Hour Game

"No, we're having dinner at Harry's home." He sat forward. "Michelle, they made a mistake, a small one, but it was enough. Using a little surveillance device I bought in D.C., I have all the proof I need."

"Does Todd or Bailey know about this?"

"No, just us. I'll never approve of what Harry and Remmy did, but I thought they deserved to have this handled as discreetly and with as much dignity as possible."

"When?" she asked.

"Tomorrow night at seven. Harry's out of town until tomorrow afternoon. It'll just be the four of us there. Once they realize we know the truth and have the evidence, I have no doubt they'll confess and come with us very quietly. Then we'll turn them over to Todd."

"I have a bad feeling about this, Sean. A really bad feeling."

"Do you think I like it? Harry was a Virginia Supreme Court justice; he's been a good friend of mine for years."

"I know, but-"

"However much you like Harry, you have to put that aside. Bobby Battle was an awful person in many ways. I also learned that he probably was suffering from a chronic disease he may have transmitted to Remmy."

"Oh, my God!"

"But regardless," King continued, "he didn't deserve to be murdered." He looked at her and said quietly, "There, I've told you all I know." A pause, then, "Are you with me on this, Michelle?"

"I'm with you," she answered quietly.

CHAPTER 86

KING HAD ASKED HARRY TO give Calpurnia the night off so he could make dinner for the four of them.

"You've got quite a kitchen, Harry," said King as he and Michelle put the meal on the table. "I appreciate your letting me come early to get things done."

Harry looked at the elaborately prepared meal. "Really, Sean, I have to think I made out far better than you on the arrangement."

Harry was dressed in one of his finest suits, though it seemed a little snug over his frame. "My weight hasn't changed in forty years, but its location has," he'd explained in a mock depressed tone.

"Yes, indeed," said Remmy, who was also dressed very handsomely. She and Harry sat side by side across from Sean and Michelle in the large dining room.

"I just trust that your drive home will be far less eventful than it was the last time you dined with me."

"Actually, I think this evening may hold its own unique points of interest," said King vaguely as he started serving the food. Michelle meanwhile looked on with a distracted expression.

"Michelle, my dear, what's wrong?" said Harry.

She glanced up at him quickly. "Nothing, just not feeling all that great. Probably just a spring bug."

The meal went uneventfully. They ate dessert and then moved on to the library for coffee. The night had turned chilly and the fire was warming. King went over to an enormous wood-and-stamped-tin room divider that sat diagonally against one corner.

"This is a beautiful piece," he said.

"Eighteenth century," answered Harry. "It was handmade from materials right here on the property."

King stood in front of the fire. He glanced nervously at Michelle and then said, "I'm afraid I've been a little deceitful tonight."

Harry and Remmy stopped chatting and looked up in surprise.

Remmy said, "What?"

"The purpose of this dinner wasn't really social."

Harry set down his coffee and glanced at Remmy and then at Michelle, who kept her head down and her hand buried in the pocket of her jacket. "I don't understand, Sean. Do you mean you want to talk about the case some more?"

"No, I don't really need to talk about the case any more. I think I know all I need to know."

The two continued to glance curiously at him.

Michelle finally blurted out, "Sean, just tell them."

Harry said, "Tell us what?"

The hand in which Remmy was holding her cup and saucer started to shake.

They all turned as the man in the black hood came into the room, his gun out and its red laser aimed dead on Harry's heart.

King immediately stepped between black hood and Harry.

"This stops now," King said quietly. "No more killing."

"Get out of my way or you'll die first!"

Remmy rose. The pistol swiveled in her direction. "Sit down!" said the man sharply.

King took a step forward but stopped when the pistol came in his direction once more. "Michelle," said black hood, "take your gun out and put it on the table. Now! No heroics," he added.

She did so, gripping it by the muzzle.

"You can't kill us all, can you?" said King.

"I'm thinking about it, I really am," shot back the man as he eyed Remmy.

"Well, then I guess it's time to clear up your misperception," said King calmly. "Remmy and Harry had nothing to do with Bobby's death. It was a setup. A setup to bring you in." He paused and added, "I found the bug."

The gunman took a step back, his pistol dropped a notch. "What?"

"The conversation you heard between Michelle and me was staged. Okay!"

He snapped his fingers, and the room instantly filled with heavily armed police and FBI agents. They came out from behind the enormous room divider, the large cabinet in the corner and behind the thick drapes. With a dozen guns to his one, black hood backed up against the wall.