Best Kept Secret (The Clifton Chronicles 3)

'Agreed. How's your team shaping up?' he asked, quickly changing the subject.

'I've put a small group together who don't like the idea of paying tax.' The other three laughed for the first time that morning. 'For the moment, I'm keeping them on a retainer, ready to move whenever you give the order.'

'Do they have any clue who they'll be working for?'

'No. They think I'm a foreigner with far too much money, and frankly they don't ask too many questions as long as they're paid on time and in cash.'

'Good enough.' Don Pedro turned to Karl. 'Have you been able to identify who told Barrington that his nephew was on the way to Southampton and not London?'

'I can't prove it,' said Karl, 'but I'm sorry to report the only name in the frame is Bruno's.'

'That boy has always been too honest for his own good. I blame his mother. We must make sure we never discuss what I have in mind while he's around.'

'But none of us are quite sure what it is you do have in mind,' said Diego.

Don Pedro smiled. 'Never forget that if you want to bring an empire to its knees you start by killing the first in line to the throne.'

45

THE FRONT DOORBELL rang at one minute to ten, and Karl answered it.

'Good morning, sir,' he said. 'How may I help you?'

'I have an appointment with Mr Martinez at ten o'clock.'

Karl gave a slight bow and stood aside to allow the visitor to enter. He then led him across the hall, tapped on the study door and said, 'Your guest has arrived, sir.'

Martinez rose from behind his desk and thrust out a hand. 'Good morning. I've been looking forward to meeting you.'

As Karl closed the study door and made his way to the kitchen, he passed Bruno, who was chatting on the phone.

'. . . my father's given me a couple of tickets for the men's semi-final at Wimbledon tomorrow, and he suggested I invite you.'

'That's very decent of him,' said Seb, 'but I've got an appointment to see my tutor in Cambridge on Friday, so I don't think I'll be able to make it.'

'Don't be so feeble,' said Bruno. 'There's nothing to stop you coming up to London tomorrow morning. The match doesn't start until two, so as long as you can get here by eleven, you'll have more than enough time.'

'But I still have to be in Cambridge by midday the following day.'

'Then you can stay here overnight, and Karl can drive you to Liverpool Street first thing Friday morning.'

'Who's playing?'

'Fraser versus Cooper, promises to be a sizzler. And if you're really good, I'll drive you to Wimbledon in my snazzy new car.'

'You've got a car?' said Sebastian in disbelief.

'An orange MGA, drophead coupe. Dad gave it to me for my eighteenth.'

'You jammy bastard,' said Sebastian. 'My pa gave me the complete works of Proust for mine.'

Bruno laughed. 'And if you behave yourself, on the way I might even tell you about my latest girlfriend.'

'Your latest?' mocked Sebastian. 'You've got to have had at least one before you can have a "latest".'

'Do I detect a twinge of envy?'

'I'll let you know after I've met her.'

'You're not going to get the chance, because I won't be seeing her again until Friday, and by then you'll be on the train to Cambridge. See you around eleven tomorrow.'

Bruno put the phone down and was on his way to his room when the study door opened and his father appeared, an arm around the shoulder of a military-looking gentleman. Bruno wouldn't have considered eavesdropping on his father's conversation, if he hadn't heard the name Barrington.

'We'll have you back on the board in no time,' his father was saying as he accompanied his guest to the front door.

'That's a moment I will savour.'

'However, I want you to know, major, that I'm not interested in the occasional raid on Barrington's simply to embarrass the family. My long-term plan is to take over the company and install you as chairman. How does that sound?'

'If it brings down Giles Barrington at the same time, nothing would please me more.'

'Not just Barrington,' said Martinez. 'It's my intention to destroy every member of that family, one by one.'

'Even better,' said the major.

'So the first thing you must do is start buying Barrington shares as and when they come on the market. The moment you have seven and a half per cent, I'll put you back on the board as my representative.'

'Thank you, sir.'

'Don't call me sir. I'm Pedro to my friends.'

'And I'm Alex.'

'Just remember, Alex, from now on you and I are partners and have only one purpose.'

'Couldn't be better, Pedro,' said the major as the two men shook hands. When he walked away, Don Pedro could have sworn he heard him whistling.

When Don Pedro stepped back into the house, he found Karl waiting for him in the hall.

'We need to have a word, sir.'

'Let's go to my office.'

Neither man spoke again until the door was closed. Karl then repeated the conversation he'd overheard between Bruno and his friend.

'I knew he'd find those Wimbledon tickets irresistible.' He picked up the phone on his desk. 'Get me Diego,' he barked. 'And now let's see if we can tempt the boy with something even more irresistible,' he said as he waited for his son to come on the line.

'What can I do for you, Father?'

'Young Clifton has risen to the bait and will be coming up to London tomorrow and going to Wimbledon. If Bruno can persuade him to take up my other offer, can you have everything in place by Friday?'

Sebastian had to borrow his mother's alarm clock to make sure he was up in time to catch the 7.23 to Paddington. Emma was waiting for him in the hall and offered to drive him to Temple Meads.

'Are you expecting to see Mr Martinez when you're in London?'

'Almost certainly,' said Sebastian, 'as it was his suggestion I join Bruno at Wimbledon. Why do you ask?'

'No particular reason.'

Sebastian wanted to ask why Mama seemed to be so concerned about Mr Martinez, but suspected that if he did he'd only get the same response. No particular reason.

'Will you have time to see Aunt Grace while you're in Cambridge?' his mother asked, rather too obviously changing the subject.

'She's invited me to tea at Newnham on Saturday afternoon.'

'Don't forget to give her my love,' Emma said as they drew up outside the station.

On the train, Sebastian sat in a corner of the carriage, trying to work out why his parents seemed to be so concerned about a man they'd never met. He decided to ask Bruno if he was aware of any problem. After all, Bruno had never sounded convinced about him going to Buenos Aires.

By the time the train pulled into Paddington, Sebastian was no nearer to solving the mystery. He handed in his ticket to the collector at the barrier, walked out of the station and across the road, not stopping until he reached No. 37. He knocked on the door.

'Oh my goodness,' said Mrs Tibbet when she saw who it was standing on the doorstep. She threw her arms around him. 'I never thought I'd see you again, Seb.'