Chapter 21

On their return, Frances went straight to her room to rest; Sue reassuring her again that she would speak to Alex about letting her recuperate there. Expecting Alex to be in the middle of an interview, they were very surprised to find him and Jason sitting in the drawing room drinking tea.

"I thought you would be downstairs interviewing Lionel," commented Jack helping himself to a coffee from the trolley and pouring another for Sue. "Don't tell me he has spilled all."

Alex shook his head, "We didn't even get started." He grumbled. "As soon as I walked in he began complaining of chest pains, by the time the paramedics had got here and done their tests it was past lunch time so we decided to postpone it until this afternoon."

"Indigestion probably," said Jason scornfully. "Or a put on."

"Either way we needed to take it seriously," reproved Alex. "Still, you'll be able to watch this time Jack. What did you find out from Frances?"

Jack told him their findings, Sue interrupting when he forgot something or to add a comment. In return Jason explained to them about Aunt Judith and her role in the events. "I spoke to Judith and it would appear that Lionel took her in to keep an eye on Frances. She believes that he had become worried that Frances was unstable following her husband's death. I think that he didn't want any of his illegal activities to become known and put Judith in there to spy on Frances and report back. Judith says that he runs a casino in London but she is adamant that it is all above board. I got the feeling that she's a little batty but she genuinely seems quite fond of Frances."

As the conversation was focussed on Frances, Sue took the opportunity to ask if she could stay until she was well enough to go home and was pleased when Alex nodded. "And we've just heard that Richard has been arrested for burglary," he added. "I think that she will need a lot of support in the coming months. Ana is looking into it, she has contacts apparently." He stood up, "Well if everyone is feeling refreshed shall we head downstairs?" They all nodded, replacing their cups on the trolley, and followed him out and down the stairs to the cellars.

"Don't you think it a little odd," began Sue in a whisper. "That Alex has all this hidden below his house?" she gestured to the brightly lit room visible through the one-way mirror where Lionel was seated at a table inspecting his nails and looking very relaxed.

"It's a secure place," said Jack. "The government agency he works for quite often uses it as a safe house."

"Oh, I see," said Sue but was prevented from saying anything else when Alex entered the room and sat himself opposite Lionel. From the positioning of the table it was possible to see both sides of the conversation. Jack flipped the switch so that he could hear what was being said. Alex began by asking Lionel if he felt better and to let him know if he began to feel ill again. Lionel ignored him and gazed at the ceiling in a bored manner.

"So," said Alex. "As I see it we have you for terrorist activities, we're looking into the casino you supposedly run and making enquiries into your frequent trips to Holland. It isn't looking good for you. Your bank says that you are overdrawn to the tune of £150,000 and that everything you can mortgage you have. That certainly gives you a motive for joining in with Dessa, what was he going to pay you for smuggling in his friends?"

Lionel shook his head and tutted, "Alex, Alex, Alex," he said. "You think you know it all don't you and here I am proving you wrong. You strut around your big house playing Lord of the manor, whilst the rest of us have to work for a living, pretending to be some big shot government agent looking down on the rest of us mere mortals. You've always looked down on me haven't you? All those holidays when we were kids, you and your mates going fishing and leaving me here, the poor relation. I've spent years planning your downfall and now I will achieve it. Oh Dessa thought that I was helping him, but really he was playing my game."

"Really, I'm impressed." Said Alex feigning admiration. "Dessa is usually too smart for anyone to pull one over on him. How did you do it?"

Lionel shook his finger from side to side, "Oh no, I'm not going to tell you that. Besides that was just a red herring the real fun is just about to begin." Alex casually flipped open a file on the table and looked down as if he were checking something as he did so he mouthed "Check the cameras." Sue grabbed hold of Jason and dragged him from the room.

"What fun?" asked Alex, stalling for time, there was a long pause as Lionel sat there with a smirk. "OK, whilst we're waiting for the fun to start why not tell me how you became involved with Dessa." Continued Alex trying hard not to let his frustration show.

Lionel shrugged, "I suppose I could do that, soon it won't matter what you know. Firstly, I don't own or run the casino Dessa does and I have been having a particularly bad run of luck. It was either end up in the sea with the fishes or do a little job for him. He knew I owned a boat and he wanted to smuggle some men into the UK for a plan that he had. He said that if I helped then he would cancel the debt. I was already smuggling drugs in from Holland without raising any suspicion so I knew I could do it."

"How could you be successfully smuggling drugs and still be in so much debt?" asked Alex, totally baffled.

"I was doing that for Magic Mickie; he still owes me." Replied Lionel.

"You've got involved with Magic Mickie! You're lucky that he hasn't come after you for working for Dessa!" exclaimed Alex. Magic Mickie was a well-known and extremely violent mobster with his fingers in lots of different pies. Overcoming his surprise, Alex continued. "So back to Dessa, you agreed to smuggle the terrorists in on your boat, then what?"

"I don't know and I definitely don't care," said Lionel. "I did my bit the rest was up to him. As long as I got my IOUs back that's all I was bothered about. Either way I've won, you lock Dessa up then I won't have to pay him back anyway." He chuckled.

"You think?" exclaimed Alex. "Dessa only has to make a few phone calls and he can still get you." Lionel flushed and a stubborn look came across his face.

"By the time that happens, I'll be long gone," he said boastfully.

Suddenly there was a loud rumble, the room began to vibrate and plaster and debris started to fall from the ceiling.

"And so it begins," said Lionel, a grin spreading across his face.