by Colin Forbes
"That was Ethan Benyon.' Tweed said again. 'A genius, Moloch called him. No doubt he is in his own field of science. But he's as mad as a hatter. Not a comforting thought...'
The hammer blow fell when they returned to Spanish Bay. In the car park Tweed said he wanted to get in touch with Cord Dillon. He told Paula, Newman and Marler to stay in the car. Butler and Nield had just returned in the BMW. Newman waved to them to act as lookouts, then pressed buttons on the black box. Tweed automatically reached for the microphone.
'Is that you, Cord?'
'Speaking. Recognize your voice, Tweed.'
'It's time we took action. Urgently. I'd like Alvarez to send more frogmen down to the sealed hole under the Baja. They can be armed this time. I want to know whether there's some kind of wireless transmitter attached to the plate sealing the hole. It really is urgent...'
'Sorry, Tweed, I can't do that. The special unit which went down has already lost three men.'
"They weren't armed,' Tweed persisted. 'It's a vital act.'
'No can do. Tweed, I have bad news for you. I've been ordered not to harass our friend in any way. Powerful senators have visited the President in the White House. They threatened to veto any future bills he wants passing. You know who has put the pressure on them. I was called to the Oval Office myself, told to leave the target strictly alone. I felt like ignoring the order, but then I'd immediately be replaced. So where would that get us?'
'What about Alvarez?'
'One of my best men. I've recalled him to Langley.'
'What you're saying is we get no more cooperation from you,' Tweed said forcefully. 'Even though I'm sure a national disaster is imminent?'
'You've concrete evidence for that statement?'
'It's inside Black Ridge, I'm sure, and on the seabed, under the Baja.'
'Storm into Black Ridge? Risk more lives on the seabed? I can't do it. I have a wife and children to think of. I'd be had for gross dereliction of duty. I told you. I had to go to the White House. Urgent summons. Read the riot act.'
'We're on our own, then? Is that what you're saying?'
'Sure is. And my best advice is for all of you to get out of the US of A pretty damned fast.'
'I understand your position.' Tweed said more quietly.
'Just run. Run like hell. While you're still alive ...'
28
Tweed held a second battle conference in his suite at Spanish Bay. Everyone was present except Butler, who was patrolling the corridor outside. With his hands clasped behind his back, Tweed, standing, faced the others, who were sitting down. For Nield's sake he recalled what Dillon had said.
'We're on our own,' he concluded.
'We've been there before,' Nield commented in his cultured voice. 'Sometimes it's better that way. Then we have total secrecy. Don't see how that affects the situation.'
"Thank you, Pete.' Tweed looked at Paula. 'I think we had better put you on the first flight home.'
She stood up, her nostrils flaring. Under her elegant dark brows her eyes glared. She stood with her hands on her hips.
'You want to try it? Carrying me aboard a flight kicking and screaming that I'm being kidnapped?'
'I gather I have no option.' Tweed smiled drily. 'You will be staying.'
'You're too damned right I'll be staying.'
She sat down, her face flushed with indignation.
Crossing her legs, she stared, at Tweed, who began speaking again.
'You have to understand, all of you, we're in a hostile land. No help from anyone.'
'Been there. So we're there again. So what?' asked Nield.
There was a knock on the door. It was opened by Butler and Alvarez walked in. He flashed a smile at Paula, sat down on the couch next to her.
'We've heard from Langley ...' Tweed began.
'So have I.' Alvarez replied. 'I thought about it, then I just called Cord again. Told him to stuff his job where the monkey put the nuts.' He glanced at Paula. 'Sorry, but it is good English?'
'Perfect.' she assured him.
'I've resigned.' Alvarez went on. 'Moloch may be able to put pressure on Washington, but he can't put it on me. You folks need someone who knows the territory. I know it like the back of my hand. Let's say I've put myself on temporary assignment to you. I presume you're going on with this?'
'We are.'
'I guessed you would. I handed in my gun to police HQ in Monterey, told them I didn't care how they got it to Langley. Then I went out and bought myself another gun. With a permit. I'm at your disposal.'
'We're all very grateful...' Tweed began again.
'None of that stuff.' Alvarez held up a hand, smiled again. 'I smell great danger. I happen to think enough of my country to stay in the act. So what has been happening?'
Tweed explained their visit to Palo Eldorado. Told Alvarez what they had seen. He frowned.
'Took a chance going up there. Not the most dangerous place in California, but risky. Ethan Benyon sounds like a crazy.'
He is. And I'm sure he's a key figure in VB's operation.'
'I've just worked something out.' Paula intervened. 'Moloch invited you to Black Ridge to weigh you up. "Formidable" was how Vanity described you. She probably passed that on to him - and when he saw you he agreed with her assessment. His next move was to pressure the politicians he's bought. I had wondered why he wanted to see you. He's scared of you.'
'I suppose you could be right.' Tweed said dubiously. 'I had a call from Vanity just before you all came in here. She wants to meet me at a place called The Ridge, a restaurant and hotel up the Carmel Valley. 12.30 p.m. tomorrow.'
'We'll all come with you.' Newman said.
'He isn't going to let pass a chance to meet Vanity again,' said Paula, introducing a lighter note deliberately.
'We don't know this place.' Newman warned.
'I do.' said Alvarez. 'A top restaurant. Run by a nice guy. I think I ought to come, too. I know how to get there.'
'You would be welcome to join us for dinner this evening.' Tweed suggested. 'Unless being seen with us would put you in danger.'
Alvarez laughed. 'I'm going to be seen with you a whole lot. What the hell do I care? I'm a civilian now. I accept the invitation with thanks. Where would you like to go?'
'I've heard that there's a very good restaurant in Carmel called Anton & Michel. After today, I feel like a really good meal. Grenville told me about it.'
'You'll get it there.' Alvarez assured him. 'If it's OK by you guys I'll make a reservation for all of us. Time?'
'8 p.m..' Tweed said promptly. 'Takes Paula an hour to tart herself up.'
'It does not.' she rapped back.
'Don't forget Butler.' Meld suggested to Alvarez.
'How could I forget a tough guy like that?'
He was going to the phone when Tweed asked him to wait a moment. He looked round at everybody.
'I think I should tell you I'm convinced Moloch has a spy, identity unknown, outside his immediate organization. We can trust no one.'
'I never do,' replied Alvarez and smiled again at Paula who smiled back warmly. 'One other thing before I make the call,' Alvarez warned. 'I don't know why Vanity Richmond has asked you to lunch, Tweed. We'd better watch that one c'
'Did you invite Tweed to lunch at The Ridge in Carmel Valley?' Joel Brand asked Vanity.
Working late in her office at Black Ridge, Vanity looked up in surprise. She had thought Brand was going in to Carmel for dinner.
'Yes, I did. You said VB wanted me to assess Tweed to confirm his own opinion.'
'So Tweed will be there at 12.30 p.m.?'
'I imagine so. He agreed to have lunch with me.'
"Thank you.' Brand gave her a big smile. 'Don't work too late. It will spoil your beauty sleep.'
"That would be a tragedy,' she said sarcastically.
When he had gone she tried for the third time to call Moloch at the AMBECO building in San Francisco. Once again he was engaged on another call. She decided t
o give up checking Brand's instruction. Later, her not calling VB again was to have momentous consequences for several people.
A very satisfied Brand soon left the building, climbed into his Citroen to drive to Carmel through the evening dark. He was not only aggressive but also very thorough. He knew that VB would not have approved of what he had planned, but he was Chief of Security.
Brand was not convinced that the fact that VB had caused all official support to be withdrawn from him in Washington was going to compel Tweed to leave the country. Better to make sure he was no longer a menace.
In an emergency, experience had taught him, when springing one trap on a target, it was best to have a backup - in case the first trap failed. Still, with a bit of luck Tweed would not survive the next few hours.
Anton & Michel was hidden away in another of Carmel's many courtyards. But this one, once you were inside, was far more open than the courtyard where Linda Standish had been murdered. Paula was relieved by the different atmosphere.
It was called Court of the Fountains. As they turned a corner she saw why. In a large open space was an oblong pool full of water. Fountains, spurting water, were illuminated. The whole place gave her a relaxed feeling. Great tall windows lined the outside of the restaurant -long slabs of glass which gave those with window tables a close view of the fountains and the pool.
'This is lovely.' she said to Alvarez.
'It's great,' he replied.
After parking the cars Alvarez had remained behind for a short time, looking up and down the street, empty at this evening hour. Then he had hustled ahead, alongside Paula, and was the first to enter the restaurant after a quick excuse to Paula. Following him, she saw his swift glance round the restaurant, checking every table.
'Looks OK,' he said to Tweed who had caught them up.
They were shown to a large table by the window. The whole team was there. Newman, Marler, Butler and Nield. Paula sat by the window, opposite Tweed. She noticed Alvarez took the end chair furthest away from the window, presumably so he could scan any newcomers.
The restaurant was almost full and many of the guests had by now reached an advanced stage of their meal. The interior was luxurious and comfortable at the same time. Paula leaned towards Tweed.
"This is a marvellous place. The decor is perfect. And it's got this wonderful view of the fountains. What more could we want?'
'A menu.' said Marler.
A moment later the head waiter appeared, handed out a menu to each guest. Paula noticed Alvarez merely glanced at his, then he was casually gazing round again. She leaned again towards Tweed, keeping her voice low.
'Why is Alvarez on edge?'
'Well ...' Tweed hesitated, then decided he'd better tell her the truth. 'He says we were followed here from the moment we had left the exit from Spanish Bay.'
'I've just lost my appetite.'
'Would you sooner I hadn't told you?'
'No. I like to know what's going on.'
"That's what I thought. Now, decide what you want. Choose something good.'
Paula gradually relaxed as she consumed an excellent meal, drank a little wine. Newman seemed to be in a good mood and cracked jokes with her, but she knew he was capable of appearing without a care in the world when inwardly he was worried. Tweed drank orange juice and she noticed Alvarez also avoided taking any wine.
'You know.' she said as coffee was served, 'the Americans are wonderful at creating original and high-class restaurants. This place is a good example of their skill in that field.'
'I agree.' said Tweed.
'Everything here is just right.' she went on.
'Perfect.'
Paula was aware that the conversation was stilted, that they were making an effort to appear to be enjoying themselves. Marler smoked more king-sizes than was usual. Butler and Nield joined in the conversation but only Nield had a light-hearted way of talking.
'Paula.' he called out, 'spoil yourself. Have a liqueur with your coffee. That should get the corpuscles running around in circles.'
'It would probably get me running round in circles.'
"That I'd like to see.' Nield continued. 'We could dance the samba, create a sensation. People at other tables seem to be taking life far too seriously. The idea of going out for a meal is to enjoy yourself. And you're looking particularly ravishing tonight.'
"Thank you, Pete. You're dangerous. In a minute I'll order a Grand Marnier.'
'I'll order it for you now ...'
'I said in a minute.'
She liked Pete Nield. He was good-looking, always calm in a critical situation. He gave the impression of really finding life a great entertainment.
'Glad you think I'm dangerous.' he chaffed her. 'I'm told women can't resist a man who has a reputation for being dangerous. You know why?'
Tell me.' She laughed. 'You sound like an expert in that way of life.'
"They are attracted to dangerous men because ...' he leaned forward '... they believe they can tame them. They are a challenge. Few women can resist a challenge.'
'If you say so.' She laughed again. 'Are you challenging me, Pete?'
'Don't take him on, Paula.' Newman joked. 'Behind that suave manner is a very experienced Casanova ...'
Paula was laughing again when a shadowy figure appeared in the courtyard. It wore a wide-brimmed slouch hat pulled down over the forehead, large dark glasses, a scarf wrapped round the lower part of the face, a short trenchcoat and denims.
At first sight there was nothing strange about the garb - it was very chilly outside and Paula had worn her fur coat. Shuffling along at a rapid _ pace, the figure approached the window. Paula froze in mid-laugh. The invisible eyes behind the dark glasses stared at her. Then both hands were raised and she saw they were clutching a circular object the size of a large soup plate. The figure thrust the object against the glass and it remained there, like a turtle poised at right angles to the ground.
Only Alvarez had noticed her sudden change of expression. He saw the turtle clinging to the window as the figure began to leave the courtyard, its shadow enormous in the illumination from the fountains. He jumped up, kicking his chair back, shouted at the top of his voice.
'On the floor, everybody. It's a bomb!'
Having delivered his warning he dived out of the restaurant into the courtyard. He heard footsteps running away but all his attention was concentrated on the turtle. Grasping it with both strong nimble hands, he prised its suckers off the glass, threw it into the pool, dropped flat.
The detonation was deafening. Large fragments of the pool's floor were hurled into the air. One slab crashed close to Alvarez's head, but he was unhurt. Gallons of water burst out, headed skywards, then fell like a huge waterfall. The windows of Anton & Michel were splashed with water which poured down the outside of the glass like heavy rain, but the glass stayed intact.
Inside the restaurant Paula had dived under the table with the others. Panic gripped the restaurant, which had been shaken by the blast. Women screamed, men pushed each other out of the way to find space under tables. Plates of food littered the floor, red wine like blood stained the tablecloths.
Outside, Alvarez had jumped to his feet. He was soaked to the skin, but a mild discomfort like that did not affect in the slightest his abundant energy, his endless determination. With his Walther concealed by his side, he ran like the wind after the strange figure which had appeared like an apparition outside the window.
Reaching the exit, he was just in time to see a Chrysler's rear end disappearing round a corner at speed. He swore. Then he ran back to the restaurant. Time to get Tweed & Co. out of the place before the police arrived.
Tweed had already foreseen the importance of a swift departure. The bill was on the table and he quickly dropped several one-hundred-dollar bills on the plate, which included a generous twenty per cent tip. No waste of time with a credit card, no risk of his being traced through its use.
The team had crawled out from under the table v
ery quickly. The only injury was a bruised left elbow Marler had sustained as he dived for cover. Alvarez ushered them out as confusion still gripped the restaurant.
They hurried to the exit from the courtyard. Paula's last memory of the grim experience was seeing a damaged fountain still spurting water against the restaurant window, which masked their flight.
Reaching the parked cars, they piled inside. Overhead was a starry night and there were no pedestrians on the street. They were driven out of Carmel at normal speed and then on to Spanish Bay.
Tweed, in need of company, asked Paula to come with him to his apartment after thanking Alvarez for saving them. The ex-CIA man shrugged as though it was nothing, told Tweed his room number and left them.
29
The truth was Tweed had felt depressed even before the bomb detonated. He had been careful to conceal his feelings from the others. It was the job of the man at the top to maintain morale.
Now his mood was one of cold, controlled rage. He paced back and forth in the spacious living room while Paula lit the gas log fire. It ignited at once, creating warmth and a cheerful blaze. Then she opened the curtains the staff had dosed earlier, opened them a fraction to check the locks. Outside, walking slowly on the wide grass verge, illuminated briefly by a lamp, was Nield. She threw him a kiss, closed the curtain again. Presumably Butler would take over the night-watch later.
Next she went to the extensively stocked minibar, chose a bottle of Chardonnay, then a miniature of Grand Marnier. Without asking, she poured Tweed a glass of wine and, for herself, a small glass of the liqueur. She only spoke after settling down on a couch near the fire.
"The wine is for you,' she told him. 'I think it might help you think, relax.'
"Thank you.'
He was still pacing with slow, deliberate steps, a certain expression on his face. She sipped at her Grand Marnier.
'If I get tiddly you can help me back to my room,' she joked.
