Still, that would not solve the problem; Percy would merely languish in prison...

Still, that would not solve the problem; Percy would merely languish in prison until such time as Grey was recovered enough to testify. No, he decided, Hal's response would more likely be to knock Grey over the head, bundle him into a sack, and have him smuggled aboard a merchantman bound for China, after which he would declare Grey lost at sea, and…
He discovered that he was laughing helplessly at the thought, tears coming to his eyes.
"Christ, Hal, I wish you would," he said aloud, and quite suddenly thought of Aberdeen, realizing for the first time just how desperately his brother loved him.