This United State (23 page)

'You got trouble too, mate?'

'Engine's playing up. It would. I'm in a hurry.' 'That's when they always let you down.'

Still seated behind his wheel, Marler was watching the entrance to the Chatel flat and hoping no police car came along. He was parked illegally. Then he sat up straighter, stopped playing about with the engine. It took a lot to startle Marler, but startled he was. The door to the flat on the ground floor had opened and Tweed walked out a few paces. He turned round and Denise appeared. They chatted for only a moment, then they shook hands and Denise closed the door.

Marler slumped down behind the wheel. An unoccupied taxi came along. Tweed flagged it down after glancing round the square. Saying something to the driver he climbed inside, pulled the door shut behind him. The taxi moved off, vanished round a corner.

Marler started his engine, backed, waved to the truck driver who gave him a thumbs-up sign. Then Marler drove back to Park Crescent in heavy traffic. For once he felt dumbfounded. What on earth could Tweed have been up to? He couldn't think of any explanation. He decided to keep quiet about what he'd seen.

'Tweed's with Howard,' Monica told Marler as he entered the office at Park Crescent. 'I expect he's telling him about your trip to Basel with the others. I've got your ticket, of course.'

'Thanks. 'Fraid I have to ask you to change that. Book me on the earliest possible flight to Geneva tomorrow.'

'What's the idea?' asked Tweed, who had just returned and heard Marler's request.

'Presumably we have to pass through all the usual checks at Heathrow before we beard.'

'Actually, no.' Tweed was settled behind his desk now. 'I got in touch with Jim Corcoran, my old friend and Security Chief at Heathrow. We'll bypass Customs and Passport control so we get aboard the plane before anyone else.'

'But we'll still have to pass through the metal detectors,' Marler persisted.

'Yes, we do. Even Jim can't get us past that check.' 'So we'll arrive in Basel unarmed.'

'You have a point.'

'Which is why I'm flying to Geneva. I have a contact there who will supply me with an arsenal. For a price.'

'Then you travel the same day to Basel,' said Newman, who sat in one of the armchairs. 'By train - where there are no checks.'

'Got in one, chum,' Marler agreed.

'Don't forget my Browning automatic - and plenty of ammo,' said Paula.

'The lady will be equipped with her favourite weapon,' Marler promised.

'I should have thought of that myself,' Tweed admitted, but I have a lot on my mind. This evening I have dinner with Jefferson Morgenstern.'

'You'll tell him where we're going?' Newman teased. 'Of course not. Don't be so silly.'

Paula narrowed her eyes, then looked away. It was very rare for Tweed to have a flash of temper. Something must be putting him under immense pressure. Her mind flooded with doubts about him again.

'I was joking,' Newman said mildly.

'Sorry. I should have realized that,' Tweed said with feeling.

The phone rang. Monica answered, asked the caller to hold for a moment. She looked at Marler, her hand shutting off the mouthpiece.

'It's for you. Your girl friend, Denise Chatel.'

Tweed stood up, told Marler to take the call on his phone. As he picked it up, Marler noticed everyone else in the room was suddenly interested in what was going on outside the window, which amused him. Was this their idea of giving him privacy?

'Hello, Denise. Alec here. How is the desirable brunette?'

'All right. And thank you. I'm calling on my special line from my flat. Have you heard anything yet about Virginia?'

'Not yet. It may take a day or two. As soon as I have something you'll hear from me.'

'I'm afraid I won't. Which is why I'm phoning you. Sharon told me at lunchtime that we're flying to Basel in Switzerland today. Well be staying at a hotel called the Three Kings. I'll call you as soon as I get back — although I don't know when that will be.'

'Did she give any reason for this sudden decision?' 'Not even a hint. But she works like that. I have to go. Take care of yourself.'

'You do the same. And don't mention the Virginia business to anyone.'

'I promise.'

Tweed returned to his desk. Marler walked over to the wall near Paula, leant against it. He took his time about lighting up a king-size. No one asked why Denise had phoned but Tweed sat looking at him.

'Denise is going abroad today,' Marler eventually announced. 'With Sharon.'

'So I can forget my date,' Newman commented. 'They are both flying to Switzerland today,' Marler went on. 'Specifically, to Basel. They're staying at the Three Kings Hotel.'

'Which is where we'll be staying from tomorrow,' Tweed told everyone. 'Another coincidence? Probably. It is not only the oldest hotel in Basel, it's also the best.'

'So I may see Sharon.again soon,' Newman said more cheerfully.

'Bob.' Tweed smiled. 'I foresee great activity in Basel. You won't have to much time to pursue your personal affairs.'

'You couldn't care to spell that last word?' Newman joked back.

'I wouldn't like to embarrass you.' Tweed smiled again. 'In fact, the closer you get to Sharon the more pleased I'll be. She's a beautiful lady-- and men talk to lovely women. She may have heard something we need to know. If she has, sooner or later she may let something slip when you're together.'

The phone rang. After answering, Monica again looked at Marler.

'It's for you. Cord Dillon...'

Tweed again ushered Marler into his chair. He wandered over to the window, staring into the distance. Outside sleet was falling. Moving cars had their wipers going full blast.

'Marler here, Cord.'

'We may be on to something big, reaching right up to Washington. I found Jim Briscoe's phone number. Told him who I was, what my job was, omitting to say I don't hold the post any more. He'd had a few drinks, but his brain was ticking over. He's bitter as all hell. He has no doubt at all Chatel and his wife were murdered. A heavy truck or some other vehicle slammed them over the edge down into that gorge. He called in the FBI, wrote a report. Next thing he knows, he's been replaced by a new sheriff, retired on full pension. His report was shredded.'

'This is pretty sensational...'

'There's a bit more. A few weeks after his forced retirement Briscoe was drinking with a young deputy brought in at the same time as the new sheriff. The boy got talkative when Briscoe mentioned the Chatel case. His boss had told him the case was closed for ever — that if it was ever reopened someone back in Washington called Charlie would see they both disappeared for good. It stinks of a huge cover-up. Guess that's all I have to give you.'

'It's more than enough, Cord. I'm very grateful. You've been very quick.'

'You've got a job to do, damned well do it.'

The connection was broken without another word. Marler relaxed in Tweed's chair, recalled out aloud everything Dillon had said. As he went on, Tweed perched on the corner of his own desk, arms folded, his eyes fixed on Marler's. Eventually Marler spread both his hands.

'You've got the lot.'

'Charlie again,' Tweed said in a-quiet voice. 'I know you're doing your best, Monica, but at the earliest possible moment we must identify Charlie.'

17

Halfway through dinner in a magnificently furnished room, full of antiques, Jefferson Morgenstern brought up the subject. Earlier he and Tweed had had drinks in a smaller room and the American Secretary of State had chatted about their previous meeting in Washington.

Morgenstern was about five feet eight tall, in his fifties. He was clean-shaven with greying hair, plump cheeked, had a longish face and a prominent nose and wore rimless glasses. His personality radiated self- confidence without arrogance and he spoke at speed in a deep voice. His mind moved like quicksilver and Tweed considered him one of the most intelligent men he had ever met.

He had the reputation of liking the company of beautiful women, providing they were also intelligent. His expressions were mobile — sometimes grave and on other occasions amiable. He was known internationally as a man who could charm the birds out of the trees and his diplomatic skills were awesome. Despite his long sojourn in the States he was far more European than American. His energy was legendary.

'You know, Tweed,' he began, 'today the world is changing, and to survive we must change with it.'

'Jefferson, what sort of changes had you in mind?'

Tweed finished his fourth glass of wine and out of nowhere an attentive waiter appeared and refilled his glass, then vanished. On the wine front Tweed was keeping up with his host. He had an unusual metabolism. He would drink hardly anything for months, then, when the occasion required it, could consume a large quantity without it in any way affecting his brain.

'For one thing,' Morgenstern continued, 'I believe we have to considerably strengthen the special relationship between our two countries. In every field — economically, socially and politically '

'Why?'

'You haven't changed. You never hesitate to ask the leading question. Which is one of the many things I like about you. That and your global outlook.'

'So why?' Tweed repeated.

'From Washington's point of view — and the world's — we are the great superpower. Between us, I believe we have peaked. In the Pacific we face China. China is steadily building itself up into a monster.

'So why,' Tweed interjected, 'is your President supplying the Chinese with advanced technology which will help them to build up a vast war machine?'

'At times he runs away with himself. But what he has done also serves' the purpose of lulling the Chinese. Between us, we now have far more advanced technology in the missile fields than what we have given them. But China has a population of over a billion people. We have only approximately two hundred and sixty million. In a clash China could lose fifty million and think nothing of it. If that happens to the States it would be devastating.'

'I take your point...'

'When we look east we see Europe losing all its strength with their crazy idea of merging countries — nations, Tweed, all with different languages, histories, ways of life. Madness. History shows us the Austro- Hungarian Empire, also a hotch-potch of nations with different cultures, collapsed after the First World War. Yugoslavia, another mixture of nations who detested each other, was held together by Tito for a time. Tito dies. Yugoslavia, as a similar federation to the one proposed for Europe, collapses in a bloodbath. The Soviet Empire is another example of different nationalities which broke down into chaos. You see why Washington is so worried about Europe.'

'You've made a powerful case.'

The waiter appeared to fill their glasses. Morgenstern looked up, smiled.

'Thank you, but I will attend to the wine. We want to be alone. I'll press the bell when we need help.'

'I think you're leading up to something, Jefferson,' Tweed remarked.

'Then, beyond Europe, there are more menaces. Militant Islam is on the upsurge. Turkey, which could fall to Islam, will soon have a population of a hundred and fifty million. Germany, the largest nation in Europe, has eighty million. It only needs a brilliant Muslim general to do a Mohammed. To sweep across Europe. Based in an occupied Britain, their missiles could annihilate the East Coast of the States - while the Chinese did the same thing to our West Coast. You agree it is possible? This dessert isn't bad.'

'It's the best I've eaten in years,' Tweed said.

'Then Iran is building nuclear bombs, has ballistic missile systems. Allied to Turkey, with Iran's huge population, nothing could stand in their way.'

'They sound pretty worried in Washington,' Tweed observed.

'With good reason, as I'm explaining. Britain, for a thousand years the bulwark against tyranny from Europe, is enfeebled in a military sense.- It wasn't necessary. You have no army to speak of, a skeleton of an air force, a ghost of a navy. Yet not so long ago you were the main factor in destroying Hitler. How are the mighty fallen.'

'I find it difficult to argue against what you have said.'