“We don’t. But this will only take a moment.”
Radcliff told the person at the other end of the call that a minor crisis had arisen and rang off. Then he looked at Samantha and asked, “Haven’t you done enough damage?”
“You’re the one who did the damage, Lord Radcliff. Not me.”
“What on earth are you talking about?”
“You were the source of the leaked documents regarding the Federov contribution. You’re the reason that Hillary Edwards is about to make a farewell speech on the doorstep of Number Ten.”
“You seem to be forgetting, Ms. Cooke, that I was forced to resign as a result of the Federov scandal as well.”
“But you were well compensated in return, weren’t you? Ten million pounds, as a matter of fact. Not bad for a few minutes’ work.”
Radcliff treated her to a contemptuous smile. “Have you taken leave of your senses?”
She handed him the statement from BVI Bank. He thrust on a pair of half-moon reading glasses before reviewing it.
“This proves nothing, Ms. Cooke. It is merely a coincidence that this offshore company has the same initials as I do.”
“But that’s not true, Your Lordship.” Samantha handed over the documents from Harris Weber. “These prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that you are the beneficial owner of LMR Overseas.”
He flipped through the documents in silence for a moment, then asked, “Where did you get these?”
“They were given to me by a trusted source. Unlike you, he had the decency to deliver them in person.”
“These are confidential documents that were undoubtedly stolen from my attorneys. If you publish anything about them, I shall haul you into court and sue you into oblivion.”
She snatched the documents from his grasp. “Perhaps you should phone your libel lawyer. Because I intend to reveal the ten-million-pound payment that you received from Federov later this morning. My story will also suggest that it was part of a plot by Harris Weber and its wealthy clients to ensure that the so-called London Laundromat remain open for business.”
“The ten million pounds was related to my work as an international business consultant and investor, not my work for the Party. It was a fee for services rendered, nothing more.”
“Payable to an offshore account held by your anonymous shell company?”
“Such arrangements are quite common and perfectly legal. My lawyers and I will be happy to walk you through the paperwork.” Another smile. “How does next week sound?”
“If it was all perfectly legal and quite common, why did you lie to me about LMR Overseas?”
“Because wealthy individuals such as myself use anonymous offshore companies for a reason. Acknowledging beneficial ownership of such a company would rather defeat the purpose, wouldn’t it?”
“You use anonymous companies, in part, to shield dirty deals like this one from the prying eyes of the press. Fortunately, I have the means of making it public. Something tells me that your fellow citizens won’t look favorably upon your business relationship with Federov. In fact, I’m confident your reputation will be ruined after my story appears.”
“Which is why I would advise you to tread carefully. Otherwise, you’ll be hearing from my lawyers.” He slipped past her and opened the door. “Please leave, Ms. Cooke. I have nothing more to say.”
“Have you no statement at all?”
“Write whatever you want. But bear in mind, it will have profound consequences.”
“I certainly hope so,” snapped Samantha, and stormed out of Radcliff’s house.
“One moment, Ms. Cooke.”
She paused at the bottom of the steps.
“Your story will be wrong for another reason.”
“How so?”
“Perhaps we should discuss the ground rules first,” said Radcliff.
“Your choice.”
“Background only.”
“Proceed, Your Lordship.”
“The conspiracy to bring down Hillary Edwards went far beyond a single law firm.”
“How far?”
“I’ll tell you everything you need to know.” Radcliff paused, then added, “On one condition.”
“What’s that?”
“Your story must make no mention of the ten million pounds I received from Valentin Federov.”
“No deal.”
“If you publish the details of that payment, we’re going to spend the next several years tearing each other limb from limb in court. Neither one of us will emerge with our reputations intact. I’m offering you a way out, not to mention the story of a lifetime. What’s it going to be, Ms. Cooke? Going once. Going twice . . .”
