STOCKS & SHARES 8

The lights were burning late in the offices of APACS. Once more the smoke from rich Havana cigars drifted like clouds through the crystal chandeliers of the ornate boardroom. In the chair for the meeting was Farquhar-Brown, who called the meeting to order.

As the hubbub died down, the Chief, who had only just arrived as usual, glanced hurriedly around the table. To his right, a few places down, he could see Lord Wetherby. Sitting at the left-hand side of Farquhar-Brown was John Sanders, Head of Fraud at the Benefits agency. Turning to his left, two places along, Sir James Telfer of Yorkshire Bank gave him a cursory nod. Immediately opposite the Chief was Wesley Sykes, the APACS PR guru. Through a haze of smoke, the Chief had a brief glimpse of Lord Sefton, and many, many more men who were famous among the banking and financial community.