Chapter 17

Alice and George eventually left together, with goodbye kisses all round. When Alice reached me, I whispered, “George is a good man, Alice. You can trust him, with my blessing.”

She did not know what to say to that, so said nothing.

George seemed to be overwhelmed by the number of kisses he was getting from everyone except me. I offered him a manly handshake instead.

“No kisses, pal. If we get to know you better, George, I may give you a hug instead of a handshake; but no kissing, my friend. Look after Alice; she has had bad experiences with men, so she needs to be treated gently, okay?”

George stared at me intently, then nodded in gratitude.

“I’ll remember that, Bob. Thanks.”

We left it at that, but he got the message that he was being treated as a gentleman and entrusted with Alice. I smiled to him as we parted, and gave him an unobtrusive ‘thumbs up’. He chuckled at that as he turned to join Alice in her car.

After they had left, Sandy berated me for ‘interfering’. I queried, “Interfering in what?” and she said, “Getting in the way of Alice’s future with us.”

I demanded, “With us? Why must she only have a future with us, Sandy? As long as she is happy, that is what matters, surely? If she and George hit it off, why should it bother you or me?”

Sandy huffed, “I was only trying to make her happy, Bob. Surely you could see that?”

“Indeed, but what if George is also trying to make her happy? We shouldn’t place ourselves in the way of that. Please let them try to work things out between them. It may not work, and then you can resume your ‘helping’ attempts. Okay?”

“Okay, I suppose,” she grumbled, subsiding.

This disturbance of our normal pattern of life was not encouraging, but I concentrated on my work and the oddities of our other, more unusual, life. Copying the audio recording went well as it was simple, so I now had a compact tape of the criminals talking, and I soon was able to hire a good quality cine camera to take my best shot at copying the visual recording. My earlier attempts with a still camera were adequate but I quickly realised there was no way you could synch a still photo with an audio recording; there was no movement to the picture to connect to the sound. Thus the cine camera.

I used my ‘service cupboard’ as a windowless black volume where the pictures on the screen of the camera could possibly be recorded onto cine film. The blackness allowed the screen to seem more vibrant and clear on the future camera, and I was impressed anyway with the quality of the images. I gave it my best shot with the 8mm camera, and risked posting the reel off to the film developer in southern England. It took more than a week before it came back, but when I hired a projector and ran it through, projecting on to a whitish wall, I had captured the moving pictures from the camera screen in almost perfect detail: great.

I could now provide both the cine film and the audio recording to the appropriate police body to prove the fraudulent trading and allow the police to nab them. As the material was all consistent with this time period, I was fine with admitting I was the one providing it, so I delivered it to the police headquarters in Greenock and thought nothing of it.

That was satisfactory until several days later when a pair of policemen arrived at our home and asked for me, while I was off at work. They were redirected to daddy Thompson’s office address and I was able to speak with them in the interview office, though my employer insisted in accompanying me ‘as my lawyer’ in case any legal problem appeared.

The senior policeman, wearing sergeant’s stripes, made the introductions and commenced, “We received your amazing evidence items, Mr McIntyre, and I must say we were impressed with what you managed to achieve, and would like to know more; but the main point of our visit is to inform you that our legal counsel has advised that we cannot bring a prosecution as there is no clear evidence of fraud.”

I was about to blurt out a rebuttal, but daddy Thomson put a hand on my arm to subdue any outburst.

“Go on, sergeant,” he told the police sergeant.

“Thank you, sir. The film and sound track are clear enough, but it does not prove that the cash being handed over was ill-gotten gains. It merely shows a man handing over a case of cash for placing with the accountancy firm, and them advising him as to the best choice for investment. We also have no means of knowing when the recording was made. It could be challenged in court as not proof of anything current.”

This time I did speak. “But if it was a simple investment, sergeant, the normal procedure is to use a broker to act for you, not an accountant to act as a go-between. Am I right?”

The sergeant sighed, “Yes, you are quite correct in that assumption, but there is no law that stipulates that only a broker must advise on placing your investment. If this man chooses an accountancy firm to act for him, that is perfectly legal. I must admit that it is a dubious method and possibly suspicious, but dubious is not the same as illegal, and we can only act on specific illegalities.

Currently there is no law that prevents anyone from making an investment through whichever financial avenue he prefers. In addition to that, we have no prima facie evidence as to the provenance of the cash being handed over. Accordingly, our legal adviser tells us that we have no reliable grounds for proceeding with a charge against any of these gentlemen.”

Daddy Thompson sadly concurred, “The sergeant is factually correct, Bob. While the whole thing is highly suspect, and I would accept that it was probably illegal money involved, there is no legal redress at present. All the police can do is note the suspicious manner in which the money was handed over to the accountants, hopefully with a date of the event, for reference in any future action against these gentlemen.”

The sergeant said gratefully, “Thank you, Mr Thompson, for corroborating the legal position. Mister McIntyre, can you suggest what you perceive as the doubtful actions of this firm, that caused you to seek evidence?”

I happily informed them, “A junior member of staff at the firm was suspicious because of restricted access of most staff to certain transactions conducted by the top executives. When large amounts of cash are apparently handed over for investment, no-one else is permitted to know anything about the client or the transaction details. Only these specific executives are allowed to know anything about it. You can see why the member of staff was concerned at being possibly peripheral to an illegal act involving stolen cash, what I am told is ‘dirty’ money.”

The sergeant agreed, “Such an arrangement is indeed suspicious in that context, and we are pleased to be informed of that activity, but until an undoubted illegal act such as fraud is provable, our hands have to remain off for the time being.

To add to that, there is the question of how you obtained these recordings, because if you broke into the premises to place recording equipment inside, that in itself would be a crime, and make your evidence inadmissible.”

I insisted, “I can assure you I did not break into the premises or in any other way enter illegally. Treat it as me having been invited in and surreptitiously secreted equipment while left on my own. Naturally, I must refuse to say who invited me in.”

“I would hazard a guess at the concerned member of staff,” said the sergeant.

“You might think so, but I could not possibly admit that, sergeant.”

“A wise position to take, sir,” he accepted. “Then are you able to tell me about the equipment you used?”

I demurred: “As the recording equipment I used was not owned by me, I would not want to involve anyone else in my intervention. Thus I pass on that question.”

“Ah ... again a wise position to take. We shall have to leave it at that for now, Mr McIntyre, but if your contact has any additional information to pass on, we would be happy to receive it.”

I agreed, “I will give that invitation to the person concerned, sergeant.”

With that, the sergeant and his silent accomplice departed, having imparted their bad news about this hard-won evidence.

Once the outer door closed behind the policemen, my father-in-law rounded on me.

“Why didn’t you tell me about this earlier?” he demanded.

“I didn’t think it would end up this way,” I admitted. “I thought they would run with it and start an investigation of their own. I didn’t know there was no actual law about converting cash into investments to hide it. There really ought to be, if there isn’t.”

“I agree with you that there ought to be a law against this method of converting dirty money, leaving it so that criminals can change it into legal financial instruments. Still, I would have preferred to know about it in advance, as I could have advised against your intervention; or was it Sandy’s plan? I wouldn’t put it past her.”

“We worked it out between us, sir. It was a matter of using the time and place machine to collect a recording of these accountants taking illegal cash from a criminal, then turning it into recordings suited to this year.”

“Admittedly that bunch of accountants are a rum bunch and a bad advert for their profession. I take it that your contact is another accountant who is uncomfortable with their bosses’ activities?”

“You have it in one, sir. She is a friend of Sandy. They met when she came to audit Sandy’s account books for the business. An external audit is a legal requirement ... oh, of course you would know that.”

“I don’t know ALL the law, Bob, but enough to know what is what around each corner of the law. Do you still want to see these accountants in jail?”

“Naturally, for our friend’s peace of mind, if nothing else. Have you any ideas in that direction that might be applicable?”

“Not at the moment, young man, but I’ll keep it in mind for a while, and let you know if I think of something that could be done. Avarice can lead such people into a trap that honest people avoid.”

“Very well, sir. Your assistance is appreciated. I’ll let Sandy know.”

Sandy was indeed incensed that our evidence could not be used by the police as proof of criminal activity.

“All that bloody effort to get everything just right, and then they tell us they can’t use it? Bloody hell, Bob; what do we have to do to get the police to move on these fuckers?”

“Calm down, my love,” I told her. “Your father is going to see if he can come up with something more effective. Give him time to work on it.”

Knowing that her father was being helpful mollified her, and she subsided.

“How will this affect Alice?” Sandy quizzed me.

“Should have no impact at all. No-one except her, and now the police, know anything about her suspicions, and even then the cops have no idea who the informant is; just a generalisation. Tell her that the position has not changed yet, and she should keep quiet about what she thinks about the firm.”

“Okay. Do you have any objections if I consider her as a possible addition to my own business, as her financial abilities could be useful in sorting out some clients’ problems?”

“Nothing to do with me, as far as I am concerned, love. It is your business; do it your way. If Alice gets close with George, possibly he might be able to gain her and you some business with the university, as they will have a number of investments to be looked after. All universities seem to have such funds, large or small, mostly left to them by earlier benefactors. In fact, you told me that yourself!”

“So I did. Maybe I should get George to mention my business to the university’s bursar. Bursars often are not accountants, just have business experience, and may work part-time on that job. I deal with businesses all the time, and I often find that they are too busy, with too much on their plate, to look very far ahead and their financial expertise is not as extensive as it might be in other circumstances.”

“That means speaking to both George and Alice, Sandy. Choose a time when they are together, and deal with both matters at the one time. Probably you can catch them at his new flat when they are redecorating.”

She glared at me. “Is this another dig at me, for Alice taking up with George?”

“Certainly not, my love. I am only suggesting an efficient way of speaking to them both.”

“Oh. All right, then. I’ll do that. Talking of which, how much is Glasgow university going to hand over for that torpedo device?”

“They came up with eight hundred, so I had Georgie accept their deal. We’ll get it eventually from Georgie. Didn’t I say?”

“No, dammit. It must have slipped your mind. That happens too frequently for my liking.”

“Sorry, my love. It must be all these wives needing my attention; it messes with my short-term memory.”

“Ah, and that means you would suffer more if Alice joined us?”

“I didn’t say that, my pet; now did I? Merely an observation on my part.”

“You keep doing that, Bob; being a nice man. I can’t stay annoyed at you for long, my love. No wonder you can keep all six of us women happy to be with you.”

“Kind of you to say so, Sandy. I love all of you, so I treat you as my loves, and I have great fun loving you all.”

“But you don’t want Alice?”

“I have enough to keep me happy, Sandy, but those massive mammaries: they are impressive, I’ll grant you.”

“So you’d prefer bigger breasts on us girls?”

“Not really. You wonderful girls all have breasts in keeping with the rest of your bodies, and even when you are breast-feeding, the extra size is still in keeping with the rest, so I damn well love your tits, as you well know from the frequent attention I give them.”

“Okay, I forgive you, lover boy.”

We spent more time making up, and retired to bed to finish that demonstration of spousal love. Her tits got attention, among other things.

We heard nothing more from daddy Thompson for some time. This was to be expected, as a professional lawyer has to avoid criminal activity on his own part. Being a solicitor has nothing to do with soliciting on the streets, or any other underhand activity!

Eventually he decided the matter should be approached from the opposite end: the criminals who provided the cash to be converted to legal investments. He approached

a senior policeman he knew from Rotary meetings, and asked about police suspicions of criminals funnelling illegal cash into the hands of less than reliable financial professionals.

The top cop came back to him a few days later, and gave Mr Thompson several names and addresses of ‘persons of interest’, but with no mention of criminal activity by them; just a casual reference to ‘the people you asked me about’.

Quietly Daddy Thompson made a note of these men’s details, for future discussion with me. These discussion were held in private, inside his office. Once I had this information, it got me started on further research, because I needed to find where they held their cash reserves, and how often they transferred cash to the accountancy firm for feeding into legal companies as formal share purchases to make things legitimate.

At this point I had to use Sandy’s knowledge and expertise of the business world, for the dirty money had to be coming from some kind of business operation; one where illegal cash could be filtered in and be available for ‘investment’ at a later stage. Offhand, I could probably list quite a few types of businesses that are primarily physical cash payments.

One of these unfortunately is that of an antique dealer, as there are few really fixed prices that can be regularly related to cash flow, and thus be recorded for tax and other purposes. Most prices of antiques are negotiable, both in purchasing and in selling. Loose cash amassed this way can be siphoned off without the business being drastically affected. If you were a criminal and owned such a business, you could either divert excess cash to an outside organisation, or feed in stolen cash to the business as sales income, and pass it on later to an accountancy firm or other enterprise.

The question was, what business or organisation did the criminal come from who had dealt with the accountants? I asked daddy Thompson if he could get his police service colleague to gather and impart the relevant intelligence for me to see if we could use it to advantage. Until I had it, I could not even start to plan any operation against the criminals, but I did not want any official record made of me collecting the information directly.

My father-in-law did even better. He had arranged for the police guy to meet me at Daddy’s office and brief me on what was known. From what Daddy hinted, it seems that the cops know much more than they are willing to admit publicly.

I agreed, whereupon he told me the time of the appointment. I would make sure I had no estate agency duties at the time and date. Thus, a couple of days later, the occasion of the meeting arrived.

The top cop was the Assistant Chief Constable, so a high muckity-muck in the police organisation. He was tall, of stately bearing, and well-groomed as well as impeccably suited. His full name was Frederick Roderick Herries; Herries being a very old surname in Scotland. He sounded pretty upper-class when he spoke, as I expected from his formal appearance at the meeting.

“Young man, I have been asked by my Rotary friend Thompson to provide you with some background information on certain individuals. Please note that this private information is entirely off the record and if asked, I shall deny ever having imparted any information to you or any other party. Is that clear and understood?”

“Yes, sir. Mister Thompson can vouch for my reliability, he being my father-in-law. I would never do anything to bring any disrespect down on him.”

“Very well. I will accept your assurances on that basis. Now, the individuals of interest are known, but not provably so, to be involved in criminal activities in Greenock and environs. They have contacts with a wide range of the criminal fraternity, and have a well-established side business, buying tainted cash from burglars, pickpockets, and others of the thieving persuasion, and then disposing of that cheaply-obtained questionable cash to upright persons, such as your accountancy firm, who turn it into legitimate financial assets.

Our problem, as a force, has been to catch them in the act, but this has to date not been possible, through the careful way that they operate their clandestine activities. The law restricts us in what we are empowered to do, but the criminals have no such restrictions in their thieving and money-passing.”