Over My Dead Body (Detective William Warwick #4)(10)

William was once again taken by surprise, but he didn’t have to ask James what he had in mind.

‘I’ll tell you everything I know about my family, if you’ll show me how to take advantage of it. With your knowledge and experience, I may be able to stay a yard ahead of Uncle Hamish.’

‘But why bother, if you have no interest in joining the company?’

‘I still want my father to be the next chairman, so that in time I’ll end up owning the Pilgrim Line.’

‘You can add being devious to the gifts you inherited from your grandfather,’ said William, giving James a warm smile.

‘Possibly. But I still need to be even more cunning than my uncle Hamish, and more devious than Aunt Sara, if I’m going to have any chance of inheriting the company. Don’t forget they also have children who are only a little younger than me.’

‘In which case you’re going to have to stop thinking like a detective, and start thinking like a criminal.’





CHAPTER 4


‘SHE DEMANDED WHAT?’ SAID MILES, as the waiter poured them both a steaming black coffee.

‘The million she was promised in the original divorce settlement,’ said Booth Watson.

‘But unfortunately I died before the decree nisi was signed.’

‘And she’s got your ashes to prove it.’

‘So what?’

‘You clearly haven’t heard of Crick and Watson,’ said Booth Watson, ‘because they’ve made it possible for her to prove you’re very much alive.’

‘Not if she’s dead she can’t,’ said Faulkner.

‘If Christina were to suffer an untimely death,’ said Booth Watson, choosing his words carefully, ‘the first person they’d question would be her new husband, Captain Ralph Neville RN. It wouldn’t take them too long to work out his true identity. So I’m recommending you hand over the million if you want to remain a free man.’

‘Over my dead body,’ said Miles emphatically.

‘Which is precisely what I expect Christina has in mind, if she were to tell her friend Beth Warwick who she’s actually about to marry.’

‘If she did, she’d be penniless overnight.’

‘I’m not sure that’s a gamble you can take. Heaven knows what she’d get up to while you were back in prison and safely out of harm’s way. I’m bound to ask, is a single painting worth a life sentence?’

Miles didn’t respond while the waiter served them both and only said ‘possibly not’ after he’d left.

‘All the more reason for you to be out of the country for the next few weeks while I make sure Christina keeps to her side of the bargain, and that Captain Ralph Neville can safely return to these shores whenever it suits him.’

‘I’d always planned to move into my new home immediately after the wedding,’ said Miles. ‘Somewhere, I can assure you, BW, where neither Warwick nor Christina will ever find me or my paintings.’

‘I’m glad to hear it. But in my opinion we need to keep Christina on our side while she’s still able to supply inside information on the Warwicks. Don’t forget how close she is to Beth Warwick, who innocently passes on information about what her husband is up to.’

‘Or not so innocently,’ suggested Miles.

‘With that in mind, I’m planning to put Superintendent Lamont back on the payroll to keep an eye on her.’

‘Ex-Superintendent,’ Miles reminded him. ‘Don’t forget he’s no longer on the inside and, more important, that man will do anything for money while he has a “trophy wife” who keeps his bank balance in the red, not to mention his genius for backing horses that can’t find their way to the winner’s enclosure.’

‘That might well be the case. But don’t forget that the ex-Superintendent was once Commander Hawksby’s second-in-command.’

‘Until he had to resign.’

‘But he still knows a lot of people on the inside, and one in particular.’

‘Do I know him?’

‘Her. She’s part of William Warwick’s inner team, and, more important, she isn’t averse to receiving the occasional brown envelope.’

‘Then keep supplying them. That way we can stay ahead of both Christina and the Warwicks.’

‘So you’re willing to cough up the million she’s demanding?’

Miles smiled as he picked up his knife and fork. ‘On one condition,’ he said. ‘Make it clear that if Christina ever breaks the agreement, I’ll dock her monthly allowance until the million is paid back.’

? ? ?

‘So how was the lecture?’ asked William, pulling back Beth’s chair before she took her place at their table.

‘We listened to different arias from La bohème, after which Catherine explained the dramatic realism of Puccini’s operas. I can’t wait for tomorrow.’

‘Tosca or Madame Butterfly?’ asked William as Franco handed him a menu.

‘Madame Butterfly – want to join us?’

‘I fear I’ll be otherwise occupied with a chrysalis who’s hoping to become a butterfly. Did you find out if she’s the wife of Mr Justice Whittaker?’