The Mafia Emblem Read online

  - 12 -

  Ben caught the eight-thirty flight the next morning from Gatwick to Naples. It was one of those dismal autumn days which make you dread the long winter ahead. But Ben didn’t notice the weather. His thoughts were elsewhere.

  After he had left James Meredith’s office the previous day he had walked around central London for more than an hour. In his preoccupation with the row with his solicitor and the problems about the business, he was scarcely aware of the route he was taking. It was a long time before the rage subsided and he began to think in logical terms which didn’t involve beating Meredith to a pulp or placing a bomb in the Villa Cimbrone.

  It was obvious that the solicitor’s support had somehow been bought by the Italians. Ben could see no other logical reason for his decision to hand over the business to them. It didn’t make commercial sense. James must have been fully aware that the company had been built up to its present level largely by Ben’s efforts. Something else must have persuaded him.

  However Ben was determined to fight to retain the company. He knew that he could run it by himself. It was operating efficiently and profitably. From what he had seen of them, the Cimbroni weren’t likely to do any better. In fact Alfredo was going to have his hands full just coping with their estates in Italy after the recent death of his father. He couldn’t understand why they were now so intent on grabbing the business for themselves. It wasn’t likely to increase their sales to Britain. They had never shown any interest in the London end before. Meredith had somehow tried to suggest that they had been hatching plans with Toni over a long period. But that didn’t make sense unless they knew somehow that Toni was likely to be murdered. And that raised a whole new set of unthinkable considerations.

  In any case, Ben had trusted his ex-partner. Something else must have happened to make them change their attitude. He wanted to know what that was - and he wanted them to change their mind back again.

  As his brain started to operate on a more reasonable level he began to regret his outburst of temper with James Meredith. Maybe he was unwise to so bluntly reject the offer. There were other more subtle ways of fighting to keep control. On reflection he decided he should send an e-mail to his solicitor that afternoon, apologising for his outburst and saying he intended to give the Cimbroni a considered decision in a few days. By this means he hoped to gain some time so that he could sort out his relationship with Toni’s family.

  Meanwhile one thing was clear. He had to get an immediate and firm grip on the business in London - one which the Cimbroni would find difficult to shake off. Now that the company was known particularly for its Italian wines, it would be important to try and maintain supplies. He had stocks to keep him going for at least three months until the first of the current year’s vintage came through. He was fairly confident that he could continue the purchasing side from the point which Toni had reached before his death. But he would have to be prepared to buy his wines from the shippers, instead of direct through the Cimbrone company. He had all the paperwork, addresses and contacts. Later he might decide to appoint an agent in Italy if he could find the right man.

  He hoped that cash would not be an immediate problem. He and Toni had both been sole signatories on cheques since they often didn’t see each other for some weeks. In practice there was only one cheque book which Ben held in the office, so nearly all the payments were made by him. The two of them used to meet approximately once a month when they went through the cash book and Ben accounted to Toni for the sums he had paid out.

  As a result Ben decided to call in to the bank that afternoon. He knew the manager well, and the man appeared to know nothing of any impending changes in the ownership of the company and Ben didn’t advise him otherwise. He purchased a draft on the Bank of Naples for twenty thousand pounds made out to himself. His explanation was that he needed the cash for the purchase of wine stocks on a forthcoming visit to Italy. He could redeem it later for cash and pay the money into his personal account if the need arose. It was noted that just over ten thousand pounds was still left in the account for day to day expenses and salaries. Ben told the manager that he would be back before the end of the month to pay the staff. Overdraft facilities existed with a limit of fifty thousand pounds if he should need them. He assuaged any feelings of guilt by promising himself that the money would only be used for the good of the company.

  He wondered if the premises might be more of a problem. The seventy-year lease had been transferred into the name of the new company. He recognized that it was one of the areas where he might be vulnerable. He decided to write to the landlords informing them of Toni’s death and assuring them that there was to be no change in the company’s direction and policies. He signed the letter as Managing Director. That should at least delay any legal moves to try and take over the premises during his absence.

  When he got back to the shop he decided to take Peggy into his confidence. She was very loyal. When he told her about his interview with the solicitor she was horrified that the Cimbroni could behave in this way. She agreed to help while he was in Italy. He arranged with her that all cheque.receipts in future were to be made out to Mr. B. Cartwright. These and the cash takings were to be paid into his personal account. Credit card sales were to be discontinued at present. Customers were to be told that it was due to financial reorganization following his partner’s death. He wrote a letter of instruction to Peggy covering these arrangements. That should protect her in the event of any subsequent legal proceedings.

  Then he telephoned the airport and booked his seat on the next flight to Naples. He had decided that the only course open to him was to confront the Cimbrone family at their home. There he would do his best to persuade them to change their minds. Otherwise he was prepared to threaten them with a long, difficult battle in the British courts of they wanted to oust him. That ought to dampen their ardour for the takeover.

  At the last minute he decided he ought to telephone Inspector Paisley to check the man had no objection to Ben going to Naples. The policeman only asked for his mobile phone number, in case he wanted an answer to any unexpected questions. He told Ben that police enquiries were still at any early stage. In fact the man seemed almost to have lost interest in the case.