‘And I don’t suppose that courier has really started from Brussels yet,’ said Grant, smiling.
The old gentleman hauled out a thick package from a carpet-bag in a corner of the hall. ‘The papers are here. You know very well that there is no courier. Though you did it very well, and I don’t blame people for having been deceived. How could they know that I already had the address stamped on my memory?’
‘Anyhow, things are different now. And since I can’t deliver them myself will you take over? Only my former bosses can square this lot. And it will choke them to do so. As you well know.’
‘Allah has permitted me to know many things,’ said the old man. ‘But now we should all go to the yacht. Better by launch from my club. Then you can throw away that wig and get rid of a cheek pad which is sometimes to one side and sometimes on the other. The young lady might perhaps tell her friends to take a seat in my car. They are conspicuous.’
Krystelle dropped a curtsey and flashed a beaming smile. ‘May I come to dinner with David?’ She didn’t wait reply but rushed outside as Mustafa became unexpectedly serious. ‘She reminds me of the old days. So few young women ever remember to curtsey.’
‘And you will let ADSAD know what happened?’
‘Of course. But how very, very, satisfactory, David. What a pity you have resigned.’
‘You do well as a free-lance, Mustafa. Why shouldn’t I?’
The old man’s eyes clouded. ‘I was old in sin before you were born, David. And our work is dirty. You know, of course, that I photo-copied your manuscript before giving it to you just now. That is an example of what I mean. Yet you could do nothing about it. So you said nothing. And if I didn’t speak it would have damaged our friendship. So I tell you. Although you know that I did it only to have a very good let-out with which to buy immunity if ever the authorities decide to arrest me. And I promise that I will use it only as an emergency. Indeed the manuscript may mean that I don’t need to use my ring if ever the police come in the night. And that is why it is a pity you have resigned. Because you will always have to wear a suicide ring or else have a heavy bribe like your Brandt papers in safe deposit. You will become like me, a sort of wild creature fighting underground to keep domesticated creatures safe. Ironic, isn’t it?’
Chapter Twelve – ‘A terrible kind of Hell if we couldn’t’
The yacht was easing along at five knots under a sunset spectacular and the group at ease on the after deck when Harry turned to business for the first time since leaving Istanbul. ‘You got a knack of separating people, David. How come the long farewell with Kemal way back?’
‘Fixing a dinner date,’ said Krystelle. ‘You’re all invited.’
‘Keeping it for a surprise?’
‘Sure. To celebrate when we get back.’ Grant lifted his glass. ‘To the new company.’
‘What company?’ Frank and Harry spoke in the same breath.
‘Emergencies Incorporated. Or didn’t I tell you?’
‘You didn’t.’ Harry’s eyes were again hooded and his personality somehow changed, as it always did when business was in the offing.
‘Frank and you have an organisation. Krystelle and I know our way around and are organised. But I’ve quit working for NATO and we’re going free-lance. Situations may arise either in our lives or your own which need expert co-operation. Emergencies Incorporated could cope if you are interested. Idea is that it be an exclusive company of four: that we each spring capital of one million sterling as basic capital reserves: every cheque issued will require two signatures, one from each team: an “Emergency” request will take priority over any other work: takings and expenses will split equally four ways: bank account in Liechtenstein using the Bank of Switzerland: no limit to what assignment we may accept but any single member will have the right to veto after hearing all available facts: no assignment without contacting at least one member of the other team: head-office Vaduz, Liechtenstein: meetings as may be convenient to the majority. All clear?’
Frank switched off his tape. ‘Boss man?’ The tape began again to run as Grant took a deep breath.
‘Once an Emergency has been accepted . . . me.’
‘For why?’ Harry was polite but cold.
‘Because I’ve experience on a different level from yourselves, and still got pull which could get us off of most hooks unless we had been particularly stupid.’
‘So old Mustafa is part of the pull and there was more to the long farewell than a dinner invitation?’
‘Mustafa has some good ideas,’ said Grant. ‘For example, Harry, he hardly ever asks questions. He operates on an old-fashioned idea that friends can be trusted.’
‘You figure I’m a friend?’ Harry’s lips were twitching slightly. The idea amused him. ‘Dollars interest me more than friends. But you’ve answered the question. He’s got pull.’
‘We work well together,’ said Grant. ‘But I can live without you. Emergencies Incorporated is just an idea. Take it or leave it.’
‘Snap,’ said Harry. ‘Because I sure can live without you. Fact is you get in my hair. Too sure of yourself.’
‘And you talk too much,’ said Frank. ‘But you got brains. Though I’ve got instinct. This Emergency Inc might be good. Count me in.’
‘Me too,’ said Harry. ‘But forget this friend angle. Concentrate on dollars.’ He lifted his pink gin. ‘Okay. To Emergencies Incorporated. Who keeps minutes?’
‘Are you crazy,’ said Grant. ‘Nothing in writing. Never.’
‘So when do we start?’ Harry’s fingers were restless. ‘Say, I want my guitar.’
‘In the cabin,’ said Grant. ‘But bring it up here and Emergencies Incorporated stays on the ground.’
Harry stood up. ‘I switched cabins, man. Krystelle and you make enough noise for a Roman orgy. It makes me blush. Tell Mustafa to try sound-proofing his walls. Or maybe he’s just another kinky voyeur.’ He looked towards deeply purple hills etched against a rapidly darkening sky. ‘You got talent, David. Thought once or twice we’d got our lot back in the city. Especially when that guy turned up in my bed looking dead. And when the yellow boys arrived unexpected. But I still say as a liar you stand alone. An all-time quintuple Olympic gold medallist! See you, and I’ll play Clavelitos after dinner just to show there’s no ill-feeling. But you’re not civilised. Not till you get tuned to Bach.’
Frank smiled genially and poured a third pink gin. ‘You got him talking as much as yourself, David. But relax. Harry figures you’re a wonder boy. See you. Got a gun to clean.’
Krystelle laid her hand on Grant’s wrist. The trip had done them good. She was up to date and Grant had let her hear Frank’s tape of the Moogie interview. ‘Did you love her, David? Maybe just a little?’
‘Maybe just a little. Once or twice. She looked so helpless.’
‘Like a mamba does,’ said Krystelle. ‘But she died good.’
‘That Nirvanah business.’ Grant blushed as he remembered. ‘Why did you let her?’
‘Could I have stopped her?’ said Krystelle. ‘Why did you take her?’
‘You told me to. Remember?’
The girl laughed. ‘Do you always believe what a woman says, David? Especially about emotional angles.’
Her accent was now perfect and Grant glowed with satisfaction. When Krystelle lapsed into West Indian-Parisian-phoney New York patois it was time to worry. Right now she was feeling good. ‘I don’t know much about these things, honey. I’m just a man.’
‘And I’m just a woman.’ Krystelle wriggled to the deck, laid her cheek against Grant’s thigh and looked up, smiling. ‘Aren’t we lucky?’ She paused and burst out laughing. ‘Hi, David. I’m going to have an emergency just as soon as we hit the cabin. Do we call in the others?’
Her frankness still could make him feel shy. ‘Not if it’s what I think it is. Maybe we can cope ourselves.’
‘I thought we could. I think we can. But, David. Wouldn’t it be a terrible kind of Hell if we couldn’t?’<
br />
The sky was now very black and studded with only a few small stars. He could feel the fragrance of Krystelle’s hair and the coolness of her cheek against his skin. Her fingers were clutching his hand and her feet were beating out the rhythm of Mary Ann, his favourite West Indian song. But she was using strictly her own lyrics. And they had become very personal. ‘The cabin,’ he whispered. ‘Now I’ve got an emergency too.’
Frank laid down his gun and turned again to Cosmopolitan when he heard their door close. ‘Cheeze!’ he said. ‘What a constitution!’
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* * *
[1] Crimson Jade
[2] Black Champagne
[3] Death’s Foot Forward
[4] Black Champagne
[5] Goddesses Never Die
[6] A Wreath of Camellias
Paradise Spells Danger Page 20
