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"Your honor," said Hunsacker, "Sir Alexander Moncrieff died on December seventeenth 1998-three months before the stamp was issued. So one thing is for certain: that sure can't be his signature scrawled across Her Majesty."

BOOK FOUR. Revenge

CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE

REVENGE IS A dish best served cold.

Da

He now had the financial resources to pick them off slowly, one by one, and it was his intention that by the time he'd completed the task, all three of them would consider death a preferable option.

"Would you please fasten your seatbelt, sir, we'll be landing at Heathrow in a few minutes."

Da

Mr. Munro had explained to Nick over di

Munro had advised Sir Nicholas not to press charges, despite the fact that Da

Da

When coffee was served, Da

"Precisely as your grandfather envisaged," said Munro. "Although I have no doubt your uncle Hugo, with the help of Mr. Galbraith, would have found some ingenious way of wriggling out of that commitment."

Da

The plane touched down at Heathrow just after eleven. Da

He put Spencer Craig out of his mind when the aircraft came to a halt at its docking gate. He unbuckled his seatbelt and joined the other passengers standing in the aisle waiting for the door to swing open. This time there would be no policemen waiting outside for him.

After the case had come to its premature end, Hunsacker had slapped the judge on the back and offered him a cigar. Mr. Justice Sanderson was briefly lost for words, but he did manage a smile before politely refusing.

Da

"But I wouldn't have kept my pact with your grand-daddy," Hunsacker replied. "Now I've done something to repay his kindness and shrewd advice over so many years."

An hour later Gene took off for Texas in his private jet, accompanied by 173 leather-bound albums, which Da

As Da

If only he could turn the clock back…

If only they had gone up to the West End the following night…

If only they hadn't gone to that particular pub…

If only they had left by the front door…

If only…

The Heathrow Express pulled into Paddington station seventeen minutes later. Da

Although settling scores with the three Musketeers remained Da

The taxi drew up outside his house in The Boltons. For the first time Da

"This is going to be your lucky day," Da

"Hi, Nick."

Da

"He is my friend," said Da

Molly had already prepared an Irish stew for Nick, and as her portions were always too large, there was more than enough for both of them.

"So tell me everything," Da

"No a lot tae tell, Nick," said Big Al between mouthfuls. "Like you, they released me after I'd served half my sentence. Thank God they shipped me oot, otherwise I might 've been there fur the rest of ma life." He reluctantly put down his spoon and added with a smile, "An we know who wis responsible fur that."

"So what have you got pla

"Nothing at the moment, but ye did say tae come and see you wance I got oot. "He paused." I hoped ye'd let me stay fur a night."

"Stay as long as you like," said Da

"I'm not your housekeeper," said Molly sharply. "I'm your cleaner what occasionally cooks."