Free The Namedropper by Brian Freemantle Page B

conversation.’
    â€˜I’m feeling more comfortable about it now.’ How easily those who practised law were prepared to bend it. Maybe becoming a lawyer would be his next career change.
    â€˜When I speak to Dan he’ll want to know if you can adequately defend the action? Financially, I mean.’
    â€˜I can.’ Because ultimately I won’t be paying the money, thought Jordan, the decision hardening in his mind. He had a lot to set up as soon as he got to America – if he got to America.
    â€˜We’ll need to meet – meet, not even talk on the phone – after I’ve spoken to him.’
    â€˜I understand.’ He’d been lucky, finding Lesley Corbin. Jordan hoped it was another omen.
    Lesley flicked the edge of the document from which she was working. ‘This is very much a pro forma. Dan will need more in these new circumstances. How do you gamble? On what, I mean?’
    â€˜Professional gamblers don’t gamble,’ lectured Jordan. ‘They only ever put their money on certainties.’
    â€˜Don’t go polemic on me. What do you gamble on? Where do you gamble?’
    â€˜High stake rooms at casinos: poker, blackjack, roulette, backgammon,’ he said, reciting the games he’d been one of the first to programme for Internet use. ‘Horses, too. I’ve got the maximum £30,000 Premium Bond block, which in the four years I’ve held it has produced a return of an additional £20,000. I consider that a gamble. But definitely not the lottery: the odds aren’t good for anyone.’
    â€˜I think it would be wise for us to be careful,’ said Lesley, lecturing in return. ‘The law is that receipted proof of casino profits can be issued for tax purposes. I presume you provide those, with your tax returns?’
    Jordan only just stopped himself laughing outright at being told of the system he’d bled dry for so long. ‘Some.’
    The woman smiled again. ‘We’ll maybe need some; as many as you can produce,’ insisted Lesley. ‘Supported by dates, places and amounts. For horse race winnings we’ll need courses, the actual names of horses, winning slips if they can be kept.’
    The duplication of which Jordan had anticipated. ‘I’m sure I can manage that.’
    â€˜Start collecting them from now on. I don’t want you unable to face a challenge about income source.’
    â€˜I will. See if I’ve got anything hanging around, as well,’ promised the man who never left anything financial hanging around.
    â€˜What we’ve talked about so far makes a lot of Dan’s other questions irrelevant at this time,’ decided the woman, going back to her list. ‘I’m going to leave the occupation question blank, until I’ve talked to Dan.’
    â€˜You’re the lawyer.’ And am I glad, he thought.
    â€˜You are not married?’ Lesley started again, briskly.
    â€˜No.’
    â€˜Have you ever been?’
    â€˜Divorced, a long time ago.’
    â€˜You’ve got the papers to prove that?’
    â€˜Yes,’ said Jordan, uneasily.
    â€˜Children?’
    â€˜No.’
    â€˜Are you in a relationship that makes you responsible for any dependants?’
    â€˜No.’
    â€˜Do you suffer any permanent illness or disease?’
    â€˜What?’ questioned Jordan, surprised.
    â€˜You had sexual relations with a married woman. According to what Dan has set out here, if you are suffering from AIDS or any sexually transmittable disease you didn’t tell Alyce about before you entered into a relationship you could be criminally charged with assault, as well as giving Alfred Appleton grounds for several additional claims. Murder or manslaughter even, if Alyce becomes infected with AIDS from which she subsequently died.’
    â€˜I am not suffering from AIDS or any other sexually transmitted disease.’
    â€˜That will have to be