Chapter 21
Every time Pryce saw a sign for an exit, he almost took it to head straight back to London. But he knew Bronsky would somehow know about Dame Felicity’s burial and would not be pleased if Pryce didn’t go.
Pryce couldn’t even use the excuse that the burial was restricted to a select few, as an announcement at the end of the service proclaimed all were welcome to attend.
He stopped just outside the open gate to Dame Felicity’s estate, his anxiety whirling in his chest like a tornado.
The loud honk of a car horn jerked him out of his stupor. A BMW was stopped right behind him, with two more vehicles slowing behind it.
He gave a little wave of apology, took a deep breath, then drove through the gate.
Stone’s phone rang again when he, Dino, and Lance were twenty minutes away from their destination.
“Am I on speaker?” Felicity asked.
Stone tapped the Speaker button. “You are now.”
“The man who was sitting next to you is named Gordon Pryce. And I was right. He’s one of our analysts.”
“Any reason to suspect he’s the one we’re looking for?” Lance asked.
“Given the information I’ve been able to gather so far, I highly doubt he’s the one behind everything. But he could be the mole providing info to the one who is.”
“Have your people put him in an interrogation room and make him talk,” Stone suggested. “My sense is that it won’t take long to break him.”
“Right now, we’re merely projecting the possibility of his guilt. We need more than that before we confront him.”
“So, the ball’s still in your court.”
“Actually, it’s still in yours, Stone,” Felicity said.
“Why mine?” Stone said.
“Carly has an idea.”
“Hi,” Carly said. “Not just me. Jillian helped.”
“Do tell,” Lance said.
Carly laid out her plan, then said, “You’ll have to really sell it, Stone. If he suspects you’re setting him up, he might disappear, and we won’t be able to get anything out of him.”
“Thanks for the confidence,” Stone said.
“Why are you thanking me?”
Stone forgot how literal she could be. “I meant I’ll do my best.”
“I know you will. What I don’t understand is why you thanked me.”
“I’ll explain it to you later,” Felicity said.
“But why can’t—” Felicity must have silently conveyed something to Carly, because instead of finishing her question, Carly said, “Fine.”
“Are you all still there?” Felicity asked.
“Yes, and starting to regret it,” Stone said.
Ignoring the comment, Felicity said, “Of course, the plan depends on Pryce showing up at the burial. If he doesn’t, then as Stone said, the ball will be in my court.”
“A solid plan,” Lance said. “Good work, Carly, Jillian.”
“Thank you,” Carly said. There was a muffled voice in the background. “Jillian also says thanks.”
“That’s it,” Felicity said. “Don’t have too much fun. It is my burial, after all. A few tears would be appropriate. And, Stone, don’t forget the camera.”
The small church on Felicity’s estate dated back to the mid-1700s and had been built for the exclusive use of the land’s owners. Beside it sat a small, well-tended graveyard, in which many previous residents and their families had been buried.
A fresh grave had been dug along the outer edge, over which hung Felicity’s coffin, and a tent had been erected above the area to protect mourners from whatever weather might greet them.
In Stone’s estimation, less than a quarter of those from the church service had made the two-hour trek south. According to Felicity, most were close friends and a few extended family members, which to her chagrin, including Lord Bernard.
Stone caught the portly lord glancing around the estate more than once, as if calculating its value and imagining it being transferred into his account.
As people moved into place around the grave site, Stone turned so that the camera could take in as many of them as possible. He didn’t see Pryce anywhere, however, which was a relief.
When it appeared that the ceremony was about to start, he joined Dino at the back of the crowd. Lance was in the front sitting next to James Hall, the acting head of MI6, in the only row of chairs. The prime minister had remained in London.
“Looks like I’m off the hook,” Stone whispered.
“What do you mean?” Dino asked.
“Our friend from the church didn’t show up.”
“You mean him?”
Stone looked at Dino, who jutted his chin across the graveyard toward the church, where Gordon Pryce stood.
The dreary afternoon and the man’s dark suit had helped him blend into the aged stone building.
“Who is Dino talking about?” Felicity said in Stone’s ear. “I can’t see anything.”
The camera’s view was blocked by the people in front of Stone, so he took a few steps to the side until he had a clear view of Pryce.
“That’s him,” Felicity said, excited. “I knew there was something off about him.”
At the grave, the priest began leading the gathered in a prayer.
“Stone,” Felicity said. “It’s up to you now. Don’t let him leave before you can set the trap.”