Corruption's Price: A Spanish Deceit Read Online Free PDF Page B

would probably rope in Emilia, which would be good for the analysis and interpretation. After all, she and Emilia had proved several times in the past that they combined well to make a formidable team. The downside: it would dilute her own exposure to Davide.
    Or she could keep quiet. If she did the risk was that Emilia would head off to do other things and pursue other prey whilst she stayed in Madrid working with Davide. That had its attractions but would probably ruin the so-called 'Grand European Tour'. Caterina decided to wait.
    "How long do you think my involvement will last, Davide? Is there any reward in it?"
    "You've emerged from your daydreams?" sniped Emilia. "I was wondering which planet you were on."
    "Thank you, Emilia. You are as kind today as you were on the plane. Anyway, Davide, what do you expect?"
    "Again, I've no real idea. ORS has the raw accounting data. It also has some processing capabilities in-house. I'd guess a day for you to get set up and then perhaps a couple of weeks or so. Not much more unless you find something." He thought for a moment.
    "As for any payment, I'm not sure. If you come up with anything that helps Felipe collect more monies, I'm pretty certain that ORS will pay. Indeed, I've already agreed that ORS should pay at least for two or three days for you to do the initial assessment. That won't be a lot but it'll be better than nothing."
    Davide paused again, before adding, "If it takes longer I will contribute from my consulting company's funds. The last few months, as you well know, Caterina, brought in an awful lot more than my wildest expectations. It wouldn't be unreasonable to share some with you."
    Davide hoped that this was not sending yet more of the ambiguous signals that currently seemed to be their mutual plight.
    Caterina forced herself to consider. Davide was being generous. Would he include Emilia? She could not predict. She decided to take the plunge.
    "It's not that I need the money, though every little extra in Madrid helps of course. We have a budget and the time. Staying with you already makes our living costs negligible, especially when we'd otherwise have to pay for hotels."
    "Of course you can stay. You might even get to meet tío Toño."
    "Davide, there's something you need to know."
    "That sounds ominous."
    "No, quite the opposite. Emilia is more than just an old friend and travelling partner. We trained and worked together. Where I chose to go down a computing path, her speciality became forensic accounting – you know, where someone inspects the financial trails left by organisations and people."
    "Really? That sounds right up our street. Why didn't you tell me before?"
    He turned to Emilia who was listening and more than surprised at what Caterina was saying. It was the last thing Emilia had expected. In fact she had already more or less decided to tell Davide, irrespective of any of Caterina's objections.
    "It was because of me," confessed Caterina. "I asked her not to say anything until we knew more about what you were thinking. Now that we know, it seems stupid not to tell you."
    "Fair enough, though I still think it seems strange you didn't mention anything before. Shall we head over that way? I think there is a restaurante with a terrace where we could have a drink and something light to eat while we work out what we want to do. What d'you think?"
    Emilia nodded while Caterina said, "As long as you let me buy."
    After the waiter had brought drinks and some small tapas and olives, Davide resumed.
    "On Monday I will talk with Felipe. If that goes well I suspect he'll want action and fast, he being American. That might mean Tuesday or Wednesday for the start of your involvement. Given that, if you want to, you should be planning for tomorrow and Monday as days to see more of Madrid. But remember, most of the better museums here – should these take your fancy – are closed on Mondays."
     
     
    Saturday: Valencia
     
    Marta extricated herself from the