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“I think so. Apparently, Sir John Armitage got Sidney out of the country on diplomatic immunity, but Thorwood still wants blood.”
The Foreign Secretary grimaced. “Can’t blame him.”
“No, but we would have done a lot better to bury it quietly all the same. Pay damages, whatever. The girl wasn’t hurt, and the necklace was mainly of a sentimental value.”
“Did they get it back?”
“No.”
“So, a pretty good bloody mess all around?”
“Yes. But Thorwood’s daughter is better than they said in the newspapers. Not really hurt and not indecently attacked.”
“There’s not much point in telling me that now! The cat’s well and truly out of the bag.”
“That’s not the point,” Pitt began.
“There’s more?” the Foreign Secretary asked with disbelief.
“I think so. If it’s just that, why did Armitage get Sidney out of Washington, then let him get prosecuted here, over the theft of just a hundred pounds? He could have asked you to let it slip, maybe Sidney pays it back, and then throw him out. Thorwood couldn’t pursue the other matter because Sidney cannot be tried for the assault over here.”
The Foreign Secretary frowned. “I suppose Armitage must have thought of that.”
“If he didn’t, he shouldn’t hold the job he does!”
“You’re right. He’s still over here. Go and ask him. I’d like to know the answer myself. I’ll give him a call.”
* * *
—
“SPECIAL BRANCH?” ARMITAGE said with surprise when Pitt found him in a discreet meeting room half an hour later. They had met before, but only briefly. Armitage stood and indicated the other chair for Pitt to sit, then followed suit. “Drink?” he inquired. “Pot of tea? Something stronger?”
“No, thank you,” Pitt declined. “I won’t take up much of your time.”
Armitage smiled. It altered his face, making it lighter, easier. “I have half an hour.”
“So have I.” Pitt deliberately relaxed, as if this did not matter to him deeply. “So, I’ll come to the point. The case of Philip Sidney…”
“Of interest to you, or to Special Branch?” Armitage asked with surprise. Then the puzzlement vanished from his face. “Of course! Pitt! Young Daniel Pitt is presenting the defense case. Your son, I presume?” The inflection of his voice made the question something of a challenge.
Pitt had not intended to deny it, but he was caught slightly by surprise that Armitage should have made the connection so quickly. It suggested that it had been at the top of his mind. Interesting. “Yes,” he agreed with the faintest smile. “I see it concerns you also.” It was a statement, not a question, and Armitage could make of it what he wished.
Pitt was even more experienced at the game than Armitage was.
There was a flash of recognition in Armitage’s eyes. Was this going to be a battle?
“I haven’t spoken to Daniel about it.” Pitt took the next step immediately. “I am concerned to know why you prosecuted Sidney at all.”
“Ah!” Armitage let out his breath slowly. “I suppose I should have realized you would get to that, if you were on the case at all. Has Daniel told you why he’s defending Sidney?”
“No. Nor have I asked. I gather you know.”
“I…uh…” Armitage looked up, his expression serious and yet rueful, as if there was some faint humor in it. “I had no intention of telling you, but now I see that I have to. I don’t want Special Branch in it. No slight on your abilities. Rather the opposite. But the more delicately it is handled, the better.”
“But since I know enough to be aware that there’s a problem, you are going to tell me,” Pitt said.
“I see no alternative. You asked why we are prosecuting. The answer is simple. We cannot have Sidney free to continue what he is doing. He is not the innocent that he affects to be. Far from it. He is very skilled indeed. And he has killed at least one wretched young man who got in his way.”
