by Ray Saunders
“Why should it go wrong?” I challenged him.
“If Zola Peterson decides to take her research somewhere else, we don’t want it to look as though it’s our fault.”
“In other words, it’s to protect your arse.”
He paused. “Okay, yes, but you’ve still got a lot to learn about this business, Matt. When you’ve been doing it as long as I have, you’ll realise that it’s what you have to do.”
Maybe he had a point, and it was no skin off my nose anyway.
“So where is it exactly and what time should I be there?” I asked.
“If you drive along the lake to Morges, you’ll see the signpost for Bière. When you get there take the minor road towards the Col du Marchairuz. After about two miles you will come to a large chalet called Monique. Have you got that?”
I repeated it back. “What time?”
“Three o’clock. We want you to pick Peterson up at her hotel and bring her with you.”
“Does she know that?”
“Yes. If you ring her, and say when you will be there, she’ll meet you.”
He gave me the hotel number and the room number for the desk to connect me.
“Okay, I’ll see you both there,” I said.
He hung up.
I figured it would take me about an hour to get there tomorrow, so I could arrange for us to have lunch together at her hotel before we left. This left me wondering what to do about Christine.
She would have to stay behind and then I would get back to her later.
But what if the meeting with Zola Peterson was fruitful and then Steve wanted me to return to Geneva? I would have to say that I had to go back to collect my things first, and that meant I need not tell him about Christine or the diamonds.
With that, I went back to join Christine in her room.
I explained the plan to her and said that whatever happened, I would not leave her stranded on her own.
“So, you haven’t told them that I’m back with you then?” she questioned.
“No. I didn’t want to turn you in, though how things will go from here I don’t know,” I said.
“If you’re successful, Matt, and Zola Peterson agrees to help our government, then they won’t be so hard on me, will they?”
“I’ll do my best for you, kid, but I can’t guarantee anything.”
She looked wistfully at me. “I’d like to go back, I can’t stay here, but if they think that I’ve absconded with the diamonds they’ll keep looking for me.”
Her girlish look got to me again and I felt somehow responsible for her.
“As soon as I’ve tied up the Zola Peterson job, I’ll do my best to convince them that it’s in their interest not to pursue you. I’ll tell them it might cause a scandal if it became public knowledge that they’d employed you.”
“Do you think it will work, Matt?”
“Don’t worry about that now. I can be pretty persuasive,” I assured her.
With that I suggested we go for a drink and relax.
Chapter 6
The following day I left Christine at the hotel in Vevey and drove along to Lausanne to meet up with Zola Peterson. I got there early, so that we could have lunch together before we met Steve and Simon Ralph.
After we had ordered, I asked her if the conference had been successful.
She sighed. “There are some who I think would be able to assist with my work, but I’m not sure that their motives suit me,” she said.
“How do you mean?” I queried.
“Well, I told you that I think this is something from which all nations should benefit and most of these scientists are very nationalistic.”
“You mean they’re more interested in the financial reward?”
“No. Most of them are satisfied with the acknowledgement of their achievement, but it has to be funded. They feel their own governments are best for that. The trouble is that once the politicians get involved, their interests lay with companies that are in it for profit.”
“That’s always been so in the real world,” I told her. “Morality and good intentions are one thing, reality is another.”
“That’s pretty cynical, isn’t it?”
“Maybe it is, but I’m a realist,” I replied.
“Do you think your people that you want me to meet will be different?” she asked.
“Well, I suppose I should say yes, but I have my doubts.”
We finished the meal and sat drinking the wine.
“What’s your part in all this?” she asked me.
“I’m just here for my own interests,” I told her. “If it means sticking my neck out to get what I want, that’s okay by me.”
“What is it you want?” she persisted.
“I love horses and I want to afford a place in the country where I can retire with them.”
She looked at me over her raised glass. “Is that just for you alone?”
“Well, I’ve no ties, but I would like to be able to share it with someone,” I answered.
“Anyone in mind?”
“I did have, but it didn’t work out.”
She sipped her drink. “Perhaps it will, it sounds like something many women would like to share.”
I nodded. “It has to be the right one,” I said. “Finding that special one isn’t easy and I’m probably too chauvinistic for most.”
She laughed. “I think your bark is worse that your bite,” she said.
We finished our meal, and I paid the bill and we left.
***
The car that Steve had left me was a limo and we drove along by the lake in the comfort of its interior. There was no need to rush and we sat quietly for a while just watching the scenery going bye.
I was first to break the silence. “Why exactly did you think it necessary to stop working with Carl Linstead?”
She thought for a moment. “You know that Carl had his problems with gambling and other things,” she said.
“His fondness for young women,” I said.
“Yes, that’s true. There was also his involvement with the Chinese. He told me they were funding his research, but it turns out he was using the money to fund his gambling. He ran up huge debts and I think this was the reason why he left Johannesburg and came to Switzerland.”
I overtook a lorry then eased off again.
“Do you think he can cash in by selling his research to the United States?” I asked her.
“Not unless he can overcome some of the problems still to be solved,” she answered.
“And you have the key?”
She looked at me. “My work is in a different area of research but does have an essential element that would help him,” she said.
“It’s all too much for me to take in,” I told her, “but doesn’t his findings mean that pesticides will no longer be needed?”
She nodded. “When he completes it, yes.”
“Then I’d be right to assume that as the Chinese are the biggest suppliers of pesticides, especially in Africa, it is in their interest to stop him, or get his formula.”
“Well, in the last resort, yes. But they wanted him to finalise his discovery, so they could monopolise the market for supplying the genetically modified seeds to the world.”
“That makes sense,” I said, “and you think that this should not be given to one source but universally available to all?”
“Yes.”
“So, if the Chinese can’t get what they want, they will try to stop him from taking his work elsewhere, and that being the case, his life could be in danger,” I said.
“Do you think they would go as far as that?”
I glanced across at her. “Like I told you before, all governments will take drastic measures for their interests and particularly those that are in an undemocratic regime.”
She paused, taking it in. “Then do you think my life could be in danger as well?”
I did not want to frighten her, but this wasn’t the time to hide the truth. �
�I wouldn’t rule anything out, so don’t expose yourself to anything that might put you at risk,” I said firmly.
We reached Morges and I took the road towards Bière. The road was very twisty, and it was taking longer than I had anticipated. When we got there, I looked for the turning for the Col du Marchairuz, and when it came, I doubted that the limo would cope with its steepness and narrow bends. I wished that I had the little Alpine for this kind of mountain driving. The limo’s engine revved up repeatedly, as the automatic constantly changed gears. It seemed an eternity before I caught sight of the chalet. It was a large, old-type, Swiss wooden building, with a huge overhanging roof.
I drove into the entrance and stopped by another car parked in front. I checked the time, and it was three thirty.
Steve came out to meet us as we got out.
“You’re late,” he told me.
“Well, you didn’t tell me it was half-way up a bloody mountain,” I replied.
I introduced them.
“Come in,” he told her, “I want you to meet Simon Ralph.”
Once inside and with formalities completed, they got down to talking. A lengthy conversation went on between them and, as I didn’t think it concerned me, I asked if I could look around and then excused myself.
The chalet had lots of typical features and outside there were several paths leading off through the trees. These were marked in typical Swiss fashion, indicating times of walking distances and their degree of difficulty. Summer hikers would find it challenging and this place must get cut off in winter, I thought. When I returned, they were nearing the end of their discussions.
Steve took me to one side.
“She’s agreed to stay on in Lausanne until we can contact London to see if our government will confirm our arrangements. Simon will get in touch with them and meanwhile I want you to take her back and keep an eye on her.”
“You must be joking,” I said. “How can I do that while she’s in Lausanne and I’m in Vevey?”
“Now that the conference is over there’ll be plenty of room at the Palace Hotel, and we’ll arrange for you both to have adjoining rooms there,” he told me.
“But I didn’t sign on to be a bloody nursemaid!” I grumbled.
Steve spoke harshly. “Stop whingeing. When did you ever pass up the chance to have an adjoining room next to a young woman?”
He had a point, but he didn’t know that I had another woman installed next to me in Vevey.
“All right,” I said, “but I’ll have to go back to Vevey to collect my things.”
We wound it up, said goodbye, and left it at that.
***
I drove back to Bière then took the road to Morges. As I turned onto it, there was another car that pulled out and followed us. Reaching Morges, I took the road to Lausanne, and the car continued some distance behind me. It would not be unusual for someone to be headed for Lausanne, but I was concerned that it was possible I was being followed. When we reached the town, I did not go directly to the hotel but instead pulled over and stopped by the station. The car behind continued out of sight. I waited several minutes then, satisfied I had not been followed, I drove to the hotel.
Our rooms had been arranged and collecting the keys we made our way to them. I told Zola that I would have to go to collect my things, and with that I left her and drove to Vevey.
***
Christine was in her room when I arrived and wanted to know what had happened.
“I’ll have to leave you here for now,” I told her. “Zola Peterson is staying on in Lausanne, and I have to stay there to keep an eye out for her.”
“I’d rather you stayed here and kept an eye on me,” she said.
I smiled. “Well so would I, but I can’t be in two places at once,” I said.
“You haven’t told them about me?” she questioned.
“No, you’re safe for the moment, but don’t do anything that will give away your presence here. As soon as I get Miss Peterson off my hands, I’ll come back here, and we’ll sort something out.”
“Don’t make it too long then, I’m getting bored,” she answered.
“It’s better to be bored than facing the consequences,” I told her.
I went to my room and packed my things. I thought it best to keep the diamonds and my pistol in my holdall and hide them in my new room later at the Palace Hotel.
***
When I reached the Palace Hotel there was enough time to shower and change in time for dinner. I knocked on the adjoining door, and Zola opened it.
“Are you ready for dinner?” I asked her.
“Give me five minutes, and I will be,” she said.
When she came through, she was looking quite different. The glasses had gone, and she was dressed in a silver evening gown that showed off her figure to advantage.
“Hello!” I drawled. “You’ve been hiding from me — and no glasses.”
“Contact lenses,” she said, “and I’m not always dressed for business.”
“Well, I like this way better. I think this could lead to a beautiful friendship,” I said, quoting from the film Casablanca.
She laughed. “I’m feeling better about everything now that I’ve met with your people. I think they will help me to achieve my objective,” she said.
I began to think of another objective that had not crossed my mind until now.
“Let’s go down,” I said.
At dinner I asked about what Steve and Simon had offered her.
“They are contacting your government to arrange for me to continue my research at one of your leading universities that specialises in the sciences. When I’m finished, they say they will agree to it being made available to everyone.”
“They can’t promise that at this stage. It will probably take some time to get that through all the red tape,” I told her.
“They told me it will be given top priority and that I should know within the next few days.”
“I hope that’s right,” I said. “Don’t be disappointed if it takes longer.”
“Well, they’re paying for my stay here, so I can enjoy myself while I’m waiting for their answer.”
“And how will you do that?”
She looked at me from across the table. “There are plenty of things to do here in Switzerland, and I thought that you might show me them.”
“It’ll be a pleasure,” I said. “I hope my expense account will stand it. I’m on a budget and they’re not happy with the costs that I’ve incurred.”
“Perhaps we can find things that don’t cost you anything,” she replied.
Did I imagine it, or was that a veiled invitation to a closer relationship? I pondered.
We sat chatting while we finished our wine, and I began to see a completely new side to her. She had lost that quiet no nonsense attitude, that had made her appear rather stern, and was showing a completely different attitude and a warmth that I found alluring.
“What did you do in South Africa, other than work?” I asked.
“Not a lot really. My research took up most of my time.”
“What about hobbies?”
“I played some tennis and rode when I had the time.”
“What about relationships?”
She looked at me and smiled. “I never had much time for them, and most of my acquaintances were scientists who were too tied up with their work.”
“Carl Linstead seemed to find the time,” I persisted.
“Carl did try to seduce me, but he wasn’t my type. Once I made it clear that I wasn’t interested he didn’t pester me.”
“Sounds to me it was a pretty dull life, with all work and no play,” I said.
“I’m beginning to realise that now,” she answered.
We finished and got up to go. Before we left, I asked the waiter for a bottle of champagne to be sent up to my room.
We both changed into something more comfortable, and the waiter came with the champagne and glasses. It was my favourite
Mumm Cordon Rouge, and I thought that when Mr Smith saw my expenses, he would blow a gasket.
I pulled the table over to the large settee, and we sat down beside each other. Opening the champagne, I poured two glasses and handed one to her.
“Cheers.”
“Cin-cin,” she replied.
Her perfume was faint but distinctive and showed that she was a woman of taste. As we sat there, her closeness stirred me, and after a while I turned and kissed her. At first, she did not respond, but then put her arms around me and kissed me passionately. I began undoing her dress, and when she didn’t stop me, I slid my hand inside and caressed her breast. The foreplay was having the right effect on both of us, and I could feel an uncontrollable urge to make love to her.
We rose and without speaking, went across to my bed, and continued with the intimacy.
“I’ve never done this before,” she said.
“You’re a virgin?”
“No. You know what I mean. Not with a total stranger.”
“Well, I’m hardly that,” I said. “Besides, I’m supposed to be looking after you.”
“Do they pay you to look after all your contacts like this?” she murmured.
“Only the ones I find special,” I said.
“It’s been some time for me, so be gentle,” she whispered.
“Just relax and let me give you the pleasure you’ve always dreamed of,” I said.
“You are a chauvinist,” she replied.
“Shush.”
The passion was there, but it wasn’t torrid. It lasted for some time, and afterwards we laid together not speaking. After a while she went to her room, and I drank the remainder of the champagne and fell asleep.
Chapter 7
It was rather late when I awoke, so I washed and dressed and then went off for a swim.
The water freshened me, and after several lengths, I got out and went to the gym. I worked out for twenty minutes, then showered and prepared to leave. As I reached the lobby, Zola came through.
“Oh, good morning, Matt. How are you feeling this morning?” she asked.
“Fine. And you?”
