Chapter 16

“Please sit down, Mr. Vandenburg.”

Arthur lowered himself into the chair and faced Detective Jones at his desk.

“How can I help you?”

“Did you know Matt Stevens?”

“Yes, he performed confidential tasks for me.”

“What kind of tasks?”

“Matters requiring discretion.”

“What does that mean?”

“The types of things private investigators do.”

“According to our records check, Mr. Stevens did not have a PI license.”

“Of course not. Someone flashing a Private Eye badge cannot achieve the discreet results I require.”

“Can you give me more details?”

Vandenburg was completely apologetic, but he could not reveal confidential matters at this time. Jones, nodding politely, played along with the game. They both knew what Stevens did for Arthur, but the detective did not have one scrap of usable evidence. All he had were phone records of calls between the two men. The only thing he could prove was that a relationship existed. For now, that was all he could get out of Vandenburg.

But it was a big step. Simply inviting the aristocrat to the police station was a message in itself. You are on our radar now. We’ll be watching.

Arthur was not unduly worried. So far, the police only knew that a relationship existed. If matters went further, he had expensive lawyers who could handle the police. Vandenburg also had other contacts high up in the local bureaucracy who could use their influence, if needed. But the process was too early in the game for those steps. He would wait and see what developed next.

Regretfully, the robbery scheme had to go on hold. Arthur had just been in the process of finding Steven’s replacement, but sighing inwardly, he understood the need to stop for now. After six months or so, he could start up again in a cautious fashion. He made a mental note to notify his colleagues of the unplanned delay. To be safe, he would do so verbally.

The detective watched the high-born figure leave the station in his expensive vehicle. It was, of course, driven by someone else. It seemed they had a man for everything, he thought bitterly. Driving, robbing, safecracking, killing, whatever. Any skill could be bought.

On the other hand, Jones considered this a successful day. The link between Stevens and Vandenburg was formally acknowledged. Now, he just had to build on it and flesh out the details.