Be Careful What You Wish For (The Clifton Chronicles 4)

“Did you find out when they’re expected?”

“Aye. They’ll be catching the sleeper to Edinburgh this Thursday evening, and will be picked up by the hotel driver around five thirty the following morning, and driven straight to Glenleven in time for breakfast. Martinez likes kippers, brown toast and English marmalade.”

“I’m impressed. How long did all that take you?”

“Over three hundred miles of driving through the Highlands, and checking several hotels and lodges. After a few drams in the bar at Glenleven, I even knew what his favorite cocktail is.”

“So with a bit of luck I’ll have a clear run from the moment they’re picked up by the lodge’s driver on Friday morning, until they arrive back in London the following Tuesday evening.”

“Unless something unforeseen happens.”

“It always does, and there’s no reason to believe it will be any different this time.”

“I’m sure you’re right,” said Ross. “Which is why I’ll be at Waverley station on Friday morning, and as soon as the three of them set off for Glenleven, I’ll phone you. Then all you’ll have to do is wait for the Stock Exchange to open at nine o’clock, when you can start trading.”

“Will you be returning to Glenleven?”

“Yes, I’ve booked a room at the lodge, but Jean and I won’t be checking in until some time on Friday afternoon, for what I hope will be a quiet weekend in the Highlands. I’ll only ring you if an emergency arises. Otherwise you won’t hear from me again until Tuesday morning, and only then after I’ve seen the three of them boarding the train back to London.”

“By which time it will be too late for Martinez to do anything about it.”

“Well, that’s Plan A.”

Wednesday morning

“Let’s just, for a moment, consider what could go wrong,” said Diego, looking across at his father.

“What do you have in mind?” asked Don Pedro.

“The other side have somehow worked out what we’re up to, and are just waiting for us to be holed up in Scotland so they can take advantage of your absence.”

“But we’ve always kept everything in the family,” said Luis.

“Ledbury isn’t family, and he knows we’re selling our shares on Monday morning. Fisher isn’t family, and he’ll feel no obligation to us once he’s handed in his letter of resignation.”

“Are you sure you’re not overreacting?” said Don Pedro.

“Possibly. But I’d still prefer to join you in Glenleven a day later. That way I’ll know the price of Barrington’s shares when the market closes on Friday evening. If they’re still above the price we originally paid for them, I’ll feel more relaxed about putting more than a million of our shares on the market on Monday morning.”

“You’ll miss a day’s shooting.”

“That’s preferable to two million pounds going missing.”

“Fair enough. I’ll have the driver pick you up from Waverley station first thing on Saturday morning.”

“Why don’t we cover all our options,” said Diego, “and make sure no one is double-crossing us?”

“So what do you suggest?”

“Phone the bank and tell Ledbury you’ve changed your mind, and you won’t be selling the shares on Monday after all.”

“But I have no choice if my plan is to have any chance of succeeding.”

“We’ll still sell the shares. I’ll place the order with another broker just before I leave for Scotland on Friday evening, and only if the shares have maintained their value. That way we can’t lose.”

Thursday morning

Tom parked the Daimler outside Agnew’s in Bond Street.