Part 8 (2/2)

'Why do you think the Prime Minister was a.s.sa.s.sinated?' Tweed asked suddenly.

Strangeways was sitting down. He froze. The liquid in his gla.s.s shook. Then he stood up, his expression grim.

'That was a nasty business.' He drank more whisky. 'But I'm detaining you.'

He accompanied Tweed into the forbidding hall, went over and opened the library door. Paula was immersed in her book. She looked up and smiled.

'I've really enjoyed the peace and quiet in here.' 'Rupert hasn't been bothering you, has he?'

'Heavens, no.'

She spoke over her shoulder as she carefully replaced the volume where she had found it. Strangeways watched her action with approval.

'You know something,' he told her, 'you're the first visitor who hasn't taken out a book and then left it on one of the couches. Tweed is leaving now...'

The three of them were walking across the hall when the front door was hurled open. Rupert entered, slapping his crop against his thigh. He stared hard at Tweed.

'Don't know you.'

'No, you don't,' Tweed replied abruptly.

'But I must say goodbye to the alluring Paula.'

'Go straight upstairs to your room,' Strangeways snapped.

'Your wish is my command.'

Rupert began running up a wide curving staircase to the left of the doorway Tweed and his father had just left. As he ran he twirled his riding crop in a way which reminded Paula of an American girl leading a parade before a sports match, manipulating her symbolic stick. He's athletic, she thought. Then Rupert threw the crop into the air, caught it with one hand as it fell behind his back. And quick reflexes, she said to herself.

'I'll give you a buzz,' he called down to Paula. 'We'll have dinner in London.'

She didn't reply, Strangeways tightened his mouth and then his son was gone. The doorway where Rupert had entered was still open. Paula thanked their host as they left and Tweed turned on the terrace.

'Enjoy your dinner with Morgenstern,' he said.

Strangeways said nothing, merely nodded before closing the door. At the bottom of the steps Tweed paused with Paula, glanced up at the right-hand turret before getting behind the wheel of his car.

'Someone is watching us.'

'I know. Mrs Belloc, seeing us off the premises. I'm glad we are going. Something creepy about that place.'

7.

Tweed had a shock when he arrived back at Park Crescent. He had found the Merc parked outside a tea shop in Parham. Newman had emerged immediately with Butler and Nield. Paula was secretly relieved to see Butler. During the drive back Tweed had told her he would explain what had happened with Strangeways when they got back. This made Paula resolve to say nothing about her encounter with Rupert for the moment.

It was dry and bitterly cold when Tweed parked his car and they entered the SIS building. George, who let them in, pointed to the waiting room.

'You'll never guess who is waiting to see you.' 'Then I won't try.'

Newman and Nield were heading up the stairs to Tweed's office when George called out to them, 'Marler has arrived. You'll find him up there.'

Butler paused. He made no attempt to follow the two men up to the first floor. He spoke tersely before heading for the door to the bas.e.m.e.nt. 'I have to visit the boffins. They're cooking up a new gadget for Marler.'

'Well, George, what is it?' Tweed asked when he was alone with Paula.

'And you'll never guess what he said to me. Chief Inspector Roy Buchanan has been waiting for almost an hour. He told me that if anyone at the Metropolitan Police asked if he was here I was to say I hadn't see him.'

'He used the phrase Metropolitan Police?' Tweed checked in a puzzled tone.

'His very words.'

'Sorry to keep you waiting so long, Roy,' Tweed apologized as he entered the waiting room with Paula. 'You didn't phone to let me know you were coming.'

'Deliberately. My office may be bugged.'

Paula was gazing at their visitor. Normally Buchanan's manner was sardonic, deceptively offhand. Now he looked like a man under pressure, his expression grim. She recalled the bizarre change in Strangeways' appearance, how the jokey amiability had been replaced by tension. He had struck her at Irongates as being taut as a guitar string under unbearable strain. What on earth was happening to these men?

'Roy,' said Tweed briskly, 'in my office there are Newman, Nield and Marler. And, of course, Monica. Would you sooner they didn't hear what you have to say?'

'I'd sooner they did. At least they are trustworthy ...'

When they were all settled in his office Monica suggested some coffee. Buchanan accepted the offer gratefully. Paula sensed that Monica had noticed the change in the Chief Inspector. Their guest normally lounged in his armchair. Now he was sitting bolt upright.

'Fire away, Roy,' Tweed invited.

'Something terrible is happening to this country,' Buchanan began. 'Like a monster octopus extending its tentacles round every key position. I've been told to lay off the Americans,' he said savagely.

'In what way?' Tweed enquired.

'For starters, no investigation of the outrage in Albemarle Street. No witnesses...'

'Oh, yes, there are!' Paula exploded. 'I'm a witness - that is, if Tweed agrees. But I can't reveal the ident.i.ty of the man they tried to kill.'

'I know it was Cord Dillon, ex-Deputy Director of the CIA,' the Chief Inspector replied. 'Tweed called me at home from his flat. I gather he's in hiding and there are no other witnesses.'

'The street was empty,' Paula went on vehemently. 'It was a freezing night. And it happened just after ten o'clock. No one was about - which isn't surprising.'

'Then,' Buchanan went on, 'I've been told to destroy my report on the Lincoln Continental incident, when Newman rammed it outside here. Again, lay off the Americans.'

'Who told you this?' Tweed asked.

'The Commissioner himself. Had me in his office this morning. Just the two of us. He was apologetic, defensive. The trouble is there's a strong rumour he's going to be replaced. And he's the best man in the country to hold down the job.'

'He was adamant?' Tweed suggested.

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