Part 8 (2/2)

In a long, wordy speech, the Colonel had explained what steps had been taken to find the missing American. Over five hundred troops were still combing the countryside. Six suspected Viet Minh sympathizers had been arrested and questioned, but without results. Notices had been printed offering a substantial reward for the return of the American. These had been nailed to trees at the known places where bandits often entered Vietnam. An offer of a large reward to anyone who had any kind of information concerning the kidnapping would appear in the press tomorrow.

Lieutenant Hambley had listened with undisguised impatience. This young man caused the Colonel slight uneasiness. He was a little disconcerted that the Lieutenant returned his stare with one as hard and as unflinching as his own.

Finally, the Colonel paused and Hambley took the opportunity to make a speech which disconcerted the Colonel still further.

aWe donat know for certain,a Hambley said, athat Jaffe has been kidnapped. It seems to me there is something mysterious and sinister going on. Iall tell you why. We know Jaffe told Sam Wade he wanted to borrow his car to go to the airport with a girl, but the car was found miles from the airport and there was no girl, instead there was Jaffeas houseboy, and he was dead. Jaffe had a .45 revolver. Itas missing; so is his pa.s.sport. Before he disappeared, he drew all his money from the bank. Why did he do that? I wanted to talk to Haumas girlfriend, but as soon as your people had talked to her, she gets killed by a mysterious. .h.i.t-and-run driver. I wanted to talk to Dong Ham, the cook, but heas completely disappeared. See what I mean? Itas all mysterious and sinister.a The Colonel pushed back his chair. He said all these points raised by the Lieutenant would have his attention. Further inquiries would be made. A report would be submitted. The American Amba.s.sador could rest a.s.sured that no stone would be left unturned to find Jaffe.

The Colonel then got to his feet, indicating the meeting was ended. After hesitating, Hambley shook hands. Ile said he hoped to hear from the Colonel by tomorrow and left.

Colonel Khuc looked at Inspector NgocLinh with cold, angry eyes.

aYou still have no idea whether the American has been kidnapped or is in hiding?a he asked.

aNo, sir,a the Inspector admitted. aI am still trying to trace this girl who used to visit the American. She may be able to help us.a aThis Lieutenant is a troublemaker,a the Colonel said. aBe careful how you deal with him. Now go and find this woman.a When the Inspector had gone, the Colonel rang for Lam-Than.

aLieutenant Hambley will probably ask to visit Jaffeas villa tomorrow for another look around. He is suspicious,a the Colonel said. aIt is essential of course that he doesnat come across the hole in the wall.a Lam-Than permitted himself a smile.

aThree hours ago, sir,a he said, athe wall was repaired. It was done by my brother who is skilled in such matters, and can be trusted.a The Colonel grunted.

aNgocLinh hasnat found the woman yet,a he said. aHave you any ideas how we can trace her?a aIf there is anyone who knows who she is it is the owner of the Paradise Club. He knows all the women who consort with Americans,a Lam-Than said. aWe could arrest and question him.a aThe Inspector has already questioned him.a Lam-Thanas eyes lit up viciously.

aIf we had him here, no doubt we could persuade him to talk.a The Colonel hesitated, then reluctantly shook his head.

aThis man is well known to the Americans. It would be dangerous to arrest him a” yet. We must be careful. If we have to, then we will do so, but weall see if NgocLinh can find her first.a He stroked his flat nose. aAre you sure the American canat slip out of the country?a aEvery exit is being watched,a Lam-Than said.

The Colonel rubbed his bald head.

aHe is armed.a aOur men have been warned. He will be shot at sight.a aBut if the diamonds are found on him?a Lam-Than smiled.

aI will recover them,a he said.

chapter nine.

I.

Tint following morning Nhan caught the nine oaclock bus to Thudaumot. She had with her a basket containing a number of American magazines, three paperback novels and the morningas newspapers. These were carefully concealed under some groceries and vegetables she had bought before catching the bus.

She had pa.s.sed a worrying night. Carried away by Steveas plans, it was not until she was in bed and sufficiently relaxed to think seriously of her future with him that she began to realize the difficulties. The thing that worried her most was what would become of her mother, her uncle and her three brothers if she went to Hong Kong with Steve. They completely relied on her to provide the family income. She would have to talk to Steve about this. Unless he had some practical suggestion, she didnat see how she could leave them.

At least she had lost some of her terror. She had read the newspapers. The police seemed convinced that Steve had been kidnapped. There was no mention of the diamonds. She couldnat understand how Haum had been found in the ditch, but this she thought was very good for Steve. There was no question now of the police thinking he had killed Haum. She wondered about Steveas meeting with Blackie Lee. There were so many things to discuss with Steve. She was so impatient to be with him again!

Jaffe was also impatient to see her. He had been pacing the tiny room and continually looking at his watch. When he heard the bus coming, he went to the window and watched as it pulled up outside the lacquer factory.

There were very few people on the bus. He saw Nhan get off. She was wearing an electric-blue tunic over her white trousers, and no hat. The sight of her gave him a little jolt of sentiment.

When she came into the room, he held her close to him, gently touching her face with his lips while she relaxed against him, smiling, her eyes closed. She let him fondle her for some moments, then she reached up and kissed him. aI have brought the papers,a she said. They sat on the bed side by side, her head against his shoulder while he quickly scanned the badly set type.

It gave him an odd sinking feeling to see his name in print. The paper told him nothing he hadnat already learned from Blackie the previous night. As he expected, there was no mention of the diamonds. A quick look at the other paper confirmed this.

But unlike Nhan, he wasnat fooled by the police statement that he had been kidnapped by bandits and was probably dead. He was sure they were secretly searching for him, hoping to find him alive. They could not tell, of course, if he had been kidnapped or not, but he was quite sure that someone in authority knew about the diamonds and would continue to hunt for him until that someone had convincing proof he was dead and the diamonds out of reach.

aYou see,a Nhan said, ait is going to be all right. They donat know what happened to Haum. They donat know about the diamonds. They think you were kidnapped. Itas good, isnat it?a aYes, itas good,a he lied. There was no point in frightening her until he had to. He went on to tell her about his meeting with Blackie. aHe has agreed to let me take you with me,a he concluded. aIt could be fixed by the end of the week. Who knows? In ten days, possibly less, we could be in Hong Kong.a He saw her face cloud.

aWhatas the matter? You want to go to Hong Kong with me, donat you?a Yes, she wanted to go, she said, but she had others to think of beside herself. There were her mother, her uncle and her three brothers. There would be no real happiness for her if she deserted them and left them to look after themselves.

Jaffe put his arm around her.

aDonat worry about that,a he said. aIall fix it. Iall get a lawyer in Hong Kong to arrange an allowance for them. Once we get out of here, Iall be rich. You donat have to worry about them, kid. Iall fix it.a While they were talking, Lieutenant Hambley and Inspector NgocLinh were standing in the large sitting room of Jaffeas villa.

Hambley had gone all over the villa with a thoroughness that had made the Inspector uneasy.

aI knew there was more to it than kidnapping,a Hambley said, staring at the Inspector. aThis guy was running away. Iave checked with Pan Am. and Iave dug out the record of his luggage when he first arrived here. He had three suitcases. One is missing. His shaving kit is missing. When he left here he took all his money.a He pointed his finger at the Inspector. aJaffe was on the run. He never intended to come back here. Thatas why he borrowed Wadeas car. He hoped he could bluff his way out with C.D. plates.a This could be very awkward, the Inspector was thinking, if Hambley pursued this theory. He must convince this oversmart Lieutenant that his theory was wrong.

aI should like to speak frankly with you,a he said. aYou havenat been in Saigon very long, have you, Lieutenant?a Hambley stared at him.

aWhatas that got to do with it?a aIf I remember rightly, you came here two months ago. Two months is a very short time to get to understand the mentality and the methods of our enemy.a Hambley s.h.i.+fted. He had been aware ever since he had arrived in Saigon that he wasnat properly equipped for the job he had to do. It irritated him that he was unable to speak the language and had to work through interpreters all the time. He was continually finding the Vietnamese mentality utterly baffling.

aI donat get any of this,a he said aggressively. aWhat are you driving at?a aOn the other hand,a the Inspector went on, ignoring the interruption, awe have had years of experience with these bandits. We know the sole purpose of their activities against us is to create political trouble. Nothing could please them more than to upset the good relations between your country and mine or create an unsavoury incident that would have repercussions in the world press.

Hambley became aware it was very hot in the room and that he was sweating. He took out his handkerchief and mopped his puzzled face.

aAt the meeting last night,a the Inspector went on, ayou raised several interesting points that you said were both mysterious and sinister. You were right in saying they were mysterious, but wrong to say they were sinister.a aDonat you think itas sinister that the girl was killed as she left your headquarters and the cook has disappeared?a aThe cook hasnat disappeared,a the Inspector said gravely. aHe was found a few hours ago in the river.a Hambley started. aHeas dead?a aOh yes, heas dead.a aI suppose youare going to tell me he committed suicide?a Hambley said, his voice heavy with sarcasm. aWell, this makes it even more sinister. The houseboy, his girl and now the cook a” all dead. Each of them would have been able to have given me a lead. Itas d.a.m.n sinister!a The Inspector smiled patiently.

aIf I were in your place, Lieutenant, I would think the same thing, but with the information I have, it is not sinister at all. It would appear to be the most natural sequence of events imaginable.a Hambley drew in a deep breath. He felt his temper rising, but he controlled himself with an effort.

aLook, suppose we cut the cackle and get down to facts? If you know so much, letas hear what it is!a aThe key to this apparent mystery,a the Inspector said smoothly, ais that Haum, his girl and Dong Ham were agents of Viet Minh. Once you know that, the situation is neither mysterious nor sinister.a Hambley felt suddenly deflated and unsure of himself. To give himself time to think, he took out a pack of cigarettes and lit one.

aWhy didnat you say so at the meeting?a he demanded.

aMy dear Lieutenant, if I had known then I would naturally have said so, but it was only this morning that I learned of this.a aHow did you learn it?a aThere are many Viet Minh agents in Saigon. Every now and then some of them realize how much better life is here than in Hanoi. They become converts. It is through these converts we get some of our information. This particular informant was unwilling to give Haum, the girl and Dong Ham away while they were alive, but when he learned they were dead, he came to me and told me all had been active agents of the Viet Minh.a Hambley groaned to himself. He was sure he was getting tangled up in a web of lies, but all the same, he would now have to step warily. This fantastic story just could be true.

aBut what has all this to do with Jaffeas disappearance?a he asked. aYouare not going to tell me Jaffe was a Viet Minh agent too, are you? Because frankly, if you do, I wonat believe it.a The Inspector shook his head.

aOh no, Lieutenant, nothing as childish as that. Tell me, what do you know about Mr. Jaffe? He is a countryman of yours. He has lived in Saigon for three years. What sort of man would you say he is or perhaps it would be more correct to say what sort of man would you say he was?a Hambley had never met Jaffe to talk to. He had seen him a few times over a period of two months in various bars and nightclubs, but he had never taken enough interest in him to inquire about him. He realized with angry irritation that he knew absolutely nothing about ,Jaffe.

Watching him, the Inspector was pleased the way the conversation was going. This oversmart young man was being steadily pushed on the defensive. He wasnat nearly so sure of himself as he had been.

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