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 remembered where he was meant to be at that time. Jessica would assume he’d let them down again. She would never believe anything could be more important than … He paid the taxi driver, dashed into the terminal, checked in, then headed straight for the business-class lounge, where he stepped into the only available phone booth, pressed a coin into the slot and dialed directory enquiries.
“This is the first call for passengers traveling to London Heathrow on the seven fifty-five British Airways flight, will you please make your way…”
“A restaurant in Washington called the Belvedere.” A few moments later she gave him the number. Seb dialed it immediately, only to find it was engaged. He decided to pick up his ticket and try again in a few minutes. Perhaps the plane would be delayed.
He ran back to the phone booth and dialed again. Still engaged.
“This is the final call for passengers traveling to London Heathrow on the seven fifty-five British Airways flight. Please…”
He pressed the coins back in and dialed the number, praying it wouldn’t still be busy. This time he was greeted by a ringing tone.
“Come on, pick it up, pick it up!” he shouted.
“Good evening, this is the Belvedere, how may I help you?”
“This is Sebastian Clifton, and I’m meant to be dining at your restaurant this evening with Samantha and Jessica Brewer.”
“Yes, sir, your party has arrived and are in the lounge waiting for you.”
“I need to speak to Jessica Brewer. Please tell her it’s urgent.”
“Certainly, sir, I’ll ask her to come to the phone.”