The Wreckage - Michael Robotham [173]
“He should have kept his mouth shut. The audit would have blown over.”
“Don’t you feel any responsibility?”
“What’s done is done.”
“I’m going to tell the authorities.”
Bach laughs. “Good luck with that. Nothing is going to happen. They know already. Why do you think I haven’t been charged? I’m an old man. They’re not going to prosecute me. They can’t risk damaging confidence in the banking system.”
There’s no hint of triumphalism in Bach’s voice, yet he was right all along, thinks Ruiz. People might hate him or question his morals, but when the economy picks up and the banks grow strong again, they’ll envy his wealth and his power. They’ll want to be just like him.
“Can I ask you one favor, please, Vincent?”
“What’s that?”
“I’d appreciate it if you didn’t tell Lizzie about Polina. She’s been through so much. Family is all she has left.”
His arrogance is astonishing; hubris on a grand scale. Ruiz can feel the skin tighten across his face.
“If it’s a question of money,” says Bach, “I’m sure I can find some honey in the pot to sweeten your medicine.”
The buzzing in Ruiz’s ears has grown louder. “I’m not the only person who knows.”
“Polina won’t say anything. She’s been too well paid.”
Ruiz has already turned away, in sudden need of fresher air. After several steps, he stops and spins.
“By the way, Elizabeth has a new nanny who knows all about dysfunctional families and their secrets. She can even tell when someone is lying.”
“My sins have been confessed.”
“But they haven’t been forgiven.”
Ruiz leaves, walking up the slope towards the house, the turf soft beneath his worn leather shoes. Beneath the canopy of a fig tree he notices a rope swing dangling from a lower branch and can picture Elizabeth as a young girl, her hair flying, pushing herself from the shadows into the sunshine.
Although reality can sometimes corrupt the fairytale and alter our ambitions, some things remain unalterable. From richest to poorest, we start and end with family.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The Wreckage is based on many real-life events and documents but the characters are entirely fictitious. I am indebted to many fine journalists and authors who have written about the global financial crisis and about Iraq. I have drawn upon their experiences and wisdom to hopefully create fiction that reads like the truth.
As always, I wish to thank my agents Mark Lucas, Richard Pine, Nicki Kennedy and Sam Edenborough, as well as my editors David Shelley and John Schoenfelder.
For their hospitality, friendship and advice I thank Mark and Sara Derry, Martyn Forrester, Peter Temple, Jonathan Margolis and Scott Dalton.
Last, but by no means least, I am indebted as always to my beloved wife Vivien, who has suffered more than usual during the birth of this particular baby. My daughters have also endured my mercurial mood swings and many absences. One day I’ll make it up to them.
I love you guys.
Contents
FRONT COVER IMAGE
WELCOME
DEDICATION
BOOK ONE
1: BAGHDAD
2: LONDON
3: LONDON
4: BAGHDAD
5: LONDON
6: LONDON
7: BAGHDAD
8: LONDON
9: LONDON
10: BAGHDAD
11: LONDON
12: LONDON
13: BAGHDAD
14: LONDON
15: LONDON
16: LONDON
17: BAGHDAD
18: LONDON
19: BAGHDAD
20: LONDON
21: BAGHDAD
22: LONDON
23: BAGHDAD
24: LONDON
25: BAGHDAD
BOOK TWO
1: LONDON
2: LONDON
3: LONDON
4: LONDON
5: LONDON
6: LONDON
7: LONDON
8: BAGHDAD
9: LONDON
10: LONDON
11: LONDON
12: WASHINGTON
13: LONDON
14: BAGHDAD
15: LONDON
16: LONDON
17: BAGHDAD
18: LONDON
19: LONDON
20: LONDON
21: LONDON
22: WASHINGTON
23: LONDON
24: LONDON
25: LUTON
26: BAGHDAD
27: LONDON
28: LONDON
BOOK THREE
1: LONDON
2: ISTANBUL
3: LONDON
4: WASHINGTON
5: LONDON
6: LUTON
7: LONDON
8: LONDON
9: LONDON
10: LUTON
11: LONDON
12: LONDON
13: NEW YORK
14: LONDON
15: LONDON
16: LONDON
17: LONDON
18: LONDON
19: LONDON
20: LONDON
21: LONDON
22: LONDON
23: LONDON
24: LUTON
25: LONDON
26: LUTON
27: LONDON
28: LONDON
29: