Rhinoceros

CHAPTER 27

Nield was sitting behind the wheel of his Opel when it happened. He had his window open since the heat seemed more torrid than ever. The barrel of the Magnum revolver appeared inside the window. He froze.

'Now get out very slowly. And keep your hands away from any pockets. Otherwise this cannon is likely to take on a life of it own.'

Nield opened the door carefully as the muzzle of the gun retreated a foot or so. He was livid. He recognized who was speaking. The same American who had approached him earlier.

It was only when he stood on the pavement that he realized the guard, clad in civilian clothes, was built like a quarterback. Over six feet tall, his face a fixed mask. Not someone to underestimate.

'Now, buddy, turn so that your back's to me. Again, very slowly. No sudden movements. They make me nervous, trigger-happy.'

Nield revolved in slow motion, stopped when he had his back to the guard. He felt the muzzle rammed into his back. He swore inwardly. No one else appeared to be about and the street, so far as he could see, was deserted. He took a deep breath to cool his anger.

'Next move, buddy, is I'm going to check you. First for weapons. Then for identification. Get it? Because if you don't there'll be one big bang. Don't want you getting brave, do we? The gun is in my right hand and will stay there. Guess I'll use my left hand to check you out. Your girlfriend should have come earlier. Much earlier.'

Nield stood stiffly. His Walther was clamped under the dashboard. He'd grown sloppy, sitting in the car too long, staring at the entrance to the Atlantic. The bastard had crept up behind his car.

'One false move and I'll blow your spine in half.' Another voice. Harry's. Cold as the Arctic. 'This, chum, is an automatic jammed into your back. So maybe you should drop the piece, as I believe you call it, on the pavement. Now!'

The gun hit the pavement with a dull clunk! Hearing the sound, Nield spun round, stooped quickly, picked up the weapon. He held it close to the American's face. His expression worried the guard. It was so devoid of emotion.

'Now,' Nield began, 'let's get something straight before I blow a hole in your head. You're guarding someone important at the Atlantic. We need to know who he is. Talk.'

'Top secret,' the guard mumbled.

The muzzle of his own gun moved closer to his right eye and he blinked. If anyone knew the devastating result of pulling the trigger it was the guard.

'I'll ask you once more,' Nield continued in the same neutral tone. 'Who did you hustle in, using the freight elevator? We may be on the same mission. We're Special Branch, controlled by New Scotland Yard. You tell us who you're guarding and we'll tell you who we're protecting. Deal? Or shall I pull the trigger? We could always dump you in the lake. It's close enough.'

'Just between us?' The guard licked his lips. 'If my guys get to know it's court martial for me.'

'Just between us. My trigger finger is getting itchy.'

'The Secretary of State. Who are you protecting?"

'Winston Churchill.'

Nield stood several paces back from the American who looked furious. He knew Harry was still behind the guard with the Walther pressed into his back. He emptied the huge revolver of bullets, threw them one by one across the road into the park at different angles. The American was appalled.

'How do I explain to my sergeant that I've lost my bullets?'

'Easy. You don't. Surely you can slip into your ammo store and load up again?'

'Guess mebbee I could at that.' The guard took back from Nield his weapon, tucked it down a holster inside his jacket. 'Special Branch? I heard of you guys.'

'The CIA would.'

'That's right

The guard stopped speaking suddenly. He had given away the organization he belonged to. He walked back to the hotel slowly, taking long strides. When he reached the Atlantic he ran up the steps, disappeared. He hadn't risked looking back once.

'You really can talk on your feet,' Harry said.

'I had to pressure him to make him talk. Now I'm going back to tell Tweed the news. I think he'll be interested in the confirmation.'

'I'll drive you to the Four Seasons, then take over the watch. But I'll have to park in a different place.'

'Very British,' Nield remarked as Harry started the car, 'the way Gavin Thunder sneaked in on his own. Whereas the Secretary of State has a small army to look after his precious hide.'

Nield arrived outside the door to Tweed's suite at the same moment as Paula, who was carrying a coloured brochure.

'I have news for him,' she said.

'I have a little news myself…'

Tweed, still in his shirt sleeves – the humidity had become even worse – ushered them both inside. Nield drank two glasses of water and sighed with relief.

'We have news,' Paula reported. 'I think Pete should speak first.'

'The American Secretary of State is staying at the Atlantic,' Nield announced.

'So it's all coming together. Paula, you'll recall how this has happened in the past. Suddenly everything accelerates and the pace never lets up until we reach the climax. We are at that stage now.'

He listened while Nield swiftly told him the circumstances under which they had obtained the information. Tweed said nothing but he was frowning as Nield completed his report.

'Pete, do you think that CIA guard will talk when he is with his pals?'

'I bet he won't,' said Paula. 'Not with his career on the line.'

'I agree,' Nield commented. 'Now I'd better get some sleep.'

'Harry also needs some,' Tweed decided. 'Bring him in and then both of you go straight to bed.' When Nield had left he turned to Paula. 'Something on your mind?'

'You remember when Lisa was in the clinic and desperately trying to tell us something? Ham… Dan… 4S? Recently we thought she was trying to say "Danzer", the chauffeur. I was going through some brochures I picked up downstairs. Look.'

She held up a coloured brochure. It folded out but she had it closed. On the front were three large letters. DAN. She opened it out and the complete word appeared. DANEMARK.

'The German word for Denmark,' she said. 'I think that was what Lisa was trying to say. There's something significant in Denmark.'

'Better ask her when we're all together in the limo in the morning. You could be right. And Denmark is in the far north from here – Milo said that's where his headquarters are.'

Marler arrived just when Paula had finished speaking. He looked as though he'd just had eight hours' sleep, when actually he hadn't had any. He looked at Tweed.

'You've had time to think over the battle plan we worked out. Any doubts?'

'None. It's a flexible plan, allowing for several different situations. I reckon if it's Delgado who is commanding their attack he may have between fifteen and thirty men. And we only have six.'

'Seven,' Marler corrected him. 'Lisa will be with us and I gave her a Beretta automatic with plenty of ammo. Don't look like that, Tweed. I took her to a shooting gallery here I know of. She scored six bull's-eyes twice, the third time it was five bulls, one inner. Not bad. I was staggered.'

'You're in charge.'

Tweed didn't look at Paula. He knew she would be pulling a sour face, expressing doubt. They then had another visitor. When Paula opened the door Nield came in again.

'More news. I'd just climbed into the Opel Harry had parked in a different position when we saw someone come out of the Atlantic and walk briskly back here. You'll never guess who it was.'

'Come on,' Tweed snapped.

'The Brig. Bernard, Lord Barford.'

'Probably went up to have a drink at a different place.'

'So why was he carrying an old-fashioned briefcase?'

Tweed walked out onto the balcony as Nield left. Paula joined him as he stared into the distance. He drank the rest of the Scotch from a glass he had picked up, lit a cigarette.

'It does look as though I've got it all back to front,' he said eventually. 'And tomorrow – prepare for a day of undiluted hell.'