Royal Heist Part 14

"More. Can I offer you a gla.s.s of champagne?"

"No, thank you. Can we be overheard here?"

"No." Dulay bent down behind the desk and opened a small fridge that was hidden behind it. "Do you mind if I do?" He took out a half bottle of champagne, then replaced it with vodka. As he poured, his hands shook so much the gla.s.s rattled against the bottle. After the Frenchman gulped down his drink, he poured himself more vodka. "To . . . old times," he said softly. "Please, take a seat. Why are you here?"

"Possible business deal," de Jersey said.

"I am legitimate now, Philip. I have a good business and a good life here, and I don't want to lose it."

De Jersey s.h.i.+fted his weight. "You married?"

"Again? Yes, I am, we have three kids. We live in a wonderful old farmhouse on the outskirts of town, which we've spent years renovating. You?"

"I have my lady friends."

Dulay c.o.c.ked his head to one side. "Apart from the other business, you were in real estate when we first met."

"You have a good memory."

"Well, I am not likely to forget you." Dulay unscrewed the top of the vodka bottle again. "Please don't draw me into anything."

"I have never forced anyone into doing anything," de Jersey said.

Dulay opened a leather cigar box. De Jersey refused, watching Dulay's shaking hands pick up a long panatela, cut off the end, and light it. The blue haze of smoke circled his head like a halo.

"Have you ever seen the Koh-i-noor Diamond?" de Jersey asked.

"Yes."

"What do you know about it?"

"It's the biggest in the world."

De Jersey's hands indicated the size of the diamond. "When it arrived in England it weighed 186.1 carats and was set in a kind of armlet. It was recut in Prince Albert's time. At that point it went down in weight to 105.6 carats."

"I didn't know that," Dulay said quietly.

"You ever seen the Imperial State Crown? It contains over three thousand precious stones-sapphires and rubies that would make a joke out of your display windows. Costs almost twelve quid nowadays just to see them. I've been a frequent visitor over these past few weeks."

Dulay said nothing. When de Jersey stared at the man, he smiled weakly back. "It's a ma.s.sive operation, but I know it's possible."

"You're insane!" Dulay said hoa.r.s.ely.

"You would not be involved in the insane part, just the aftermath. Just think about having access to those stones. Surely it must excite you."

"It scares the living daylights out of me. Even to contemplate it is insanity. I won't get involved. Even at the so-called safe end. It took years of planning and dealing and living on a knife's edge to melt down that gold bullion and distribute it."

"Yes, and you were f.u.c.king brilliant. You designed some spectacular pieces in eighteen-carat gold-bracelets, necklaces, earrings, rings."

Dulay's brow poured with sweat.

"And you were never found out. Even with the larger items: hubcaps and other motor vehicle accessories. You're expert with gems, and cutting is your specialty."

Dulay nodded. He had spent many months in South Africa before they met, being taught by the old De Beers masters.

"I look around, Paul, and see that you are doing very well." De Jersey gestured expansively. "With all that gold and your knowledge of diamonds, you produced some of the finest exhibitions in Europe, and now this chic little shop right next to the Ritz. Great location. I congratulate you."

"Thank you. But it's taken hard work, Philip. My name-"

"Your name. Yes. For the last fifteen years your name has been synonymous with cla.s.s and beauty. Your work is featured in Vogue and Elle; your jewels are worn by the rich and famous. See? I have followed your career with interest, my friend."

"I've opened a Paris shop, in the Avenue des Beaux-Arts."

"Close to Chanel, YSL, Christian Dior, and Cartier. Very good position again. Is it doing well?"

"The usual teething problems."

De Jersey plucked at the crease in his trouser leg. "Any way you look at it, though, Paul, the gold bullion, used sparingly over the years, has made all of this possible."

"I am legitimate now, Philip. I want to stay that way."

"But you weren't always so straight. You laundered tons of gold bullion for me," de Jersey said.

"It aged me ten years. If I got involved in this jewel heist, it would kill me."

De Jersey collected his thoughts. "If it aged you then, you're looking good now. Must be the great lifestyle."

"I don't need any more, Philip. I'm looking to retire in a few years. I've got responsibilities."

"Understood. No hard feelings." De Jersey stood abruptly and offered Dulay his hand. "I protected you. You would have nothing if the Colonel hadn't taken care of you. You never had to live life looking over your shoulder because there was never so much as a hint of your involvement in the bullion robbery. That is what the Colonel promised you. That was his deal."

"Philip, I have always appreciated it. I mean, I would do anything within reason, but what you are asking is-"

"Just a possibility at the moment," de Jersey interrupted. "Until I have more details. But, as in the old days, I like to be prepared, and you were top of my list. You weren't the only fence for the gold bullion. And you are not the only craftsman I'd trust with gems of this size and value, but as we had a good relations.h.i.+p, I came to you first, to give you this chance."

"Thank you. It goes without saying you can trust me."

"I always have."

"Good. No hard feelings, then?"

"No hard feelings."

Dulay crossed to buzz open the security lock on the side door.

"Do you have a workroom here?"

"Yes, at the back. Would you like to look around it?"

"I think I would, thank you."

Feeling less pressure, Dulay was quite animated as he led de Jersey down a narrow corridor into a large back room. There were two steel vaults, which held all of the gems, and at the rear was a small kiln for melting down gold, silver, and platinum. A white-coated lapidary was hard at work at a long trestle table on which equipment for cutting the stones was laid out. He was shaping a magnificent pink diamond.

"This is my pride and joy. It's a piece that's been commissioned by Prince Rainier." Dulay crossed to the table. "The tiara had been in their family for generations, but the band was bent and the stones loose, so we're resetting and replacing a few missing ones." He held up the work in progress. "It's a beautiful piece but intricate work. The filigree between the stones is so old and fine it's very easily broken off. To match the design and make it st.u.r.dier is not as easy as it sounds. I'm making platinum bars first, then coating them in eighteen-carat gold so it'll have more strength and durability. The fire in the diamond is astounding."

De Jersey bent over the table. "Never ceases to amaze me that a man with such big hands can do such fiddly work."

Dulay nudged him in an overfamiliar way. "You know what they say about big hands?"

De Jersey laughed. "But earlier you were shaking badly. Shaping these tiny stones into settings must take a steady hand."

Dulay blushed. "I admit I was nervous to see you again."

De Jersey looked at his watch. "I'd better go. You can call me on this number, should you change your mind."

"Thank you. You must come to dinner and meet my family," he said.

"Another time perhaps."

Dulay watched Simmons on the surveillance camera monitors. He saw him exit the building, then pause a moment to glance at the window. Then Simmons suddenly looked up, virtually into the eye of the camera.

"Who was that?" the shop a.s.sistant inquired.

"Just a buyer," said Dulay, unnerved. "Wanted a birthday gift for his wife."

"What did he buy?"

"Nothing."

"Will he be coming back?"

"No." He hoped to G.o.d it was true.

The bank manager laid a thick file in front of de Jersey. "A deposit was made recently from a U.S. bank account for one point five million dollars." He uncapped his fountain pen. "The transaction was cleared two days ago."

De Jersey studied the doc.u.ments. This was the money from the sale of the lease of Moreno's apartment.

"I will need to make a substantial withdrawal," he said.

"No problem. We can have the money transferred within the hour."

De Jersey looked up. "Now, I'd like the details of my discretionary trust."

The manager turned to the relevant pages, and de Jersey was stunned to see that the balance of the offsh.o.r.e account in the Caymans stood at only a few hundred pounds. He flicked back through the pages, checking the transactions as the truth dawned on him. David Lyons had abused his position as a named trustee in the discretionary trust to withdraw nearly every penny from the account. All de Jersey had left was the money he had taken from Alex Moreno.

"That seems to be in order," he said without emotion as he stood up and shook the bank manager's hand. "Thank you very much."

De Jersey tilted up his head, and jets of ice-cold water from the shower pummeled his face. He was angry that he had so misjudged David Lyons, angry that he had not retained more control over his finances. He made himself focus on Dulay. He had presumed that a man with such a pa.s.sion for the profession could not resist the lure of the Koh-i-noor Diamond. But Dulay had turned him down. Wilc.o.x and Driscoll had turned him down too.

De Jersey dried himself, then lay down on the bed. His whole fortune was gone. Worst of all, he was unable to do anything about it. But he refused to allow himself to dwell on such disastrous events. He closed his eyes. He adored Christina and his daughters. He loved his life and his champion, Royal Flush.

He opened his eyes to stare at the ceiling. "All or nothing," he whispered. That was what made him different from the others. He would take the risk, with or without them.

The extensive gardens were lined with olive trees; they forged avenues bordered with thick clumps of lavender. Tall, pointed conifers like slim sentries towered above the old stone walls. The vine-covered terraces were winter bare. Dulay parked his Jeep outside his villa and hurried inside. The kids were playing in the sprawling back garden. His wife, Vibekka, was gardening, wearing old jeans and a sweater.

"Hi, you're home early," she said, stretching her arms wide for a hug. Her silky black hair was twisted into a thick braid down her back. Even at forty she had a taut body and was naturally beautiful without a trace of makeup. "I've had a really lazy day. The kids and I just hung out here all afternoon. Then when it rained we watched TV." She was six inches taller than her husband and hooked her arm around his square, solid shoulders. "We have that big party tonight," she reminded him. "You want me to fix you a sandwich or something?"

"No, I need a shower. I'll eat later. Do we have to go?"

"A lot of your customers will be there, and it'll be good for business." She ruffled his hair.

"Don't do that."

"You're in a nasty mood."

Dulay walked to the house, stepping over the steel straps of the pool cover. All he could think of was Philip Simmons. Your past always catches up with you, no matter how many years go by, he thought.

After dinner Christina and de Jersey had decided to have a quick flutter at the tables. They didn't do well, so they returned to the hotel. The following morning de Jersey could muster little enthusiasm for shopping and returned to the hotel alone. By the time they met for lunch, Christina was carrying several boxes and two suit carriers.

"Did you enjoy yourself?" he asked, smiling.

"I met a girlfriend I haven't seen for years, not since I was a model, and she lives here. We're invited to a big charity function this evening," she told him. "So I decided to buy something new to wear."

"I thought we might go to Longchamp," he said. "I want to meet up with a breeder who's been recommended to me and see his yard."

"We can go another day," she said. "Vibekka's lovely, and she's very high up in society here. All the Monaco Royals will be at the ball."

"In that case we'll go to the stables another day," he said, feeling frustrated; he did not have the time for frivolous charity events.

"It's just that we haven't seen each other in so long, and besides, I'd like to meet Vibekka's husband. She said I could borrow some jewelry from her as I've brought so little with me, and since her husband is Paul Dulay, I'll have quite a choice."

The waiter interrupted them to take their order, and de Jersey went on automatic pilot, hardly aware of what he ordered.

"So it'll be a stuffy dinner-jacket evening?" he asked eventually.

"Yes, darling, but Vibekka is so looking forward to meeting you. They have three children, they've converted a farmhouse, and they have a huge yacht in the harbor. Maybe we should think about it for summer."

De Jersey's mind was turning somersaults; this was a potentially dangerous situation.

On returning to their suite, Christina promptly called Vibekka. De Jersey watched her, almost girlish with excitement as she discussed her evening attire and arranged to meet up later at Vibekka's husband's shop. Afterward she unwrapped her purchases, showing de Jersey a sleek emerald green silk dress, and another in ice blue chiffon with a tight bodice and multilayered skirt.

De Jersey said quietly, "It's warm in here. I think I'll take a shower."

When he returned, he lay down on the bed. "My head hurts," he murmured.

Christina walked over to him. "You should never order oysters out of season. I'm always telling you this. Let me feel your head."

She laid a hand across his brow. He was hot-he had showered in almost boiling water. "Darling, I think you have a temperature."