The Sins of the Father - By Jeffrey Archer Page 0,98

to your grave without knowing the details of Mitchell's latest report.'

Hugo made one last effort to speak. His lips moved, but no words came out.

'Emma has found Harry,' said Olga, 'and I know you'll be pleased to hear he's alive and well.' Hugo's eyes never left her as she leant even closer, until her lips were almost touching his ear. 'And he's on his way back to England to claim his rightful inheritance.'

It wasn't until Hugo's hand went limp that she added, 'Ah, but I forgot to tell you, I've also learnt how to lie like you.'

The Sins of the Father

The Bristol Evening Post and the Bristol Evening News ran different headlines on the first editions of their papers the following day.

SIR HUGO BARRINGTON

STABBED TO DEATH

was the banner headline in the Post, while the News preferred to lead with

UNKNOWN WOMAN THROWS HERSELF

IN FRONT OF LONDON EXPRESS

Only Detective Chief Inspector Blakemore, the head of the local CID, worked out the connection between the two.
Chapter 38
EMMA BARRINGTON

1942

38

'GOOD MORNING, MR GUINZBURG,' said Sefton Jelks as he rose from behind his desk. 'It is indeed an honour to meet the man who publishes Dorothy Parker and Graham Greene.'

Guinzburg gave a slight bow, before shaking hands with Jelks.

'And Miss Barrington,' said Jelks, turning to Emma. 'How nice to see you again. As I am no longer representing Mr Lloyd, I hope we can be friends.'

Emma frowned, and sat down without shaking Jelks's outstretched hand.

Once the three of them were settled, Jelks continued. 'Perhaps I might open this meeting by saying I thought it would be worthwhile for the three of us to get together and have a frank and open discussion, and see if it were possible to come up with a solution to our problem.'

'Your problem,' interjected Emma.

Mr Guinzburg pursed his lips, but said nothing.

'I am sure,' continued Jelks, focusing his attention on Guinzburg, 'that you will want to do what is best for all concerned.'

'And will that include Harry Clifton this time?' asked Emma.

Guinzburg turned to Emma and gave her a disapproving grimace.

'Yes, Miss Barrington,' said Jelks, 'any agreement we might reach would certainly include Mr Clifton.'

'Just as it did last time, Mr Jelks, when you walked away at the time he most needed you?'

'Emma,' said Guinzburg reproachfully.

'I should point out, Miss Barrington, that I was doing no more than carrying out my client's instructions. Mr and Mrs Bradshaw both assured me that the man I was representing was their son, and I had no reason to believe otherwise. And of course I did prevent Tom from being tried for - '

'And then you left Harry to fend for himself.'

'In my defence, Miss Barrington, when I finally discovered that Tom Bradshaw was in fact Harry Clifton, he begged me to keep my counsel, as he didn't want you to discover that he was still alive.'

'That's not Harry's version of what happened,' said Emma, who appeared to regret her words the moment she'd said them.

Guinzburg made no attempt to mask his displeasure. He looked like a man who realizes his trump card has been played too soon.

'I see,' said Jelks. 'From that little outburst, I must assume you have both read the earlier notebook?'

'Every word,' said Emma. 'So you can stop pretending you only did what was in Harry's best interests.'

'Emma,' said Guinzburg firmly, 'you must learn not to take things so personally, and try to consider the bigger picture.'

'Is that the one where a leading New York lawyer ends up in jail for falsifying evidence and perverting the course of justice?' said Emma, her eyes never leaving Jelks.

'I apologize, Mr Jelks,' said Guinzburg. 'My young friend gets quite carried away when it comes to - '

'You bet I do,' said Emma, now almost shouting, 'because I can tell you exactly what this man - ' she pointed at Jelks - 'would have done if Harry had been sent to the electric chair. He would have pulled the lever himself if he thought it would save his own skin.'

'That is outrageous,' said Jelks, jumping up from his seat. 'I had already prepared an appeal that would have left the jury in no doubt that the police had arrested the wrong man.'

'So you did know it was Harry all along,' said Emma, sitting back in her chair.

Jelks was momentarily stunned by Emma's rebuke. She took advantage of his silence.

'Let me tell you what's going to happen, Mr Jelks. When Viking publishes Harry's first notebook in the spring, not only will your reputation