Free Unravel a Crime - Tangle With Women by Neil Wild

the
National would become involved – certainly to the extent that it did.
    It may well have been that the
National would not have been happy with the fact that the solicitors who signed
the report on title on properties to them had an interest in the borrower, and
so I thought it best to avoid that situation. We passed Clearfield on to Simon
Simmons - well Levy went to him.
    "I doubt if the National
would have been happy, and I suspect that you know that. Simmons has been
caught in the net for the work he did after you had ceased to act for
Clearfield. David is in the net. I think that you are worried that the net
might extend retrospectively to cover you."
    There was no direct response
to the statement. Mortimer continued. "The money that was returned to me
from Clearfield, I used in the property company we have with David."
    "So the company is really
son of Clearfield? What's it called?"
    "Clearmeadow Limited.
"
    "Oh shit."
    "Precisely. "
    "He who touches pitch
becomes defiled." said Ridley.
    "Thank you for that,
Dick." said Mortimer turning to glare at him for the unwelcome comment.
    "Guilt by association is
I think what Dick means," said Brakespeare. "Well from what I recall,
all the valuations that are being challenged are about three years old."
    "1 think that's right.
"
    "So you're in the clear –
at the moment. They've got Simmons anyway."
    "Well, I agree that it
looks like that, but this is a conspiracy charge, and if it is defended you
never know how far back they might start probing, and what will come out. I
personally have no desire to stand in the dock next to Simmons!" said
Mortimer.
    Brakespeare said nothing. He
was thinking. Mortimer and Ridley watched him closely. "The only thing
that worries me is another conflict of interest. Can I defend Newberry, knowing
that those who are paying me have a vested interest in the outcome of the
case?"
    "Yes, but is there anything
in the evidence that compromises us.?" Mortimer asked quickly.
    "Well I haven't looked at
the evidence in detail, so I can't answer that.”
    Brakespeare paused for thought
while the two partners waited on him nervously.
    “ OK, look, at the moment I'm
prepared to go on with the case, I might not if you had been open me
beforehand, but I suspect that is precisely why you did not tell me anything.
"
    There was no reply, but a
visible sense of relief.
    "If however there is any
evidence - conveyancing files and the like that link Clearfield to this firm
then David is going to have to be told to take his representation elsewhere. Do
you agree."
    The two partners looked at
each other, and mutually shrugged shoulders. "We have no option,"
said Mortimer.
    "Absolutely none,"
Ridley added by way of reinforcement.
    Brakespeare felt totally in
control.
    “ We may have to review my
fees.”
    Both men twitched.
    “ Well, after all I thought I
was coming to a routine job. The level of responsibility that’s just been
dumped on me – well, we’ll have to discuss that later, when I’ve had time to
read the files thoroughly and see exactly what I am up against – or rather,
what you’re up against.!
    There was a silence. Both men
just stared at him.
    "Well gentleman unless
there's anything else, I think I need to get on and meet the tall order. Just
bear in mind though, as you quite rightly say, as soon as the Prosecution know
we're going to defend the charges, they may well look for ways to strengthen
their case, added to which, and I've only just thought of this, if we make an
application to strike this case out at the committal proceedings, then we are
going to reveal our hand. If we lose, then we will be unlikely to win at
trial."
    He paused again, then stood up
suddenly, and stared out of the window down Deansway, lost in thought.
    Ridley looked at Mortimer, and
together they stood up.
    "We'll leave you to
it", said Mortimer, and they left.
    "I need a wee." said
Brakespeare to no-one in particular, and followed them out of the room.
    When he