Page 53 of My Lord
“How about André Kuznetsov?”
I looked at Mackenzie who was glancing at me. “I know that name, never met him, though. He was a ‘name’ at Lloyds until the government got involved with investigating Russian Mafia money,” I said.
“He also owned shares in Trymast before I bought him out,” Mackenzie added.
“Daughton and Kuznetsov are one and the same. Can I ask, was the buyout a friendly one?” Harry asked Mackenzie.
“Not initially. I bought up shares until I was the majority shareholder then went for the others. I believe his stock was minimal and he had a broker deal with me. He didn’t put up much of a fight, to be honest.”
“So, you took Trymast from him, and you lost him money at Lloyds,” Harry said, looking between us.
“Ididn’t technically losehimmoney. Everyone lost money,” I said, hoping we’d moved past thewho brought down the largest insurance financial institution in the citything.
“What has this to do with Gabriella, or the stolen painting?” Mackenzie asked.
Harry pursed his lips briefly. “I’m not entirely sure other than, word on the street is that he’s pissed off with both of you, and he does collect art.”
“Would he have gone to all that trouble to have a man move into an apartment to befriend my mother, and then steal her painting? Or have someone mug Gabriella in the street?” I wasn’t sure that the fact we both knew the same individual could be the connecting factor to the crimes.
“It could be if the last sighting of Kuznetsov was in Dominican Republic, which just so happened to be the last sighting of Duncan Wilson,” Harry said.
I frowned, still not convinced on the connection.
“Where does that leave us, Harry?” Mackenzie asked.
“There appears to be a rather secret investigation into Kuznetsov’s investments and business dealings in the UK right now. Someone, and it was probably Stanton, has let word out that you both know André. The Russians and a military contract don’t mix well in the upper echelons,” he said, and then laughed.
“Oh, I don’t know, Harry. I’m sure there are a lot of Russians controlling the upper echelons whether they want that or not. My biggest question, why Gabriella as a target?” I asked.
He shook his head. “That, I haven’t gotten to the bottom of. I wonder if it’s a little scare tactic, perhaps. You turned down his offer to invest for him. Your mother had a lovely piece of art valued at what, a million? How much did he lose at Lloyds?”
“A million,” I said, slowly.
“This is multi-faceted then?” Mackenzie asked.
Harry shrugged. “It could be connected, it might not. All I do know is, you had a meeting, a fact-finding meeting, and facts weren’t found so questions are being asked to discover if you both know André more than you’re letting on.” He looked at his watch and then stood. “Enough surreptitious meetings, I have a real job to do.” He gave me a nod and shook Mackenzie’s hand. “Don’t worry, I’ll get to the bottom of it. I owe Alex this.”
Once Harry had left the room Mackenzie asked, “How straight is he?”
“As an arrow, but willing to bend the curve to get where he wants to be,” I replied.
Mackenzie nodded. “Do we think Gabriella is in any danger?”
“I don’t know. If she was I’m certain it wouldn’t have just been a bag they snatched.”
Mackenzie and I finished our coffee and walked out into the street. “Did you ever meet this Russian guy before Stanton introduced you to him?” Mackenzie asked.
“No, there were thousands of Lloyds names. Everyone lost their money and it was a few years ago now. I can’t see it as a strong enough connection. It has to be coincidence. First, why wait this long? Second, how on earth would he know my mother had a Van Gogh and then go to all the trouble of having someone move in to befriend her and then steal it? Doesn’t make sense to me, to be honest.”
“And if he was adamant about keeping his Trymast shares, he would have fought for them.”
“There’s more to this than we know, for sure,” I said.
We headed back to the office and I took a call from Gabriella. “Good morning, have you just got up?” I asked, and then checked my watch.
“I’ve been up a little while. I laughed at your note and no, I don’t have help. I missed you when I woke,” she said, quietly.
“Same. Mackenzie and I are just heading into the office,” I said, giving an excuse not to bemushyover the phone. “What are your plans today?” I asked.
