A Prisoner Of Birth

significant than the weather.

***

'I've booked you on a BA business-class flight to Barcelona,' said Beth. 'You fly from Heathrow on Sunday evening, and you'll be staying at the Arts Hotel.' She handed her boss a folder which contained all the documents he would need for the trip, including the names of several recommended restaurants and a guide to the city. 'The conference opens at nine o'clock with a speech from the International President, Dick Sherwood. You'll be sitting on the platform along with the other seven VPs. The organizers have asked you to be in your place by eight forty- five.'

'How far away from the conference center is the hotel?' asked Mr. Thomas.

'It's just across the road,' said Beth. 'Is there anything else you need to know?'

'Just one thing,' Thomas replied. 'How would you like to join me for the trip?'

Beth was taken by surprise, something Thomas didn't manage that often, and admitted, 'I've always wanted to visit Barcelona.'

'Well, now's your chance,' said Thomas, giving her a warm smile.

'But would there be enough for me to do while I was there?' asked Beth.

'For a start, you could make sure I'm sitting in my place on time next Monday morning.' Beth didn't respond. 'I was rather hoping you might relax for a change,' added Thomas. 'We could go to the opera, take in the Thyssen Collection, study Picasso's early work, see Miro's birthplace, and they tell me that the food…'

You do realize that Mr. Thomas fancies you. Danny's words came flooding back, and caused Beth to smile. 'It's very kind of you, Mr. Thomas, but I think it might be wiser if I were to stay behind and make sure that everything runs smoothly while you're away.'

'Beth,' said Thomas, sitting back and folding his arms. 'You're a bright, beautiful young woman. Don't you think Danny would have wanted you to enjoy yourself occasionally? God knows you've earned it.'

'It's very thoughtful of you, Mr. Thomas, but I'm not quite ready to consider…'

'I understand,' said Thomas, 'of course I do. In any case, I'm quite content to wait until you're ready. Whatever it was that Danny possessed, I haven't yet calculated the premium that's required to insure against it.'

Beth laughed. 'He's like the opera, the art galleries and the finest wine all wrapped up in one,' she replied, 'and even then you won't have captured Danny Cartwright.'

'Well, I don't intend to give up,' said Thomas. 'Maybe I'll be able to tempt you next year, when the annual conference is in Rome and it will be my turn to be president.'

'Caravaggio,' sighed Beth.

'Caravaggio?' repeated Thomas, looking puzzled.

'Danny and I had planned to spend our honeymoon in Saint Tropez-that was until he was introduced to Caravaggio by his cellmate Nick Moncrieff. In fact, one of the last things Danny promised me before he died'-Beth could never get herself to utter the words committed suicide-'was that he would take me to Rome, so I could also meet Signor Caravaggio.'

'I don't have a chance, do I?' said Thomas.

Beth didn't reply.

***

Danny and Mr. Munro touched down at Geneva airport later that evening. Once they had cleared customs, Danny went in search of a taxi. The short journey into the city ended when the driver pulled up outside the Hotel Les Armeurs, situated in the old town near the cathedral-his personal recommendation.

Munro had called de Coubertin before leaving his office. The chairman of the bank had agreed to see them at ten o'clock the following morning. Danny was beginning to think that the old man was rather enjoying himself.

Over dinner, Mr. Munro-Danny didn't consider, even for a moment, calling him Fraser-took Sir Nicholas through the list of documents he anticipated would be required for their meeting in the morning.

'Are we missing anything?' asked Danny.

'Certainly not,' said Munro. 'That is, assuming you've remembered to bring the key.'

***

Hugo picked up the phone on his bedside table. 'Yes?'

'He took the overnight train to Edinburgh, and then traveled on to Dunbroath,' said a voice.

'In order to see Munro no doubt.'

'In his office at ten o'clock this morning.'

'Did he then return to London?'

'No, he and Munro left the office together, drove to the airport and caught a BA flight. They should have landed an hour ago.'

'Were you on the same flight?'

'No,' said the voice.

'Why not?' asked Hugo sharply.

'I didn't have my passport with me.'

Hugo put the phone down and looked across at his wife, who was fast asleep. He decided not to wake her.

CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN

DANNY LAY AWAKE, considering the precarious position he was in. Far from vanquishing his foes, he seemed only to have created new ones who were bent on bringing him to his knees.

He rose early, showered and dressed, and went down to the breakfast room to find Munro seated at a corner table, a pile of documents by his side. They spent the next forty minutes going over any questions Munro thought de Coubertin might ask. Danny stopped listening to his lawyer when a fellow guest entered the room and went straight to a table by the window that overlooked the cathedral. Another seat that he evidently assumed would be reserved for him.

'Should de Coubertin ask you that question, Sir Nicholas, how will you respond?' asked Munro.

'I think the world's leading stamp collector has decided to join us for breakfast,' whispered Danny.

'From that I assume your friend Mr. Gene Hunsacker is among us?'

'No less. I can't believe it's a coincidence that he's in Geneva at the same time as we are.'

'Certainly not,' said Munro. 'And he'll also be aware that your uncle is in Geneva.'

'What can I do about it?' asked Danny.

'Not a lot for the moment,' said Munro. 'Hunsacker will circle like a vulture until he discovers which of you has been anointed as the legitimate heir to the collection, and only then will he swoop.'

'He's a little overweight for a vulture,' suggested Danny, 'but I take your point. What do I tell him if he starts asking me questions?'

'You say nothing until after we've had our meeting with de Coubertin.'

'But Hunsacker was so helpful and friendly the last time we met, and it was obvious that he doesn't care for Hugo, and would prefer to deal with me.'

'Don't deceive yourself. Hunsacker will be happy to do business with whoever de Coubertin decides is the rightful heir to your grandfather's collection. He's probably already made your uncle an offer.' Munro rose from the table and left the dining room without even glancing in Hunsacker's direction. Danny followed him into the lobby.

'How long will it take for us to get to the Banque de Coubertin by taxi?' Munro asked the concierge.