The revelation made him gasp。
The armored car driver。
With the fake Rolex。
Collet now understood why the banker had hung up so quickly。 Vernet had remembered the name Lieutenant Collet—the officer he blatantly lied to earlier tonight。
Collet pondered the implications of this bizarre development。 Vernet is involved。 Instinctively； he knew he should call Fache。 Emotionally； he knew this lucky break was going to be his moment to shine。
He immediately called Interpol and requested every shred of information they could find on the Depository Bank of Zurich and its president； André Vernet。
CHAPTER 80
〃Seat belts； please；〃 Teabing's pilot announced as the Hawker 731 descended into a gloomy morning drizzle。 〃We'll be landing in five minutes。〃
Teabing felt a joyous sense of homeing when he saw the misty hills of Kent spreading wide beneath the descending plane。 England was less than an hour from Paris； and yet a world away。 This morning； the damp； spring green of his homeland looked particularly weling。 My time in France is over。 I am returning to England victorious。 The keystone has been found。 The question remained； of course； as to where the keystone would ultimately lead。 Somewhere in the United Kingdom。 Where exactly； Teabing had no idea； but he was already tasting the glory。
As Langdon and Sophie looked on； Teabing got up and went to the far side of the cabin； then slid aside a wall panel to reveal a discreetly hidden wall safe。 He dialed in the bination； opened the safe； and extracted two passports。 〃Documentation for Rémy and myself。〃 He then removed a thick stack of fifty…pound notes。 〃And documentation for you two。〃
Sophie looked leery。 〃A bribe？〃
〃Creative diplomacy。 Executive airfields make certain allowances。 A British customs official will greet us at my hangar and ask to board the plane。 Rather than permitting him to e on； I'll tell him I'm traveling with a French celebrity who prefers that nobody knows she is in England—press considerations； you know—and I'll offer the official this generous tip as gratitude for his discretion。〃
Langdon looked amazed。 〃And the official will accept？〃
〃Not from anyone； they won't； but these people all know me。 I'm not an arms dealer； for heaven's sake。 I was knighted。〃 Teabing smiled。 〃Membership has its privileges。〃
Rémy approached up the aisle now； the Heckler Koch pistol cradled in his hand。 〃Sir； my agenda？〃
Teabing glanced at his servant。 〃I'm going to have you stay onboard with our guest until we return。 We can't very well drag him all over London with us。〃
Sophie looked wary。 〃Leigh； I was serious about the French police finding your plane before we return。〃
Teabing laughed。 〃Yes； imagine their surprise if they board and find Rémy。〃
Sophie looked surprised by his cavalier attitude。 〃Leigh； you transported a bound hostage across international borders。 This is serious。〃
〃So are my lawyers。〃 He scowled toward the monk in the rear of the plane。 〃That animal broke into my home and almost killed me。 That is a fact； and Rémy will corroborate。〃
〃But you tied him up and flew him to London！〃 Langdon said。
Teabing held up his right hand and feigned a courtroom oath。 〃Your honor； forgive an eccentric old knight his foolish prejudice for the British court system。 I realize I should have called the French authorities； but I'm a snob and do not trust those laissez…faire French to prosecute properly。 This man almost murdered me。 Yes； I made a rash decision forcing my manservant to help me bring him to England； but I was under great stress。 Mea culpa。 Mea culpa。〃
Langdon looked incredulous。 〃ing from you； Leigh； that just might fly。〃
〃Sir？〃 the pilot called back。 〃The tower just radioed。 They've got some kind of maintenance problem out near your hangar； and they're asking me to bring the plane directly to the terminal instead。〃
Teabing had been flying to Biggin Hill for over a decade； and this was a first。 〃Did they mention what the problem is？〃
〃The controller was vague。 Something about a gas leak at the pumping station？ They asked me to park in front of the terminal and keep everyone onboard until further notice。 Safety precaution。 We're not supposed to deplane until we get the all clear from airport authorities。〃
Teabing was skeptical。 Must be one hell of a gas leak。 The pumping station was a good half mile from his hangar。
Rémy also looked concerned。 〃Sir； this sounds highly irregular。〃
Teabing turned to Sophie and Langdon。 〃My friends； I have an unpleasant suspicion that we are about to be met by a weling mittee。〃
Langdon gave a bleak sigh。 〃I guess Fache still thinks I'm his man。〃
〃Either that；〃 Sophie said； 〃or he is too deep into this to admit his error。
Teabing was not listening。 Regardless of Fache's mind…set； action needed to be taken fast。 Don't lose sight of the ultimate goal。 The Grail。 We're so dose。 Below them； the landing gear descended with a clunk。
〃Leigh；〃 Langdon said； sounding deeply remorseful； 〃I should turn myself in and sort this out legally。 Leave you all out of it。〃
〃Oh； heavens； Robert！〃 Teabing waved it off。 〃Do you really think they're going to let the rest of us go？ I just transported you illegally。 Miss Neveu assisted in your escape from the Louvre； and we have a man tied up in the back of the plane。 Really now！ We're all in this together。〃
〃Maybe a different airport？〃 Sophie said。
Teabing shook his head。 〃If we pull up now； by the time we get clearance anywhere else； our weling party will include army tanks。〃
Sophie slumped。
Teabing sensed that if they were to have any chance of postponing confrontation with the British authorities long enough to find the Grail； bold action had to be taken。 〃Give me a minute；〃 he said； hobbling toward the cockpit。
〃What are you doing？〃 Langdon asked。
〃Sales meeting；〃 Teabing said； wondering how much it would cost him to persuade his pilot to perform one highly irregular maneuver。
CHAPTER 81
The Hawker is on final approach。
Simon Edwards—Executive Services Officer at Biggin Hill Airport—paced the control tower； squinting nervously at the rain…drenched runway。 He never appreciated being awoken early on a Saturday morning； but it was particularly distasteful that he had been called in to oversee the arrest of one of his most lucrative clients。 Sir Leigh Teabing paid Biggin Hill not only for a private hangar but a 〃per landing fee〃 for his frequent arrivals and departures。 Usually； the airfield had advance warning of his schedule and was able to follow a strict protocol for his arrival。 Teabing liked things just so。 The custom…built Jaguar stretch limousine that he kept in his hangar was to be fully gassed； polished； and the day's London Times laid out on the back seat。 A customs official was to be waiting for the plane at the hangar to expedite the mandatory documentation and luggage check。 Occasionally； customs agents accepted large tips from Teabing in exchange for turning a blind eye to the transport of harmless organics—mostly luxury foods—French escargots； a particularly ripe unprocessed Roquefort； certain fruits。 Many customs laws were absurd； anyway； and if Biggin Hill didn't acmodate its clients； certainly peting airfields would。 Teabing was provided with what he wanted here at Biggin Hill； and the employees reaped the benefits。
Edwards's nerves felt frayed now as he watched the jet ing in。 He wondered if Teabing's penchant for spreading the wealth had gotten him in trouble somehow； the French authorities seemed very intent on containing him。 Edwards had not yet been told what the charges were； but they were obviously serious。 At the French authorities' request； Kent police had ordered the Biggin Hill air traffic controller to radio the Hawker's pilot and order him directly to the terminal rather than to the client's hangar。 The pilot had agreed； apparently believing the far…fetched story of a gas leak。
Though the British police did not generally carry weapons； the gravity of the situation had brought out an armed response team。 Now； eight policemen with handguns stood just inside the terminal building； awaiting the moment when the plane's engines powered down。 The instant this happened； a runway attendant would place safety wedges under the tires so the plane could no longer move。 Then the police would step into view and hold the occupants at bay until the French police arrived to handle the situation。
The Hawker was low in the sky now； skimming the treetops to their right。 Simon Edwards went downstairs to watch the landing from tarmac level。 The Kent police were poised； just out of sight； and the maintenance man waited with his wedges。 Out on the runway； the Hawker's nose tipped up； and the tires touched down in a puff of smoke。 The plane settled in for deceleration； streaking from right to left in front of the terminal； its white hull glistening in the wet weather。 But rather than braking and turning into the terminal； the jet coasted calmly past the access lane and continued on toward Teabing's hangar in the distance。
All the police spun and stared at Edwards。 〃I thought you said the pilot agreed to e to the terminal！〃
Edwards was bewildered。 〃He did！〃
Seconds later； Edwards found himself wedged in a police car racing across the tarmac toward the distant hangar。 The convoy of police was still a good five hundred yards away as Teabing's Hawker taxied calmly into the private hangar and disappeared。 When the cars finally arrived and skidded to a stop outside the gaping hangar door； the police poured out； guns drawn。
Edwards jumped out too。
The noise was deafening。
The Hawker's engines were still roaring as the jet finished its usual rotation inside the hangar； positioning itself nose…out in preparation for later departure。 As the plane pleted its 180…degree turn and rolled toward the front of the hangar； Edwards could see the pilot's face； which understandably looked surprised and fearful to see the barricade of police cars。
The pilot brought the plane to a final stop； and powered down the engines。 The police streamed in； taking up positions around the jet。 Edwards joined the Kent chief inspector； who moved warily toward the hatch。 After several seconds； the fuselage door popped open。
Leigh Teabing appeared in the doorway as the plane's electronic stairs smoothly dropped down。 As he gazed out at the sea of weapons aimed at him； he propped himself on his crutches and scratched his head。 〃Simon； did I win the policemen's lottery while I was away？〃 He sounded more bewildered than concerned。
Simon Edwards stepped forward； swallowing the frog in his throat。 〃Good morning； sir。 I apologize for the confusion。 We've had a gas leak and your pilot said he was ing to the terminal。〃
〃Yes； yes； well； I told him to e here instead。 I'm late for an appointment。 I pay for this hangar； and this rubbish about avoiding a gas leak sounded overcautious。〃
〃I'm afraid your arrival has taken us a bit off guard； sir。〃
〃I know。 I'm off my schedule； I am。 Between you and me； the new medication gives me the tinkles。 Thought I'd e over for a tune…up。〃
The policemen all exchanged looks。 Edwards winced。 〃Very good； sir。〃
〃Sir；〃 the Kent chief inspector said； stepping forward。 〃I need to ask you to stay onboard for another half hour or so。〃
Teabing looked unamused as he hobbled down the stairs。 〃