The Sins of the Father (The Clifton Chronicles 2)

'Don't you find it a little too much of a coincidence, Mr Guinzburg, that the day Thomas Bradshaw arrives at Lavenham just happens to be the first day of the diary?'

'Mr Lloyd explained that he didn't start writing the diary until he became the prison librarian, when he had more time on his hands.'

'But how do you explain there being no mention of his last night in prison, or the morning he's released? He just has breakfast in the canteen, and reports to the library for another day's work.'

'What explanation do you have?' asked Guinzburg, peering at her over the top of his glasses.

'Whoever wrote the diary is still in Lavenham, and probably working on the next volume.'

'That shouldn't be difficult for you to verify,' said Guinzburg, raising an eyebrow.

'I agree,' said Alistair, 'and I've already submitted an application for Miss Barrington to visit Mr Bradshaw on compassionate grounds, and am waiting for the warden of Lavenham to give his approval.'

'May I be allowed to ask a few more questions, Miss Barrington, in the hope of removing any lingering doubts?' asked Guinzburg.

'Yes, of course,' said Emma.

The old man smiled, pulled his waistcoat down, pushed up his spectacles and studied a list of questions on a notepad in front of him. 'Who is Captain Jack Tarrant, sometimes known as Old Jack?'

'My grandfather's oldest friend. They served in the Boer War together.'

'Which grandfather?'

'Sir Walter Barrington.'

The publisher nodded. 'And did you consider Mr Tarrant to be an honourable man?'

'Like Caesar's wife, he was beyond reproach. He was probably the single biggest influence in Harry's life.'

'But isn't he to blame for the fact that you and Harry are not married?'

'Is that question relevant?' asked Alistair, jumping in.

'I suspect we're about to find out,' said Guinzburg, not taking his eyes off Emma.

'Jack felt it was his duty to alert the vicar to the possibility that my father, Hugo Barrington, might also be Harry's father,' said Emma, her voice breaking.

'Was that necessary, Mr Guinzburg?' snapped Alistair.

'Oh yes,' said the publisher, picking up the copy of The Diary of a Convict from his desk. 'I am now convinced that it was Harry Clifton, and not Max Lloyd, who wrote this book.'

Emma smiled. 'Thank you,' she said, 'even if I'm not sure what I can do about it.'

'I know exactly what I'm going to do about it,' said Guinzburg. 'To start with, I shall release a revised edition as quickly as the presses can print it, with two major changes: Harry Clifton's name will replace Max Lloyd's on the front cover, and his photograph will appear on the back cover, assuming you have one, Miss Barrington.'

'Several,' said Emma, 'including one of him on the Kansas Star as it sailed into New York harbour.'

'Ah, that would also explain - ' began Guinzburg.

'But if you were to do that,' interrupted Alistair, 'all hell will break loose. Jelks will issue a writ on behalf of his client for defamation, and claim punitive damages.'

'Let's hope so,' said Guinzburg, 'because if he does, the book will undoubtedly go back to number one on the bestseller lists, and remain there for several months. However, if he does nothing, as I suspect will be the case, it will show that he believes he's the only person who has seen the missing exercise book Harry Clifton wrote about ending up in Lavenham.'

'I knew there was another one,' said Emma.

'There certainly is,' said Guinzburg, 'and it was your mention of the Kansas Star that made me realize the manuscript Mr Lloyd submitted as the opening chapters of Mistaken Identity is nothing more than an account of what happened to Harry Clifton before he was sentenced for a crime he didn't commit.'

'May I be allowed to read it?' said Emma.

The Sins of the Father

The moment Emma walked into Alistair's office, she knew something had gone badly wrong. The familiar warm welcome and gracious smile had been replaced by a furrowed brow.

'They're not going to let me visit Harry, are they,' she said.

'No,' said Alistair. 'Your application was turned down.'

'But why? You told me I was well within my rights.'

'I phoned the warden earlier this morning and asked him exactly the same question.'

'And what reason did he give?'

'You can hear for yourself,' said Alistair, 'because I made a tape recording of our conversation. Listen carefully, because it gives us three very important clues.' Without another word, he leant forward and pressed the play button on his Grundig. Two spools began to whirl.

'Lavenham Correctional Facility.'

'I'd like to speak to the warden.'

'Who's calling?'

'Alistair Stuart. I'm a New York attorney.'

Silence, followed by another ringing tone. A longer silence, then, 'I'll put you through, sir.'

Emma was sitting on the edge of her seat when the warden came on the line.

'Good morning, Mr Stuart. This is Warden Swanson. How can I help you?'

'Good morning, Mr Swanson. I made an application ten days ago on behalf of my client, Miss Emma Barrington, requesting a visit on compassionate grounds to an inmate, Thomas Bradshaw, at the earliest possible opportunity. I received a letter from your office this morning saying the application has been turned down. I can find no legal reason for - '

'Mr Stuart, your application was processed in the usual way, but I was unable to grant your request because Mr Bradshaw is no longer being held at this establishment.'

Another long silence followed, although Emma could see that the tape was still turning. Alistair eventually said, 'And which institution has he been transferred to?'

'I am not at liberty to disclose that information, Mr Stuart.'

'But under the law, my client has the right to - '

'The prisoner has signed a document waiving his rights, a copy of which I'd be happy to send to you.'

'But why would he do that?' said Alistair, casting a line into the water.

'I am not at liberty to disclose that information,' repeated the warden, not rising to the bait.

'Are you at liberty to divulge anything at all concerning Thomas Bradshaw?' asked Alistair, trying not to sound exasperated.

Another long silence followed and, although the tape was still running, Emma wondered if the warden had put his phone down. Alistair placed a finger to his lips, and suddenly the voice was back on the line.

'Harry Clifton was released from prison, but continued to serve his sentence.' Another long pause. 'And I lost the best librarian this prison's ever had.'

The phone went dead.

Alistair pressed the stop button before he spoke. 'The warden went as far as he could to assist us.'

'By mentioning Harry by name?' said Emma.

'Yes, but also by letting us know he served in the prison library until very recently. That explains how Lloyd got his hands on the diaries.'

Emma nodded. 'But you said there were three important clues,' she reminded him. 'What was the third?'

'That Harry was released from Lavenham, but continues to serve his sentence.'