By Stealth

25

`He referred to "my modest villa" – it's a palace,' Tweed commented.

Newman had driven Tweed in the Mercedes and they had arrived at Waterloo. He had been driving slowly and now he stopped close to a pair of tall ornamental gates between two large stone pillars. Beyond the pillars stretched an endless ten-foot-high wall. On top of the wall extended a wire which, Tweed felt sure, was electrified. And the gates were closed. On one pillar a large metal plate carried the legend, in English: MOONGLOW REFUGEE AID TRUST INTERNATIONAL.

`He seems to feel himself in need of a lot of security,' Tweed observed.

Newman got out of the car, went to the speak-phone below the name-plate, pressed the bell, spoke into the grille when a voice asked in French who was calling.

`Mr Tweed. By appointment. To see Dr Wand…'

He didn't wait for a reply. As he sat behind the wheel and closed his door the electronically controlled gates began to move slowly inward. Fifty yards or so beyond the gates, perched on top of a terrace, was a wide three- storey mansion with a mansard roof and the walls painted dove grey. On either side of the straight drive the gardens were laid out with a series of sunken paved areas surrounding a fountain. On a larger scale, it reminded Tweed of Delvaux's estate, but without the taste.

Newman drove inside, stopped just beyond the gates and jumped out. Grabbing one of the white-painted stones lining the drive, he carried it behind the car and laid it against one of the open gates, returned to the car. `What are you up to?' Tweed enquired.

`When the gates close automatically – which they are beginning to do now – the right-hand gate will be stopped by that small boulder and won't close. Just in case we find we have to make rather a swift departure…'

Arriving at the foot of the terrace, Newman turned his car so it pointed back down the straight drive. Side by side they mounted ten steps to the terrace, walked up to two large wooden double doors. Before Tweed could press the bell the door opened. A heavily built man with dark hair slicked back and dressed like a butler stood to one side.

`Dr Wand is waiting to see you now, gentlemen.'

Tweed walked in first, followed by Newman. There was a loud pinging noise. Which was when Newman realized the door was framed with a metal detector. The butler closed the door. He addressed Newman.

`One moment, sir. Are you carrying any weapons?' `Yes,' Newman said promptly. 'A Smith amp; Wesson.' `If you don't mind,' the butler went on in French, 'I'll take care of that while you see Dr Wand.'

`No you won't.'

`It is the custom of the villa. No one carrying a gun is permitted into Dr Wand's presence.'

`Then open the bloody door again, flunkey, and we'll go back to Brussels.'

Newman saw his right hand twitch in an upward movement, then relax. During this verbal duel Tweed had remained silent. This could be a dangerous outing and he felt quite prepared to let Newman handle it in his own way. The butler gave Tweed a little bow.

`If you don't mind waiting a few moments, I have to consult my employer.'

`Go ahead,' Tweed urged him.

While waiting in the enormous entrance hall with a polished wood-block floor decorated with Persian rugs casually laid here and there, Tweed, hands clasped behind his back, strolled over to examine a small framed painting of a woman wearing medieval clothes.

`That's a Holbein,' he remarked to Newman. 'An original if I'm not mistaken. It must have cost a mint.'

`Dr Wand doesn't seem to be short of a bob or two,' Newman commented. 'Aiding refugees.'

The butler had walked to the rear of the hall where a large Regency desk stood. Presumably his station to which he summoned servants to give them orders. He was speaking into an old-fashioned phone with a gold handle. Replacing it on the cradle, he walked back.

`Dr Wand is prepared to make an exception in your case. Please follow me. I will be waiting outside his study door.'

`Eavesdropping?' Newman enquired genially.

Marching ahead of them, the butler missed a step, then resumed his military-style walk. Pausing before a heavy door inlaid with panels, he knocked twice, opened the door and stood aside, closing it as soon as they had entered.

Tweed blinked. The study was a very large room but all the heavy velvet curtains were drawn over the windows. The only illumination came from a shaded desk lamp, tilted so it shone on two low arm chairs in front of the Louis Quinze desk. Behind the desk, seated high up in a tall-backed chair, was a shadowy figure. Still in the shadows, the figure stood up slowly, remaining behind his desk.

`Mr Tweed, it is my great pleasure to be honoured with your company. So please come forward both of you and sit down. I am sure that with men of your intelligence we shall find much of interest to discuss.'

Conscious of the deep pile carpet under his feet, Tweed walked forward more slowly than usual, glancing round as his eyes became accustomed to the dim light. Then he moved sideways, lifted a carver chair, pushed the low armchair out of the way, sat down.

`I prefer this type of chair,' he remarked.

`So do I,' said Newman, bringing forward another carver, seating himself with his legs crossed.

`Mr Newman, I believe?' said Dr Wand, who had settled himself back in his own chair. 'The famous international foreign correspondent. I trust our conversation is – as they say – off the record? I would find it disconcerting to read an account of our meeting later in Der Spiegel.'

`I retired a few years ago,' Newman told him.

`Of course. I recall you wrote an international best-selling book which brought you in a fortune. I read it with fascination. Such a villain.'

`Oh, there's a lot of it about.'

Tweed saw Dr Wand's large head dip forward. For a brief second he saw the eyes behind the gold pince-nez, a flash of pure malevolence. Newman's retort had hit home. Then the head withdrew into the shadows. Wand spoke again in his soft careful voice.

`I must apologize for the paucity of illumination, but strong light affects my eyes. Now, in what way can I be of assistance to you, Mr Tweed?'

`I thought the reverse was the case,' Tweed reminded him. 'We are here at your invitation.'

`Of course. Of course.' Wand paused. 'I find myself intrigued by the fact that you have found it worthwhile spending your valuable time investigating me.'

Now we come to the crunch, Newman thought. He wondered how Tweed would handle the situation. Tweed responded instantly.

`What leads you to think I have the slightest interest in your activities?'

`Come, come, my dear sir. A man in my position – with world-wide interest in the plight of refugees – has of necessity an acute ear to the underground grapevine.'

`Mind if I smoke a cigarette?' Newman asked to throw their host off balance.

`If you must. And you should understand that it is a major concession on my part to allow you in, armed as you are, with a gun.'

His tone of voice had changed. There was an abrasive note. Tweed sensed a dynamic energy in the man he still hadn't seen clearly. Newman responded immediately, removing the cigarette from his mouth.

`Then I would advise you to have a word with your butler. The gun he is carrying in a shoulder holster bulges out for all the world to see.'

`Thank you, Mr Newman. Most kind of you.' An edge of sarcasm now. 'I will most certainly have a word with Jules about his armament. But we live in violent times.'

`Talking about armaments, you are quite right,' Tweed shot back quickly. 'Sir Gerald Andover was murdered outside the estate of Gaston Delvaux in Liege last night. You've heard of Andover, of course – on your underground grapevine.'

Newman smiled to himself. The pace was hotting up. Tweed was seizing on every opening. He had the impression Dr Wand was furious he had opened a chink in his armour.

`Yes,' Wand said reflectively, 'somewhere I have indeed heard of Andover. I believe he is – was – a crackpot who propounded bizarre theories.'

`Or a genius who saw what was coming next to menace the Western world,' Tweed snapped with a bite.

`And what is coming next, if I may be so bold as to enquire?'

`The refugee problem, for one thing, is a horrendous menace. Thousands – maybe millions – on the move from the East. Europe would be swamped if they were allowed through. And yet, apparently, your organization is dedicated to infiltrating these people into our midst.'

`Infiltrating!' Wand sounded horrified. He shifted in his chair and his head appeared briefly in the light. Cruel eyes regarded Tweed from behind the flashing of the pince-nez. 'Would you kindly be more explicit? What precisely are you suggesting about my organization, when its only purpose is to help poor and helpless people?'

`It was a figure of speech,' Tweed said smoothly. 'Why is the subject of refugees such a sensitive point?'

`We have to be so selective – distinguishing between political and economic refugees. Surely you have heard the topic argued about?'

`Is there any connection between your trading company operating out of Hong Kong and your refugee organization?'

`None whatsoever.' Wand's tone was very abrasive. `My understanding is your own company is concerned with the negotiation of wealthy men who have been kidnapped. You are supposed to be an expert negotiator in such cases – so how does that link up with what you have been talking about?'

`Because a prominent man has been kidnapped. And I am negotiating his release,' Tweed lied.

There was a long silence. Dr Wand shifted restlessly in his chair. He adjusted his pince-nez. Suddenly his manner changed, became amiable.

`And you are near success in your difficult undertaking, I trust?'

`Oh yes. Vital information has come to light. At the moment you might say we are closing in on our target. There are certain people in Brussels and I wonder why they are here. I think I may have found out why.'

Another pause. Newman, the unlit cigarette still clamped between his lips, was fiddling with his throwaway lighter under cover of the desk. He was using his tough thumb-nail to revolve the wheel controlling the power of the gas, converting it into a miniature flame-thrower.

`Then may I wish you good health, Mr Tweed. And also success in your – I am sure – most difficult task. One wrong move and, I suppose, the whole thing could blow up in your face.' The voice became so soft Tweed only just caught the words. 'That would be a tragedy for you – and for all those involved.'

Newman chose that moment to lean forward, to flick the wheel of his lighter. A large flame speared up, he held it steady while he touched the tip of his cigarette, then he released the wheel and the scorching flame died. In those few seconds both men had a photo-flash image of Dr Wand. He threw up a hand to shield his face, but not before they had seen him.

Tweed caught an expression of satanic fury. The eyes glared savagely. Wand had prominent cheekbones, a nose like the prow of a ship, and swiftly he smiled, which was not a pleasant sight, his thin lips twisted in a smile like Siberia. He rose behind his desk, now back in the shadows.

`Mr Tweed, I wish to express to you my deep gratitude for spending a little of your undoubtedly precious time in travelling all the way from Brussels to see me. As I expected, I have found our conversation stimulating and illuminating. You appear to be engaged in a most dangerous occupation. Let us hope you survive for many more years.'

`I expect to do just that,' Tweed replied tersely.

Dr Wand must have pressed a button. The door opened and the butler appeared, holding the handle and standing erect as he gazed straight ahead. Wand ignored Newman, made no further reference to him, and again he made no attempt to shake hands in the Belgian fashion.

Escorting them across the hall, the butler opened a small metal casing attached to the wall. He frowned.

`The gates do not appear to have closed properly.' `Well, just make sure you open them properly,' Newman suggested jovially.

When they drove away down the drive the gates were wide open. Newman stopped in the road, ran back, replaced the stone by the garden border, returned to the car, and headed back for Brussels.

Inside his study Dr Wand sat in the gloom, his hands clasped in his lap. He sat quite motionless, thinking at top speed. When the phone rang he reached for the receiver automatically, half his mind thousands of miles away.

`Yes?'

`This is Anne-Marie,' a woman's voice said, as always using her code-name. 'I am speaking from a call box.'

`A most wise precaution, I am sure. You have some news for me?'

`Yes. From a fairly brief observation of Miss Grey and her employer I would say they are very close to each other.'

`You believe that she is his mistress?'

`No. I don't think it's that kind of a relationship. I do think he is very fond of her, that he regards her as invaluable as well as a friend.'

`I find that interesting, most interesting indeed. A man may discard a mistress without a qualm, but pure friendship goes deeper. Continue, if you would be so kind, to communicate with me regularly. Goodbye…'

The phone call decided Wand to take certain action he had only been contemplating. Earlier Dr Hyde had called him from Liege, giving him the name of his hotel, its phone number and his room number. Wand dialled the number of the Liege hotel, asked to be put through to Dr Hyde.

`Who is this calling?' the soothing voice of Dr Hyde enquired cautiously.

`Your patron is calling you…' The use of this word amused Wand: Dr Hyde was a loyal servant only because he was paid so well. 'You recognize my voice?'

`Indeed I do. How may I be of service?'

`There may well be another patient requiring treatment at your hands. A woman. There may be a delay. It is a question of securing her availability. I will call you when the time is right. In the mean time I suggest you remain where you are. You can always sample the delights of Liege…'

`Dr Wand is an even more evil character than he appears in the photos Marler took of him,' Newman remarked as he parked in front of the Hilton.

`That trick of yours with the lighter was clever,' Tweed replied. 'And I agree with you. Some villains are difficult to detect – they have the charm of the devil. But in that brief moment when your lighter flared I had the impression we were in the presence of the Devil himself. A man capable of ordering the bizarre and horrific treatment of Irene Andover. To say nothing of arranging for the Liege assassin to drive down poor Andover.'

`Whom he referred to as a crackpot,' Newman recalled.

`And that was a tactical error. An unusual mistake for Dr Wand to make, I'd guess. His object was to discredit Andover's global theories. Why? Because they are true, I suspect,' he remarked as they stepped into the elevator.

`You went overboard yourself a bit when you talked of us closing in on our target.'

`Deliberately. I wanted to disturb him. I think that I succeeded. A disturbed man can make a fatal blunder.'

`You talked a moment ago about the horrific treatment of Irene Andover,' Newman reminded him. 'You really think a top-flight doctor is involved – the amputations I'm thinking of. Irene's severed arm. Lucie Delvaux's severed hand. Sheer cold-blooded butchery.'

`I'll know whether it took a skilled surgeon after I've seen Dr Rabin in London.' He checked his watch. 'I'll just have time to pick up my packed bag and the radar device from the deposit box.' They entered Room 2009.

`And both Butler and Nield are going back with you?'

`No. A change of plan. You are in charge while I'm away. Harry Butler will accompany me back to London. But Pete Nield will stay in Brussels. He has a special job to do. Give him this instruction from me. He is to guard Paula night and day – and I do mean guard. He must never let her out of his sight. Warn Marler, too…'

He had just spoken when there was a tap on the door. Newman opened it and Marler walked in with Paula.

`I've got five minutes,' Tweed told them.

Marler gave him a terse report of their locating the colony of new houses outside Ghent. Tweed looked grim as he picked up his case.

`The Mongols infiltrated spies ahead of their armies. It looks as though Wand's apparatus is already widespread. We may well move fast when I get back from London.'