Free East of the Sun by Janet Rogers

worthwhile to go through the agony, because they knew it would be a fantastic project to be part of and, of course, it was believed that it would become a highly lucrative undertaking. Needless to say, it came as a huge disappointment when the Russians started grumbling seventeen, eighteen months ago. In essence they were threatening to cut the Canadians out of the deal. They cited things like missed deadlines and insufficient drilling as their reasons for wanting Prism out. I’m sure you know better than I do how inexact a science those deadlines and targets are.’
    Nick nodded. ‘Especially here.’
    ‘Especially here, yes. Anyway, it’s far more complicated than I can even begin to understand or explain, but to cut a long story short, the two companies enlisted several people, including representatives or consultants from both sides, a selection of Canadian embassy officials, including Robert, and I believe some sort of Russian dealmaker, to get involved in the negotiations. I’m guessing that not all of those people wanted to save the deal. In fact, I’m quite sure some were given instructions to try and sabotage the arbitration process.’
    Again Amelia paused to see if Nick was following, but quickly continued when she saw that he was completely focused on her story.
    ‘It was during those negotiations that Robert disappeared. Then, several weeks after his disappearance, the partnership appeared to have been salvaged somehow and all was well, or at least operational, again. There was nothing much in the press, just assertions that the joint venture was intact and that work was continuing, so I assumed they’d found some common ground. To be honest, I’d forgotten the details until I read that paper a few weeks ago. It seems like a small thing, but the article said that Prism has just recently sold their stake in the partnership to a UK company for an undisclosed sum.’
    She stopped and felt momentarily uncertain about how to continue. This was the point where she started doubting her own instincts, so he would probably too. However, she was here now, and perhaps something could be gained from sharing her theories with him.
    ‘It made me think. If Prism was working that hard to rescue the deal a year ago, why would they suddenly sell their stake now, presumably without recovering all of the costs of putting the deal together? As far as I understand, recovery of costs and the rewards for this kind of investment come only way down the line.’ She stopped and waited for his reaction.
    ‘I see how that could make you wonder. It’s tenuous, but I agree, possibly a little strange,’ Nick replied carefully. ‘What’s your theory? And what do you hope to prove or achieve?’
    She was relieved that he wasn’t committing to an opinion, but was suspending judgement to understand her position better. She appreciated that, liked the fact that he didn’t come to a conclusion hastily.
    ‘I wonder if it could possibly have had anything to do with Robert’s disappearance.’ Amelia finished.
    ‘How?’ he asked immediately.
    This guy was quick and, even better, wasn’t hampered by a desire to spare her feelings.
    ‘At the time when it all happened, I thought that maybe he’d been arguing too passionately. Robert was tenacious, maybe he was irritating the Russians, and it was easier for them to get rid of him than to endure his efforts to get the deal back on track.’
    Nick was silent for a moment. ‘That’s quite a theory. If it had been the case, if Sibraz did get rid of Robert, why wouldn’t Prism have walked away immediately from a partner employing such terrible tactics?’
    ‘Would they have had any proof? Without proof, I doubt you walk away from a deal of this magnitude.’
    ‘Is this one of the theories the police considered at the time?’
    Amelia nodded. ‘At least I think so, but they obviously found nothing. I must say, it didn’t make all that much sense anyway, because I’m not convinced