Cometh the Hour Read online

  “Dr. Wolfe told me yesterday that you could win a scholarship to the American College of Art.”

  “Dr. Wolfe will be just as proud when I’m the first girl from Jefferson to go to the Royal College of Art, though I thought I’d go to the Slade first, just like the other Jessica.”

  “Will your mother or I have any say in all of this?”

  “Let’s hope not. After all, you two have made such a mess of everything so far.”

  Sebastian laughed.

  “Can I ask, do I live up to your expectations?” she said, sounding unsure of herself for the first time.

  “You’re even more talented and beautiful than I’d imagined. How about me?” asked Seb, grinning.

  “Actually I’m a little disappointed,” said Jessica. “I thought you’d be taller and better-looking. More like Sean Connery.”

  Seb burst out laughing. “You are the most precocious child I’ve ever met.”

  “And you’ll be pleased to hear that Mom agrees with you, except she substitutes the word brat for child, which I’m sure you’ll do once you get to know me better. Now I must be off. I’ve got lots to tell Mom about, and I’m looking forward to wearing a new dress tonight I bought especially for the occasion. Where are we having dinner?”

  “The Belvedere, seven thirty.”

  Jessica threw her arms around him and burst into tears.

  “What’s the matter?” he asked.

  “Nothing. Just be sure you’re on time for a change.”

  “Don’t worry, I will be.”

  “You’d better be,” said Jessica, and quickly left him.

  * * *

  Mr Arnold Hardcastle QC sat opposite Hakim Bishara in a small private room at HMP Wandsworth.

  “I’m going to say something, Hakim, that I’ve never said to a client before. Even though it’s a lawyer’s duty to present the best defense possible for his client whether he believes them to be guilty or innocent, I want you to know that I am in no doubt, reasonable or otherwise, that you have been set up. However, I must warn you that because of the government’s new guidelines on Class A drugs, the judge will have no choice but to refuse an application for bail.”

  “And how long will it be before my case comes to trial?”

  “Four months, six at most. Be assured, I’ll do everything I can to speed it up.”

  “During which time I’ll be holed up in here, while the bank could go bust.”

  “Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.”

  “Have you read the morning papers?” said Bishara. “They couldn’t be much worse. When the market opens tomorrow, the vultures will swoop down on the carcass and pick the bones clean. Is there any good news?”

  “Ross Buchanan rang me at home last night to say he’d be happy to stand in as temporary chairman until you return. He’s already issued a press statement saying he has no doubt that you will be cleared of all the charges.”

  “Typical of the man,” said Hakim. “Accept his offer. We’ll also need Sebastian to be at his desk when the market opens.”

  “He’s in Washington at the moment. I’ve called his hotel several times, but he wasn’t in his room. I left a message asking him to call me urgently. Is there anything else I can do?”

  “Yes, there is, Arnold. I need the best private detective you’ve ever come across, someone who’s fearless and won’t let anything stop him when it comes to tracking down who was responsible for planting that heroin in my bag.”

  “Chief Inspector Barry Hammond is the name that immediately comes to mind, but I’ve lost touch with him since he left the Met Police.”

  “Did he retire?”

  “No, he resigned after he was accused of planting evidence on a gangland boss who kept getting away with, quite literally, murder.”

  “How did you come across him?”

  “I was his defending counsel when the trial came to court. I got him off, but he resigned from the force the next day.”

  “Then track him down, because I need to see him as soon as possible.”

  “I’ll get onto it straight away. Anything else?”

  “Get hold of Sebastian.”

  * * *

  Seb walked slowly back to the hotel and thought about all the wasted years, and how he intended to make up for them, whatever sacrifices he had to make. If only Samantha would give him a second chance. Was Jessica right? Would they really be willing to live in London? Tonight would be like a first date, and he suspected that Samantha would be just as nervous as he was. After all, her husband had recently died, and Seb had no way of knowing how she felt about seeing him again. Perhaps their young chaperone knew more than she was willing to admit. Another woman he dreaded the thought of being parted from.

  When Seb entered the hotel, he went to the desk and asked the receptionist, “How long does it take to get to the Belvedere restaurant?”

  “It’s just around the corner, sir, shouldn’t take more than a few minutes. Do you have a reservation? They’re sure to be fully booked on a Saturday night.”

  “Yes, I do,” said Seb confidently.

  “And I have an urgent message for you, Mr. Clifton. Would you please call a Mr. Arnold Hardcastle? He’s left a number. Shall I get him on the line and put the call through to your room?”

  “Yes, please,” said Seb, before heading for the nearest lift. He’d never known Arnold to use the word “urgent.” What could possibly be that important? Had he failed to sign one of the pages in the merger document? Had Victor changed his mind at the last moment? Once he was in his room he only had to wait a few moments before the phone rang.

  “Sebastian Clifton.”

  “Seb. Thank God I’ve finally got hold of you.”

  “What’s the problem, Arnold?”

  “I’m afraid I have some bad news.”

  Seb listened in disbelief as Arnold went over everything that had happened to Hakim since he’d stepped off the plane at Heathrow.

  “It has to be a setup, pure and simple,” said Seb angrily.

  “My exact words,” said Arnold. “But I’m afraid it’s not pure, and it certainly isn’t simple, while the evidence is so stacked against him.”

  “Where is he now?”

  “In a cell in Wandsworth. He feels it’s essential that you’re back at your desk when the market opens on Monday morning.”

  “Of course I will be. I’ll take the next flight back to Heathrow.” He put the phone down and immediately dialed the front desk. “I’ll be checking out in the next half hour. Please have my bill ready, and would you book me onto the first available flight to London? And can you look up the number of a Mrs. Michael Brewer, get her on the line and put her straight through?”

  Seb packed quickly, and then checked that he’d left nothing behind. He was zipping up his bag when the phone rang again.

  “I’m sorry, sir, but Mrs. Michael Brewer is unlisted.”

  “Then get me Dr. Wolfe at Jefferson Elementary School. She’s the headmistress.”

  Seb paced around the room. If he could speak to Dr. Wolfe, she would surely have Sam’s number …

  The phone rang again.

  “Dr. Wolfe is not answering her phone, Mr. Clifton, and the only flight I can get you on takes off in just under two hours, so you’d have to hurry. All the other London flights are fully booked.”

  “Take it. And I’ll need a taxi to get me to Dulles.”

  On the way to the airport, Seb didn’t even notice the towering monuments, the fast-flowing Potomac or the densely wooded forests. His mind was preoccupied with the thought of Hakim locked up in a prison cell. Seb accepted that there was no longer any purpose in Arnold delivering the merger papers to the Bank of England after he recalled Hakim’s light-hearted question, “Have you ever been to jail?” He wondered who could be behind something so treacherous. Adrian Sloane immediately came to mind, but he couldn’t have done it on his own.

  It was when Seb checked his watch and saw that it was almost 7:30 p.m. that he