‘Come on then, out with it,’ said Lowe. ‘What’s the problem?’
David sighed. ‘An organisation we’ve had our eye on for some time,’ he said. ‘At first glance, it looks like a legitimate business but I’ve had a small core team working on it, looking into some of its acquisitions over the past five years or so.’
Lowe leaned back and folded his hands in his lap. ‘Nothing wrong with mergers and acquisitions, David. What raised the flag?’
‘The death of Peter Edgewater,’ said David.
Lowe sniffed. ‘Name rings a bell. Remind me?’
‘Oxford lecturer. Earth sciences and the like. Completed a very successful lecture tour over the past month or so. He presented a lecture at his college in Oxford on his return to the country, then two days later turned up dead in a nearby nature reserve. Police reckon it was a mugging.’
‘And you don’t?’
‘It’s a bit too convenient, isn’t it?’ said David. ‘His lecture tour was causing quite a stir amongst the oil, gas and coal sector. Rumour has it he’d just entered into negotiations with a publisher and one of the national newspapers to do a serialised version of his lecture. Nothing libellous, but enough for people to work out who he was pointing the finger at.’
‘So you think he was murdered?’ Lowe asked.
‘I’m sure he was,’ said David. ‘I think someone was following the progress of his lecture tour very closely. I’m sure he was threatened at least once. I certainly got that impression when I spoke with him.’
‘You contacted him?’ Lowe sat upright. ‘When?’
‘In Paris, just after the New Year,’ said David. He looked away and shrugged. ‘I could be wrong, but he seemed on edge. Scared. He certainly didn’t appreciate me being there.’
‘I’m sure,’ said Lowe. ‘Did I authorise that trip?’
David glanced at him. ‘No need. It’s part of an ongoing investigation your predecessor sanctioned. Sir.’
Lowe shrugged his shoulders. ‘Well, I’m sure it’s just a coincidence,’ he said, getting up and looking out the window. ‘Oxford has its crime problems, same as anywhere else.’
David stood up and stretched, then joined him.
‘So, what’s the rest of the investigation about?’ asked Lowe.
David shrugged. ‘Your predecessor was worried about the lobbying problems in the United States spreading here. Particularly in relation to viable means of alternative energy.’
‘Go on.’
‘There’s a lot of scare tactics used there – as well as misinformation, scientists are being paid off by the coal and oil sectors to sell their side of the story.’ David paused and turned to look at Lowe. ‘And he was very concerned that members of our Parliament here might be receiving bribes to hold up the research into alternative energy.’
Lowe blinked. ‘What have you found so far?’
David shrugged. ‘Nothing – yet. But one or two energy organisations based overseas with vested interests in the United Kingdom energy supply keep cropping up. Both were targeted by Peter Edgewater in the lecture series he presented and was about to publish. Both are privately owned but by millionaires who, quite honestly, are megalomaniacs.’
David walked over to his desk and sat down. He picked up his coffee mug, realised it was empty and put it down again in disgust.
Lowe turned from the window. ‘So, what are your plans?’
David shrugged. ‘I had wanted to speak with Doctor Edgewater’s ex-wife to see if she could shed any light but she seems to have disappeared – hasn’t been seen at her house near Abingdon for a few days.’
‘Perhaps visiting relatives in the circumstances?’ suggested Lowe.
‘Perhaps. I hope so. I’d hate to think she was in danger.’
‘Any grounds for that assumption?’
‘Well, Doctor Edgewater’s house was partially destroyed by an explosion yesterday.’
‘What?’
‘Yes, I know. We’ve told the local police to treat it as a gas explosion – no need to alarm the local community. It destroyed his study though, so it was a very targeted attack. Specialised too – the only damage was to that building.’
Lowe stuck his hands in his pockets and paced the room.
‘I presume the lecture notes were destroyed then?’
David nodded. Then smiled. ‘Apart from the set we think he posted to his ex-wife.’
Lowe stopped pacing. ‘Really?’
‘Yes.’
‘And you can’t find her?’
David held up his hand. ‘Relax. As you say, she’s probably just staying with relatives. Let’s face it, she’s had a tough week.’ He stood up. ‘If it makes you feel better, we are watching all the airports for her.’
Lowe visibly relaxed. ‘Good. Make sure you do. Wouldn’t want any harm coming to her, eh?’ He brushed an imaginary speck of dust off his jacket. ‘Well you seem to have it under control, David. Just keep me informed about any developments.’
David stood and walked across the room to open the door. ‘I will, Minister. Thank you for dropping by.’
Chapter 10
Uffington, Oxfordshire
As he drove the car out through the village and down winding country lanes, Dan thought about what he’d learned so far. Sarah was right – Peter must have stumbled across something during his research that he hadn’t yet published but which had endangered his life.
Hopefully there would be a clue amongst all the papers he’d sent – if Dan could work out what they meant. Whoever was trying to stop his discovery getting out into the public domain was deadly serious about it too, first killing Peter then destroying his house to ensure any incriminating evidence wasn’t discovered. Dan still doubted the police explanation the explosion was caused by a gas leak; in fact he doubted whether the police believed it themselves.