Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less

“I’ll see you first thing in the morning, Daddy.”

“Good night, sir.”

James shook hands and left.

“I told you he was super.”

“He’s a fine young man and your mother will be very pleased.”

James said nothing to Anne in the lift on the way down because two other men stood beside them in silence, also intent on reaching the ground floor. But once they were in the Alfa Romeo he took Anne by the scruff of her neck, threw her across his legs, and spanked her so hard that she didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

“What’s that for?”

“Just in case you ever forget after we’re married who’s the head of this household.”

“You male chauvinist pig, I was only trying to help.”

James drove at furious speed to Anne’s flat.

“What about all your so-called background—‘My parents live in Washington and Daddy’s in the Diplomatic Corps,’” James mimicked. “Some diplomat.”

“I know, darling, but I had to think of something once I’d realized who it was you were up against.”

“What in hell’s name am I going to tell the others?”

“Nothing. You invite them to the wedding, explain that my mother is American and that’s why we’re getting married in Boston. I’d give the earth to see their faces when they discover who your father-in-law is. In any case, you still have a plan to think of and you can’t possibly let them down.”

“But the circumstances have changed.”

“No, they haven’t. The truth of the matter is that they’ve all succeeded and you’ve failed, so you be sure you think of a plan by the time you reach America.”

“It’s obvious now that we wouldn’t have succeeded without your help.”

“Nonsense, darling. I had nothing to do with Jean-Pierre’s scheme. I just added some background color here and there—promise you’ll never spank me again?”

“Certainly I will, every time I think of that picture, but now, darling…”

“James, you’re a sex maniac.”

“I know, darling. How do you think we Brigsleys have reared tribes of little lords for gener

ations?”

Anne left James early the next morning to spend some time with her father, and they both saw him off at the airport on the midday flight to Boston. Anne could not resist asking in the car on the way back what James had decided to tell the others. She could get no response other than:

“Wait and see. I’m not having it changed behind my back. I’m only too glad you’re off to America on Monday.”

Chapter Eighteen

MONDAY WAS A double hell for James. First, he had to see Anne off on the morning TWA flight for Boston, and then he had to spend the rest of the day preparing for the Team meeting in the evening. The other three had now completed their operations and would be waiting to hear what he had come up with. It was twice as hard now he knew that the victim was to be his father-in-law, but he realized that Anne was right and he could not put that forward as an excuse. Nevertheless, he still had to relieve Harvey of $250,000. To think he could have done it with one sentence at Oxford. That was another thing he could not tell the rest of the Team.

As Oxford had been Stephen’s victory, the Team dinner was at Magdalen College and James traveled out of London just after the rush hour, past the White City Stadium and on down the M40 to Oxford.

“You’re always last, James,” said Stephen.

“Sorry, I’ve been up to my eyes…”

“Preparing a good plan, I hope,” said Jean-Pierre.