The de Vere Deception (David Thorne Mysteries Book 1) (31 page)

            He called to the guard at the front gate to tell the supervisor to return and bring a tall stepladder.

            As he stood atop the ladder, he examined the wood trim where the wood panels butted against the beam. The trim wasn’t fastened, but was set in a slot and could easily be slipped out of position with a large screwdriver. Once the trim was removed, he found he could easily push the three-foot wide soffit panel upward, much the same as you would a lightweight acoustical tile found in modern office ceilings.

            “Bring me a torch and a larger ladder, and also a rope ladder.”

            The stepladder was replaced by the large ladder that provided access to the attic space. Once inside, he sprayed the beam of the flashlight on the ceiling cavity and the large timbers that radiated out, making up the structure of the semi-circle roof.

            He moved to his right to where he assumed the wall with the plaque would be. On the other side of the wall, at his feet, was another panel with a short rope fastened to it. The foot-long rope had a large knot tied on the end. His hand shook as he eased open the panel.

            He directed the light of the flashlight down into the cavity below and froze.

            The walls of the small cavity below were lined with shelves, and on the shelves were small wooden boxes and various-size stacks of dust-covered paper bound up with cords. He fastened a rope ladder to a large timber and climbed down into the dust-covered space. At the bottom, he turned his attention to what proved to be the back of the large bronze panel.

            On one side were three large hinges, and on the opposite side was a large iron bar and catch that operated much the same as the catch on a wood gate. He brushed away cobwebs and lifted the iron bar, separating the panel from its fixed position. Light from the outside flooded the cavity as he pushed the heavy panel outward.

            A group of guards and workmen stood before him, their mouths open, their eyes wide.

            “Well, gentlemen,” he said to those standing outside. “Our search is over.”

            Orders were passed to the men to cordon off the courtyard and place four guards in the area on a twenty-four hour basis. All passes and access to the castle, except for authorized staff members, were to be canceled until further notice.

            He spoke into his cell phone. “Gil, I think you will want to come over to the castle. We’ve found what we’ve been looking for.”

Chapter 76

Thorne and Bada sat at the conference table with six men and women in the Great Hall of the castle. The group meeting with Bada were close friends, consisting of professors, writers, and academics from Oxford interested in the controversy.

            There was little organization to the multiple sheaves of bound paper and twelve small boxes containing documents piled high on an adjoining table. At a cursory glance they appeared to include: castle construction sketches and records; business records of financial transactions—including bribes to Court administrators; and Moldar’s business and personal correspondence.  The bound records of de Vere had been removed from their wooden boxes and their significance was yet to be determined. The paper was brittle and faded with age, and in many cases the writing was almost illegible.

            Bada said, “Our first order of business is to catalog and organize the papers for our own purposes. Next, I think we need to consider the order of how we’re going to release the documents. Do we want to do it piecemeal ,or wait until we have translated,  cross-referenced, and cataloged the entire trove of documents?”

            Thorne’s mind wandered as the group discussed options. He had agreed to continue to assist Bada, but was beginning to wonder just how much he was needed now that the documents had been discovered, even though he still had a few weeks to run on his contract. Bada had brought in the academic types to evaluate and separate the documents into categories. Thorne had little skill—and even less interest—in the process.

            Thorne recognized Bada had not only severed his collaboration, but had also effectively taken Raskin, Blackstone, and Kirk-Halstrom out of the picture as active participants. He had returned their original investments, and made it known Bada, Limited would go it alone as the search continued for the documents in Kilshire Castle. While they weren’t to be involved in the search, this hadn’t diminished their interest in the de Vere controversy, and they made it known to Bada. After the documents had been found, Bada politely accepted their requests to be included in the list of journalists, scholars, and others who would be provided access to the documents after an appropriate time.

            During the organization and cataloging, Thorne was given full authority to direct activities in the castle relating to the security of the documents. He wished to leave for the States as soon as possible and was uncomfortable with the task, but felt an obligation to complete the job. He positioned several security guards in the Great Hall where the documents were spread out on long tables that filled the room. The documents, hundreds of them, were placed under glass panels. He gave specific instructions no documents were to be removed unless so directed by Bada or himself. Bada also furnished him with a list of persons acceptable to view the documents.

            In addition to choosing the select group of six he was meeting with in the Great Hall, Bada directed the storage building completed quickly, and made plans to bring in other friends and acquaintances—de Vere and Shakespearean scholars—to examine the portions of what could be de Vere’s writings. He was well aware there would be immediate disagreements on the validity of the claims that de Vere’s prose was the same as that of Shakespeare.

Chester Raskin and Lionel Kirk-Halstrom sat at breakfast in the dining room of the Commonwealth Club, one of the most exclusive gentlemen’s clubs in London. Raskin said, “I suppose you’ve heard they’ve discovered the documents in Kilshire Castle?” He looked at his watch. “Simon is late. I thought we made out to meet at nine.” Just then, Blackstone appeared in the doorway preceded by a doorman and ambled over and took a seat.

            “Good morning. I apologize for being late. I spent the night in Birmingham on business, and the traffic was atrocious.” A waiter appeared at his elbow and Blackstone ordered fried eggs and a rasher of bacon. When the waiter left, he turned to the two men and asked, “What was it you wished to speak to me about?”

            Raskin said, “I suppose you’ve heard they’ve discovered the documents in Kilshire Castle?”

            “Yes, I read about it in the
News-Journal
yesterday.”

            Kirk-Halstrom said, “Gilbert Bada has accepted our request to observe them. I understand they’ve been laid out in the Great Hall at the castle.”

            Blackstone said, “Yes, I contacted him when he publicly revealed they were conducting the search. He said he was considering allowing certain people to view the documents if they were discovered.”

            Kirk-Halstrom picked up a point of buttered toast and put a dab of marmalade on a corner. “Chester and I have spoken about driving up to the castle today. We think it would be a good idea for all three of us to attend the viewing together.”

            Raskin said, “I understand there have been additional documents found, but there’s been no word as to what they are. Lionel and I’ve been wondering what they may contain. While we’re sitting here wondering, they could well be in the process of releasing them to the public.”

Blackstone looked at both men. “What other documents do you think there could be?”

Kirk-Halstrom’s face was blank. Raskin shrugged and said, “There’s no way of telling until we see them. However, I think it’s very important we see them as soon as possible.”

Chapter 77

Raskin called Bada and asked if he, Blackstone, and Kirk-Halstrom could visit the castle that day for the purpose of examining the documents.

            Bada said, “Of course, Chester. I realize all of you have invested a lot of effort in finding them, and I think it would be appropriate for you come on over. David will meet you at the entrance and give you identification badges. We all wear them. It’s essential for security. I’m sure you understand.”

            The three men were struck by the large number of guards and other personnel on the grounds and at the entrance to the castle. A young man sat behind at the front desk set up in the foyer, with two armed guards flanking the door that led to the Great Hall. Thorne was standing behind him studying a computer screen before looking up to see Raskin, Blackstone, and Kirk-Halstrom enter.

            Thorne’s greeting was polite and business-like, but he did not extend his hand. The three men appeared uncomfortable and looked at the young man behind the desk instead of at Thorne.

            Thorne said, “I’ve spoken to Gil and your badges are ready. The procedure is you may examine the documents, but Gil has asked no notes or photographs be taken of the documents at this time. He said he would like to speak with you in the next few days and ask for your opinion about the documents.” They nodded their agreement, as they fastened their badges to their coats.

            Thorne pushed a button, and two guards appeared momentarily from behind the doors to the Great Hall. “Please take these gentlemen in to view the documents.”

            Inside the Great Hall, the guards were as numerous as the guests. There were a few people looking at the documents and knots of scholarly types gathered about the room speaking in low tones among themselves. The twenty-foot long green felt-covered tables were set up with space between them for two lines of observers. The documents were organized in groups, and a small number were visible under glass panels. A portion of the documents were temporarily obscured with the same green felt. A large index board with a layout and list showing each table and its contents was mounted on the wall at one end of the large room.

            The documents, some on parchment, some on yellowing plain paper of various sizes, were spread out over the entire length of the tables. The documents covered records of Moldar’s business ledgers, and a mixture of Moldar and de Vere family records, crests, personal letters and writings. The poems and plays relating to the controversy were obscured under the felt.

            Raskin, Blackstone, and Kirk-Halstrom studied the index, glanced about the room, and smiled greetings to acquaintances. They joined others flitting back and forth from the index board to the tables.

            After a cursory examination of the documents, the three men went to chairs near the fireplace. They were surprised to see Jacques Rainier sitting with two elderly men who appeared to be college professors. An older man sat outside the circle, listening to their conversation.

             One of the professors said timidly, “I say, they do appear authentic. After all, Mr. Bada is a reputable scholar.” The other snorted, “Pah! I’ve studied de Vere’s writings for years and find nothing new or anything to indicate these are different. They prove nothing.”

            Rainier’s face was drawn and he was uncharacteristically silent as he listened intently to their conversation.

            After a few minutes of back and forth between the professors, Raskin arose and said to the group in general, “Well, gentlemen, I have pressing business and will be going now. It was a pleasure to meet you and share your insights.” He turned to Kirk-Halstrom and said, “I’ll be seeing you and Jenny for dinner tonight then?”

            Kirk-Halstrom said, “Yes. Why don’t I walk out with you, Chet. I have something to ask you.”

            Blackstone acknowledged their departure and glanced in the direction of the still silent Rainier, before turning his attention back to the two elderly men. “Perhaps you could expand on your opinion about de Vere. It’s of interest to me”

            The older man who had been sitting outside the circle moved forward, taking a seat next to Blackstone and Rainier

Chapter 78

Ye Olde Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Inn and Publik House squatted behind a large sign on the Banbury Road three miles east of Stratford-upon-Avon. No one coming to Stratford-upon-Avon from London could miss it.

            The faux Tudor-style building housing the Inn and Pub could easily have been transported from Disneyland and dropped down on the road to Stratford. The façade was constructed of stucco and dark imitation-wood timbers made of foam. Its purpose was to create an ambience and attract—then fleece—visitors on their way to give homage to the Bard in Stratford.

            Inside the pub, the visitor walked through a sawdust-covered, stone-patterned, concrete floor. Posters from Shakespeare’s plays covered the walls, and comely young women dressed in Elizabethan uniforms sold kitsch plaster busts of Shakespeare behind the front counter.

            The Ye Olde R and G was a tourist trap of the first order where the visitor could buy his Guinness Ale, Yorkshire Pudding, Bubble and Squeak or Steak and Kidney Pie at twice the price he could just up the road in Stratford. A local wouldn’t be caught dead in the place, and that was the main reason the very recognizable Roger Linsdame agreed to meet there.

            He wove his way through the crowd of tourists, stopping at the bar to get a glass of beer before continuing to the rear of the pub, and opening a door leading to a private dining room. Inside the room, the shades were drawn, and he waited for his eyes to become accustomed to the dark. “All right,” he said gruffly to the man sitting at the far end of a long dining table, “I’m here. What is it you can tell me about Kilshire and de Vere that I don’t already know?”

            The man in the obvious disguise of a heavy overcoat, drooping felt hat, black wig, and dark glasses, sat behind a small table in a corner. He held a handkerchief over his mouth and affected a slight cough. “Forgive the handkerchief, but I have a slight cold.”