Chapter 7
As soon as ever Billy Melrose left his office the smile vanished from Myers face. He got up from his desk and went out to his secretary.
"Would you ask Mr. Hope to come in here please," he asked, trying to keep his voice even.
She got up immediately to do his bidding. Minutes later a lean young man with dark curly hair and a confident smile entered his office and walked the length of it, hands in pockets.
"What is it now, you run out of paper clips?"
His smile faded as he noted the anxiety on the other mans face.
"What is it?" He asked.
"They're on to us, Melrose downstairs knows."
Keenan Hope's face blanched at this news.
"But what, how...how can they know?"
"That gang you hired left visible marks on the agent. That and his erratic behaviour has alerted suspicion."
"What do you mean 'the gang I hired' We're in this together remember?" Hope snapped defensively.
Myers just nodded. "We'll have to tell Mr. Thorn. He's not going to be pleased."
Hope closed his eyes and tried to breathe.
"What'll happen. I can't lose my job, I can't go to prison."
"We'll need to talk to Mr. Thorn, explain it somehow. The gang will have to be hunted down and eradicated. The agent too will have to be killed quietly."
Myers went to a polished wooden cabinet and with a shaky hand he poured himself a measure of whisky and downed it in one.
"Perhaps nothing will happen," he said.
"Perhaps the gang will go to prison and Agent Stetson will meet with an unfortunate accident."
Hope shook his head.
"Do you really think Rodriguez will go to prison without putting the finger on those who hired him. James we have collected many precious gems over the years, I think our best bet would be a quick sale and split the takings between us all. We could live out the rest of our lives on an island in the med. actually I should think that would be our only option."
Hope expected an answer but Myers was thinking.
He spoke eventually.
"Melrose mentioned the new recruit, apparently she suspects something."
"The housewife?"
"Yeah, the housewife with the kids."
"Such a fucking mess," Hope ran a shaky hand through his dark hair.
~o~
Minutes later they were in a large office adorned with valuable antique furniture and a deep shag carpet.
Marcus Thorn sat behind his desk listening to the news, his face an unreadable mask.
"Sit down gentlemen," he said quietly.
They both took seats sitting bolt upright in direct contrast to him sitting back on his fine leather chair.
"I see," he said eventually.
"Where is the agent now?" He asked.
"We just got word, he arrived in just a few minutes ago. They have taken him to holding room one."
"He's turned up, well that's good news anyway. I'll get word to Rodriguez, we'll need to call the whole thing off. I'll pay him for his work so far. He'll fade back into the woodwork and we will just have to take the loss. Unfortunately gentlemen this is one diamond that will have to slip through our fingers."
They both nodded breathing a sigh of relief at Thorns calm logic.
He leaned forward in his seat.
"As for Young Mr. Stetson that's another story. Myers, I'm going to leave that in your capable hands. This calls for delicate handling."
"What do you suggest sir?"
"I leave that entirely at your discretion Mr. Myers. I have every faith in you. But know this Mr. Stetson is a determined man. He will want to get to the route cause of this recent unpleasantness. He is a clever, conscientious young man which is the reason I singled him out for this diamond recovery mission. You will need to bring him down but do so in such a way as to not incur undue suspicion.
Rodriguez was a mistake. A vicious bully, I should have known he would have gone too far and left marks. I will expect more from you Mr Myers."
The younger man nodded.
"Sir, what about Billy Melrose and the house...er Mrs King?"
"No, that shouldn't be a worry. Don't forget Mr. Stetson believes that if he tells what he knows two small boys will lose their lives so he will say nothing hoping to somehow fix this mess himself."
Myers shook his head "We'll go straight to hell when we die," he said.
"We haven't killed anyone yet Mr Myers." Thorn told him.
"Yes we will have to put an end to Stetsons life but we can do that humanly with drugs. Don't forget he is an agent working here, he knows what he signed up to, he knows the dangers. We could all be eradicated at any time, I came close a few times myself when I was in the field. Don't worry Mr Myers hell is full up. No room for precious gem enthusiasts like us."
The three smiled at that. Thorn gave a little chuckle.
"Now let us have a drink and lament the loss of our latest conquest."
He went to a cabinet and took out three Waterford crystal glasses. He filled each with a shot of fine Irish whisky."
~o~
Lee's head slumped forward as heavy lids began to close. He desperately needed sleep but there was no sign of that in his future. He was sitting upright on a hard chair with his hands cuffed behind his back. The room was bare save for a table and two more chairs for his interrogators. The guard standing over him shook him awake once more. He came awake with a start and tried to focus his vision.
"Concentrate Mr. Stetson. Tell us what we want to know and then you can sleep."
"I told you, I will only speak with Billy Melrose." He muttered.
"And I told you whatever you have to tell him you can tell to me." Myers said smoothly as he sat back in his chair.
"Now once again Mr. Stetson, who are your contacts and where did you go this morning?"
Lee shook his head.
"It's nothing to us Mr. Stetson, we can take shifts. We can keep you here in this room without food, without facilities. We could keep you here for as long as it takes."
"Knock yourself out."
It was just past 4 in the morning. A damp chill hung in the air. Myers shivered as he reached for his jacket.
The other agent signalled to him and they stepped out into the hall together.
"Why don't we just let him talk to Melrose," the other interrogating agent shrugged. "What can it hurt?"
"He's gone home by now." Myers reasoned.
The agent shook his head. "He's not, he's in his office. He wants to talk to Lee, er Mr. Stetson."
Myers thought quickly.
"I'm not happy with the idea of giving in to his terms. He broke protocol and now he's trying to call the shots. He's probably trying to stall it out until he comes up with an alibi for himself."
The other agent frowned.
"I don't think that's it. I'd be very surprised if he was into anything underhanded. He's been with the firm for years."
Myers gave him a wry smile. The younger agent was an innocent guy in his late twenties. He had just joined the organisation last year. Myers guessed correctly that he was easy to manipulate.
"I could tell you stories you wouldn't believe Martin. Trust me, this agent Stetson could run rings around both of us. For the good of the firm we must get to the bottom of whatever underground organisation he's gotten himself involved with."
"Should we not at least turn him over to the guys in medical though? They were expecting him. They called three times to know the delay."
Myers nodded. "Yes that is important, he obviously has injuries, but I just want to be sure the organisation is in no immediate danger before I hand him over. I was ordered to oversee this whole process so It's on my head if anything goes wrong."
Myers more likely wanted to make sure Lee wouldn't talk. He needed to buy himself some time before he came up with a plan to eradicate the agent. Obviously the man wanted to tell all to his immediate supervisor. Myers needed to keep them apart. Melrose must not be allowed access.
The younger man smiled. "I wouldn't like to be in your shoes,"
"I know right," Myers smiled back.
The younger agent went on.
"Agent Stetson is popular around here. He's well respected. It is gong to be a hard sell to anyone that he did anything underhanded. He helped train half the workforce here and seemed to have a set of values. Personally I would have thought he had an impeccable code of ethics. Well I suppose we know different now but personally I wouldn't have thought it possible."
"Yes," Myers nodded, "Why don't you go get some coffee Martin. I'll continue on here."
Martins talk was not what Myers wanted to hear just now. He dismissed the younger man and went back into the interrogation room. The guard had also stepped out and he found himself alone with Stetson.
As exhausted as he was Stetson stared out through blood shot eye looking directly at him.
Myers sat down.
"It's very sad to see an agent turned." He began. "What's the matter, they weren't paying you enough here?"
Lee didn't answer.
His constant stare was unnerving.
"What are you looking at?' Myers finally asked.
"I've been in this business a long time Myers."
The colour drained from Myers face. He felt suddenly that he was the one being questioned.
"What do you mean by that?"
Lee said no more. He finally averted his gaze from Myers and left the man to draw his own conclusions.
Myers was hanging on his every word but Lee spoke no more. Myers was about to say something when Martin walked in holding two coffee's. He placed them gently on the table and taking a carton of juice from his top pocket he stabbed it with a tiny straw and put it up to Lee's mouth.
Lee took a long drink.
"Thanks," Lee looked up at him with no sign of the distain he seemed to feel for Myers.
Myers frowned. "That's enough Martin. Sit back down so we can get on with this."
Martin put the juice down in front of him and took his seat.
~o~
Billy rounded on the guard.
"Look, I've been here since early this morning, I have neither the time nor the patients to argue with you. Stetson is in my department and I will go over your head if I have to. I need to speak with him."
The guard was politely dismissed as another man came to talk to Billy.
Keenan Hope smiled reassuringly.
"We are doing all we can to bring this matter to a conclusion. We understand your position Mr. Melrose but we must follow procedure on this one you understand."
"No I do not understand, he's been here seven hours already, as head of his department I have a right to speak with him."
"No I'm afraid you do not Mr. Melrose. This is a security matter now. For all we know everyone in your department could be involved. Security are being very careful about who they allow access to Mr. Stetson. Trust me sir, you do best to gain some distance from this. You could find your whole department being investigated. "
The man, having said his piece simply moved off heading into an office and closing the door after him.
Melrose was left standing alone. He was at a loss as to what to do. This lack of support within the firm was new to him.
