Part 51 (1/2)

'Black coffee, please,' he mumbled. 'A litre of it.'

'That chopper circling above us,' she said. 'It hasn't got any kind of markings. You should have waited further up the road.'

'Sorry. Could I have that coffee, please?'

Inside the helicopter the co-pilot held a powerful camera, aiming it down at the farmhouse. As the machine circled he took pictures from every angle. His tone was exultant when he spoke.

'Gene, we've just located the Brits' secret communications centre. I've gotten some great pictures.'

'That's great, Lou. What about the exact location?'

'I've marked that clearly on my detailed map of Romney Marsh. Guess we should get promotion for this.'

'What about those hedges surrounding the perimeter?'

'They're just hedges. I've got all we need.'

'OK, Lou. Then it's back to base. The pies and the map can be sent back to Was.h.i.+ngton. Guess they could go right up to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.'

44.

'Rene Lasalle is out,' Tweed said as he put down the phone in his bedroom at the Ritz. 'He left a message that he'd call as soon as he returns.'

'This is a lovely room,' Paula enthused, 'with a wonderful view out over the Place Vendome. It looks marvellous - especially as the day is so glorious.'

Tweed joined her, gazed at the famous column erected to Napoleon in the centre of the many-sided square. The superb architecture of the stone buildings enclosing the place had been cleaned. He had always thought this was the most magnificent square in the whole of Paris.'

'You'll never guess why Rene had to rush off,' he remarked.

'Tell me, then.'

'A bomb has exploded in a big department store. Quite a few casualties.'

'You mean the Americans are now turning their attentions to France? More work by the Executive Action Department?'

'No, I don't think so for a minute. The deputy of Rene's to whom I spoke said it's the work of Algerian extremists. The world is in a wild state.'

'So the Cold War is over and now we have an equally sinister Hot War? Worse, in a way, because it's so difficult to locate the fanatical killers.'

'I want to phone Monica later, maybe have a word with Howard. Meantime I feel like a full English breakfast. What about you?'

'I've got a void in my tummy. Full English will do me.'

Emerging from the lift at ground-floor level Newman, who had joined them, rubbed his hands in antic.i.p.ation. He looked around as they walked to the dining room.

'You know something? I've learned to enjoy luxury. I even think I've earned it - when I think of some of the hovels I tried to sleep in overseas as a foreign correspondent.'

'The pack has followed us,' Paula whispered to Tweed.

Running down the stairs, with surprising agility for so big a man, was Ed Osborne. At the same moment, as they approached the entrance to the restaurant, Rupert came out with Basil Windermere. As they reached the couple Rupert had paused. He bowed with mock courtesy to Paula.

'We've beaten you to it. Early bird catches the worm.' 'I've no intention of trying to catch you,' she replied tartly.

'One in the eye for you, Rupert,' Basil commented.

Rupert gave Paula a venomous look. As the two men strolled on Newman caught Tweed's arm to get him to pause. No one else was about and he could hear what the two men were saying.

'I'm off out to get something from my car,' Basil said.

'And I,' Rupert said in a loud voice, glancing over his shoulder, 'am going to get a shower. It's fun to have company in a shower,' he went on, staring at Paula. 'Maybe you'd consider joining me sometime soon.'

As they continued strolling away Paula flushed. She gritted her teeth. Had Rupert been close enough she'd have slapped his face. Newman took her arm, guided her into the restaurant, followed by Tweed.

with Howard. Meantime I feel like a full English breakfast. What about you?'

'I've got a void in my tummy. Full English will do me.'

Emerging from the lift at ground-floor level Newman, who had joined them, rubbed his hands in antic.i.p.ation. He looked around as they walked to the dining room.

'You know something? I've learned to enjoy luxury. I even think I've earned it - when I think of some of the hovels I tried to sleep in overseas as a foreign correspondent.'

'The pack has followed us,' Paula whispered to Tweed.

Running down the stairs, with surprising agility for so big a man, was Ed Osborne. At the same moment, as they approached the entrance to the restaurant, Rupert came.out with Basil Windermere. As they reached the couple Rupert had paused. He bowed with mock courtesy to Paula.

'We've beaten you to it. Early bird catches the worm.' 'I've no intention of trying to catch you,' she replied tartly.

'One in the eye for you, Rupert,' Basil commented.

Rupert gave Paula a venomous look. As the two men strolled on Newman caught Tweed's arm to get him to pause. No one else was about and he could hear what the two men were saying.

'I'm off out to get something from my car,' Basil said.

'And I,' Rupert said in a loud voice, glancing over his shoulder, 'am going to get a shower. It's fun to have company in a shower,' he went on, staring at Paula. 'Maybe you'd consider joining me sometime soon.'

As they continued strolling away Paula flushed. She gritted her teeth. Had Rupert been close enough she'd have slapped his face. Newman took her arm, guided her into the restaurant, followed by Tweed.

'No point in exchanging more insults with such trash,' he advised her. 'And surprise, surprise, look who is here.'

Sharon sat at a large table by herself, breaking a croissant between her elegant hands. She waved to them, an invitation to share her table. Tweed walked to her table, waited for Paula and Newman to join him.

'Paula, do sit by me,' Sharon suggested. 'Gentlemen, choose your seats.'

'I thought you were going to say choose your weapons,' Newman joked.

'Are you following me, Bob?' Sharon enquired as Newman sat down. 'If so, I take that as a great compliment. Or maybe, Tweed, you are the one who is pursuing me?'