Scandalous Behavior

30

Stone, Dino, and Marcel took a morning ride around the Curtis estate the following morning.

“I am very impressed with the beauty of the place,” Marcel said. “That should be a great added attraction for guests.”

“There’s also the river,” Stone pointed out. “The staff could conduct wildlife tours by boat, and sailing on the Solent could be offered.”

“What about that?” Dino asked, pointing. “Is that an added attraction?” He was pointing at the black Mercedes SUV that had been parked on the main road. It was now moving slowly around the property, not bothering to stick to the drive.

“No,” Stone said, “that is trespassing.” He got out his phone, called Deputy Chief Inspector Holmes, and reported the intrusion, then hung up. “He’s sending a car,” Stone said. “In the meantime, ignore them.” They rode on at a walk, and the car continued its tour. After about ten minutes, a police car showed up, its blue light flashing. They stopped the SUV, and the two officers got out and had a look inside. Four men got out of the vehicle and were searched, and each was relieved of a black pistol, all four of which were put into the police car by one of the officers, while the other used a radio.

“This is wonderful news,” Stone said. “The stupid bastards were armed.”

Shortly a police van arrived and transported the arrestees off the property, followed by the police car and the SUV, now driven by an officer. Stone and his party watched all this from a distance of about a hundred yards, then continued their ride.

Back at the house for lunch, Stone called Felicity Devonshire. “I have more ammo,” he said.

“Oh, tell me, please, I’m seeing the Home Secretary this afternoon.”

“Four of Dr. Don’s people were arrested this morning, after they drove their SUV onto the Curtis estate. They were all armed with handguns, and the police took them away.”

“Can you connect them to Dr. Don?”

“You’ll have to ask Deputy Chief Inspector Holmes about that, but in my experience, Dr. Don’s people carry business cards.”

“I will look into that immediately. Thank you, my dear.” She hung up.

Stone had just finished lunch when Felicity called back. “Good news,” she said, “the four trespassers were, indeed, carrying business cards, connecting them to Dr. Don. They are being transported to New Scotland Yard as we speak and will have a hearing tomorrow morning, at which my service and the Home Secretary will be in attendance.”

“What is the likely outcome of the hearing?”

“They might be offered the opportunity to accept immediate expulsion from Britain, or they could be bound over for trial. There will probably be some negotiation with their solicitors over this.”

“Will they go after Dr. Don, as well?”

“He would deny having ordered them to be armed, so it’s unlikely a judge would expel him. This incident will, however, weigh with the Home Secretary in his deliberations. I’ll call you tomorrow and let you know how it comes out.”

“Do you think I could attend the hearing?”

“It’s open to the public.” She gave him the address.

“Wonderful.” They hung up, and Stone went to find Dino and tell him what was happening.

“I’ll go with you, if that’s okay,” Dino said.

Stone then got a call from the public prosecutor who was acting for the government at the hearing, and he asked Stone many questions about Dr. Don and the Chosen Few.

“My name is Derek Aslett,” he said. “Felicity Devonshire tells me you are attending the hearing tomorrow morning.”

“That’s correct.”

“Would you be good enough to testify to the facts you have just told me and to your experience with the Chosen Few?”

“I would be very happy to testify.”

“Please be at the court at a quarter to ten tomorrow morning, then. Do you have the address?”

“I do. May I have your phone and fax numbers?”

Aslett gave them to him. “I will find you in the public gallery.” They said goodbye and hung up.

“I’m going to get a shot at Dr. Don at the hearing,” Stone said to Dino.

“I’m going to enjoy watching that,” Dino replied.

“Would you call the director of the FBI and get his permission to show Dr. Don’s file to the prosecutor? I can fax it to him.”

“Sure.”

“We’ll have to leave here about seven o’clock in the morning,” Stone said, “because of the rush-hour traffic.”

“That’s okay. I’m accustomed to earlier hours than you.”

Dino called the director and got permission to use the file, and Stone faxed it to Derek Aslett.