Page 18 of Traitors Gate

‘I’m the Lord Chamberlain’s driver. A job I’ve done for the last three holders of that office.’

‘But surely that doesn’t entitle you to write a letter on Buckingham Palace stationery.’

‘No, it doesn’t,’ admitted Harris. ‘But it was simple enough to remove a single sheet of paper, an envelope and a stamp from his secretary’s office, and later drop it into the night bag just before his mail was due to be collected.’

Miles accepted his explanation and moved on. ‘How come you know so much about me, when I’m fairly certain we’ve never met? We don’t exactly mix in the same circles.’

‘We have a mutual acquaintance,’ said Harris. ‘One Constable Danny Ives.’

‘Does he know you’re here?’ was Miles’s immediate reaction. His turn to look around the room.

‘Not a chance,’ said Harris. ‘If he did, he’d shop me without a second thought.’

‘Perhaps you’re old friends?’ Miles pressed.

‘He might like to think so,’ came back Harris. ‘Although we only meet twice a year when we’re left hanging around waiting for our masters, but that’s been more than enough time to find out all about you, while in return all I’ve let slipis which brand of tea Her Majesty prefers and the name of her latest corgi.’

‘Why should I believe a word you’re saying?’

‘Because you’d only have to make one phone call to my boss at the palace and I’d get the sack just months before I’m due to retire.’

‘I’ll bear that in mind,’ said Miles. ‘But I’m bound to ask, what could you possibly have to offer that I might consider is worth a million pounds?’

‘Danny suggested you’d do anything, short of murder, to bring down Chief Superintendent Warwick.’

‘Even if that were true,’ responded Miles, ‘a million is a large sum of money.’

‘What if I were to throw in Ross Hogan?’

‘He’s an accident waiting to happen. For him it can only be a matter of time before he shoots himself in the foot.’

‘Along with Commander Hawksby … making it a full house?’

‘He retires in just over a year, so he’ll no longer be able to cause me any trouble.’

‘When, I’m reliably informed,’ said Harris, ‘Warwick will take his place – which you could prevent.’

‘How?’

It was some time before Harris responded, aware that what he was about to propose would be met with incredulity. He took a sip of water before saying, ‘I can show you how to steal the Crown Jewels.’

Miles burst out laughing, stood up and was about to leave without another word, when Harris quickly added, ‘At least allow me to tell you how, with my knowledge and your financial backing, we could pull it off.’

Miles sat back down and listened to an idea Harris had been working on for the past three years. He didn’t make any notesbut occasionally interrupted to ask a question to which Harris always had an answer. When he’d finally finished outlining his audacious idea, Miles understood why he’d been chosen to finance it. This wasn’t a concept that could be shopped around town in the hope someone would eventually back it. Despite Miles having to admit it was a well-thought-out plan and might even succeed, he’d already made up his mind and didn’t leave Harris in any doubt how he felt about the whole idea.

‘The risk isn’t worth the reward,’ said Miles, dismissively waving a hand. ‘Not least because the Jewel House is more closely guarded than Fort Knox.’

‘Only for three hundred and sixty-four days a year,’ repeated Harris, not flinching.

‘And on the three hundred and sixty-fifth you expect them to meekly hand over the Crown Jewels?’ said Miles, not attempting to disguise his contempt for the whole idea.

‘They will if I’m there.’

‘Well, I’ll tell you one thing, Mr Harris. I won’t be, so you’ll have to look for someone else to finance your hare-brained scheme.’

‘I can’t risk telling anyone else,’ admitted Harris. ‘You were always going to be my first and last choice.’

‘Then you’ll have to learn to live off your pension,’ said Miles. ‘Because I can think of better ways of spending my money.’

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