Hathaway spent Tuesday working over the list of possible targets for the current break-in. Lewis spent no more than half the day physically in the office, making and receiving quite a number of calls on his mobile that required him to jump up and leave the room.
As Hathaway worked over the spreadsheet he had created, he started to see a pattern appearing, a correlation of location, type of lock, number of staff, and layout of the house. Then it fell into place. There you are.
"Farnsworth Hall." He said it just as Lewis was about to sit down. The man jolted upright. He quickly recollected his control, but the damage was done and Hathaway smiled triumphantly.
Lewis had to concede victory. "Brilliant. How did you get that worked out?"
James explained the pattern he saw forming in the data and how Farnsworth Hall was the only one that really fit. Lewis was clearly impressed.
"Hey, can you tell where he would go after that?"
Hathaway studied the chart some more. "Tippington House, I'd say."
Lewis let out a low whistle, shaking his head in admiration. "You're good!"
Hathaway fairly glowed. But then another thought came to him.
"So . . . we should go out to Farnsworth and pick him up, I guess. I'm sorry, Sir. You're protecting him, aren't you?"
"He's not at Farnsworth Hall."
"What?" He was thoroughly confused. "You just said he was."
"He was, aye. He's not now."
Hathaway looked miserable. "Aren't you supposed to be trusting me? I'm supposed to be your partner, right?"
Lewis said, regretfully, "I know how this must seem to you, James. I do trust you. But I'm not just protecting him. I'm protecting myself. And I'm protecting you, too."
He looked like he was going to say more, but then his mobile rang and he snapped it up and left the office.
Hathaway felt a cold knot in his gut. That's exactly what I thought I was doing when I didn't tell you about the Garden.
When Lewis finally came back to the office rather late, Hathaway was still there.
"How about a pint, Sir? Toast to partners?"
"Ah, no, I can't. I'm doing something, only I'm already late. Tomorrow though, okay? I'll tell you everything then." And he dashed out of the office.
* * *