Mike Dixon

Kirstin lent forward. „Was Footsie working for Cecil Spar-
row?‟
Grace looked puzzled. Kirstin wondered if the old woman
had understood the question. Then her head jerked up.
„Footsie was working for our son, Harald.‟
She turned to George.
„You tell her. This is all too much for me.‟
Kirstin waited while her former boss gathered his thoughts
and adjusted the lapels of his jacket. He took a step forward
and stood rigidly behind Grace. His bearing was that of a
high-ranking public official, addressing a Cabinet meeting,
thirty years earlier. He spoke in a clear steady voice.
„When Harald took over Paget Holdings it was a thriving
business. However, before long, hotels which had been
showing good profits were running at a loss. Harald replaced
loyal staff with his cronies. He also associated with criminals.
One of these, a corrupt cop called Mike Holland, used Paget
Holdings to launder drug money.‟
„And Sparrow?‟ Kirstin asked.
„Sparrow had been running the Narcotics Bureau for two
years with nothing to show for it. Mike Holland came to the
rescue. He supplied information about rival drug gangs and
Sparrow made a killing. Holland had them both in his pocket.
An incompetent hotelier and the incompetent head of the
Narcotics Bureau. Both needed his support.‟
„How did David get involved?‟
„Our son Harald abused everything which came his way.
He was given a senior position in Paget Holdings and he
abused it. He married a beautiful woman and he abused her.
Sue Lynne had a nervous breakdown and Harald was grant-
ed custody of their daughter.‟
„And David?‟ Kirstin prompted.
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