Part 17 (2/2)

'Business,' Hank said. 'We've got this case-dead geologist looking for something worth a zillion. We got a tip he was looking from the air. We're trying to find the pilot who took him up. I've got a licence myself. Went for a spin with Meg yesterday just to get familiarised at the airport. Could be a long haul. This report's fine, Ross, and the expenses are on the light side. You could spread yourself a bit more.'

'Can I help with this case you've got?'

'Maybe,' Hank said. 'Come in here and we'll talk about it.'

Megan went on with her work at the computer and I took myself off to the gym. I'd neglected my workouts for a few days, and I felt the effects of the lay-off when I got on the first machine. There are two schools of thought in this situation: one says push through it at the level you're used to, and the other says take it a bit easier. I go with the latter. Wesley Scott wandered out of his office and watched me on the seated rower.

'Haven't seen you lately, man.'

I tried not to sound short of breath when I answered but I couldn't help it. 'Busy.'

'Cemetery's full of busy men not so busy now.'

'You're a ray of suns.h.i.+ne, Wes.'

'I like to remind people that an hour and a dollar spent here saves money on your hospital bills. You're doing OK, Cliff. Just don't slack off. Let's see another set.'

Back in the office I found Crimond gone, Megan off for a swim, and Hank looking pleased with himself.

'How'd it go?' I asked.

'I think he bought it. I went with your suggestion-told him we might possibly have a witness to McKinley being taken away, but we weren't sure. I said the party was a very religious person and you and Megan, as unbelievers, weren't sure of his sanity.'

'That's good,' I said. 'You were extemporising there, mate.'

'Sure. I said we were trying to line up a meeting with him and a person from his church and that maybe Ross could be useful at the meeting.'

'He lapped it up?'

'He's not dumb, Cliff. Don't make that mistake now that he's a player. He questioned me a bit and I fed him some stuff about the spectacles that helped to convince him. I mentioned the village. As I say, I think he went for it.'

'Good. Sounds as if you handled it just right.'

'So now we set up a meeting with the imaginary witness, with Ross invited along, and he tells Lachlan and they send someone. We grab that someone and pressure him and Ross and ... what can go wrong?'

'Everything,' I said.

'You're mad,' Megan said when we outlined the plan. 'You mean you intend to trot along to some dodgy meeting and confront the person, or persons, who killed Henry McKinley and torched his body?'

'Not without back-up,' I said.

'The police?'

'Not yet.'

Megan was right; it was time to stop going it alone. I was about to explain the next part of the plan when my mobile rang.

'Mr Hardy, this is Susan O'Neil.'

'Yes, Dr O'Neil.'

'I handed in my notice at Tarelton. They reacted furiously and threatened to sue me for breaking my contract, which isn't true, strictly speaking. I was wrestling with that when I got a call from Lachlan Enterprises offering me a job at a higher salary with better conditions. I mentioned the difficulty I was having with Tarelton and they offered to meet any legal costs I might incur. What's going on? It's all about Henry, isn't it? I feel I'm caught in the middle of something I don't understand, and my professional reputation is a sort of football.'

'You're exactly right,' I said, 'but we think things are coming together. My advice is to keep your head down for a time. Say, a week. Can you do that?'

She said she could and I told her I'd keep her in touch with developments.

'You're juggling a few b.a.l.l.s, you two,' Megan said.

I nodded. 'Quite a few and more to come.'

Hank and I had discussed the next move. He called Dimarco at Global Resources and gave him an outline of how things stood-our belief that Lachlan Enterprises was behind McKinley's death and our confidence that Global wasn't involved.

The conversation was on broadcast: 'Thanks for the vote of confidence,' Dimarco said. 'And what about the results of Dr McKinley's research?'

'That's still uncertain.'

Megan raised an eyebrow.

Dimarco said, 'Well, that's very interesting but why're you talking to me?'

'Your rivals,' Hank said, 'in this and I'd guess other things, are Tarelton and Lachlan. Tarelton's in financial trouble, borrowing money, losing staff. Lachlan lent them money and are worried about getting it back, let alone a return. They're trying to poach Tarelton's people. We have a scheme to prove their involvement in McKinley's death. That'd be devastating for them, good for you.'

'I can see that,' Dimarco said. 'But I still don't see-'

'We need your help.'

Hank told Dimarco in very general terms about our entrapment plans. He said that when the meeting took place we'd need him present as a witness and the help of some of Global's security people. You can't go wrong appealing to the ego of corporations and their executives. There was a distinctly eager note in Dimarco's voice when he said he'd discuss the proposition with CEO Holland.

'How's he doing?' Hank asked.

'He's healing, but he's angry. I think we can do business.'

Hank told him he'd be in touch about the meeting and they could make strategic plans.

When he'd finished the call, Megan turned to her computer and began scrolling through files.

'Hah,' she said, 'according to these notes, Hank, you reckoned that Dimarco and this copper Wells were seeing eye to eye. Dimarco'll tell him all about this.'

'He will,' I said, 'when we're ready for him to do just that.'

We agreed to set up the meeting for two nights ahead at my house. There were plenty of places for our back-up team to hide themselves-upstairs, in the jungle of vine and creeper at the side of the place and at the back of the block where it dipped down sharply and there were neglected and overgrown bushes.

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