Part 16 (1/2)
”Thank G.o.d it's not me. How do we handle it?”
”He'll want to be in London as soon as possible. Using Presidential authority, how soon can that be arranged?”
”A helicopter north from Prizren to Pristina. Then a direct flight to the U.K. I should have it arranged within an hour.”
”Do it then. But first get him on the phone for me.”
Quinn was outside Prizren with a small detachment of French paratroopers, part of the multinational force. Four Serbs had been killed, and they waited in their body bags in the village square for a helicopter to arrive.
One of the men gave Quinn a cup of coffee, and their captain, a young man named Michel, was on a mobile. Quinn was drinking his coffee when his own special mobile sounded and he switched on.
”Quinn.”
”Daniel? Jake Cazalet.”
Quinn was astonished. ”What can I do for you, Mr. President?”
Cazalet hesitated. ”What are you up to now?”
”Oh, sheltering from heavy rain at the a.r.s.ehole of the world outside Prizren. I'm with the French. We've got a few Serbs in body bags to get out of here, and we're just waiting for a helicopter. What's this about, sir?”
Cazalet said, ”Daniel, I've got heartbreaking news for you.”
Quinn said, ”What would that be, Mr. President?”
And Cazalet told him.
A short while later, Quinn switched off the phone, experiencing a feeling he had never known before in his life. Michel clicked off his mobile and came to him.
”Hey, mon ami, mon ami, I'm told they're diverting another helicopter to here just for you. It's taking you to Pristina. You really must have some kind of influence, eh?” I'm told they're diverting another helicopter to here just for you. It's taking you to Pristina. You really must have some kind of influence, eh?”
”No. It's a personal thing.” He stared almost blindly at the Frenchman. ”My daughter, Helen. I've just been told she's dead.”
”Mon Dieu,” Michel said. Michel said.
”Twenty-two years old, Michel. I mean, who dies at twenty-two years old?” He buried his head in his hands and wept.
Michel snapped his fingers at his Sergeant, a half bottle of cognac was produced, and Michel unscrewed the cap. ”You'd better take a large one, and another if you need it, mon ami. mon ami. Just take your time.” There was the sound of a helicopter in the distance. Just take your time.” There was the sound of a helicopter in the distance.
”They're coming for you now.”
The President spoke to the chief of staff at the London Emba.s.sy, who was eager to please. They spoke in conference, Blake listening.
”You're an old London hand and you're also a lawyer, Frobisher,” the President said. ”You've looked at the facts in the case. How will it be handled?”
”It's a police matter, Mr. President, because of the drug connection and the fact that the young man who delivered her ran away. Someone got the license number of his car, though-one of the nurses who followed him out.”
”So the police will run him down?”
”Absolutely. The license number will lead to the owner's address.”
”Then what?”
”There'll be an autopsy, followed by a coroner's inquest. Once that's over, the body will be released.”
”Right,” Cazalet said. ”I've arranged to get Senator Quinn to the U.K. as soon as possible. I'll have Blake Johnson liaise with you on this. The Senator gets our best shot. Anything he wants. If there are any roadblocks with the British police or legal system, use all your Emba.s.sy's muscle to overcome them.”
”At your command, Mr. President.”
”Fine. I know you'll do your best.”
”Of course, sir.”
Blake cut in. ”h.e.l.lo, Mark, Blake here. I'll notify you when and where Daniel will get in and you can arrange to pick him up.”
”I'll do it myself. Leave it with me, Blake.”
The line went dead and Cazalet drummed his fingers on the desk, thinking. Finally, he said, ”Listen, whatever Frobisher is able to do, he's still at a disadvantage. It's a different country, different police procedures, different legal system.”
”So what are you saying?”
”I think we need Charles Ferguson on this.”
”I'll speak to him at once.”
When the news reached Henry Percy, he was horrified. Dauncey's accusation about the funds had been true enough. He'd been mesmerized by the sums pa.s.sing through his hands, and then temptation had set in. A few thousand here, a few thousand there. Who would notice? But the chickens had come home to roost. Now this.
He telephoned Rupert Dauncey in London. ”Thank G.o.d you're there. Something terrible has happened.”
”And what's that?” Dauncey said, pretending ignorance.
Percy told him. ”Such a nice girl. She's the last one I'd have suspected of being on drugs. And what worries me, too, is the position of our organization. That dreadful riot, the violence.”
”Yes, it spoils all our good work,” Rupert said. ”But no one can fault the Trust, Professor. You behaved with great responsibility when you warned the students on the bus and tried to dissuade them.”
”That's true.” Percy hesitated. ”And, of course, so did you, Mr. Dauncey. No one could have done more.”
”Yes, and if the matter is raised at the inquest, any student who was present would have to confirm what we both said.”
Suddenly, Percy felt much brighter. ”Of course.”
”You have my personal support. As to the other matter, I've spoken to the Countess, who feels there may have been a genuine error on your part.”
”That's very kind of her.” Percy was overjoyed.
”We'll speak again,” and Rupert smiled as he put the phone down.
A police car was outside the Ca.n.a.l Street house, two constables, a man and a woman. They checked the Escort and found the keys inside.