Read Four Warned (Quick Reads 2014) for Free Online

out of the room, while the other remained a pace behind him. At the end of the corridor they stopped outside a door marked
‘Private’. The first guard opened the door and they entered another room which once again contained only one table, but this time it wasn’t covered in a velvet cloth. Behind it
sat a man who looked as if he’d been waiting for them. He didn’t invite Jeremy to sit, as there wasn’t another chair in the room.
    ‘My name is Granger,’ the man said without expression. ‘I’ve been the head of security at De Beers for the past fourteen years, and I used to be a detective inspector
with the Metropolitan Police. I can tell you there’s nothing I haven’t seen, and no story I haven’t heard before. So do not imagine even for one moment that you’re going to
get away with this, young man.’
    How quickly the fawning
sir
had been replaced by the demeaning
young man
, thought Jeremy.
    Granger paused to allow the full weight of his words to sink in. ‘First, I must ask if you are willing to help me with my inquiries, or whether you would prefer us to call in the police,
in which case you will be able to have a solicitor present.’
    ‘I have nothing to hide,’ said Jeremy haughtily, ‘so naturally I’m happy to help.’ Back on script.
    ‘In that case,’ said Granger, ‘perhaps you’d be kind enough to take off your shoes, jacket and trousers.’
    Jeremy kicked off his loafers, which Granger picked up and placed on the table. He then removed his jacket and handed it to Granger as if he was his valet. After taking off his trousers he stood
there, trying to look appalled at the treatment he was being subjected to.
    Granger spent some considerable time pulling out every pocket of Jeremy’s suit, then checking the lining and the seams. He failed to come up with anything other than a handkerchief. There
was no wallet, no credit card, nothing that could identify the suspect, which made him even more suspicious. Granger placed the suit back on the table. ‘Your tie?’ he said, still
sounding calm.
    Jeremy undid the knot, pulled off the old Etonian tie and put it on the table. Granger ran the palm of his right hand across the blue stripes, but again, nothing. ‘Your shirt.’
Jeremy undid the buttons slowly, then handed his shirt over. He stood there shivering in just his pants and socks.
    Granger checked the shirt, and for the first time the hint of a smile appeared on his lined face as he touched the collar. He pulled out two silver Tiffany collar stiffeners. Nice touch,
Arabella, thought Jeremy as Granger placed them on the table, unable to mask how annoyed he was. He handed the shirt back to Jeremy, who replaced the collar stiffeners before putting his shirt and
tie back on.
    ‘Your underpants, please.’
    Jeremy pulled down his pants and passed them across. Another check which he knew would reveal nothing. Granger handed them back and waited for him to pull them up before saying, ‘And
finally your socks.’
    Jeremy pulled off his socks and laid them out on the table. Granger was now looking a little less sure of himself, but he still checked them carefully before turning his attention to
Jeremy’s loafers. He spent some time tapping, pushing and even trying to pull them apart. But there was nothing to be found.
    To Jeremy’s surprise, he once again asked him to remove his shirt and tie. When he had done so, Granger came around from behind the table and stood directly in front of him. He raised both
his hands, and for a moment Jeremy thought the man was going to hit him. Instead, he pressed his fingers into Jeremy’s scalp and ruffled his hair the way his father used to do when he was a
child, but all he ended up with was greasy nails and a few stray hairs for his trouble.
    ‘Raise your arms,’ he barked. Jeremy held his arms high in the air, but Granger found nothing under his armpits. He then stood behind Jeremy. ‘Raise one leg,’ he ordered.
Jeremy raised his