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There was a knock on the door. It was still going to be a little time before he didn't leap up and stand at the end of the bed and wait for the door to be opened.
"Can I take your luggage, sir?" asked the porter. "And will you need a taxi?"
"No, I'm only going to Argyll Street," Da
"Then I'll put your case in reception and you can pick it up later."
"Is there still a chemist shop on the way to Argyll Street?" Da
"No, it closed a couple of years ago. What do you need?"
"Just some razor blades and shaving cream."
"You'll be able to get those at Leith 's, a few doors down from where Johnson's used to be."
"Many thanks," said Da
Da
"Do you have a copy of The Times?"
"No, Sir Nicholas, but we could pick one up for you."
"Don't trouble yourself. I could do with the exercise."
"They'll have one at Menzies," said the receptionist. "Turn left as you go out of the hotel, about a hundred yards…" She paused. "But of course you know where Menzies is."
Da
"Am I far from Argyll Street?" he asked her.
"A couple of hundred yards. Turn right out of the shop, go past the Moncrieff Arms…"
Da
As he passed numbers 2, 4, 6, 8, his pace became slower and slower; number 10, and then he came to a halt outside 12. A brass plate on the wall that looked as if it had been polished that morning, and on ten thousand mornings before, displayed the faded imprint of Munro, Munro and Carmichael.
Da
Da
"Following the death of your partner," said a woman officer standing behind the counter, "I'm authorized to pass over all of Mr. Cartwright's personal belongings to you. But first I need to see some form of identification."
Beth opened her bag and pulled out her driving license.
"Thank you," said the officer, who checked the details carefully before passing it back. "If I read out the description of each item, Miss Wilson, perhaps you'd be kind enough to identify them." The officer opened a large cardboard box and removed a pair of designer jeans. "One pair of jeans, light blue," she said. When Beth saw the jagged tear where the knife had entered Da
Once Beth had signed her name she put all Da
"Good afternoon, Miss Wilson," he said. "My name is Ray Pascoe."
Beth smiled. "Da
"And I admired him," said Pascoe, "but that's not why I'm here. Allow me to carry that for you," he said, taking the box from her as they started to walk down the corridor. "I wanted to find out if you still intend to try to have the appeal verdict overturned."
"What's the point," said Beth, "now that Da
"Would that be your attitude if he was still alive?" asked Pascoe.
"No, of course it wouldn't," said Beth sharply. "I'd go on fighting to prove his i
When they reached the front gate Pascoe handed the box back to her and said, "I have a feeling Da
CHAPTER FORTY
"GOOD MORNING, MR. Munro," said Da
"And you, Sir Nicholas," Munro replied. "I trust you had a pleasant journey."
Nick had described Fraser Munro so well that Da
"I fear my latest letter may not have reached you in time," said Munro. "I would have telephoned, but of course…"
"That wasn't possible," said Da
"I fear it's not good news," said Munro, tapping his fingers on the desk-a habit Nick hadn't mentioned. "A writ has been issued against you"-Da
Get on with it, Da
"The writ claims that your father left the estate in Scotland and the house in London to your uncle and that you have no legal claim over either of them."
"But that's nonsense," said Da
"I entirely agree with you, and with your permission I will reply that we intend to defend the action vigorously." Da
"He's bluffing," said Da
"That was indeed my advice," continued Munro. "But if I recall your response at the time, Sir Nicholas"-he placed his half-moon spectacles back on the end of his nose and opened a file-"yes, here it is. Your exact words were, 'If those were my father's wishes, I will not go against them.' "
"That was how I felt at the time, Munro," said Da
"I agree with you," said Munro, unable to hide his surprise at his client's change of heart. "So can I suggest, Sir Nicholas, that we call his bluff?"
"And how would we go about that?"