Troubled Waters by Trevor Burton Read Free Book Online Page B

the company’s bank account and makes several transfers. A nice tidying-up process, he muses, before deleting his password.
    He checks his diary for the following week, noting that he is scheduled to meet with a farmer, Jamie Cropper, and his consultant on Wednesday. He smiles ruefully, for he has no intention of keeping that appointment. A further look around confirms that his desk is clear and the office is tidy, as one would expect from a true Scandinavian professional. It’s seven o’clock on Friday evening, and he is last to leave for the weekend. He turns off the lights and locks the door. Taking the lift down to ground level, he smiles at his image in the polished side of the lift. Waving to the man on the security desk, he exits the building and walks casually through the mall area. Emerging onto the street, he turns right and disappears into the crowd of homebound commuters heading towards Piccadilly station.
    Boarding a Virgin Pendolino train to London Euston, he chooses a seat as far away as possible from other travellers. Travelling first-class on a FrackUK credit card, this does not prove difficult at this time on a Friday evening going down to London. He uses his mobile phone to make several calls, including one to the Chairman of Harmony Earth. After fifteen minutes of discussion, a meeting is arranged for the next day, Saturday, at noon. He finishes the remains of his evening meal – a sandwich and coffee – and satisfied with the day’s endeavours, he settles down to sleep.
    At noon the next day, Hans meets with the chairman in a nondescript hotel in Lambeth for the next stage of the plan: the further disruption of the FrackUK business in the north-west, particularly in Manchester. Hans outlines his plans, which meet the approval of the chairman.
    ‘I will notify the armourer that you will be making contact with him,’ the chairman states, giving Hans a slip of paper with a mobile number written on it. ‘What else do you need?’
    ‘I only need one other thing: who will I will be able to recruit easily from local protesters in Manchester?’
    ‘I will advise you by text. When will the action take place?’ the chairman asks.
    Hans considers for a moment. ‘Two weeks from now, maybe longer. It will be on a Saturday.’
    ‘Can you not make it sooner?’
    ‘First we need to get maximum exposure from the protest site at the farm in Lancashire. We will have been there long enough by then, and the police are getting tougher so it will soon be time to quit. Then I will move the protesters into the centre of Manchester and begin again.’
    ‘It is a good plan,’ the chairman congratulates Hans. ‘Good luck,’ he finishes, as they part company.

Chapter 9
     
    I’m up early this morning, Saturday. Surprisingly enough, I’ve no headache, but I do have a large tender bruise on my left temple to show from the encounter with Barry Milton last night. It will take some explaining later in the day when I’m due to play in a golf competition at Forest View golf club. However, worst of all is my back: the fracas has aggravated the golf injury from a few weeks before, so golf is definitely out. I’ll leave it for today, and if there’s no improvement I’ll have to book an appointment with the physio.
    I look in on my dozen chickens and two pigs, all well looked after by Lily, the farmer’s daughter. I’m crossing the farmyard to explain to Cyril, the farmer and my landlord, that if he has any chores for me in return for his daughter’s efforts in looking after my animals, then I will be unable to manage them today. Before I can speak, he sees my black eye.
    ‘What happened? Looks like you got kicked by a horse!’
    I explain last night’s goings-on without going into too much detail. He is very understanding, and I am excused any duties for this weekend.
    ‘By the way,’ he enquires. ‘How are your negotiations going on with that fracking outfit? Is Jamie going to be millionaire, or