Dark Side of the Street - Jack Higgins [28]
"Somehow that's what I thought you might say," Mackenzie said. "Another time perhaps. Shall we go?"
The car waited in the shadows of the far side of the park, a Vauxhall brake, and Mackenzie drove away at once, taking a road which had them out of Manningham and into the countryside within ten minutes.
He switched on the radio and as music drifted out, leaned back in the driving seat, his eyes on the road. "And now we can get down to business, Mr. Youngblood."
"I was wondering when you'd get round to it."
Mackenzie laughed gently. "Do you know something? That's exactly what Ben Hoffa said."
Youngblood turned to look at him. "You handled Ben's break?"
"But of course. The Baron always gives me the big ones."
"Where is he now?"
"Hoffa?" Mackenzie chuckled. "A long, long way away, Mr. Youngblood. I can assure you of that and they won't get him back. That's all part of our guaranteed service. But let's dispose of the sordid cash angle first. You know our terms--they were fully explained. We've kept our part of the bargain--we've got you out. You tell us where the cash is and that completes Phase One of the operation."
"There is no cash," Youngblood said calmly.
The car swerved and Mackenzie fought to regain control. "You're joking of course."
"Not at all. I did a deal with some Dutch money changers in Amsterdam and converted my share into diamonds--two hundred and fifty thousand pounds' worth."
"Not bad--not bad at all. Prices have risen a lot in five years. Where are they?"
"A safe deposit in Jermyn Street in London in the name of Alfred Bonner. One of those places where the manager keeps one key and the customer the other. You need both to open the box."
"And who has yours?"
"My sister. She lives at 15 Wheeler Court, Bethnal Green. She'll hand it over with no trouble. I put her in the picture when she last visited me three months ago."
"That all sounds perfectly straightforward," Mackenzie said. "I'll pass the information along to the right quarter."
"And what happens to us?"
"You'll be well taken care of. If everything goes according to plan, they'll start Phase Two when the Baron has his hands on those diamonds. I should point out, by the way, that Mr. Drummond here is very definitely going to come extra."
"And when do we get to see the Baron?" Chavasse said.
"When he's ready and not before. Under our system you're passed on from hand to hand as it were. We find that much safer for all concerned."
"With the Baron waiting at the end with my money, I hope?" Youngblood said.
"Plus a new identity, a new life, a passport to anywhere in the world. I should have thought that was quite a bargain, old man."
Ahead was an intersection and he turned left into a quiet secondary road and braked to a halt about a mile further on. It had stopped raining and a full moon had appeared from behind a bank of heavy cloud so that they could see quite clearly a five barred gate and a ruined farmhouse beyond.
"All out!" Mackenzie said. "This is where I leave you."
Youngblood and Chavasse stepped on to the grass verge and looked around them. "What is this?" Youngblood demanded.
Mackenzie slipped off his watch and gave it to him through the window. "It's now nine thirty-five. In approximately ten minutes someone will pick you up."
"What's he driving?" Chavasse asked.
"I've no idea. His opening words will be: Is there anywhere in particular you'd like me to take you? You must answer: Babylon. He'll tell you Babylon's too far for him, but will offer to take you part of the way. Have you got that?"
Youngblood stared at him in amazement. "Are you crazy?"
"If I am, then you've made a damned bad bargain, old man," Mackenzie said and he released the handbrake and drove rapidly away.
They stood there, listening to the engine fade into the distance and when it had finally died Youngblood turned to Chavasse, face white in the moonlight.
"What do you think? Are they just stringing us along?"
"I shouldn't have thought so. They've too much to lose."
"I suppose you're right.