As William and Jackie assumed he wasn’t using the royal ‘We,’ they followed him out of the room and down the corridor to Hawksby’s office.
‘Angela, I need to see the commander urgently,’ Lamont told Hawksby’s secretary as he entered the room.
‘Chief Inspector Mullins is with him at the moment,’ she said, ‘but I don’t expect them to be too much longer.’
‘Mullins?’ whispered William to Jackie.
‘Drugs. Pray you don’t get transferred to his section. Few survive, and the ones that do are never the same again.’
After a few more minutes the door opened and the chief inspector came out, accompanied by Commander Hawksby.
‘Good morning, Bruce,’ said Mullins, not breaking his stride as he left the room.
‘I hope you have some good news for me,’ said Hawksby. ‘Because so far, it’s been one lousy day.’
‘A possible breakthrough in the missing Rembrandt case, sir.’
‘Then you’d better come in.’
Once they had all settled around the table in Hawksby’s office, William went over his meeting with Mrs. Faulkner in great detail. He was surprised by the Hawk’s immediate response.
‘I don’t think that “we have one just like it in our drawing room in Monte Carlo. In fact I can never tell the difference between the two” was a slip of the tongue. I think Mrs. Faulkner knew exactly what she was telling the young detective she’d invited to join her for coffee.’
‘I agree,’ said Lamont. ‘And coupled with that, she asked for the name of a private detective who can be trusted. It’s no wonder the gates were opened.’
‘So what’s she up to?’ asked William.
‘At the risk of stating the obvious,’ said Jackie, ‘it’s my bet she needs a private detective because she’s planning to divorce her husband, and getting her hands on a large settlement won’t be enough. She’s looking for revenge, and what better way than telling us where the Rembrandt is?’
‘That’s a risky game she’s playing,’ said Hawksby, ‘considering who she’s up against.’
‘She’s had seven years to think about it,’ said William.
‘It still may not be enough,’ said Lamont.
‘Got anyone in mind for the job, Bruce?’ said Hawksby.
‘Mike Harrison would be my first choice. Capable, reliable, and trustworthy. And if she gives him the job, we’d have someone on the inside.’
‘Set up a meeting,’ said Hawksby, ‘and if he’s agreeable, William can introduce him to Mrs. Faulkner.’
‘I’ll get on it right away, sir,’ said Lamont.
‘And well done, William, although it won’t be easy to get the Rembrandt out of Monte Carlo while Faulkner’s in residence. But if his wife is on our side, it might just be possible for us to take him by surprise for a change. Now to more immediate problems. Jackie, are you all set for Operation Blue Period?’
‘It’s green lit for tomorrow night, sir. We’ll have the property so well surrounded even a mole wouldn’t be able to burrow its way out without us knowing about it.’
‘Are you sure you’ve got all the necessary backup, Bruce?’
‘The Surrey Constabulary couldn’t have been more cooperative, sir. They’re supplying us with around twenty officers, who’ll be stationed in two buses at the entry and exit points. We’ll be sitting waiting for the villains the moment they come out of the house.’
‘And the owners?’
‘They’re away on holiday in the Seychelles, as Faulkner must know, so safely out of harm’s way.’
‘Once the thieves are in custody, be sure to call me, whatever time it is.’
‘It’s likely to be around two or three in the morning, sir,’ said Jackie.
‘Whatever time it is,’ repeated Hawksby.
Lamont, Jackie, and William stood up, aware that the meeting was over.
‘Warwick,’ said Hawksby, as they turned to leave, ‘could you stay behind for a moment? I’d like a private word.’
William was amused by the word ‘could,’ although he assumed he was about to receive a bollocking for his lack of preparation in the Amhurst case.
‘William,’ said Hawksby once Lamont and Jackie had left, ‘I make a point of never involving myself in the private lives of my officers unless it’s likely to affect an ongoing inquiry.’
William sat tensely on the edge of his seat.
‘However, it has come to my attention that you have developed a friendship with a young woman who works at the Fitzmolean Museum, and is therefore an interested party in the missing Rembrandt case.’
‘It’s more than a friendship, sir,’ admitted William. ‘I’m all but living with her.’
‘All the more reason to be cautious. And what I’m about to say is an order, not a request. Do I make myself clear?’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘You will not, under any circumstances, reveal to anyone outside of this office that we might know where the missing Rembrandt is. In fact, it would be wise not to tell Miss Rainsford anything further concerning our investigation, and I mean anything.’
‘I understand, sir.’
‘I don’t have to remind you that as a police officer, you have signed the Official Secrets Act, and if you were responsible for undermining this, or any other operation you were involved in, you could find yourself in front of a disciplinary board, which would undoubtedly set your career back, if not derail it. Do you have any questions?’
‘No, sir.’
‘Then you will return to your unit and not discuss this conversation with anyone, even your colleagues. Is that clear?’
‘Yes, sir.’
Back at his desk, William looked at the pile of pending cases in front of him, but couldn’t get the commander’s words out of his mind. This morning he had been dreading coming into the office. This evening he was dreading going home.
When Beth heard the front door open she immediately ran out of the kitchen and into the hallway.
‘So how did your meeting with Mrs. Faulkner go?’ she asked, before William had a chance to take his jacket off.
‘I didn’t get past the front gates.’
‘You’re a dear sweet man,’ she said, draping her arms around his neck, ‘but such an unconvincing liar.’
‘No, it’s the truth,’ protested William.
She stood back and looked at him more closely. ‘What have they told you about me?’ she asked, her tone suddenly changing.
‘Nothing, I swear. Nothing.’ And then he recalled Hawksby’s words: You will not, under any circumstances... tell Miss Rainsford anything further concerning our investigation, and I mean anything.
What circumstances? thought William. And then he remembered Jackie’s words when he’d bought Beth some flowers before going to Barnstaple: Rainsford? Why does that name ring a bell?
The first thing William did when he arrived at work the following morning was to write up a detailed report of his visit to Limpton Hall. Once he’d handed it in to Lamont, he called Mrs. Faulkner on her private line.
‘I think I may have found the right person to help you, Mrs. Faulkner. When would you like to meet him?’
‘I’m driving up to London next Monday. Why don’t you join me for lunch? I can’t risk you coming down here again.’
‘Why not?’ William asked, sounding disappointed.
‘Makins would be on the phone to my husband before you reached the front gate. In fact, Miles called me last night to ask why I’d even let you into the house.’
‘What did you tell him?’
‘That when you returned the picture, you let slip that the Rembrandt investigation had been dropped and relegated to the unsolved cases file.’