Read Online Knightley and Son (9781619631540) by Rohan Gavin - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Rohan Gavin
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curious.
“The organization I was telling you about. They know I’ve woken up, and they’ve traced me here. And by their good fortune they’ve managed to stumble onto the single most important piece of evidence I have against them. Clearly they gained access to my son’s room in the past twelve hours, probably with the collusion of your own officers.”
“You’re accusing my men of being involved?” Draycott bristled.
“Unfortunately, the heinous fraternity I refer to draws its members from both crime and law enforcement. And that hard drive was our best chance of finding them.”
“And what exactly was on it?” asked Draycott.
“Only a detailed record of every case in my illustrious career, every crime scene, every clue, every lead to the location and membership of the Combination.” Knightley sighed heavily. “I must conclude that the Knowledge has already been passed up the ladder, or destroyed, and I’m left with nothing but . . .” He trailed off, looking at Darkus with a newfound intensity.
“Nothing but me,” said Darkus, finishing his sentence. He quickly followed his father’s logic without Knightley having to say a word. “I’ve got the Knowledge . . . up here.” Darkus pointed to his own head.
“It’s impossible, Doc,” Knightley barked, not wishing to accept the truth.
“I’m telling you, it’s all here,” Darkus repeated with complete conviction.
“If you think I’d utilize my own son—”
“If everything you’ve said is true,” said Darkus, “that’s exactly what you should do.”
“Damn it, Doc . . .” Knightley rubbed his head, racked with anxiety.
“Okay, show’s over, Alan,” Draycott announced. “You’re coming with me.”
Darkus grabbed his father’s arm. “If you don’t take me with you, I’ll be in more danger here. I’m a sitting duck,” he said gravely.
“This is insanity,” murmured Knightley.
“I couldn’t have chosen a better word myself,” said Draycott. “Now come along. You’re under arrest.”
“Wait a second,” Knightley said, examining Darkus closely. “If you’re so sure of yourself . . .” He paused, then launched into a carefully chosen line of questioning: “What was the prima facie evidence in the investigation of the Man with the Harelip?”
The entire group looked from Knightley to Darkus.
“The bloody paw print,” answered Darkus.
Everyone turned back to Knightley, whose eyes lit up wildly. “Where and when did I first encounter the Jade Dagger?”
Darkus wasn’t even aware he’d become the center of attention—his brain was too busy producing the answer with the speed of a well-oiled machine.
“December 2001,” he said without hesitation. “On a train bound for Didcot Parkway. The three forty.”
“Excellent. Excellent!” Knightley exclaimed, thrilled.
Draycott turned to Jackie, stroking his mustache. “This sort of rapport is common in kidnap cases. I believe we’re witnessing what’s known as—”
“Stockholm syndrome,” said Jackie warily.
“Yes, exactly,” Draycott said, clearing his throat.
“Or maybe it’s just father-son syndrome,” she said drily.
Fearing he might have been intellectually outmaneuvered, Draycott got back to what he knew best. “All right, Alan, come quietly.”
The officers manhandled Knightley back across the landing as he struggled to slow them down, turning to face Jackie. “Doc’s right. He’s not safe here,” he said flatly.
Jackie shrugged, helpless. “What do you want me to do?”
Inexplicably, Knightley stopped resisting for a moment and sniffed the air, then answered, “Nothing. He’ll be protected. It’s okay.” He relaxed and let the officers guide him as Jackie watched, mystified.
“What do you mean, it’s okay?!” she demanded.
Draycott escorted Knightley down the staircase. “I hereby arrest you on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle, child abduction, and public disorder—”
“That will not be necessary,
“The organization I was telling you about. They know I’ve woken up, and they’ve traced me here. And by their good fortune they’ve managed to stumble onto the single most important piece of evidence I have against them. Clearly they gained access to my son’s room in the past twelve hours, probably with the collusion of your own officers.”
“You’re accusing my men of being involved?” Draycott bristled.
“Unfortunately, the heinous fraternity I refer to draws its members from both crime and law enforcement. And that hard drive was our best chance of finding them.”
“And what exactly was on it?” asked Draycott.
“Only a detailed record of every case in my illustrious career, every crime scene, every clue, every lead to the location and membership of the Combination.” Knightley sighed heavily. “I must conclude that the Knowledge has already been passed up the ladder, or destroyed, and I’m left with nothing but . . .” He trailed off, looking at Darkus with a newfound intensity.
“Nothing but me,” said Darkus, finishing his sentence. He quickly followed his father’s logic without Knightley having to say a word. “I’ve got the Knowledge . . . up here.” Darkus pointed to his own head.
“It’s impossible, Doc,” Knightley barked, not wishing to accept the truth.
“I’m telling you, it’s all here,” Darkus repeated with complete conviction.
“If you think I’d utilize my own son—”
“If everything you’ve said is true,” said Darkus, “that’s exactly what you should do.”
“Damn it, Doc . . .” Knightley rubbed his head, racked with anxiety.
“Okay, show’s over, Alan,” Draycott announced. “You’re coming with me.”
Darkus grabbed his father’s arm. “If you don’t take me with you, I’ll be in more danger here. I’m a sitting duck,” he said gravely.
“This is insanity,” murmured Knightley.
“I couldn’t have chosen a better word myself,” said Draycott. “Now come along. You’re under arrest.”
“Wait a second,” Knightley said, examining Darkus closely. “If you’re so sure of yourself . . .” He paused, then launched into a carefully chosen line of questioning: “What was the prima facie evidence in the investigation of the Man with the Harelip?”
The entire group looked from Knightley to Darkus.
“The bloody paw print,” answered Darkus.
Everyone turned back to Knightley, whose eyes lit up wildly. “Where and when did I first encounter the Jade Dagger?”
Darkus wasn’t even aware he’d become the center of attention—his brain was too busy producing the answer with the speed of a well-oiled machine.
“December 2001,” he said without hesitation. “On a train bound for Didcot Parkway. The three forty.”
“Excellent. Excellent!” Knightley exclaimed, thrilled.
Draycott turned to Jackie, stroking his mustache. “This sort of rapport is common in kidnap cases. I believe we’re witnessing what’s known as—”
“Stockholm syndrome,” said Jackie warily.
“Yes, exactly,” Draycott said, clearing his throat.
“Or maybe it’s just father-son syndrome,” she said drily.
Fearing he might have been intellectually outmaneuvered, Draycott got back to what he knew best. “All right, Alan, come quietly.”
The officers manhandled Knightley back across the landing as he struggled to slow them down, turning to face Jackie. “Doc’s right. He’s not safe here,” he said flatly.
Jackie shrugged, helpless. “What do you want me to do?”
Inexplicably, Knightley stopped resisting for a moment and sniffed the air, then answered, “Nothing. He’ll be protected. It’s okay.” He relaxed and let the officers guide him as Jackie watched, mystified.
“What do you mean, it’s okay?!” she demanded.
Draycott escorted Knightley down the staircase. “I hereby arrest you on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle, child abduction, and public disorder—”
“That will not be necessary,
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