Exocet - Jack Higgins [63]
Her nails were digging into the palms of her hands with the strength of her emotion. She started to shake and Raul Montera did a marvellous thing. He reached for the hands and held them tight, pulling her to her feet.
'It's all right,' he said. 'Be still.' He spoke as if they were alone and put an arm around her shoulders.
Donner said, 'My God, this really is cruelty to dumb animals.' He crossed the room and flung open a green baize door. 'In there, colonel. Make your peace or do whatever you have to. I want words with the gallant major here anyway.'
* * *
In Paris, Nikolai Belov was just about to retire for the night when the phone rang. Irana took the call.
'It's Donner for you,' she said.
Belov took the phone from her. 'How are things going?'
'More than interesting. Listen to this.' Donner gave him a quick run-down on the evening's events. When he was finished, he said, 'Have you done the usual search procedure on this one with your friends in French Intelligence?'
Although the scandal of the Sapphire affairs had rooted out most KGB infiltration of the French Intelligence system, Belov still had agents in important positions there.
'We've run a most thorough check and it's right up to the minute. I only received the final report an hour ago. I'd intended phoning you in the morning. Not even a hint of your activities at any level in the system. No one waiting for you, no traps.'
'But British Intelligence have certainly been on the ball. I wonder how.'
'Surely the woman's involvement and her interest in Montera answers that. Montera was the link. She met him in London and then, by chance apparently, in Paris. But no accident at all, as we now see, and the time scale is such that it can only mean British Intelligence were expecting him to turn up. If we've been blown I would say it's occurred at the Argentine end and nowhere else.'
'That makes sense.'
'You still intend to proceed?'
'No reason not to.'
'Fine, is there anything I can do for you?'
'Yes, as a matter of fact there is. I think it's time for a holiday back home in case there are any repercussions on this one. The Chieftain can make Finland with no problem. Can you recommend a suitable airfield to land at there?'
'Certainly. Perind. We use it frequently. I'll see that arrangements are made for onward transportation. By the way, a news item of interest tonight. Professor Paul Bernard was discovered in a warehouse by the Seine shot through the head.'
'Is that a fact? Any juicy details?'
'The police are pursuing their enquiries. You know how it is?'
'I certainly do. I'll be in touch.'
Belov put down the phone and sat there on the edge of the bed thinking. Irana said, 'What is it?'
He smiled and held her hand. 'I haven't taken any leave this year and neither have you. How would you like a trip to Moscow?'
'When?' she said.
'No time like the present. We could catch the Aeroflot flight at seven a.m.'
'I see. You have a bad feeling about this business?'
'Just a twinge and I'm too old to take chances.' He smiled again. 'You better phone through now and get the seats.'
* * *
The room into which Donner had pushed Montera and Gabrielle was a kind of butler's pantry and wine store and the window was heavily barred. She sat on a box and Montera lit a cigarette and waited.
She took a deep breath and looked up at him. 'Can I tell you about it?'
'That might be a good idea.'
'Tony and I were married for five years. We were divorced six months ago. Everything else I told you about myself is true. I missed out the fact that my mother is English and that she married again when I was quite small - an Englishman.'
'Which explains the half-brother.'
'Yes. I've worked in journalism as I told you, but I happen to have a gift for languages. I just soak them up. Always did, even as a child. Tony was frequently called upon to work with Group Four, that's the section of British Intelligence that deals with anti-terrorism. Brigadier Ferguson, who runs it, approached me to work for them on a number of occasions. Nothing very heavy. Mainly because