This United State (32 page)

'We've still a lot to do,' warned Tweed. 'We have to see Beck before we leave. Paula phoned the Spiegelhof - Basel police HQ, just across the road. Beck is waiting until we arrive. Now, Marler, I'm listening.'

There was complete quiet in the room as Marler recalled every word Denise had said to him. Tweed sat back in his chair, his eyes half-dosed as he absorbed the information. Marler waved a hand when he had finished.

'Interesting that Charlie will be aboard that barge. And now we have even more to tell Beck,' Tweed remarked. 'You get on rather well with Denise, don't you, Marler?'

'She's a nice lady.'

Something in the way he'd said the words made Paula glance across at Marler. Was he falling for Denise? Then she also wondered about Newman - who seemed so enthusiastic about Sharon. Newman spoke just after the thoughts had passed through her mind. He addressed Marler.

'Could you repeat Denise's description of the man she heard called Vernon?'

'First, she called him very tall and thin. Later she referred to him simply as the thin man.'

'And she said his name was Vernon. I think we're encountering at a distance - which is safest - Vernon Kolkowski. He was the man in the Zürcher Kredit Kent described as accompanying Jake Ronstadt. We'd better watch out for him - I told you I saw his mug shot when I was in New York. He's already killed several times and got away with his murders.'

'Time to go and see Beck,' Tweed said briskly, standing up. 'I will take Bob with me. Paula, I've made a note of the train time you gave me, the one to St Ursanne, while Marler was out talking to Denise. Scribble those details dawn on a bit of paper and give it to Marler.' He looked round the room at Butler and Nield. 'You go with Paula and Marler so you're at the Hauptbahnhof in good time. It's a weird set-up - you go to the section known as the French station. Make sure you have your passports. Bob and I will get there as soon as we can - we have a lot to discuss with Beck, including that meeting on board that barge. The tram stop is near where we had the episode with the Umbrella Men. A No 1 or a No 8 will get you there.'

With his coat on Tweed paused at the door. He looked back at Marler.

'You called Denise Chatel a nice lady. You'd all better get it through your heads we can trust no one. No one at all.'

Jake Ronstadt, in his suite at the Euler, made a phone call to another room standing up. Ronstadt had always disliked sitting down - it made him restless. Ever since he was a kid in Hoboken, not the best district in New York, he liked to keep moving. When his number was answered he was cautious. Wouldn't do to have someone listening in to what he was going to say.

'That you, Leo?'

'Operator!' he snarled suddenly. 'Something wrong with this goddamn line.'

He waited for a reply. Nothing. The line was clear, safe.

'Leo, you have started sending down men in relays to watch the Three Kings Hotel?'

'Sure, boss. Got a man on duty now. Just about to drive down myself and take his place.'

'This is a smart mob we're watching. Would they spot the guy there now - or you?'

'No way. We're dressed as Swiss. We pretend to be waiting for a tram. There's a stop close to the hotel. Don't matter that we don't get aboard one. Looks like we're waiting for another one going to a different destination.'

'Sounds like you've got it tied up,' Ronstadt agreed reluctantly. 'Get on down there. You've all got mobiles.

You see any of them, report back to me instanter. I gave you a description of Paula Grey and Tweed. You have pics of Newman from the reference library back in London. Get off the line.
Move!
'

24

Paula boarded the tram for the station first, followed by Nield and Butler. Butler chose a seat by himself, as though they didn't know each other, and Nield followed suit. The tram was made up of three green cars, joined to each other. It was only about a quarter full.

Marler was the last to mount the steps. He was checking the other passengers who had been waiting at the stop. They all seemed to be local Swiss, wearing heavy winter clothes. Ahead of him a moon-faced man made his way to the very back of the car. Marler decided to join Paula.,

'What I can't understand,' she said as he settled beside her, 'is why Tweed thought it necessary to give the train details to you. I've got them.'

'He was being clever. When we get to the station you can buy tickets for yourself and Nield. I'll buy them for Butler and myself - in case any of the opposition are watching the Hauptbahnhof. Don't forget it's very close to the Euler.'

'Of course. I must be half asleep. I must get my wits about me.'

`You'll be all right if we run into a spot of trouble.' 'What's in that holdall on your shoulder?'

'A flask of coffee sticking out, oranges and other food. In case we have to picnic.'

'Heaven forbid. In this weather.'

Earlier Paula had stared straight ahead. Marler knew why - they had been passing the scene of the massacre of the Umbrella Men. The tram swayed round corners, climbing all the time. Basel, Paula remembered, sloped down from the station until it reached the Rhine.

They stopped briefly at Bankverein. Looking out of the window she saw the Zürcher Kredit Bank. Then they were moving on.

She glanced back once at the other passengers. They all had a glazed look as they stared out. It must be even colder than they were used to, she thought. She looked again at Marler's canvas holdall.

'Is that all you've got inside there? Food and drink?'

'Well, he drawled, lowering his voice as she had done, 'there is the odd weapon at the bottom, including a.32 Browning so you won't feel naked.'

'We may have to pass through French Customs. Let's hope you make it.'

'Another reason for separate tickets. If I don't you'll get through - and so will Tweed and Newman.' 'We're nearly there. You do think of everything.' 'I try.'

At the rear of the car the moon-faced man had slipped his phone out of his coat pocket. Well away from any other passengers, he whispered into it. He kept his message brief, then put his instrument away. It was Paula he had recognized - from the careful description Jake had given him.

'Who is it?' Ronstadt rapped out on his mobile.

'Leo Madison here...'

'How goes it, Moonhead?'

'I just said it was Leo here.'

'Heard you, Moonhead. Get to it. Any news from the Three Kings?'

'Paula Grey, Newman, Tweed and some other people are leaving the French station for some burg called St Ursanne. They change on to a local train at a place called Delémont. I bought myself a ticket—'

'Hold it. Where's this friggin' place, St Whatever?' 'Down in the Jura. To the south. French-speaking Switzerland.'

'Got it.' Ronstadt had looked at the map of Switzerland spread out on a table. 'Tear up your ticket.'

'Do what?'

'You heard. On a train - two trains - they'll spot you. Get a cab to the airport. We have a chopper there, as you know. I'm calling the pilot. He'll fly you - he can follow that train, see them change at Delémont. You've got that fancy disguise?'

'With me. The telescopic stick is down my belt, with the dark glasses.'

'Use them when you track them to where they're going. My guess is they're meeting someone. Whoever it is, wipe them out. Got it?'

'The train leaves in five minutes—'

'Moonhead, tear up your friggin' ticket. Get to the airport. Last time you called you said you're on the tram with them. They're smart. They'll spot you. Grab a cab. For the airport.
Now!
'

'The name is Leo. Next time you call me Moonhead I'll head-butt you in your face. On my way. Airport—'

'You talk to me like that again you won't have any head!'

Ronstadt slammed the phone down. Moonhead had disconnected: 'I am going to kill that guy,' he said to himself. Moonhead was the one member of his team he couldn't tame. Then he remembered it was Moonhead who had once shot a baby in the back of the head. Ronstadt shuddered, called the pilot at the airport.

*
         
*
         
*

There was Passport Control before they passed through on to the platform of the French station, but no one behind the Customs counter, which was a relief to Marler. Tweed and Newman arrived to join the others minutes before the train was due to depart. Paula had given them their tickets, then the three of them ran. Nield and Butler had boarded the last coach, which was empty when they entered it. Marler had followed them and was leaning out of the window when Paula and her two companions jumped on to the train.

'That was a near-run thing,' Paula commented as the train moved off.

'As Wellington said about Waterloo,' Tweed replied.

Marler had continued leaning out of the window until the train was clear of the platform. As he sat down Tweed asked him what he had been looking for.

'I memorized the faces of all the passengers on the tram which brought us here. None of them has boarded this train.'

'So we've given them the slip,' said Paula.

We
hope
we've given them the slip,' Tweed corrected her.

'You're never sure of anything,' she chided.

'Which is why I'm still alive.'

'Let's be positive,' she responded. 'How did you get on with Beck?'

'We made a lot of arrangements. We have to be back at police headquarters before four this afternoon. Beck was very helpful.'

We should just make it, with a bit of luck,' she said after consulting a timetable.

'From the station at St Ursanne it's a good ten-minute walk down to the village.'

'Then we'll make it, with a lot of luck. I sense you're very anxious to meet this Juliette Leroy at the Hotel d'Or.'

'I have great faith in Kurt Schwarz.'

'What was the outcome of your talk to Beck?'

'A very important decision concerning that barge, the
Minotaur
. I learned from Beck the vessel isn't used for transporting cargo any more. Some Swiss entrepreneur has converted it to a floating hotel for business conventions. It has conference rooms, a bar, a restaurant and all modern communication facilities. Today an American called Davidson phoned the owner, hired the
Minotaur
for a week.'

'Davidson?'

'I think Mr Davidson is really Jake Ronstadt. Beck has laid plans to follow the vessel, to board it from police launches, then to arrest everyone on board for interrogation. He's going to use the dead Umbrella Men as a lever.'

'How?' she wondered.

'They were all carrying guns. They were all staying at the Euler. That's enough for starters. He thinks he'll find the people at that meeting are also carrying weapons.'

'Pity we aren't going to see it happening.'

'We are. He's loaning us an unmarked launch. I asked him to let me have a loudhailer, which he did. I dashed back to the hotel with it, left it in my room before Bob and I raced up to the station in a taxi.'

'What do you want with a loudhailer?'

'Might come in useful...'

Tweed lapsed into a brooding silence and Paula looked out of the window. They had left Basel behind and it was a bright sunny day with a crystal-clear sky. She felt relieved to be away from the city. She liked Basel, had loved it the last time she had been there with Tweed, but this time she was depressed by the grim ancient buildings looming over her everywhere, like being inside a sinister fortress.

She decided her reaction was partly due to the weather - and to the events which had occurred there. The Umbrella Men, then Nield's description of the last- minute rescue of Irina, of the ghastly ape man who had come so close to torturing Irina. The train entered a deep gorge. On either side rose sheer walls of jagged limestone. Peering out, her face close to the window, she could just see the crests, tipped with snow. It was so warm inside the train they had all taken off outer clothes.

'We're in the Jura Mountains,' Tweed remarked. 'Nothing like the enormous heights of the Bernese Oberland but I'm fond of the Jura. You don't feel a million tons of rock is going to fall on you.'