Jigsaw Lovers Read online

  More often than not this was the case, for her assignments frequently involved her associating with men who were prominent and powerful; men who held high positions in industry, business, and the political arena. Such men attracted and interested her. She found their company, their experiences and their conversation stimulating, and they were more than flattered by the attentions of such a beautiful, sophisticated and intelligent young lady.

  It was an ideal combination which James’s organisation had used and exploited successfully on many occasions.

  James, whom she only knew as James, was her employer. He was the one person from his company that she had seen and had any dealings with. He had said that they were a firm of specialist private investigators. She had never asked but she was convinced that there was a lot more to the company than she had been told. She had felt that from their very first meeting, but she also sensed that it would be wise not to ask too many questions. She was given a set of instructions and an objective. It was not for her to question or concern herself with the reasoning behind those given aims.

  She had been living in Clapham North, in a street which had been missed by the trend of gentrification, which had transformed other roads in the area.

  James had come to her flat, which was little more than a glorified bedsit, one evening, two years ago.

  ‘My name is James,’ he had said as she let him in and closed the front door.

  ‘James?’ she asked.

  ‘Yes. James. Just James. That will be sufficient for the purposes of our relationship. James is all you need to know me by.’

  ‘And what would you like to call me, James?’ Her voice was well educated and refined.

  ‘I would like, if I may, to call you Diana.’

  ‘Diana. Yes, that’s a nice name. The huntress of classical mythology.’

  ‘I would like to refer to you as Diana Johnston, in all our dealings together. Is that alright with you?’ he asked as though seeking her approval, but expecting a yes answer. It was part of his opening approach that he had used frequently.

  He was in his mid-thirties, rugged and wiry in appearance, well spoken and well dressed, in a woollen three-piece suit with silk tie. He looked slightly out of the ordinary in relation to the men who usually frequented this part of town, and who had bought her favours, recently.

  ‘That’s quite all right, James.’ She understood his need for anonymity. He probably had a wife and family at home. As for calling her Diana, she assumed he had a fantasy for a girl of that name.

  She offered him a drink which he declined. She was about to go through the routine of what she could offer and for what particular price, but he held up his hand to stop her.

  ‘Miss Johnston, I’m not what you think I am.’

  ‘No, of course you aren’t, but don’t worry, your secret’s safe with me. I never kiss and tell.’ She giggled playfully at her joke.

  ‘You misunderstand me. I have a business proposition to put to you.’

  ‘Of course. Isn’t that why you’re here?’

  ‘The reason I’m here is that I represent a company which is interested in purchasing exclusive rights in your, how shall I put this? particular business.’

  A worried look crossed her face. She had heard stories from other girls as to how the gangs demanded protection money. She had hoped that by keeping a low profile she would have been able to avoid this unwelcome attention, but obviously not.

  James, noticing her look of concern, tried to put her at ease.

  ‘There’s nothing to worry about. I’m not here to threaten you or anything like that,’ he said reassuringly, ‘I merely wish to see if you would be interested in working on a full-time basis for my company. If you are, in principle, then I will provide you with more details as to what I propose.’

  She relaxed a little and poured herself a drink. ‘Well, although I did choose to lead this existence, it isn’t exactly the life I’d envisaged for myself,’ she admitted, ‘so I’m all ears. Tell me what it is you think I could do for you.’

  Although James had read the reports that his team had prepared for him about her, and had studied the photographs and videos that they had taken, he was quite unprepared and amazed at how beautiful and enchanting she actually was, face to face.

  He had made it a rule, long ago, never to mix business and pleasure and had always adhered to it. On this occasion, however, the thought went through his mind that maybe he was being too hard on himself. It remained a thought, for after a moment he shook his head, smiled inwardly and regained his latent professionalism.

  James was responsible for the recruitment, vetting and training of suitable women and also, increasingly these days, men, into the organisation. One of their usual lines of recruitment was to answer advertisements in the personal columns of the evening newspapers, what’s on and so-called speciality taste magazines.

  They had been doing this now for over five years and had a considerable data base of the various services that were on offer. They could find someone suitable for virtually any occasion or situation that might arise, anywhere in the world. It had proved to be very useful for their main-line business activities.

  One of James’s operatives would make an appointment for a massage or sauna or whatever was being offered, and afterwards file an in-depth report on the visit. The report would cover such aspects as how attractive the person was, hygiene of the establishment and the person, drug use, intelligence, character traits, discreteness, tastes catered for, and the likelihood of the company being able to recruit the individual, and if so, for what particular activities.

  If these initial criteria were satisfactorily met, then James would pay a visit to the person in question, and make an assessment of them himself. Depending on the outcome of this and his own report was whether they would be asked to work for the company or not.

  Diana’s advertisement had appeared three weeks earlier in an evening newspaper. It had been spotted as a matter of routine, and someone had been dispatched to sample the services on offer. As soon as James’s operative had met Diana he knew that he had found an exceptional young lady. She was obviously new at this business and her modesty was an unexpected bonus. His report had been acted upon immediately. People had been assigned to follow and observe her every movement, whilst others found out everything there was to know about her from the day she was born. This information was then condensed to one page and sent to James for his final decision. He had been very interested and had arranged the meeting that was now taking place.

  ‘We are a firm of private investigators.’ He saw her look of disdain as he continued. ‘You look as though you disapprove. That’s interesting considering your chosen profession.’

  A flash of anger crossed her eyes. She was about to speak but suddenly gained control of herself.

  ‘I understand what you’re thinking. You assume, like many people, that private investigators are rather unsavoury individuals.’

  ‘I don’t think I’ve ever met one before, but yes, you’re right. The image I have of them is that they are rather unpleasant nosey people. They have a pretty low reputation, only just below that of lawyers and accountants,’ she said.

  ‘They only exist to fulfill a need. Person A needs information about person B. He can’t find it out himself without being compromised. Therefore, he employs person C to get that information.’

  ‘So you want me to go around snooping on people?’ she asked.

  ‘No. My particular company doesn’t deal with the seedy side of the business. By that I mean the small-time stuff of getting the dirt on cheating husbands, or wayward wives. Many people do that, and the rewards are not very high. The company I represent specialises in doing work for the corporate business sector, and, in exceptional circumstances, for very wealthy individuals.’

  ‘Industrial espionage?’

  ‘It forms part of what we do, yes. There have been occasions when we have been asked to gather that type of information,’ answered Jam
es.

  ‘I imagine its a much more highly paid area,’ she commented.

  ‘The fees we charge are very high, but the service we offer is unique, and of the highest quality. Our clients are always satisfied with the results we achieve for them.’ He sounded very sincere, and she found herself beginning to listen to him with a growing curiosity. He had a certain charm, and certainly didn’t fit the stereotyped image she had of a private eye.

  ‘So what would you want me to do for your company? I assume you would have told me its name by now, if you were going to.’

  He paused to light a cigarette and to observe her.

  ‘There’s no reason for you to know its name. Does that worry you?’

  ‘No. Just curious, that’s all. But perhaps its better if I’m not,’ she answered.

  ‘To return to your other question. Often, we find that we have a need for someone who is able to offer the type of services that you yourself have been providing for the last three months.’ He noted her startled reaction to this last statement, but also saw how quickly she regained her composure. With training she could be taught a number of skills that would make her a very useful asset.

  ‘So you’ve done some research on me already, I see.’

  ‘That’s why I’m here now. You’re very different from most of the other women we’ve met who endorse your chosen profession. We believe we could find an interesting position for you in our company.’

  ‘From what you’ve told me, already, I’m quite interested.’

  ‘Should you decide that you’d like to work for us, you’d have to give up all your other clients and commitments.’

  ‘What remuneration are you offering?’

  ‘In return for exclusive rights to your time, we would pay you a monthly retainer equivalent to three times what you’re earning now, whether you work or not. In addition there’ll be a generous bonus when you have to work. Whatever gifts, clothes, jewellery, and presents the client gives you, remain yours to keep. You will probably have the opportunity to travel and naturally all your expenses will be taken care of.’

  He went on to outline the type of client, the services that would be required and the type of behaviour that would be expected. That which was on offer was many times better than she was experiencing now. It was a most extraordinary job offer. She would become an upmarket lady of pleasure, a far cry from her present circumstances.

  If she could believe half of what he said, she could have lots of fun, travel, and earn a fortune at the same time. In a few years she could become a very rich woman.

  ‘There is one other aspect which I cannot stress sufficiently. We expect absolute discretion. No one, and I mean no one, must every find out what you do, or with whom you do it. We will be aware of any slip you make. You will only ever make one and that will terminate our relationship. Is that perfectly clear?’

  She felt a shiver go up her spine and the hairs on the back of her neck rose as she looked into his grey eyes. She had no doubt as to how the relationship would be terminated. From what this man James had said she was well aware that she had been invited to join a group whose power and activities probably stretched many times further than he had indicated or than she could imagine.

  ‘Perfectly,’ she answered, trying to sound calm. ‘I don’t have a problem with that.’

  ‘You are to tell no one.’

  As James closed the flat door behind him he felt very pleased. This woman was much, much better than they had even dared to hope. Out of all the hundreds they had monitored and looked at over the years this one was quite outstanding. Not only beautiful, but intelligent and quick to grasp a situation and adjust to it as necessary.

  Mr Ackermann would be very pleased, in the morning, when he read James’s report of the meeting.

  ‘Don’t think I’ve ever seen you so enthusiastic, James. What did she do, cast a spell over you?’ Ackermann asked with sarcastic glee. It was not often that he was able to have a laugh at James’s expense, and he was making the most of it.

  ‘No, its just that’s she’s different from all the rest we use.’ James felt uncomfortable. Ackermann was far too perceptive of another’s weaknesses.

  ‘You mean you fancy her! Is that it, you sly old dog?’ Ackermann laughed. James blushed.

  ‘Well, well, well. At long last you’re finally tempted. Can’t say I blame you. She looks stunning, and well educated and intelligent by all accounts.’ Ackermann paused, raised his head on one side with a quizzical look and asked, ‘So did you?’

  James was taken aback, but there was no point in trying to lie. Ackermann would see right through it. ‘I must admit the thought did cross my mind, but that would be totally unprofessional, and not to our long-term benefit.’

  ‘So you didn’t, but you thought about it. Well that’s a relief. I was beginning to think you were a shirt-lifter, a hangover from that minor public school you attended.’

  Changing the direction of the conversation James continued. ‘I think, handled properly, she could turn out to be a tremendous asset. The best we’ve ever had.’

  ‘How do you think we should proceed?’

  ‘I think we should keep her for the very special assignments. Don’t over-use her. Pamper her and give her everything we can, but not too much. Just enough to show her what the rewards are. To keep her hungry for more. We buy her loyalty, but we buy it in such a way that she thinks she’s giving it to us for free. That she’s doing us a favour. She mustn’t think that we own her, or that she’s as good as she is. Its a delicate balance we will have to maintain, but if it works, and I am confident that it will, then we will have something unique, something that we will be able to exploit and manipulate for a long time.’

  ‘Where do we begin?’

  ‘I think we should move her into the flat. That way we can keep a close eye on her activities, and make a final assessment of her abilities.’

  ‘I’m sure you’d like to keep a close eye on her activities James, and any other part of her anatomy that comes into view.’ It wasn’t the way that James had intended the remark to be taken, but Ackermann had hit straight to the point.

  ‘As I’ve already stated, my professionalism takes first place.’

  ‘Methinks he does protest too much, or however it goes. Just joking James. Don’t be so serious.’

  ‘Then we try her out on a relatively simple project and see how she performs, and take it from there.’

  At the second meeting, a week later, between James and Diana she had been totally surprised, worried initially, but in retrospect reassured, by what had transpired.

  He had arrived at her flat mid-afternoon and had proceeded to supply her with all the documentation for Diana Johnston. Driver’s licence, birth certificate, national insurance number and even a passport.

  She was about to ask how he had managed to obtain these documents, but then thought that it was probably better if she didn’t know, and certainly not a good idea to seem too curious.

  A bank account had been opened in her real name, into which had been deposited the first two months’ retainer and a substantial allowance for her to spend on her wardrobe.

  ‘My company would prefer it if you were to move house. This, although I’m sure it has charm, doesn’t quite fit in with the image we have of you, or what we’ll be requiring you to do. Do you have any objection to that?’ he asked.

  ‘No, of course not. This place was only temporary until I could afford to get somewhere better. I won’t miss it, that’s for sure. Anywhere in particular you’d like me to live.’

  ‘Yes, as a matter of fact there is.’ James smiled. ‘ The company has quite a comfortable flat just off the King’s Road. Two bedrooms, living and dining rooms, fully furnished. It would be more in keeping with the character and lifestyle that we expect Diana Johnston to lead.’

  ‘Sounds wonderful. How much is it?’ she enquired.

  ‘We are prepared to let you stay there free of charge for as long as you work for us
, and for as long as we are happy with the work you do. Does that seem fair?’

  ‘More than fair. When would you like me to move in?’

  ‘Let’s go over there now. Bring your essentials and I’ll arrange for someone to help move your other things in the morning.’

  As she took the lift to the fourth floor of the Edwardian mansion block where she now lived, she couldn’t believe how her situation had changed in the last ten days. She had just returned from a buying spree in shops that previously she had only been able to look through the windows of. She had money, somewhere pleasant to live and even a new identity to hide behind when working. She was beginning to enjoy life.

  CHAPTER THREEPeter Knight ran a moderately successful market research company. Its principal client, Amalgamated Magazines, had been with it since its earliest days, some ten years ago, and was a large magazine publisher. Without that client the company had very little going for it, but with it, it was able to command a position in the market out of all proportion to its true worth. Having this major client, it was able to obtain work that would have been otherwise outside its reach. If it were to lose Amalgamated Magazines then in all likelihood the company would probably go into liquidation within six months.

  It was this fact that brought it to the attention of Dan Ackermann, when his public relations company was looking around for a market research company to purchase in order to offer a more comprehensive service to their own client base, and to keep in-house, consultancy fees that were, at present, going elsewhere.