Losing Ground (21 page)

‘So why didn’t he sell out to that singer person?’ The superintendent couldn’t bring himself to use Jason Burke’s professional name and the words Kevin Cowlick were destined never to cross his lips.

‘Because Burke’s solicitors would have spotted the discrepancy in the same way Calleford Construction’s would have done, and without proper access Perry would have had to sell the land at a loss. Hs only hope was to forge ahead and
hope he could either get away with it or silence the present owner of the Muster Green.’

‘I said all along that money came into this somewhere, Sloan,’ said Leeyes grandly.

‘So you did, sir,’ said Sloan, sycophancy being nearly as good as flattery in getting you anywhere.

That money came into the situation had never been in doubt at the offices of Berebury Homes Ltd.

Robert Selby was taking the lead and being long-winded about it into the bargain. ‘I may be being over-optimistic but I think the danger of a takeover from Calleford Construction may have receded somewhat.’

There was a chorus of reassurance.

‘They’re not going to touch us with a bargepole if there’s a criminal case in the offing,’ said Derek Hitchin. ‘That sort of aggro spells nothing but trouble to an outfit like theirs. They’ve always been people in it for a quick kill and this pretty kettle of fish’ll all take an age to sort out.’

‘I don’t think that their architect would be able to draw up a scheme without using the Muster Green access any more than I could,’ put in Randolph Mansfield, frowning.

Auriole Allen said, ‘Tell me, folks, if I’ve got this all wrong but if they couldn’t do it, how could we?’

‘Lionel was counting on our not needing to,’ said Mansfield.

Robert Selby allowed a thin smile to play along his lips. ‘They let me into the hospital to see young Ned Phillips this afternoon – Edward Filligree, I suppose I should call him now.’

‘I heard he was out of danger,’ said Auriole Allen, adding automatically, ‘I’ve sent a card and flowers.’

‘So has Jason Burke,’ said Selby. ‘I’m afraid Calleford Construction is not the only interested party.’

‘Go on,’ said Derek Hitchin, his eyes still on the financial controller.

‘I raised with him the possibility of a management buyout in certain circumstances – certain favourable circumstances, of course,’ said Selby.

‘Without Lionel, you mean?’ said Randolph Mansfield.

‘Without either Lionel or Calleford Construction.’ The financial controller let the sentence hang in the air before he said, ‘Ned seemed quite interested in coming in with us if we make a bid for it. Said he’d seen the books, anyway, while he was working for me.’

Hitchin slapped his thigh. ‘Bringing the Muster Green with him, of course. I like it.’

‘What he said to me,’ said Robert Selby, staid as always, ‘was that the Filligrees of Tolmie had always had a gambling streak but he didn’t know if his father would be willing to follow in the family tradition and take a punt on it.’ He paused and then said, ‘Or whether his father would want to take Jason Burke’s money and run. He said we’d just have to wait and see.’