Chapter 39

Joyce narrates the morning after a late gathering at Ibrahim’s. Elizabeth had outlined her belief that Douglas faked his death, and MI5’s Sue Reardon listened without dismissing it, though she seemed troubled. Ibrahim remained withdrawn and declined to join further sleuthing, while Ron fetched a torch as the others prepared for a late-night walk.

Elizabeth led Joyce and Ron into the woods to a tree she and Douglas had previously discussed as a potential dead-letter drop. Inspecting a hollow with Ron’s torch, they found a sealed bag containing a letter addressed to Elizabeth, written in Douglas’s handwriting.

Douglas’s letter admits he stole the £20 million in diamonds and lays out two possibilities: he has either been killed or has escaped with the fortune. He states the diamonds are in locker 531 at Fairhaven station and indicates the key is in the bag. If the diamonds remain, he is dead; if they are gone, he is alive and en route to Antwerp to cash in. He also hints at contacting Elizabeth if he survives.

The next morning, Joyce photocopies the letter for the group, notes Elizabeth’s fatigue, and readies to travel. Elizabeth and Joyce plan to take the minibus to Fairhaven to test Douglas’s claim and determine his fate.