Dark Side of the Street - Jack Higgins [63]
"Those things he said about you upstairs--they were all true?"
"That's right."
Youngblood turned away, exploding angrily. "Me, Harry Youngblood, taken in by a bloody copper.
Chavasse could have pointed out that without his assistance, Youngblood's journey would have come to an abrupt halt at Wykehead Farm, but he knew that he would be wasting his time.
"If you want to know, I couldn't care less about you and your friends and I'm not a policeman. Stavru happens to run a nice little sideline in the sale of state secrets and traitors to people who aren't on exactly friendly terms with our government. The department I work for has one main interest--to see that he's stopped."
"Which would include making sure that I went back to gaol for fifteen years," Youngblood said. "Or did you intend to let me go free?"
"That kind of decision isn't mine to make."
"My God, after all I've done for you." Youngblood turned away, shaking with rage and Molly moved out of the darkness to clutch at his arm.
"What's going to happen, Harry?"
He turned on her angrily, shoving her violently from him so that she hit the opposite wall. "Get away from me, you stupid little whore."
She sank on to a bench, crying steadily and Chavasse lit a cigarette. "Does that make you feel any better?"
"Why don't you get stuffed?" Youngblood peered out of the window for a moment and turned suddenly. "What happens now? Did he give you any idea?"
"Do I have to draw you a picture?"
"Maybe I could make a deal?" Youngblood said eagerly.
"With what? He's got your diamonds, hasn't he? What does he want with you? You're supposed to be at the bottom of the well back there at Wykehead."
"But there must be something," Youngblood cried and there was an edge of hysteria in his voice.
Chavasse moved past him, pulled himself up to the window and looked out at ground level across the courtyard. As he watched, Gledik appeared from the trees and ran across to the house quickly.
Chavasse dropped to the ground and turned with a faint smile. "I think we'll see some action soon."
It came within three or four minutes. Footsteps hurried along the passageway, the door was thrown open and light flooded in as Vaughan appeared. He had discarded the machine gun and now held a .38 revolver in his right hand. Strangely enough, he seemed rather amused.
"Count Stavru would like a word with you if you can spare a minute, old man," he said to Chavasse. "And be warned--he's very annoyed."
Chavasse glanced at his watch. It was almost nine and he shrugged. "My time is your time. I've certainly nothing better to do." He turned to Youngblood. "If I'm not back in fifteen minutes send out the dogs."
But Youngblood failed to respond, turning away with an angry exclamation and Chavasse sighed and moved out into the passage ahead of Vaughan.
Stavru was standing by the fireplace talking to Gledik in Hungarian and he turned quickly as Chavasse and Vaughan came in. He was like a different man, the skin drawn tightly over his cheekbones, the eyes cold and hard.
"I understand from Gledik that the engine of the helicopter has been damaged beyond repair. Presumably this was your doing?"
"That's right."
"That was very foolish of you."
"I don't think so." Chavasse walked to the sideboard and calmly poured himself a glass of brandy. "You're not going anywhere, Stavru. You're finished--all washed up. Before we left Upton Magna last night I phoned through to my headquarters in London. I told them about Longue Pierre and they did a quick check and came up with you, so now everyone's happy. By the way, I shouldn't waste your time trying to get hold of World Wide Exports today--I don't think they'll be open for business."
Stavru turned to Vaughan. "You think he is telling the truth?"
"Very probably."
"Which means his friends may come down on us at any time."
"That's right," Chavasse said smoothly. "Courtesy of the Royal Navy."
Stavru shrugged. "The situation is certainly inconvenient, but not impossible. The Pride of Man is a very fast boat. We