Best Kept Secret

England’s stance, we had a clause inserted into last year’s budget, with the sole purpose of
making Martinez’s task more difficult. Last April, it became illegal for anyone to bring more than one thousand pounds in cash into the United Kingdom. And he’s recently discovered, to
his cost, that neither he nor his associates can cross any border in Europe without customs taking their luggage apart.’
    ‘But that still doesn’t explain what Sebastian is doing in Buenos Aires,’ said Harry.
    ‘We have reason to believe, Mr Clifton, that your son has been sucked into Martinez’s net,’ said Spencer. ‘We think he is going to be used by Don Pedro to smuggle the
last eight or nine million pounds into England. But we don’t know how or where.’
    ‘Then Sebastian must be in great danger?’ said Emma, staring directly at the cabinet secretary.
    ‘Yes and no,’ said Sir Alan. ‘As long as he doesn’t know the real reason Martinez wanted him to go to Argentina, not a hair on his head will be harmed. But if he were to
stumble on the truth while he’s in Buenos Aires, and by all accounts he’s bright and resourceful, we wouldn’t hesitate to move him into the safety of our embassy compound at a
moment’s notice.’
    ‘Why don’t you just do that as soon as he steps off the ship?’ asked Emma. ‘Our son is worth considerably more to us than ten million pounds of anybody’s
money,’ she added, looking to Harry for support.
    ‘Because that would alert Martinez to the fact that we know what he’s up to,’ said Spencer.
    ‘But there must be a risk that Seb could be sacrificed, like a pawn on a chessboard you have no control over.’
    ‘That won’t happen as long as he remains oblivious to what’s going on. We’re convinced that without your son’s help, Martinez can’t hope to move that amount
of money. Sebastian is our one chance of finding out how he intends to go about it.’
    ‘He’s seventeen,’ Emma said helplessly.
    ‘Not a lot younger than your husband was when he was arrested for murder, or Sir Giles when he won his MC.’
    ‘Those were completely different circumstances,’ insisted Emma.
    ‘Same enemy,’ said Sir Alan.
    ‘We know Seb would want to help in any way he could,’ said Harry, taking his wife’s hand, ‘but that’s not the point. The risks are far too great.’
    ‘You’re right, of course,’ said the cabinet secretary, ‘and if you tell us you want him taken into custody the moment he disembarks from the ship, I’ll give the
order immediately. But,’ he said before Emma could agree, ‘we have come up with a plan. However, it cannot succeed without your cooperation.’
    He waited for further protests, but his three guests remained silent.
    ‘The
South America
doesn’t arrive in Buenos Aires for another five days,’ continued Sir Alan. ‘If our plan is to succeed, we need to get a message to our
ambassador before it docks.’
    ‘Why don’t you just phone him?’ asked Giles.
    ‘I wish it was that easy. The international switchboard in Buenos Aires is manned by twelve women, every one of whom is in the pay of Martinez. The same thing applies to telegraphs. Their
job is to pick up any information that might be of interest to him, information about politicians, bankers, businessmen, even police operations, so he can then use it to his advantage and make
himself even more money. Just the mention of his name on a phone line would set alarm bells ringing, and his son Diego would be informed within minutes. In fact, there have been times when
we’ve been able to take advantage of the situation and feed Martinez with false information, but that’s too risky on this occasion.’
    ‘Sir Alan,’ said the assistant treasury secretary, ‘why don’t you tell Mr and Mrs Clifton what we have in mind, and let them make the decision.’

35
    H E WALKED INTO London Airport and headed straight for the
Crew Only
sign.
    ‘Good morning, Captain May,’ said the duty officer after he’d checked his passport. ‘Where are you flying today, sir?’
    ‘Buenos Aires.’
    ‘Have a good flight.’
    Once his bags had been checked, he passed through customs and headed straight for gate No. 11. Don’t stop, don’t look round, don’t draw attention to yourself, were the
instructions given by the anonymous man who was more used to dealing with spies than authors.
    The last forty-eight hours had been non-stop, after Emma had finally agreed, albeit reluctantly,