“It’s tantamount to treason,” shouted Buffrey. “She should hang—oh, sorry William.”
“And look at this Russian business,” Hood continued. “The Tsar flexing his military might against the East…”
“The sick man of Europe,” Buffrey interrupted. “That’s what the papers are calling Turkey. It’s getting terribly hot in here William.”
Hood shouted Buffrey down. “How do we know that civil unrest hasn’t erupted in Russia already? The Orthodox Church knows that the Russian White is within their grasp and is using it as a bargaining tool against the Tsar for a slice of the Holy Lands. Maybe Russia is already splitting apart because of it.”
The Chief grunted in exasperation. “That is useless speculation Hood. There is absolutely no evidence that this fight for the Holy Lands has flared up because of the diamond, quite the contrary. Turkey is weak, Constantinople is crumbling, and Russia sees the chance of opening the Straits of Constantinople to gain access to the Mediterranean. They are opportunists, nothing more.”
“But you can’t be sure of that Chief. We don’t know how important the diamond is to Orthodox Russians. How can we? The Russian White is a secret that is never spoken of, but always known.” Hood nudged William for clarification of this neat and acute observation. William smiled, and put down the fire tongs.
“What about that Russian?” The Chief barked. “The one in your hospital? What does he say?”
“He’s an ignorant peasant,” sighed Hood.
“You questioned him?”
“Of course.”
“What did he say then?”
“He didn’t speak English Chief.”
“Question him again.”
“I think this is the core of the problem.” William’s sudden statement silenced them, and he faced the room. “The Russians know nothing about the work that will be expected of them when they are shipped across to England.”
This idea had formed over several days. True, it was just another tactic to divert The Chief’s anger, but if this theory convinced, it might restore some of his tattered reputation.
“They contact a group, already established over here, and are given their orders when they arrive.” He had already discussed this with Hood, and felt confident of his support. “I’m convinced that they don’t know anything about the diamond until they land.”
Buffrey yawned. “Pesky Ruskies, bloody everywhere.”
William couldn’t decide if The Chief’s blank expression masked disbelief or fury.
“You’re saying,” The Chief chose his words with care. “That there’s a Russian organisation operating under our very noses, here in London, and that we don’t know anything about it?”
“Yes.”
The Chief shook his head. “Impossible. What proof do you have?”
William shrugged, “I don’t.”
“But it makes sense,” Hood countered. William silently thanked him.
“I think we’ve underestimated the Russians Chief.” Hood paced between the chairs. “We’ve played this game of cat and mouse for years. It was easy to catch a few stray Russians and question them. They told us nothing because they knew nothing. In fact, they may have been deliberately sent out to be caught. They were decoys, used to distract us from the real threat of a much larger organisation expanding right on our doorstep, which we’ve been too slow and too lazy to notice.”
The Chief looked grim. “Is this what you think too William?”
“Yes I do, because two of them found their way to Parklands.”
“Oh my goodness,” Buffrey sputtered. “They know where it is.”
The Chief’s frown deepened. “They followed you there?”
“No, they turned up looking for casual work during the summer, and my foreman took them on for six weeks.”
The Chief’s tone sharpened into accusation. “Didn’t you know they were there?”
“The estate covers many acres. I rely on the trust and integrity of my staff to run it efficiently. I don’t need to know every detail. And anyway, by the time I found out, they were gone.”
“Spying, I bet.” Buffrey’s red jowls wobbled.
The Chief persisted. “How did you find out?”
William rubbed his nose. He had prepared an answer for this question. “I was checking the monthly accounts when I noticed two men on the payroll called the Wolf Brothers. My Foreman informed me that they actually were brothers, foreign, the younger one a mute. The older one spoke passable English. They called themselves the Wolf Brothers because the staff had difficulty remembering their proper names. Good workers, but kept themselves apart. One morning they were gone. No notice, no explanation.”
“You can’t be sure that they were Russian,” The Chief cautioned.
“I would wager the Russian White they were,” gabbled Buffrey.
“Since their departure, I’ve instructed my Housekeeper and my Foreman to inform me of every new employee, however minor.”
“Shutting the stable door after the…”
Hood’s patience cracked. “Oh shut up Buffrey.”
“They were looking for the diamond, I’m sure of it.” William returned The Chief’s furrowed gaze with one of confident authority. “I can assure The Brotherhood that it was safe and secure at all times.”
“We should pass it amongst ourselves,” suggested Hood. “Throw them off the scent.”
“No!” The Chief’s harsh rebuttal cracked like a pistol shot.
“But…”
He flicked his hand to silence Hood. “Let William keep it—to trap them. Use it as bait.”
William’s anxiety evaporated. The Chief had spoken the words that he most wanted to hear. Now The Brotherhood would follow the plan that he had worked out, in secret, at Parklands.
“My thoughts too Chief,” he wished his voice didn’t flutter. “With The Brotherhood’s consent, I will keep it. This time I’ll be ready for them.” He thought he might burst with relief.
“Do you agree with this gentlemen?” The Chief glanced at Hood and then Buffrey, who nodded agreement in unison.
“If that is your wish.” Hood sat down with a sigh. “They appear so close to snatching it from under our noses. We have been fools not to have seen this sooner.”
“If what I have heard tonight is correct,” The Chief countered. “I am not convinced that some unknown Russian organisation is operating here in London without our knowledge. I need hard evidence. With war imminent, I will have few resources to spare. I will rely on you gentlemen, to supply me with information. And I need the assurance from you, from all three of you, that every piece of information acquired by any of you is passed on to us all. We are in this together.”
He picked up the diamond and rested it in his palm. “Maybe the Russian White does have some bearing on this crisis in the Holy Land. I refuse to believe it, but I am willing to accept the possibility. Gentlemen I need your absolute loyalty in this matter. Do I have it?”
They rose together, and murmured consent.
“Keep the diamond safe William.” He held it out for him to take.
William dried his sweaty hand on the sleeve of his jacket. His blood flowed like sweet honey through every vein in his body. He took the diamond, but it slipped from his fingers and hit the stone hearth.
It shattered with a loud crack, and splintered into a thousand pieces of sparkling glass.
Chapter Twenty One
The storm broke. Gregor pushed the barn doors shut. Rain leaked through the cracked tiles and dripped onto the cobbled floor. Lightning crossed and re-crossed the sky, flashing hard and blue. The horses whickered, alarmed by the thunder, as it smothered the clatter of falling rain with its shattering noise.