Malcolm looked at his watch.
“You have exactly five minutes to bring Lord Winston to my presence, or the next time we shall see one another will be before a judge in The Old Bailey. One of my associates is there, standing by. Do you understand me?”
Chapter Forty
Earnscliffe
“Something doesn’t add up,” Paul told Anne. “That so-called interrogation MI5 put me through makes no sense at all.”
“It’s outrageous, Paul!” she replied. “I don’t understand why Daddy didn’t tell me MI5 was holding you. My father, of all people!”
“Those two MI5 interrogators claim Janet Wallis is a mole for the Turkish syndicate,” Paul said. “I don’t believe that for a second. Good heavens, I was there when she was beaten and tortured by those two thugs. There’s no way they’d do that just to make a point with me. My God, it was clear they planned to kill both of us.”
“I’m going to have a word with Daddy,” Anne said. “I’m also going to find out who his boss is, and tell both of them what I think of MI5 and what they did to you.”
“Easy, my love,” Paul added, smiling. “Please don’t make any calls just yet, okay? Let’s see how this plays out a bit more before we do anything rash. Clearly, something’s going on we don’t know about.”
“You’re sure?” she asked. “I’m really annoyed with Daddy over this.”
“Let’s not do anything rash, my love,” Paul repeated. “For one thing, Janet told me the drug syndicates have infiltrated local governments and police forces, here and in other countries, even law enforcement agencies like DEA in the US. This is serious stuff. We can’t risk putting your dad and others in danger, or blowing a possible investigation.”
“We can’t just sit here and do nothing!” Anne said.
“Neither of us has any expertise in law enforcement,” Paul replied. “But I do have some influence in other places where it counts. Let’s check those out first.”
Chapter Forty-One
Paul’s Office
Westland Place
“Kay Shelley called this morning.”
“How’s she doing, Malcolm?” Anne asked. She and Paul were meeting with their solicitor, now also the CEO of the Secret Shepherd Foundation.
“Not good I’m afraid, My Lady and Milord,” he said. “We have an issue... actually a few issues.”
They were sitting around an antique oak meeting table Paul had inherited from his late Uncle Percy, the eleventh Earl of Prescott.
“It could be something that might interest Lady Anne,” the portly solicitor said.
“How so, Malcolm?” she asked.
“As you know, My Lady, no sooner had Secret Shepherd helped Mrs. Shelley get her programs back up and running than someone began setting fires inside some of them. What’s more, two of her new training centers have been vandalized and covered with crude graffiti.”
“Yes,” Paul said. “I heard about those fires and the graffiti. Has anyone been arrested?”
“Yes and no,” Malcolm said. “The good news is police arrested a couple of hoodlums here in London suspected of the graffiti.”
“The bad news?” Anne asked.
“The bad news, My Lady, is twofold. First, those hoodlums may be just the tip of the iceberg. The authorities believe Mrs. Shelley’s former husband may be behind the fires and the graffiti. There’s no way of knowing if he has plans for more trouble—unfortunately he remains a fugitive. The second challenge is that many women who need her services have seen the news reports about the damage and are reluctant to participate. Not surprising, they fear their estranged spouses might become emboldened by all this trouble, endangering them and their children. The mothers are refusing to leave their children in the special school programs or to attend the counseling and career development training they need. Teachers and volunteers are sitting around doing nothing; some have resigned.”
“I don’t like the sound of that,” Anne said.
“Here’s an example,” Malcolm said. “Joan Hamilton visited the education center just down the street yesterday. Only two mothers showed up with one child each. And they were clearly frightened by all they’ve seen in the news media; they went home mid-morning.
“Normally, that center would have forty-five to fifty kids all day. Their mothers, more than two-dozen of them, were engaged in job readiness programs and personal counseling. Yesterday, all of the volunteers and even some of the paid staff stayed home.”
“They’re afraid of more incidents?”
“Yes, My Lady. Would you consider discussing this with Mrs. Shelley?” Malcolm said. “I believe you’re a teacher and a licensed counselor.”
“Yes, I am,” Anne replied. “I’ll get in touch with Kay right after this meeting.”
“Thank you, My Lady,” Malcolm said. “I know she’d value any suggestions you might have about how to get these people back into the programs.”
“Consider it done,” Anne replied.
“One other thing, Malcolm,” Paul said. “Could you have someone assess the damage at each location and have it repaired ASAP, and replace all of the books and other materials that were lost? Get some top-quality CCTV installed in all the locations and hire security guards for all of them. Secret Shepherd will look after it, right?”
“The repairs and replacements are in progress, Milord,” Malcolm said, proudly. He rose to leave. “The CCTV systems and the security are a great idea. I’ll get someone on that right away.”
“Are you finding this the challenging change of pace you wanted?” Paul asked.
“Oh yes, indeed, sir,” Malcolm replied. “I’m having the time of my life... just what I needed. Thank you, Milord!”
His eyes beamed and his rugged face wore an ear-to-ear smile.
***
That Evening
Earnscliffe
“I’m going to see Kay Shelley tomorrow,” Anne said. “Those poor women... and those children. As if they don’t have enough to deal with already! We discussed a few ideas on the phone,” she added. “One is that I make appearances at the centers... why not use this title of mine that I didn’t earn to do some good? I could do media interviews to help bring attention to Kay’s programs and raise funds?”
“That’s very generous of you, my love,” Paul said. “But I’d rather you didn’t. It wouldn’t be safe for you and Catherine.”
“I guess we won’t know until we give it a try, will we now?” Anne said. “I’ll take along those security people you insist upon.” Her chin jutted out in defiance. “Those pesky bodyguards can make themselves useful for a change.”
“Aren’t you concerned the media attention could make you a target?” Paul argued. “I am. Why not do something low profile to help out at the centers?” A frown crossed his rugged face. He shuddered. “What if some lunatic tries to firebomb one of those locations while you and Catherine are there?”
“I should think that unlikely,” Anne replied. “If something does happen, like I said, we’ll just have to deal with it, won’t we?”
Paul shook his head in concern and dismay, worried for her safety, but prouder than ever of his feisty life partner.
Chapter Forty-Two
A Week Later
Earnscliffe
“I should have recognized that guy,” Paul said, half to himself. “I’m sure of it.”
“What guy?” Richard asked.
“He was dressed differently,” Paul said. “I think he had a beard.”
“Are you going to tell me ‘who’?” Richard persisted.
“Eldridge,” Paul said. “Maurice Eldridge.”
“What in the world are you going on about, Paul?”
Richard had come for lunch and for his weekly Saturday afternoon visit, with granddaughter Catherine.
Anne’s mother did not come, although Anne had admitted to her father it was time to move beyond the differences she had with her mother. Agnes had made it clear she wasn’t over their estrangement yet,
despite having seen her only granddaughter, now thirteen months old, just a few times when Anne had allowed Richard to take Catherine to see her.
“I told you about an exchange I overheard at the Lord’s Library between Marion and a man I didn’t recognize, right?” Paul asked.
“Yes,” Richard said. “What does that have to do with Eldridge?”
“I’m certain he was the man who picked up a book from Marion,” Paul said. “They didn’t see me, but Marion knew I was somewhere in the library. I saw her tuck an envelope into a book and give it to him... along with a clear signal that they weren’t alone. She kissed him affectionately as he left.”
“You know as well as I do,” Richard said. “It could prove awkward to accuse Eldridge of anything unless we have air-tight evidence. He’s already under suspicion for bringing those ludicrous accusations against you. You should know Eldridge has powerful friends at high levels, so if he’s up to something we’d better be absolutely sure of ourselves.”
“The man I saw was dressed quite differently than when he tried that interrogation nonsense on me,” Paul said. “He was skinny like Eldridge, and had the same crooked nose, dark eyes, and heavy eyebrows. I’m sure it was him, Richard.”
“Someone in our internal security branch can check on his movements,” Richard replied. “I’ll see if I can have him followed.”
“By the way,” Paul said. “I’m going to be away on business for a few weeks. Can you keep me posted on things via my cell phone?”
“Sure,” Richard said. “Where are you off to, if it’s okay to ask?”
“The States,” Paul said. “A trip to check on some business possibilities. I’m taking Ahmed with me. It’s time he had a change of scene. Putting some distance between him and that gang would be a good thing.”
“That applies to you too, Paul,” Richard said.
“Yeah, I suppose so,” Paul replied.
Chapter Forty-Three
Liverpool
“Who’s that, Beatrice?” the young woman asked her friend.
The two young mothers stood on the sidewalk peering through large multi-pane windows into a converted shop downtown.
“Why Maggie, that’s Lady Anne, The Countess of Prescott,” Beatrice replied, pleased she was more up-to-date on local news than her friend.
Two preschool children kept pulling at Maggie’s coat. Beatrice’s own child, an impatient five-year-old boy, was pushing her from behind, eager to be doing something... anything.
“I saw it on the telly, Maggie, didn’t you?”
The young mothers were looking in on a repurposed classroom. Above the door was a modest sign: Mary’s House.
Inside, a crowd was swarming around a pretty young woman, elegantly dressed and seated beside a table, signing autographs. A little girl was in a high chair beside her, focused intently on a coloring book.
“A countess is royalty too, you know,” Beatrice said with an air of authority. “Almost a princess. Wow, isn’t she beautiful?”
“Hey, let’s go see what’s going on,” Maggie said. “I’ve gotta get these kids busy before they drive me crazy.”
“Sign ‘em up,” Beatrice said. “That’s what the counselor told us to do, you know.”
***
Excited children were milling about in the middle of the room waiting to meet Lady Anne, the Countess of Prescott. Mothers were lined up to take pictures of their little ones sitting on Anne’s lap.
“This is absolutely fabulous!” Kay Shelley said. She had assigned herself the job of receiving items from the children and their mothers for Anne to autograph: books, scribblers, toys, clothing...
Anne smiled back, busily signing autographs and taking the time to ask and patiently answer the same questions over and over from children and their star-struck mothers.
The place was packed, everyone eager to see Anne, to see what else was going on at the school, and to find out how they could get their children involved.
The women apparently had decided that if it was safe enough for a countess to be there then it had to be safe enough for them and their offspring.
Kay and the four other teachers trained to help children with emotional and special needs were overwhelmed with requests to register for the upcoming programs. The classes beginning in a week had been oversubscribed since early in the morning, shortly after Anne arrived for Kay’s official re-opening.
“I had no idea this would happen,” Kay said, her eyes sparkling. “And I most certainly had no idea you were a countess when you came here last week offering to help. You didn’t tell me. And your husband... well I had no idea! Are you sure you want me to call you Anne? The kids and their parents think they’re getting to meet a real princess… and an absolutely gorgeous one at that!”
“Why thank you,” Anne said, giggling self-consciously. “Yes, please do call me Anne. That’s who I am. Sorry to disappoint that I’m not a princess, though. To be honest, I’m not sure about these titles, but I’m delighted the one I have can help with your work. Between you and me, I don’t think I’d ever want to be a princess. The security we have to deal with is a challenge as it is.”
She glanced over at the two burly security guards standing on either side of the classroom, scanning the crowd with nervous looks on their faces while pretending to be invisible.
“I’m surprised the news media showed up in such large numbers,” Anne said.
“I have to say, Anne,” Kay replied. “I’m ever so grateful you’ve agreed to visit other locations too and to put up with those media interviews as well. The media coverage will be a lot of help raising awareness among women who need our help.”
“Seeing all these happy children and mothers is more than enough thanks,” Anne said.
“I meant to ask you earlier,” Kay asked. “Do you know a Mr. Malcolm Witherspoon?”
“I believe he’s a prominent solicitor in London,” Anne replied.
“He’s been encouraging me to add even more locations throughout the UK,” Kay said. “He seems to have connections with a foundation of some kind that’s been helping us. With Mr. Witherspoon’s assistance, we’ll be opening a dozen locations soon in more cities.”
“That’s wonderful!” Anne said. “Imagine all the children and mothers who could benefit. I’ll be happy to attend as many official openings as I can get to.”
“Oh my!” Kay said. Her voice trembled. “I don’t know how I’ll ever be able to thank you.”
“I should be thanking you,” Anne said. “Catherine is enjoying all of the attention she’s getting from the little girls immensely, and even from some of the little boys. I’m sure it’s making her feel like a little princess. She’ll insist on coming to the other openings with me.”
Chapter Forty-Four
Delta Flt. 0029
Heathrow to Atlanta
“Thanks again for inviting me along,” Ahmed said. “You surprised me... I really don’t think I have all that much to contribute.”
“You’re welcome and I was serious,” Paul replied. “You’ll be earning your keep and probably learning some things useful for your courses.”
“Sure hope I can help,” Ahmed replied.
“You brought your laptop, right?” Paul asked.
Ahmed nodded.
“I’ll need you to research the area, the people and the economy, such as it is,” Paul said. “The investor will need to know as much as possible. I’ll also need you to do some number crunching, and perhaps you could help to develop some operational business plans. Entrepreneurs need those skills.”
“You bet,” Ahmed said. “Sounds like fun.”
“By the way,” Paul said. “I should have asked you if this trip would be taking you away from anyone special? It’s none of my business of course. Just curious.”
Ahmed smiled. “I have a friend in London,” he said. “Met her when I did that work at Cambridge. She’s excited about this opportunity for me. I have you to thank for that.”
“Oh really?” Paul said. “A girlfriend?”
“Oh no, not a girlfriend,” Ahmed said. “Just a friend. I met her a few weeks after you and Mrs. Hamilton got me out of jail. Her name is Naomi... Naomi Hamilton. She’s Mrs. Hamilton’s niece. She might come for a visit. She’s never been to America. Hope you don’t mind.”
“Of course not,” Paul said. “That’s your business. If she’s related to Joan, I expect she’s pretty nice.”
“We’re just friends,” Ahmed replied. “She’s attending Cambridge and has been seeing a student at King’s.”
Paul was surprised his intuition was sensing that Ahmed’s affection for Naomi seemed more fraternal than romantic.
“There’s something else we need to discuss,” Paul said.
“What’s that?” Ahmed said.
“Our focus,” Paul said. “We need to stay focused on precisely why we’re there in the first place.”
“I’m not sure what you mean?” Ahmed said.
“We are not visiting that region to bring charity,” Paul said.
“We’re not there to help?” Ahmed said, surprised. “Why are we going?”
“We’re looking for people who want to help themselves. Our job is to find out what we can do behind the scenes quietly to facilitate that happening,” Paul replied. “Should we find a few folks like that, we’ll follow their lead, not ours. It’s their life and their call. We’re just facilitators.”
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