I reach into my pocket with my one spare hand and struggle to tap in the pin number onto the screen.

The text is from Clifford, my lawyer. “Need to speak to you about the proposal you sent over. Call me.”

I angle the phone until I can see the dial icon and then tap it without thinking. Big mistake. It’s not easy holding a business conversation while lugging a bag that does not want to be wheeled. I’m out of breath and sweat is starting to gather above my butt crack before Clifford has even answered the call.

“Elliott, that was quick. Thanks, I know you’re traveling,” Clifford answers.

“We just arrived, what can I do for you?” I’m eager to get on with this and not prolong my pain any more than necessary.

Clifford tells me that he’s looked into Daisy’s proposal. “It’s an interesting concept, and it is legal, so from that perspective you’re in the clear.”

“OK, so what is the other perspective?” I ask.

“That it’s borderline. Yes, you'll be operating within the letter of the law, but it will be due to nothing more than a simple loophole. You need to think about any PR fallout if the press gets wind of your involvement. Particularly as you’re spearheading this whole responsible building lark while all the time investing in a portfolio which could be deemed ‘dubious’ shall we say.”

“Dubious? Why so?”

“Your cash will be washed Elliott. Albeit washed via a perfectly legal loophole, but you will still be borderline involved in money laundering.”

“Oh...”

“Yes, it’s a complicated chain, but when we followed the trail, that’s precisely what the investment portfolio will be doing. You’ll get the return on the property just as your friend has laid out, but after that, the business will wash and reinvest. You could well be linked.”

“OK, so what you’re saying is that my part of the deal is totally legit, but there is a section that my money then goes into that isn’t.”

“Precisely old boy. Well done, you’re catching on.”

“Is there any way if this loophole as you say is picked up later that I could be implicated?”

Clifford is quiet. “There’s no way to tell. Officially no, but you’ve seen these tax avoidance schemes where the authorities are holding celebrities up as examples. This is where the PR comes in. You need to take this seriously because there is no way of knowing exactly how this could play out.”

“What are the chances of this coming to light?” I ask.

“Nothing lasts forever Elliott, not even you and me.”

“So, would your advice to me be to get in and get out fast and make a quick buck?”

“I can’t give you that guidance, my friend. All I can say is that the less you participate, the less chance there is of you getting caught. But there’s still more probability than if you were not involved at all.”

“Thanks for the call Clifford. Can I count on you to tie up the paperwork if I decide to go ahead?”

“Of course you may. That is what I am here for.”

I hang up, my thoughts away with Daisy and her borderline illegalities.

“You’re not going to do it are you?” Kyle is staring at me, his brow furrowed.

“Huh, did you hear?”

“Yeah, I heard. Every word. Clifford thinks you should steer clear.”

“He didn’t say that.”

“Well he said the only way to avoid getting embroiled in some future negative and potentially dangerous ramification is if you don’t invest in Daisy’s scheme.”

I’m really not sure that’s what he meant. Clifford was just giving me a full picture of the potential outcomes. There’s also a lot of benefits to my investing. Not only the financial return but also the publicity for the ethical building practices I've been championing.

“If I get in and get out quickly, I’m not really sure how there can be a downside.”