This United state

27

They were transported in unmarked police cars from headquarters to the far side of the river. The route took them over the bridge Tweed could see when he looked right – upstream – from his bedroom window. Beck drove the first car with Tweed sitting next to him, nursing the canvas holdall in his lap. In the rear sat Paula and Newman. The others were in a similar car following behind them.

'The Minotaur will come downriver on this side,' Beck explained. 'I've had a report from my officer watching the vessel that a number of people in cars drove into the yard, then when they came out they only had the driver in each vehicle. So the party is aboard.'

'Did your officer wait – to see if those cars returned?' Tweed asked.

'No, he didn't. Why would the cars return so quickly?'

'I just wondered.'

A strong wind had blown up suddenly. Crossing the bridge, Paula noticed wavelets ruffling the surface of the Rhine. She hoped the tablet she had given Tweed would work. It was likely to be choppy aboard a launch. Added to the wind, an army of low dark clouds swept over the city, creating a heavy pall. Beck had driven into the city on the other hank and then turned right along a course parallel to the river.

'You have your own launch, as requested,' he told Tweed. 'I am in the big one brought out of the boat shed. There will be three other launches, packed with my men. One of them has boarding equipment – just in case we meet resistance when I order the Minotaur to heave to. I shall do that further downriver, near the harbour.'

'I have a loudhailer here. If I order all launches to speed away from the barge they must do so very quickly.'

'What would cause you to do that?' Beck asked in surprise.

'An emergency. A dangerous one.'

'If you say so. You usually know what you're doing.

All launches have wireless communication, but the skipper of each one also has a mobile phone, as I have.'

'If it comes to it, use the mobile. It will be quicker.'

'I should have checked earlier. You do have someone experienced in handling a high-powered launch?'.

'Two,' Tweed replied. 'Newman and Marler.'

'We have cordoned off a section of the riverfront with police tape,' Beck went on. 'To keep the public away from where our launches are assembled.'

'You seem to have thought of everything.'

'I believed so – until you made your remark about your loudhailer. I expect this to be a straightforward operation. We shall arrest everyone on board, saying we have been tipped off that the barge is carrying drugs. They'll wave their diplomatic passports, particularly if Ronstadt is aboard. I'll say I think they are producing phoney documentation and have to check with their authorities. Ronstadt will think I mean their Berne Embassy, but in due course I'll contact Washington. Meantime we interrogate the passengers.'

'You've thought it out well. Have you had a complaint from the Berne Embassy?'

'Not a cheep, as I think you sometimes say. Obviously he was bluffing. Rather a giveaway.'

'It's after 4 pm,' Tweed said. 'If they stick to their timetable the Minotaur is coming.'

'And here we are at the landing stage.'