The Snow Tiger / Night of Error. Desmond Bagley
went on to Deep Freeze Headquarters. He did not find McGill at the office but finally ran him down at the Officers’ Club where he was talking shop. Ballard said, ‘I thought I’d pick you up first. Old Stenning will have travelled a long way and he’ll be tired, so I thought I wouldn’t keep him waiting around.’
‘Sure,’ said McGill. ‘I’ll come right along. When is he due in?’
‘In fifteen minutes, if the plane’s on time.’
They drove to Harewood Airport, two minutes away, and stood chatting on the concourse while they waited. McGill said, ‘I’ve never met a millionaire’s lawyer. Will you recognize Stenning when you see him?’
Ballard nodded. ‘He’s a tall, thin chap with white hair. Looks a bit like Bertrand Russell.’
The aircraft was on time and, as the passengers streamed through the terminal, Ballard said, ‘There he is,’ and McGill saw a tall, old man with the face of an ascetic. Ballard stepped forward. ‘Good afternoon, Mr Stenning.’ They shook hands. ‘This is Mike McGill, a friend. He’s come to carry the suitcases. I don’t think they’ll be long in coming.’
Stenning smiled. ‘Are you the Dr McGill who has been giving evidence at the Inquiry?’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘If you’re carrying suitcases you’ve come down in the world.’
‘The luggage is coming now,’ said Ballard. Stenning pointed out his cases, and Ballard said, ‘Let’s get this stuff out to the car, Mike.’ As they left the terminal he said to Stenning, ‘I’ve booked you a room at the hotel where I’m staying. It’s quite comfortable.’
‘Just point me towards a bed,’ said Stenning. ‘I find it difficult to sleep on aircraft. How is the Inquiry going?’
‘I’ve kept the newspapers for you. It’s getting good coverage in Christchurch.’
Stenning grunted. ‘Good! I’ve been in aircraft for two days so I’ve fallen behind with the news. I’m looking forward to discussing the disaster with you, Dr McGill.’
‘Any time I’m not in court, Mr Stenning.’
At the hotel McGill tactfully made himself scarce while Ballard showed Stenning his room. Stenning said, ‘I’m not as resilient as I used to be, Ian. I’m going to bed. Your grandfather would have said a thing or two about that, were he here. At my age he was an assiduous globe-trotter.’ He shook his head. ‘I’m sorry he’s gone.’
‘Yes,’ said Ballard. ‘So am I.’
Stenning regarded him curiously. ‘Are you?’ he asked in a sceptical tone. ‘If you’d have said the other thing I wouldn’t have been surprised – or shocked. Your grandfather was a hard man to get on with. In my opinion he didn’t treat you very well.’
Ballard shrugged. ‘I’ll miss him all the same.’
‘So will I, Ian. So will I. Now, if you’ll excuse a tired old man …’
‘Have you eaten? I can get something sent in.’
‘No – I just want my bed.’
Ballard indicated a cupboard. ‘I laid in some drinks. There’s whisky, gin and brandy – with the trimmings.’
‘A kindly thought. A whisky before bed will go down very well. I’ll see you tomorrow, Ian.’
Ballard left him and found McGill having a beer by the pool. McGill raised an eyebrow. ‘Well?’
‘Nothing,’ said Ballard. ‘He didn’t say a damned thing.’
McGill frowned. ‘I’ll tell you something,’ he said. ‘He sure as hell didn’t fly thirteen thousand miles to discuss a disaster with Mike McGill.’
Stenning was absent from breakfast next morning. McGill buttered a slice of toast. ‘He doesn’t seem to be in much of a hurry. Just like a lawyer; they work to a different sort of time from the rest of us.’
‘I had a visit from one of my relatives yesterday,’ said Ballard. ‘My cousin Frank.’ He told McGill what had happened.
McGill whistled. ‘You Ballards play rough. Can he do what he threatened to do? Have you blackballed in the industry?’
‘I doubt it. He might like to think he can. He could certainly make life bloody difficult.’
‘How come Frank was in Sydney? Very convenient, wasn’t it?’
‘The Ballard Group has interests in many countries, including Australia. It’s not unusual to find a member of the family popping up almost anywhere. I think my Uncle Steve, Frank’s father, is also in Sydney. That’s what Frank implied.’
McGill helped himself to marmalade. ‘Goddamn convenient, all the same. Crowell knew they were in Australia because he blew the whistle on you. Frank came running fast enough.’
They talked desultorily until McGill had finished his coffee. ‘I’m going to the hospital to see Joe. If Stenning has anything important to say he won’t want me around.’ He went away leaving Ballard to finish his breakfast alone.
Ballard read the Sunday papers by the pool, concentrating first on the account of the Inquiry. That did not take long, and he went on to the rest of the news which did not take long, either. He felt restless and thought of going to see Liz, but he did not want to leave the hotel without having seen Stenning. He went to his room and put on swimming trunks and worked out his frustration in several lengths of the pool.
It was eleven-thirty before Stenning appeared, carrying several newspaper clippings. ‘Good morning, Ian,’ he said briskly.
‘Did you sleep well?’
‘Like a babe. Only to be expected, of course. I had breakfast in my room. Where’s Dr McGill?’
‘He’s gone to see Joe Cameron, the mine engineer. He’s still in hospital.’
The clippings fluttered in Stenning’s hand. ‘So I gathered.’ He looked around. ‘We could do worse than have a chat here. Very nice place.’
Ballard unfolded another garden chair. ‘The town is all right, too. Christchurch prides itself on being more English than England.’
Stenning sat down. ‘I’m looking forward to seeing it.’ He regarded the clippings, then folded them and put them into his pocket. ‘You’re having quite a time at this Inquiry. I don’t think your family is going to like the things you’ve been saying.’
‘I know they don’t like it,’ said Ballard. ‘I had a visit from Frank yesterday. He wants me to shut up.’
‘What did you do?’ asked Stenning interestedly.
‘I showed him the door.’
Stenning did not comment but he looked pleased in an indefinable way which Ballard could not place. ‘You know, I was more than your grandfather’s lawyer. I was also his friend.’
‘I know he placed a lot of trust in you.’
‘Trust,’ said Stenning, and smiled. ‘Trust – that’s what I want to talk about. What do you know about the way your grandfather organized his affairs – I mean his financial affairs?’
‘Practically nothing,’ said Ballard. ‘I knew that he put all, or most, of his money into some kind of trust a few years ago. He made it quite clear that I was not going to inherit, so I didn’t take much interest. It was nothing to do with me.’
Stenning nodded. ‘Yes, it was a little over seven years ago. Do you know anything about estate duties in the United Kingdom?’
‘Death duties? Nothing much.’
‘Then I shall enlighten you. A man may give his money away – to his family usually – to a charitable foundation, as Ben did. However,