Chapter Thirty-Six
Stepping off the plane at Heathrow, Aster was happy with what she had achieved on the flight. Her sights were now firmly set on her quarry. He might think his position of power protected him, but he was about to find himself firmly on his arse.
Deep in thought, she left baggage reclaim and headed out into the arrival lounge, where she was immediately assaulted by two small boys dressed as medieval knights waving foam swords around and generally shouting her name in glee. Grabbing her nephews in a massive hug, she looked up to see Ari and Paddy running towards her as well. Behind them, Seb was waiting with Paddy’s children, who were both smaller in age and gentler in temperament. Aster briefly wondered where Hal was, and then she was engulfed in her sisters’ embraces.
Laughing, she eventually pushed them all off her and caught her breath.
‘Where’s Hal?’
‘On his way to Mumbai. Left an hour ago.’
‘We’ve been here forever,’ piped up Leo.
‘Forever,’ echoed little Hector and then wriggled in Seb’s arms to return to his mother. Paddy scooped Eleanor up and turned back to Aster.
‘He’s gone over to offer some advice regarding the security situation.’
Hal had been a soldier on active duty for several years out in the Middle East and had contacts in lots of strange places. It made sense for him to head out and Aster felt relieved that someone within the family was going out to help Nick. Clem would be away with the fabrics.
‘Aster, I’ve got a new sword. Look!’ Stabbing her in the calf, Leo and Will both mounted a full-scale assault until Aster roared at them as they ran off screaming in delight.
Eventually, Ari and Seb got everyone including Aster back under control and they headed home with Aster riding in Paddy’s car. Even if there had been room in Ari and Seb’s car, Paddy had barely let go of Aster’s hand since her arrival and Aster was happy to go with the flow until Paddy was finally reassured that her little sister was truly safe.
‘Are you heading back to Cornwall tomorrow?’
Paddy kept her eye on the road as they drove into London, but shook her head. ‘No, we’re heading up to Hiverton. Let the cousins play together for a bit. Michelle is running Kensey and I can take care of the admin from here. Plus I can run all the marketing for Hiverton from anywhere.’
‘Relax. I know you have it all under control. I wasn’t interrogating you.’
‘I know. I just. God, I don’t know. I just wanted to prove I’m pulling my weight.’
‘Paddy. Stop it. You worked your butt off to put food on the table. You have always been the peacemaker and the glue that has held us all together and even now you are turning the House of Hiverton into a global brand whilst bringing up two adorable little angels.’
‘But—’
‘No. Stop it! Hey, Eleanor!
‘Yes?’
‘I think there’s some chocolate mousse back at the house. Want some?’
‘Yay!’
‘And who’s the best Mummy in the world?’
‘Mummy!’ shouted Eleanor, and Alice gurgled in agreement.
Aster looked at Paddy.
‘There you go. You’re doing fine. And so am I. Take a left here, it’s quicker.’
Racing Ari home, the two sisters got there first to the delight of Eleanor and the dismay of Ari’s boys who pulled up five minutes later.
The following morning, Ari and Paddy finally left with all their entourage and Aster breathed a sigh of relief. Their fussing was overwhelming her and she had work to do. Having spoken to Ari about her findings, she warned her not to do anything, especially any online searches. She wanted nothing to tip him off but she felt as head of the family, Ari needed to know what they were up against.
Finally, as she watched them drive around the end of the street, she headed back indoors and fired up the computer. As she sat down, her phone pinged and she saw a text from Edward.
- Heading home tomorrow. Drinks?
Aster looked at the phone for a few minutes. Twenty-four hours. That would be enough time to get things in place.
- Come to mine. 10 AM.
Checking he agreed, she put her phone down and fired up her computers. She had a trap to set.
‘Shall we head out?’ said Edward, standing at the front door. Today he was dressed in an open neck polo shirt and a pair of chinos. Every inch the relaxed millionaire, gadding about town. For a second, Aster caught her breath, having forgotten the impact he had on her every time she saw him. He was just so solid. She laughed to herself, it was hardly a complimentary description.
‘Is everything okay?’
Aster chuckled and shook her head.
‘Everything is fine. Come inside, we have things to discuss.’
Aster walked through to the back of the house and waved at him to sit opposite her at the kitchen table. Edward raised an eyebrow, and then settled down on one of the chairs as Aster opened her laptop.
‘So, Edward, Duke of Peveril, owner of half of Mayfair, man about town, happy-go-lucky socialite, who exactly are you?’
Now Edward leant back in his chair, considering her challenging tone.
‘I am exactly who you have just said.’
‘Except you are a lot more than that, aren’t you? You are also someone that His Majesty’s Government turns to from time to time. According to your MI6 files, you are-’
Edwards eyes opened wide in alarm.
‘Aster. Don’t speak. You have to know any MI6 files are classified. You can’t possibly know what is or isn’t in them.’
‘So I don’t know about your time in Islamabad?’
‘I was a soldier. It is public knowledge that we were stationed out there.’
‘I’m talking about the following year.’
‘That’s classified. Hell, Aster, it’s probably treasonous. How the hell do you know about that?’
‘Like I said. I read the files.’
‘But how? Aster, that’s hacking. At the highest level!’
‘Please. MI6 need a complete overhaul of their security protocols.’
‘They are the tightest in the country.’
‘They were until six months ago. When they upgraded their automated air-con system and gave the tender to the cheapest bidder. And that cheapskate piggybacked onto MI6’s router but kept a standard password for their own router. All I had to do was hack that router and I had open access to the rest of the network.’
‘But you’ll have left a trail?’
‘As if.’
She sat back and smiled at him. How he reacted now would tell her all she need to know.
‘Mother of God!’ And then he burst into laughter. ‘You really are something special, aren’t you?’
She continued to watch him carefully as he wiped away a tear from his eye. ‘Aster, I swear, you are magnificent.’ He stood up and walked over to the sink and poured a glass of water for himself and one for Aster before sitting back down.
‘So, let’s have it. Why have you been investigating me?’
‘Because I wanted to see who you really were before I decide to work with you.’
‘Who I really am?’
‘Yes. You have two faces. The playboy dilettante and the Edward that I have met.’
Edward gazed at her. ‘And they’re different?’
‘You know they are. The side I see feels real. You are clever, resourceful, determined.’ She wanted to say that his presence made her feel safe. That she had a friend by her side. But she held back the words. ‘I can work with this person. The dilettante? I don’t know. So, which one is the real you?’
‘They both are. A bit. But the side you see is the side I am most of the time, but don’t get me wrong, I like a good party.’
‘So how did you start working on what I’m guessing are covert operations?’
‘I was approached back as a teenager. Could I cultivate a slightly unthreatening air?’
‘But you joined the army?’
He shrugged. ‘It’s what my sort do. Public school, degree, armed services or the city. I was drawn to the action of the army. After all, it’s not like I need a salary. I liked the idea of serving.’
Aster nodded along.
‘And what do you do for the government?’
‘It’s classified.’
‘I could look it up?’
He laughed again and shook his head. ‘You know when I leave here, I will draw their attention to a possible breach.’
‘Fair enough.’ She knew that would be his response. ‘And will you give them my name?’
‘Of course not. But you knew that already, didn’t you? You must know that I will never put you in harm’s way.’
He smiled at her and leant forwards, stretching out his hand, but Aster felt uncomfortable at the intensity of his stare. This was getting off topic and she had a deadline.
‘Okay. Let’s get to work.’
Edward leant back in his chair, withdrawing his hand as Aster got up and flicked the coffee machine on.
‘Work?’
‘I have an idea how we’re going to take down the Foreign Secretary.’
Edward shot to his feet.
‘Absolutely not. You are not to go near him.’
He glared at her as she opened the fridge and removed the milk, paying him little heed.
‘Besides,’ he said, quickly realising he had just gaffed, ‘why do you want to attack Anthony Jones?’
‘Spare me. Milk?’ Pouring some into his mug and leaving hers black, she returned to the table handing him his cup. ‘You and I both know that Jones is the brains behind the counterfeit fabrics and kidnapping.’
‘Did you find that out when you broke into the MI6 files?’
‘No. The penny dropped when he walked into the library in Mumbai and your demeanour instantly changed. You suddenly became someone harmless and inconsequential. It was an act and one that Jones completely accepted, meaning that’s how he always sees you. As I walked out of the room, I wondered again what you were doing on this business trip and it occurred to me that maybe you were there to spy on someone.’
Edward groaned. ‘You worked all that out that quickly?’ He waved his hand. ‘Of course you did. I shouldn’t be surprised. But Aster, he is much more dangerous than a simple counterfeiter.’
‘Oh, I know. I mean, I went and looked at what MI6 had on him. Incidentally, MI5 systems. Tight as a drum.’ She grinned as Edward groaned. ‘Please never let them know. They’ll never stop crowing.’
She sipped her coffee, then put the cup down. ‘Not my problem. Jones is and by the look of what I found on him, I’m not the only one who needs to stop him.’
Aster had read his file in increasing alarm. As Foreign Secretary, he had moved from being a seriously corrupt businessman and used his new position to feather his nest in the worst ways possible. He had links to people smuggling, arms trading, slavery. The list went on, but it was also clear that the evidence against him was sketchy at best, just a long list of coincidences and witness statements from people who subsequently turned up dead.
‘Aster, is there anything I can do or say to convince you to stay away from him?’
Tucking her hair behind her ear, she looked up at him and shook her head.
‘With or without you, I’m going after him.’
He sighed and then broke out into a huge smile.
‘Well, then. It looks like I’m on board. What do you have in mind?’
‘I understand he’s an art collector?’