This United State

by Colin Forbes

  'I'm bloody wrong. I have to be,' she said aloud.

  But she was not convinced. Tweed had trained her always to deal in facts. And she had personally witnessed the 'transaction'. Edgy, she threw away half the cup of coffee, made herself some tea. Pacing round the living room, she smoked another of her rare cigarettes.

  'I give up,' she said, again aloud.

  * * *

  She arrived very early at Park Crescent, was relieved to find she was alone. The briefcase with the dollars had disappeared. On Monica's desk a name was scribbled on a pad. Keith Kent. Basel.

  She was seated behind her desk when they all arrived almost together. Monica came in first, settled herself behind her desk. She looked across at Paula.

  'While you were down at Romney Marsh yesterday Keith Kent, the money tracer, called Tweed from Basel. Said he'd cracked the Zürcher Kredit account, wanted assistance urgently.'

  'How did Tweed react?'

  'Ask him yourself when he comes in.'

  Paula welcomed the suggestion. It gave her something to say to Tweed. If she just sat like a dummy he'd quickly notice her silence. Newman came in. He was cheerful, positively buoyant. He grinned at Paula.

  'Top of the morning. Isn't it a nice day.'

  'It's a terrible day,' Paula replied. 'The temperature has gone even lower.'

  'Helps to keep your wits about you,' he said with another grin, plonking himself into a chair.

  Marler arrived, faultlessly dressed as always. He was wearing a new grey suit. He gave everyone a little wave. At that moment Tweed walked in, his step brisk, his manner businesslike as he settled behind his desk. He looked round the room.

  'Monica has told me,' Paula began, 'that Keith Kent called you from Basel yesterday, said that he'd cracked the Zürcher Kredit account, whatever that means.'

  'True. Everything is beginning to fit. Bob, how did you get on with Sharon Mandeville?'

  'Fine. You know, she has no hint of an American accent. She struck me as a demure English lady.'

  Paula stared at him, her lips pursed. Was Newman falling for Sharon? It certainly sounded so — from his manner and what he had just said. She lowered her eyes before he looked at her.

  'Really?' Tweed paused. 'So you're getting on with her well. Any chance of a second meeting?'

  'I would hope so. Yes, a good chance, I'd say.'

  'Then you'll have another chance to try to extract information from her as to what is going on. If she has any, which she may not.'

  'The lady asked me to write an article. Not her idea. Comes from someone higher up she couldn't name.' 'What kind of an article?'

  'A plea for a much closer version of the special relationship between Britain and America.'

  'Really?' A brief smile flickered across Tweed's face. 'The pattern is taking shape. Are you going to do it?'

  'Haven't decided. If I do, I'll show you a draft first, of course.'

  'And now we come to you, Marler,' Tweed went on. 'Did you enjoy your evening with Denise Chatel?'

  'Very much. She's nice. She told me a very strange story. There's quite a bit to tell. It concerns the death of her parents...'

  Marler had Tweed's full attention as the story began to unfold. From his excellent memory he reported every word Denise had said to him. Monica stopped using the phone and listened. Near the conclusion Marler waved a characteristic dismissive hand.

  'I thought Cord Dillon was the man to make enquiries - that I could feed him the data and later he could phone America from the Bunker. Or you might think this is a diversion of energy.'

  'On the contrary.' Tweed paused again. 'What I'm going to say is very confidential. Rene Lasalle of the DST in Paris told me recently - when I asked him - that Denise's father was officially sent out as an attaché to the French Embassy in Washington. Actually he was a member of the Secret Service. He was trying to uncover details of some major operation Washington was planning. Before he could report back he was killed, with his wife, in a car crash. Sharon's mother and father were also killed in a car crash. As I said earlier, I don't believe in coincidences.'

  'So I can get Cord to check this out?' Marler asked.

  'You most certainly can. Tell him I want to know.' He leant back in his chair. 'Years ago, when I was at Scotland Yard...'

  'As the youngest superintendent in Homicide up to that time,' Paula added.

  'What I was going to say was — in more than one murder case I investigated I stumbled across the identity of the murderer by pure chance. But at.least I recognized the significance of what I'd stumbled over. I think Marler has done the same thing. I regard what Denise told him as of great significance to what we are dealing with now.'

  'Bully for me,' said Marler, mocking himself.

  'Also yesterday, a courier arrived from Paris with photos of Americans passing through that city on their way here.'

  He took an envelope from a locked drawer, spilled out a number of glossy prints. He spread them methodically over his desk.

  'I want all of you to gather round and comment if you see anyone you recognize...'

  They formed a half-circle behind him. Paula, glad of something else to think about, studied the prints with care. Then she pointed.

  'That's Hank Waltz, the man who tried to kill me at Eagle Street.'

  Tweed turned over the photo. On the back was written a date. He looked over his shoulder at her.

  'He came in by Eurostar four weeks ago. Go on looking.'

  'That is Chuck Venacki,' Newman told them. 'Smooth faced, smooth manner. Officially an attaché at the Embassy. A bit above people like Waltz in intellect.'

  'I haven't seen him so far,' Paula commented.

  'You may well. Yet.' Newman warned. 'He's intelligent, so could be dangerous.'

  'Came in three weeks ago,' Tweed said, looking at the back.

  'And that,' Paula pointed out, stabbing her finger at another of the prints, 'is Jake Ronstadt.'

  'Came in five weeks ago,' Tweed noted. 'Which is interesting. He was in the vanguard, which suggests he came early to set up something. Maybe the Executive Action Department.'

  'There are three people missing,' Paula observed. 'Denise Chatel, Ed Osborne and Sharon Mandeville. Maybe the French didn't photo them.'

  'I don't think that's the explanation,' Tweed objected. 'I'd say they flew direct here from Washington to Heathrow. Just as Jefferson Morgenstern did.' He stood up. 'Which reminds me, I'm having dinner with Jefferson at the Ambassador's residence this evening. It's no more than a quick walk from here. Jefferson called me before I left my flat. I accepted immediately.'

  'You need a bodyguard,' said Newman.

  'I do not. Jefferson is one of the old school. A very devious man — has to be to do his job — and he has his own idea of honour. Monica, you're still booking seats for us on the Swissair flight, I imagine.'

  'Day by day.'

  'Since you're all here,' Tweed said, glancing round the room, 'I hope you have your bags packed with cold-weather clothing. You have? Good. Because we're leaving for Basel on the early flight tomorrow morning.'

  'You're going somewhere?' Monica asked as Tweed put on his coat. 'It's much too early for your meeting with Morgenstern.'

  'I know. I have somewhere else to go first.'

  'I'd better warn Butler and Nield about the flight,' Monica said.

  'Don't do that. They have a job to do back here. They'll come on to Basel when they're finished. So keep booking seats for them daily. I've got to go now. Everything is breaking loose.'

  When he had gone Monica slammed down the pen she was holding. She sat behind her desk, arms folded, looking furious.

  'What's the matter?' Newman asked.

  'Tweed's always doing that to me recently. Says he'll be back as soon as he can. I ask him where I can contact him. So he simply says something like, "I have to be somewhere else in a hurry." No clue as to where he's gone.'

  Back behind her desk, Paula's brain was in turmoil. She had felt better when Twe
ed seemed like his normal self, full of activity, carrying on as usual but with a hint of great urgency. Now Monica's grumble had made her wonder again. Why was he being so exceptionally secretive? Who was he going to see?

  Marler sat behind Tweed's desk to call Cord Dillon at the Bunker. Mrs Carson answered, put Dillon swiftly on the line.

  'Cord, Marler here. We have a problem which might just be up your street. If you're willing to go for it. There's a young woman, in her thirties, at the Embassy. Had dinner with her last night. She's called Denise Chatel. I'll spell that...'

  With his notepad open in front of him, Marler explained the problem, gave him all the data. He spelt out the name of the little town in Virginia where the fatal car crash had taken place over a year before and everything else Denise had told him. Dillon asked him to slow down so he could scribble on a notepad.

  'Can you do anything, get some facts?' Marler ended.

  'Sure thing. Glad to have a problem I can get my teeth into. This is just the sort of problem I dealt with sometimes, back at Langley — tracing a missing person or someone on the run. I'll get Jim Briscoe's number, wherever he's retired to Virginia is on New York time, so they're five hours back. I'll wait for people to get to work, then go into action. Can I call you back at Park Crescent?'

  'You can. And I'm very grateful...'

  'Consider it done.'

  In his usual abrupt way Dillon broke the connection. Marler took the envelope from Paris that Tweed had left on his desk. He spent some time examining each print, memorizing faces, recalling names that had been put to each one. Eventually he put them back inside the envelope.

  'Enjoying yourself?' Paula enquired.

  'It helps to know the enemy. Now I'm going back to my flat to collect a few more things for what Tweed keeps calling cold weather. I thought it was pretty nippy here...'

  Marler did not drive straight to his flat. He had decided to look at the outside of the flat where Denise Chatel lived. Plus the fact that Sharon Mandeville lived next door. It was always useful to know the locations of people involved.

  There was heavy traffic on the way to Belgrave Square. Marler knew he would have a parking problem so he drove slowly into one of the most expensive squares in London. Checking the numbers, he was close to where Denise lived when he saw a big truck pulled in at the kerb. The driver was changing a wheel. Marler played with his engine, causing it to make funny noises. He stopped near to the truck. The driver, stopping for a cigarette, saluted him.

  '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 D
illon...'

  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.