Death of Lord Percy by David Wilson

Author:David Wilson [Wilson, David]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Cozy Cat Press
Published: 2020-01-11T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINE

At two o’clock, the shed doors opened to reveal two men in white coats busy at a worktop inside. Looking intently through the binoculars, I instantly knew what they were doing.

I watched in disbelief. If anyone unauthorized saw this they would be immediately disposed of. Were Sir Clive Ponywood and his compatriot of the opinion that Jacques and Pierre had knowledge of this and ordered their killing? Did they think Lord Percy had seen this also? How long had they been producing heroin? What else could I deduce at the moment as it appeared so obvious? I passed the binoculars to Couture who was in complete agreement.

This is all we saw that day so at six o’clock we made our way up to the road where Bigsby was patiently waiting for us. I was unusually quiet on our return to Champs as I was still a little shocked from what I’d seen. Bigsby, bless his soul, must have realized this and, therefore, didn’t try to enter into conversation.

We’d eaten very little so we decided to have our meal before we discussed matters. Afterwards we settled ourselves in a private lounge so that we couldn’t be overheard. Bigsby was the first to speak.

“Well, James, give us the bad news. It must be something bad from your reaction.”

“There were two men wearing white coats, which I took to be chemists, preparing some substance on a large worktop. I’ve seen illustrations very similar to this in the London World Crime magazine. I’m absolutely convinced, without a shadow of a doubt, that these two white-coated men were processing morphine base which they would have acquired from another country. Couture was sure of this also.”

Bigsby interrupted. “What is morphine base, James, as I have never heard of it?”

“Opium is the dried latex which is acquired from the opium poppy. Just over ten per cent of this is made up of morphine which can be chemically processed to produce heroin. The opium poppy is grown in abundance in Turkey and Lebanon. If you had studied at Cambridge rather than spending all your lecture time at Oxford either on the shooting range or sports field you would have known that, my Lord.”

“And you’re sure they were processing it at Campan?”

“Very sure, Bigsby, because I saw the illustrations in that magazine I mentioned and also read about the processing method.”

After a little discussion, we decided that I’d go back to the cave again the following day on my own and keep watch. Bigsby dropped me off again on the road above. The scramble down was easier this time as I now knew what to expect in terms of obstacles. As I neared the cave, a snake slithered through the grass. I was a little worried until I saw it was a harmless grass snake, maybe searching for a meal of lizard in the undergrowth.

Everything was quiet at the Estate when I arrived at ten o’clock. I saw and heard nothing until the shed door was again opened at two o’clock, probably to allow a little air to circulate.

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