be in solitary soon. And that means all alone.’
‘What you got for me?’ Stone asked abruptly.
‘How much do you want to put in it, Harry? Fifty grand, seventy-five grand, hundred grand? Remember you’re going to double your money in the next few days.’
‘I want to know what Xavier’s putting up,’ Stone said.
‘Don’t know that. He keeps his money secret. Like we all do.’
‘What’s the name of the deal this time? I’ll need to look into it – then I’ll let you know,’ Stone said.
‘Harry, you just listen for a minute because this deal’s got to be different. Mr Xavier’s prison mate is getting worried that we’ll all get found out if there’s too many people buying it up before it’s announced to the world. We don’t want that, do we?’
‘You’re not talking to a schoolkid – what have you got?’ Stone felt immediate tension in his stiffening neck.
‘If you want to come in and join the party, Harry, you’ve gotta deal through an account in Geneva. The man on the outside who’s feeding us this valuable stuff has set up a bank account in that lovely Swiss city in each of our names and that’s where we will put our money. Then this deal is done in one big buy from there. Anonymously.’
‘Don’t give me that. He can’t set up an account in my name without my ID. He needs passport, place of birth, where I live, where the money came from, all that stuff.’
‘Harry, don’t be naïve. A man with your experience will know how these things are done.’
‘What’s this business all about that somebody wants to buy it for big money?’
‘Before I give you the name, a final warning, Harry. You run away and do this on your own, then our mole in the high-rise building in London will catch you and spill you right out onto the doorstep of the police crime squad who look at these things and somebody officious will come knocking on your door.’
‘I want the details.’ Stone was not sure where this was leading; he sipped his whisky and sat forward in his seat.
‘Sapphire Holdings Inc. Deals in precious stones. Do you know what a sapphire is, Harry?’
‘Leave it, I’ll find out. Give me the Geneva account details,’ Stone demanded. He was becoming annoyed at the increasing hustle coming from Chad.
‘I’ll email a letter from the people running this Swiss account, guaranteeing your money is safe. They take fifteen per cent commission on your profit. But we’ve got to close it today. Time limit is 5.00. That’s enough time for you to move your money into Geneva. Now’s the time to deal – you’re either in or out,’ Chad said, and Stone heard the phone click off.
Within a minute, account numbers, passwords, ID and names, PIN numbers, everything came through on an email for the new account in his name. And there was a letter headed Minted Money Investments, Rue Paradis, Geneva.
Dear Harry Stone,
We look forward to working with you in this special stock market investment. Your money is safe with us, and we guarantee your capital and profit on this transaction will be repaid to the same account from which you deposit with us your funds.
Confidentiality is assured by us at all times.
Jean Roche
Principal
Minted Money Investments
Stone read it through twice. He had never heard of Minted Money Investments. Then he knew he never would if it was a business run from the edge of Switzerland. He quickly checked the name Minted Money Investments on the internet. It showed Lake Geneva with a clear blue sky and a picture of Jean Roche, founder and Principal of Minted Money Investments. He looked no older than twenty-five.
Between indecision mixed with excitement, Stone started to pace the elegant sitting room of Marine House. He straightened his back, but it hurt him with a stabbing pain. It reminded him that his days were limited. And it increased his determination that Marine House was where he was going to spend that time.
But this Chad who knew too much about him was suspicious, jostling him with tight deadlines. He scanned again the account with bogus details but enough to be in his name in Geneva. And he admired the slick, almost frightening, way, using his fake identity, that had been done. He stood and stared across to the sea. His memory was still very sharp – he had closed the gap to buy Marine House in one easy deal in Goldnight Inc.
But Stone, in his years with many property deals, had often smelled when something was too good to be true. And now, was dealing in Sapphire Holdings Inc just too easy? His sense was guiding him, but would it close the gap of chasing £500,000 even further?