Upon verifying the passports were for Anton Popov, and his wife, Xavier hugged her. “I apologize for yelling at you. When you didn’t return after an hour, I had feared we had made a terrible mistake that I would never survive.”
“I still think we have a problem,” Vic warned.
Jacko groaned.
“Are you in pain?” Vic asked, now worried Jacko was still ill.
“I was groaning that you have declared we have a problem, which means we have a problem.”
His response cheered her up. “Thank you for believing in my ability to discern a problem in our plans. According to Xavier, the prime minister will want to ensure Sanders is not in any manner connected to Anton Popov since everyone knows that Sanders was his favorite minister. The easiest way to do that is to kill all the people who know the truth. However, we don’t like that solution.”
She then focused on Xavier. “As the minister of Foreign Affairs, you could have a private meeting with the Prime Minister and give him the proof that Sanders and Anton are indeed the same person, and he’s a Russian spy. If the Prime Minister carries a gun, he will probably shoot you. If not, he will have someone else shoot you. And he knows you’ll be wearing a silk vest, so he might shoot you in the face. Thus, that straight forward approach won’t work either. So, let’s try a different approach. Do you know the names of the two other men who are Russian spies?”
“I do,” Xavier replied.
“And are they friends of the Prime Minister as well?”
“No, they are not.”
“Then you should bring them to the attention of the Prime Minister in your official duty as the minister of Foreign Affairs once you have located their passports. And you should have Barns find them so he can take the credit.”
“But I don’t know where they keep their passports,” Xavier admitted.
Jacko spoke up. “I’ll find them. And just so you know, the first place I’m looking is beneath the center drawer. I had thought it too obvious, but evidently they think it’s clever.”
“This won’t work. The Prime Minister won’t feel safe until everyone involved has disappeared,” Xavier insisted.
“Nonsense. Only two men, and possibly their faux wives who are still alive and causing trouble, need to be mentioned. In fact, when discussing Sanders, you can even suggest that one of these men killed him due to his efforts to make England safer.”
Xavier laughed aloud and rewarded her with a grand kiss.
“I gather you liked my idea.”
“It’s brilliant!” he declared.
LATE THAT NIGHT, JACKO and Captain Meyers from Scotland Yard, entered the homes of the other two spies, located the passports secured beneath the desks, and left without incident.
Once the passports were delivered to Xavier, as the minister of Foreign Affairs, he wasted no time alerting the Prime Minister. While the fellow was angry at first, when he finally grasped that this was the perfect solution to his problem, he cheerfully shook Xavier’s hand and agreed that both men and their wives, who were no doubt spies as well, should be hung as soon as possible. Since they were not English, the presumption they killed Sanders and the proof they were Russian spies was sufficient evidence to be hung. Thus, the matter was resolved to everyone’s satisfaction. Not a single person objected to the solution, except for the two Russians and their wives.
In fact, a memorial was established to honor Sanders. While that annoyed Xavier, he attended the memorial and laid a flower on the man’s very fine tombstone as well.
The Prime Minister gave a fine eulogy that brought tears to many of those who attended. Xavier managed to dab his eyes, but in truth, there had been no tears shed.
Glad to return home, he pulled Vic into his arms. “You outdid yourself in this matter. And I for one greatly appreciate your cleverness.”
Vic smiled with happiness. “Does that mean you will allow me to do my job in the future?”
“You are much too valuable to use haphazardly. So, in the future, I expect we will continue to argue over what you should and should not do, but as long as you have sufficient backup to keep you safe, you will be my first choice in most situations.”
“Why not all?” she asked.
“Because there will be times in which your skills will not be the best choice.”
Vic grimaced. “Fair enough.”
“Now you’ve surprised me,” Xavier admitted.
“While I believe I can see matters better in most situations, as Gregory chided me, I must weigh my dangers to ensure I always come home alive. Too many people love me, so I cannot take risks if the results cannot justify it. So, if Jacko is available to diffuse bombs, I will always let him try first. And had I known how dangerous that brick bomb was, I would have tossed it back to the mob in the street.”
“That was probably what they wanted.”
“How so?”
“To all appearances, it would seem that I tossed a bomb into their midst. And in short order, I would no longer be the minister of Foreign Affairs and I suspect Sanders would have been slotted into my place.”
“Bloody Hell! That is exactly what they planned! And God only knows how many Russians would have arrived then!”
“I expect the plan was Sander’s, not the prime minister’s, so let it go.”
“I will. However, keeping our country safe is getting to be impossibly hard.”
Xavier sighed. “I cannot argue the point, but we have to keep trying. That is all we can do. However, right this minute when all seems calm, may I suggest we go upstairs and cheer ourselves up?”
Vic grinned happily. “That is the best idea ever.” She then focused on Jacko. “You don’t seem to be in a hurry to go home. Did you and Alice have a fight?”
“No. Alice and the three younger boys are at her estate. She is determined to make them better-behaved boys. Last week, they drowned a kitten that she asked them to bathe. Needless to say, the boys complain every time they sit down now.”
“Should you not go and help her?” Vic asked.
“She believes she can straighten them out on her own and I will just muddy matters up. To be honest, I believe she blames me entirely for their outrageous behavior. And while I admit they behave horribly; they far exceed any trouble I got in as a child. So, I don’t believe I am the only reason the boys are so terrible. I have to believe she has a part in their making as well.”
“That’s a good point. When we were children, I recall several hair-pulling brawls, and she started them all.” But then she outgrew her temper.”
“Well, she has grown it back,” Jacko muttered. And if she sees me in my current condition, she’ll be most angry. So, I would appreciate it if you let me sleep here for a few weeks.”
“You are always welcomed here, Jacko. And I’m annoyed with Alice for being so hard on you. However, I do agree that if she believes you are the problem, you should stay here and relax while the boys drive Alice insane. If nothing else, it will help her realize those boys are just as bad in her hands as yours.” Vic paused. “Perhaps Dr. Connors has a medication that can calm out-of-control boys. I will ask him when a new disaster occurs.”
“So, you’ve taken to planning out your new disasters?” Jacko teased.
“No.” Vic laughed. “But maybe I should, for they seem to come every few days.
Chapter 5
WHILE SERVING BREAKFAST to their growing family, Gregory observed a long mass of high-quality carriages lined up before Xavier and Vic’s place of business. He let them know at once.
Xavier stared out the kitchen window and pondered why these five Cretans had come to his place. “This looks like trouble. Vic grab a gun, but keep it hidden. Same goes with you, Tubs. If you have to shoot them, shoot to kill. These are not men you want to piss off.”
With that disturbing warning, Vic and Tubs followed Xavier across the street into their presently over-crowded office.”
One of the men turned to face Xavier. “This doesn’t concern y
ou, Xavier. Take the boy and your thug and go away.”
“You have some nerve,” Xavier laughed. “You stand in my business and attempt to send me and my staff off?”
“This has nothing to do with you,” the man snapped.
“I beg to differ. You five appear intent on annoying my excellent employee, and I do not wish him to be annoyed.”
Stone rose in anger. “You have my answer! Now get on with you! Tubs, escort these men out if they do not remove themselves in the next five seconds.”
Wishing to be helpful, Vic started a countdown. “Five, four, three, two, one.” At one, she slammed the door closed, causing the last man to almost take a tumble.
Xavier let out a long sigh. “Vic, what did I say?”
“Were you serious about letting me kill them? I’ll happily shoot them all.”
“As would I,” Stone admitted. “However, Xavier was correct in scolding you, Victor. Those are the five worst parliament members that we have.”
“I thought we got rid of the worst three.”
“No, you got rid of the worst three Russian spies. Those five are all Englishmen.”
“Are you positive? It turns out to be easy to fool whoever is letting people become parliament members.”
“I can assure you they are Englishmen. I actually attended school with three of them earlier in my life.”
“What about the other two?” Vic challenged.
“They went to Eaton, but they are all English monsters,” Stone replied. “They were horrible children, and they are horrible adults. And unfortunately, they get wealthier every year because stealing comes natural to them. And please do not share that with anyone, for they are very clever in their thefts and will sue anyone who attacks their fine names.
“Does Barns know they are stealing?”
“Last year, you brought it to his attention when Xavier’s mother’s account was losing money.”
“Yes, and I believe he shut their clever scheme down. Are you saying none of those men went to jail?”
“The lower level went to jail. However, Barns was warned off from charging these five trolls of any wrongdoing.”
“I expected Barns to be better than that,” Vic stated.
“It was not his choice. The prior Prime Minister told him to leave them alone.”
“Damn it! I always liked the prior Prime Minister,” Vic huffed.
“As do I. I thought his advice to be excellent. These men are too rich, too mean, and too greedy for one young man to take on. Barns is making far more progress than I ever did.”
“Such as what?” Vic asked.
“He’s done so much that I don’t even know where to start. For one, he has improved the process of fingerprinting, so any print we have stored can be located in less than an hour. And given the growing number of fingerprints, that is an amazing accomplishment. Better yet, he has made it so easy to understand, that the young ladies on our staff can match prints in short order.”
“Why did he hire ladies to do this?” Vic asked. She hoped it wasn’t because they were paid less.
Stone smiled. “Honestly, the men weren’t nearly as fast. The ladies seem to see details the men would miss.”
“What else has he done?” Vic asked.
“When was the last time you talked to Barns?” Stone challenged.
Vic huffed. “Yesterday. He threatened to throw me into jail for a few months.”
Her reply shocked him. “Why?”
“He didn’t want me to prove Sanders Quinn was Anton Popov.”
“Well, there was true concern in that matter. The new Prime Minister will protect himself first and foremost. Barns was no doubt concerned that you would attempt a frontal attack, which would have gotten you killed. However, your final plan was exceptionally clever. Which is no doubt why you are not in house-confinement presently.”
“Other than the fingerprints and trying to house-confine me, what else has he done?” Vic demanded.
“Well, he has expanded the reach of Scotland Yard significantly by convincing those above to allow us to connect our phone banks to a great many places in England, including all hospitals, Parliament, the Fire Departments, doctors, not to mention important private citizens who need to be in the know. Now, instead of sending a runner for matters of importance, we can simply make a call to discover what is happening.”
“Anything else?” Vic asked.
“He has completely transformed the way his men think about crimes, but in that matter, he will be the first to give the credit to you and Xavier. However, let me observe, it is a rare man who will give the credit to another.”
“You’re right.” Vic grinned. “What he has achieved far exceeds what he hasn’t achieved, and frankly, if his life would be at risk trying to arrest rich bandits, then I am glad he is focused on improving matters that won’t get him killed.”
“Yes,” Stone stated. “In this situation, Barns is proving to be much smarter than you.”
“What do you mean?” Vic demanded.
“In the matter of survival, you are all too apt to make enemies of dangerous men. And unfortunately, dangerous men never forgive. You have now made enemies of the five most dangerous men in London. We can only hope that your comments are not worth trying to kill Tubs, so they can kill you.”
Vic sighed. “Then I have put Tubs in danger?”
“Yes, you have.”
“Perhaps I should just stay in my house and love my children, because everything I do otherwise just seems to make matters worse.”
“For the present, staying in your house sounds like a very good idea. However, getting you to your house could be a problem. Allow me to call Gregory and ask him to have Casey ready the carriage with Tubs inside ready to shoot any trouble.”
Vic rolled her eyes. “I can run to my house without getting killed.”
“I noticed when the men left, that four carriages drove off, but the fifth carriage belonging to the man you angered only moved a block down the street. I am quite certain the moment you step outside this building you will be shot.”
“I don’t want him shooting Casey!”
“He won’t. He knows you are still over here, and he wants to kill you.”
“So, the best solution is for Tubs to drive by and shoot him,” Stone insisted.
“No!” Vic snapped. “This is my mistake. I will solve it!”
“And how do you plan to do that?” Stone challenged.
“I don’t know. But I do know that Tubs will not die for my foolishness.”
“Then think of a plan,” he ordered.
“Shouldn’t this guy be in Parliament right now?”
“Yes, he should.”
Vic snared his phone and called Barns.
“Barns, do you have anything that the five worst ministers might need to vote upon today?”
“In fact, I do.”
“Can you do it now?”
“No, but I am expected to present it in a half-hour.”
“Excellent! Thank you.” She then hung up and shared Barns reply.
“And how is that going to help you?” Stone asked.
“I expect the weasel will leave soon to make sure he is there to push through a bill. If he decides to remain here, then I’ll go out the back door, sneak up from the backside, and shoot him.”
“Well, let us hope for the first, since your second plan will no doubt get you hung.”
“Good point! What if I dress as a woman, then return through the back and become myself again?”
“Do you have a dress to wear?”
“I do. I keep several in the basement.”
“Then go change.”
The moment Vic was downstairs, Stone rang Gregory’s phone. “Gregory, can you call Tubs to the phone? Vic is about to get himself killed.”
Less than five minutes later, Tubs was on the phone. Upon hearing Vic’s plan, he hung up and hurried to the carriage house where he climbed on the driver’s seat and slowly drove dow
n the road. Locating the man’s carriage was easy, since no one who lived on the street possessed a carriage trimmed in gold. He quickly tied off the reins so Casey’s carriage could easily be retrieved and entered the gold-trimmed carriage, sitting across from the startled, angry man.
“Don’t move, and I won’t kill you. We are just going to have a little talk, and then you can go on your way,” Tubs assured him.
The fellow glared at him. “I have no grief with you, but I will acquire one if you don’t leave now.”
“Excellent idea.” He then ordered the driver to head on to Parliament.
Before the man could resend the order, Tubs pressed his gun to the fellow’s temple. “I don’t want to harm you, but I’ll have no choice if you remain focused on killing Vic. He’s my meal ticket, and I need my meal ticket alive. So, I’m hoping you’ll let his insult slide, because if he dies by anyone’s hands, I’m going to assume you sent them, and I’ll come after you. Are we clear?”
The man nodded in terror.
“Excellent. Then everybody lives. “He then frisked the man and took his gun. “I don’t want you to do anything foolish,” he explained. Then he called the driver to stop and climbed up beside the fellow. “I’ll take the reins from here. You seem to have a nasty cold and should be in bed. So, before I drive him to Parliament, let me take you home so you can feel better. If you don’t take care of yourself, you ain’t gonna live long.”
The man shook his head. “My family is starving. I need the money.”
“How much does he pay you?”
“Two pence.”
“For the entire day? That’s robbery.”
The man sneezed and shrugged his shoulders. Tubs pulled out a pocket of coins and handed it to the fellow.
“I can’t take this.”
“Well, I’m not letting a fellow driver freeze because this rich sop is as cheap as they come. Just tell me where you live, and I’ll drop you off before I take him to Parliament.”
Upon receiving the fellow’s address, he drove him home and gave the man’s wife even more coins, fearing the driver might have a drinking problem. For what sane man would drive someone around for a mere two pence.
The Future of Scotland Yard Page 4
