“And how did that work out for you in the states of Connecticut and New York? I should tell you that the law in this country with regard to firearms is much stricter than in the States, and I should also tell you that you have already attracted the attention of local law enforcement, and that private security arrangements for my property are in place. Now, since we have nothing further to discuss, I bid you good day.” Stone hung up.
Peter got up and walked over to where Stone sat. “Is everything all right, Dad?”
“Did you overhear my end of the conversation?”
“Well, toward the end you were sort of shouting.”
“I apologize, but I was speaking to Dr. Don Beverly Calhoun.”
“Ah, I see.”
“He’s threatening a libel suit, but don’t be concerned. You should, however, call the studio and have them call your British distributors and warn them. If he proceeds, Calhoun will ask for an injunction to stop distribution, pending disposition of his suit, and if they aren’t ready, he might get it, at least temporarily. British businesspeople get very skittish at the mention of libel, because the laws are so different here. I should think that a little proactive PR defense would be a good idea. You should give a couple of interviews and address the problem head-on. Say that your legal advisers have told you there are no grounds for such a suit.”
“They have already done so, and they didn’t ask for a single cut.”
“I thought as much.” Stone picked up the phone. “Excuse me for a moment, I have another call to make.” Peter went back to his seat, and Stone called Felicity Devonshire.
“Yes, my dear?”
“I have just had a phone conversation with Dr. Don Beverly Calhoun.”
“And how did that go?”
Stone related the substance of the conversation. “Could you speak to the Home Secretary again?”
“Give me more ammo.”
“Calhoun’s people followed me in Connecticut and New York and were arrested for carrying illegal firearms. As we speak, one of his trademark SUVs is parked near my front gate, and I have alerted the local authorities. I think that indicates a disregard for the law in three places, not to mention the fact that the man is a suspect in the murder of a journalist in California who had the temerity to tell the truth about him.”
“I’ll see what I can do.”
“You are a sweetheart.”
“Of course I am.” She hung up.
Stone rejoined the others.
“Has your blood pressure returned to normal yet?” Peter asked.
“Almost.”
“Another Knob Creek?”
“What a good idea.”
“What did Felicity say?”
“Was I shouting again?”
“No, but in the circumstances, she seemed the next logical call.”
“You are such a smart young man — it must be an inherited trait.”
“Yes, Mom was very smart.”
30
Stone, Dino, and Marcel took a morning ride around the Curtis estate the following morning.
“I am very impressed with the beauty of the place,” Marcel said. “That should be a great added attraction for guests.”
“There’s also the river,” Stone pointed out. “The staff could conduct wildlife tours by boat, and sailing on the Solent could be offered.”
“What about that?” Dino asked, pointing. “Is that an added attraction?” He was pointing at the black Mercedes SUV that had been parked on the main road. It was now moving slowly around the property, not bothering to stick to the drive.
“No,” Stone said, “that is trespassing.” He got out his phone, called Deputy Chief Inspector Holmes, and reported the intrusion, then hung up. “He’s sending a car,” Stone said. “In the meantime, ignore them.” They rode on at a walk, and the car continued its tour. After about ten minutes, a police car showed up, its blue light flashing. They stopped the SUV, and the two officers got out and had a look inside. Four men got out of the vehicle and were searched, and each was relieved of a black pistol, all four of which were put into the police car by one of the officers, while the other used a radio.
“This is wonderful news,” Stone said. “The stupid bastards were armed.”
Shortly a police van arrived and transported the arrestees off the property, followed by the police car and the SUV, now driven by an officer. Stone and his party watched all this from a distance of about a hundred yards, then continued their ride.
Back at the house for lunch, Stone called Felicity Devonshire. “I have more ammo,” he said.
“Oh, tell me, please, I’m seeing the Home Secretary this afternoon.”
“Four of Dr. Don’s people were arrested this morning, after they drove their SUV onto the Curtis estate. They were all armed with handguns, and the police took them away.”
“Can you connect them to Dr. Don?”
“You’ll have to ask Deputy Chief Inspector Holmes about that, but in my experience, Dr. Don’s people carry business cards.”
“I will look into that immediately. Thank you, my dear.” She hung up.
Stone had just finished lunch when Felicity called back. “Good news,” she said, “the four trespassers were, indeed, carrying business cards, connecting them to Dr. Don. They are being transported to New Scotland Yard as we speak and will have a hearing tomorrow morning, at which my service and the Home Secretary will be in attendance.”
“What is the likely outcome of the hearing?”
“They might be offered the opportunity to accept immediate expulsion from Britain, or they could be bound over for trial. There will probably be some negotiation with their solicitors over this.”
“Will they go after Dr. Don, as well?”
“He would deny having ordered them to be armed, so it’s unlikely a judge would expel him. This incident will, however, weigh with the Home Secretary in his deliberations. I’ll call you tomorrow and let you know how it comes out.”
“Do you think I could attend the hearing?”
“It’s open to the public.” She gave him the address.
“Wonderful.” They hung up, and Stone went to find Dino and tell him what was happening.
“I’ll go with you, if that’s okay,” Dino said.
Stone then got a call from the public prosecutor who was acting for the government at the hearing, and he asked Stone many questions about Dr. Don and the Chosen Few.
“My name is Derek Aslett,” he said. “Felicity Devonshire tells me you are attending the hearing tomorrow morning.”
“That’s correct.”
“Would you be good enough to testify to the facts you have just told me and to your experience with the Chosen Few?”
“I would be very happy to testify.”
“Please be at the court at a quarter to ten tomorrow morning, then. Do you have the address?”
“I do. May I have your phone and fax numbers?”
Aslett gave them to him. “I will find you in the public gallery.” They said goodbye and hung up.
“I’m going to get a shot at Dr. Don at the hearing,” Stone said to Dino.
“I’m going to enjoy watching that,” Dino replied.
“Would you call the director of the FBI and get his permission to show Dr. Don’s file to the prosecutor? I can fax it to him.”
“Sure.”
“We’ll have to leave here about seven o’clock in the morning,” Stone said, “because of the rush-hour traffic.”
“That’s okay. I’m accustomed to earlier hours than you.”
Dino called the director and got permission to use the file, and Stone faxed it to Derek Aslett.
31
Stone and Dino arrived at the court at 9:30 and were allowed into the courtroom. It didn’t have the paneling and atmosphere of the Old Bailey; it was more modern and plainer. They took a seat, and chatted idly for a few minutes as a few people wandered in and sat down. The prosecutor turned up shortly and introduced himself. “Thank you for the FBI file,” he said to Stone. “That has already been very helpful, as I was able to get a search warrant for Calhoun’s rooms.”