Upon acquiring the street address, the man’s face, and even his first name when his wife called out to him, Tubs moved on.
WHEN HE ARRIVED HOME, he sat at the breakfast table and ate his breakfast/lunch while letting Pike, Charlotte, Vivian, Vic, Xavier, David, and Gregory know that Ruddy died by his employer’s hand.
Vic and Xavier were most pleased with the news. “So, who was his employer?”
“I believe it was a member of Parliament. I followed him back to his house on One Mount Street, next to Hyde Park. A woman even called out his name from the door. Only his first name, but it can probably isolate him from the non-murderers in the family. She called him Sanders.”
Xavier patted his back. “Sanders Quinn. One of the worst ministers in Parliament.”
Vic tilted her head. “And why does he wish you dead?”
“Someone recently brought to my attention that several men in Parliament are not actually Englishmen. They are in fact foreigners who have bought the name of English gentlemen by either greed or coercion. It is my responsibility, as the head of External Affairs to remove them. Unfortunately, one of the men, Sanders Quinn, has ingratiated himself with the current Prime Minister and wants my position.”
“He can’t do that, can he?” Vic asked.
Not legally, but to stop him I will need to prove that he is a Russian spy and that is not an easy thing to prove. Worse yet, even if I prove it, the Prime Minister might refuse to believe me.
“But how can foreign spies just declare themselves Englishmen?” Vic demanded.
“Well, it turns out to be rather easy. There are many options. First, if the parliament member is not active, you can simply take his place. Another option is, if the member is active, to threaten his family unless he remains at home and allows another to stand in his place. Finally, if you look sufficiently like him, you can kill him and take his place.
“And how do we stop this?”
“In this case, it won’t be easy. Sanders is tight-knit with the new prime minister, Robert Cecil, which makes him untouchable.”
“Why?”
“Well, Sanders gives the appearance of a very fine gentleman. In truth, he is little more than a thug dressed in fine clothing.”
“Hold on!” Vic warned. If Sanders is so intent upon killing you so he can let more Russians into our country, then I expect he will try again, given he failed on his first try.”
“Presently, he no doubt believes I’m dead. When he discovers I still live, he will be very put out with Ruddy. I wouldn’t put it past Sanders to go to Ruddy’s home and demand compensation for his failure to do the job. However, as the minister of Foreign Affairs, if I can find proof that Sanders is Anton Popov, I suspect Robert will send him from the country at once.”
Vic glared at her beloved. “So, he wants to kill us, and our response is that hopefully we can get him kicked out of the country before he succeeds in his mission. That is unacceptable!” She paused, “Are you certain he thinks we are dead?”
“I expect so. Ruddy had never failed to take out his target until today.”
“Then perhaps we should put on disguises and properly kill Sanders tonight,” Vic suggested.
“That’s not a bad idea, unless we get caught.”
“But anyone in the know thinks we are dead,” Vic insisted.
“That’s true, as long as we don’t go wandering about today. If we remain inside and don’t make any calls, or have any visitors, then we could do this late tomorrow night.”
“Why not early in the morning?” Vic demanded.
“If you recall, there was a woman at the door who was almost certainly his wife. Inside would most likely be little children. Since you would never shoot little children, it means they would be able to identify us.”
“But we will be in disguise!”
“Not for long,” Xavier assured her.
“Trust me. I’ve been through several pat downs while pretending to be an old man. They will quickly discover your gender and they will not be respectful about it!”
Vic huffed. “Then how are we going to do this?”
“Honestly, I never intended to let you come on this mission. I planned to take Jacko. No one can break in and retrieve items faster than Jacko.”
“That is true,” Vic admitted. “His gift of theft is almost magical. I have tried to learn it, but I am not nearly as fast.”
“Then I have your promise you will remain here in our home while Jacko and I take on this task?”
With a heavy sigh, Vic nodded. “Just take care of yourself. I cannot live without you!”
“Don’t say that. Given my age and career, I will almost certainly die first. I do not wish you to follow me into death. I wish to watch you from above and marvel at your grand future. Now help me plan this break-in.”
Vic sat beside him in bed and helped hone his plan.
Xavier rewarded her often with fine kisses for her excellent suggestions along the way. He especially liked her observation that if the safe was too easy to find, he should look for a different one that was less obvious. “If this man still returns to Russia regularly to share what he has learned while being a parliament member of England, he would require documentation to re-enter Russia. That would be something he dare not let anyone find. So, it has to be well-hidden but easy to retrieve.” She then grinned. “With Jacko’s sixth sense, he should be able to find it in no time.”
Vic yawned. “Let us go to sleep. We can work on this tomorrow morning.”
THE NEXT MORNING, THEY continued improving their plan. Vic strongly wished to go with them on their look about, but she understood why Jacko was better for this mission. So, she questioned why Xavier was better than her. Her first point was quickly found. The parliament member wanted to kill Xavier not her. Thus, his arrival would be expected, while her arrival would not be. Next, she knew several Russian languages, whereas Xavier did not. If a Russian document needed to be read, she could translate it on the spot. Third, she could hide better than anyone. Additionally, she could dress as a woman and befriend his wife in the afternoon.
Doing so would allow her to acquire further information, such as if they had children, their ages, when her husband was expected home, and possibly get a peek into the library and study.
She waited until Jacko arrived at noon and presented her many reasons why Jacko and she should take this mission rather than Jacko and Xavier. Upon considering her list, to her surprise, Jacko agreed she was better for this job.
When Xavier learned he had been dropped for his wife, his first reaction was anger, so Vic ran from the room, hoping Jacko could turn him around.
A half hour later, Xavier entered David’s room where the various children were coloring, doing math problems, and writing stories. She stared up at him, worried he would never forgive her for taking his job. Instead, he helped her off the floor and kissed her with love. “Go on! The job is yours.”
She kissed Xavier once again and ran to the carriage where Jacko waited inside. A couple of blocks from Sanders’ home, Jacko climbed out of the carriage and to all appearances became a rich man of leisure. Then her driver, Casey, drove her to a corner block where she got out. As she walked down the sidewalk, she noticed a young woman fitting the wife’s description. When she got closer, she admired the large pillars of their house.
The young woman smiled. “It’s a bit sad right now. But come spring the rose bushes will be gorgeous.”
“You are so lucky then. I can’t get roses to grow for the life of me.”
“My secret is coffee grounds. I bury them in the soil.”
“I had no idea that would fertilize the soil.”
When the young woman unlatched the front gate, she introduced herself as Jennifer Quinn.
“I’m Sara Greyson,” Vic replied.
“Do you live around here?”
“Not yet. My husband is house hunting as we speak.”
“Do you not like to house hunt?”
; “Honestly, I don’t see the purpose. My husband doesn’t give a wit what I want.”
The young woman nodded in understanding. “Sadly, my husband is the same. He declares I have no taste and thus he has no choice but to make all purchases. He has even hired a woman to dress me.” She rolled her eyes. “I hate that woman’s taste, but my husband will not relent.”
“Then we are kindred spirits.” Vic touched the back of her hand to her forehead.
“Are you tired?”
“Truth be, I am a bit cold and exhausted.”
“Then come inside and I will make you a hot tea.”
Once Jennifer had the tea on, she took her new friend through the ugliest rooms that Vic had ever seen.
“Are these not horrible rooms?”
“Ghastly!” Vic agreed.
“The library is even worse. In our old house, I loved sitting in the library and reading books. This place is so dark and creepy that I avoid it like the plague.”
Jennifer stopped at the door. “Go on in. I do not wish to see it again.”
Vic was more than happy to study the library. When she finally left it, she smiled at Jennifer. “That is the most hideous room I have ever seen. And it is so dark with those curtains, that no one could possibly read a book, even if the room didn’t seem haunted.”
“You’ve nailed it. The room is haunted. I don’t go about telling people that, because my husband would throw me into an asylum. But I am relieved that you felt it as well.”
“That is the darkest room I’ve ever entered.”
“Oh, there is one worse here.”
“While that terrifies me, I am most curious.”
“And clearly brave. Well, come along. It is my husband’s study. He never allows anyone inside, but he is at Parliament just now, so as long as we don’t actually touch anything, he won’t know.”
When they entered, hand in hand, Vic stared in shock. The man had no taste whatsoever. Chains, axes, and other instruments of death hung about the walls.
Jacko would have a field day in here. Or not.
“He uses trip wires in here to assure he is the only one who dares enter. That’s why we cannot go any further in the room.”
“Fine with me,” Vic chuckled as she counted three possible hidden safes. “It’s terrifying enough from this view. However, I am now convinced men should never be allowed to decorate houses.”
Once back in the ugly living room, Vic laughed. “In comparison, this room is now tolerable.”
“I’m so glad you walked by! I haven’t found a single person to like until you showed up.”
“But you are most delightful!” Vic insisted.
“I always got along with people in Russia, but English women are most rigid and judgmental.”
Vic sighed. “I know that feeling. My parents died when I was but twelve. My aunt took me in, only she let me do whatever I wanted. However, she did warn me if I didn’t behave like a lady, I would no doubt regret the quality of a husband I would end up with.”
“That’s the truth,” Jennifer replied.
“Do you have children?”
“No, thank God!”
“Me, either.”
“How did two such nice ladies get stuck with such horrid husbands?”
“Maybe we should run off together.”
Vic glanced at her watch and jumped up. “Oh, I promised my husband I would be on the corner at two. I can’t be late.”
“Hurry off then. But it was very good to meet you. Please return when you can. I’m not allowed to leave the grounds.”
“I will.” She then hugged her new friend and ran to the corner, where her carriage waited.
Jacko huffed. “I was concerned you had been captured.”
“No, but I befriended the young woman who hates her husband. The man has the most horrid taste you can imagine. When I survived seeing the ugly library, she took me to see the even uglier study. It had trap wires all over the place. Make sure you take lamps with you. And watch your feet. Some of the trap wires are literally at floor level.
“Why?”
“Given the quantity of dust, I believe they may just be traps for nosy people. He evidently does not allow anyone in the room.”
“And yet you entered.”
“I did, but Jennifer made certain I didn’t get harmed while doing so. Her husband constantly complains about her hideous taste, when in fact, he’s the one without taste.”
“I don’t actually care about his taste. Are there children in the house?”
“No children.
“Housekeeper? Butler?”
“No, just Jennifer. She’s actually from Russia, so her name cannot truly be Jennifer.”
“Back to the study...” Jacko growled.
“I saw three pictures on the wall of torture that may have safe’s hidden behind them. We might want some of the items inside them. Specifically, I sensed the smaller center picture had something of importance inside the safe. But don’t take my word. This is your expertise.”
“Did you notice any wiring around the three pictures?”
“None that I could see, but then again, the room was dark and creepy, not to mention I was standing at the door.”
“Not being much help here,” Jack grumbled.
“Sorry, but I am serious when I say you need to avoid dusty areas. Nobody is cleaning this room due to the triggers. There is the dusty stuff that you need to avoid, and the cleaner areas which are being regularly touched by the Russian named Sanders Quinn. Be careful. The Russians are well-known to kill with poisons.”
“How do you know that?” Jacko demanded.
“I learned a lot about Russia when I went to finishing school.”
Jacko grinned. “You’ve acquired one unusual, yet useful education.”
Once they returned home, Xavier and David joined them at the kitchen table as they worked out the best way to handle matters.
It quickly became apparent that Xavier had changed his mind and wished to oust Vic from the night’s events.
“I can do this, Xavier!”
“If this was a normal situation, I would agree. But my gut is telling me this is far more dangerous than any of us realize.”
He then looked at David. “David, will you call Dr. Connors and acquire the antidotes for the various poisons that Russians love to use.”
Xavier then asked Vic to draw every detail of his study that she could remember.
She focused on providing as much detail as possible. “This is the room he hides inside. No one is allowed to dust or clean. We’ll want to remove all documents from the three wall safes. Then go through his desk. Be very careful and remove any trip wires before you act.”
Vic paused. “The item we want most, his passports, will not be in a safe ready to blow. He needs the passports every time he leaves to return to Russia. I expect he has a way of attaching them to the bottom of his desk so he can retrieve them with ease.”
David intervened, “Hold on, if he is here working for the Russians, why would he carry his Russian passports at all? Why not leave them safely in Russia?”
Vic replied quickly, “I don’t believe they will let him return to Russia without his passport. But even if they would, I doubt he would trust Russian border officials enough to leave his passports in their hands. Too many of the Russian officials are corrupt and would sell them to another.”
“Yes, of course,” David agreed. “Vic is right. He would take anything of value that he has and keep it with him. Possibly on his body.”
“I cannot imagine him risking his Russian passport to one of the many pickpocket mobs that continue to form in the streets,” Xavier replied. “I believe Vic is right that his passport will be found in one of the safes or in a locked drawer of his desk.”
While that wasn’t at all what she had concluded, she let it slide. She trusted Jacko’s gift to find the passport.
AT MIDNIGHT, XAVIER and Jacko, both dressed in black, headed out with Casey drivi
ng the carriage.
Since there was no way Vic could even try to sleep while those two were risking their lives, she settled in the kitchen, sending up prayers for God to keep everyone safe. She then paused and clarified a matter so God wouldn’t be confused. “By everyone, I mean all the good people, not the bad ones. I’d be happy if you could remove the bad ones entirely.”
Gregory chuckled and brought her a cup of tea. He then joined her at the table. “I am very impressed that you refrained from joining them.”
“Why would that impress you?” she asked.
“Because if you were to die, the rest of us would not survive the loss.”
Vic released a heavy sigh. “It should have been me that joined Jacko tonight. Xavier only flipped when he realized how dangerous this was going to be.”
“And I am glad he did so. Vic, you hold the hearts of too many people to take such serious risk. I am very glad Xavier took this case. While he has proven a good father, it is nothing compared to the love that all your children have for you, that your staff has for you, and that I have for you.” He paused and dabbed his eyes dry. “You are the bravest person I know, but you hold too many hearts to risk your life when others can do a job as well.”
“You are not helping,” Vic grumbled.
“I’m just trying to make you see the truth of the situation. You are far more than a brilliant sleuth. You are the beating heart of our large family. I understand you must take risks at times, but before you do, you always will need to assess whether it is worth the risk. To my understanding, in this case, you have no evidence that will even get the man arrested. In fact, you are in greater danger of being arrested for even suggesting he is a Russian spy.”
“Who told you that?” Vic demanded.
“I have my sources!” Gregory snapped.
“It was either Stone or Barns,” she grumbled.
“Both of which are very smart about these matters and are not prone to stating things that are not true. Which means, you have been understating the risk, which you must never do. You must always evaluate the value you will gain when risking your life to the unquestionable disaster that will befall your entire family if you die.”
The Future of Scotland Yard Page 2