Passenger to Frankfurt - Agatha Christie [86]
‘What about Circle J–Juanita?’ asked James Kleek.
‘As yet we cannot be sure.’
‘James has certain ideas as to that,’ said Lord Altamount. ‘I hope he may be wrong–yes, I hope so. The initial J is interesting. What does it stand for–Justice? Judgment?’
‘A dedicated killer,’ said James Kleek. ‘The female of the species is more deadly than the male.’
‘There are historical precedents,’ admitted Altamount. ‘Jael setting butter in a lordly dish before Sisera–and afterwards driving the nail through his head. Judith executing Holofernes, and applauded for it by her countrymen. Yes, you may have something there.’
‘So you think you know who Juanita is, do you?’ said Mr Robinson. ‘That’s interesting.’
‘Well, perhaps I’m wrong, sir, but there have been things that made me think–’
‘Yes,’ said Mr Robinson, ‘we have all had to think, haven’t we? Better say who you think it is, James.’
‘The Countess Renata Zerkowski.’
‘What makes you pitch upon her?’
‘The places she’s been, the people she’s been in contact with. There’s been too much coincidence about the way she has been turning up in different places, and all that. She’s been in Bavaria. She’s been visiting Big Charlotte there. What’s more, she took Stafford Nye with her. I think that’s significant–’
‘You think they’re in this together?’ asked Altamount.
‘I wouldn’t like to say that. I don’t know enough about him, but…’ He paused.
‘Yes,’ said Lord Altamount, ‘there have been doubts about him. He was suspected from the beginning.’
‘By Henry Horsham?’
‘Henry Horsham for one, perhaps. Colonel Pikeaway isn’t sure, I imagine. He’s been under observation. Probably knows it too. He’s not a fool.’
‘Another of them,’ said James Kleek savagely. ‘Extraordinary, how we can breed them, how we trust them, tell ’em our secrets, let them know what we’re doing, go on saying: “If there’s one person I’m absolutely sure of it’s–oh, McLean, or Burgess, or Philby, or any of the lot.” And now–Stafford Nye.’
‘Stafford Nye, indoctrinated by Renata alias Juanita,’ said Mr Robinson.
‘There was that curious business at Frankfurt airport,’ said Kleek, ‘and there was the visit to Charlotte. Stafford Nye, I gather, has since been in South America with her. As for she herself–do we know where she is now?’
‘I dare say Mr Robinson does,’ said Lord Altamount. ‘Do you, Mr Robinson?’
‘She’s in the United States. I’ve heard that after staying with friends in Washington or near it, she was in Chicago, then in California and that she went from Austin to visit a top-flight scientist. That’s the last I’ve heard.’
‘What’s she doing there?’
‘One would presume,’ said Mr Robinson, in his calm voice, ‘that she is trying to obtain information.’
‘What information?’
Mr Robinson sighed.
‘That is what one wishes one knew. One presumes that it is the same information that we are anxious to obtain and that she is doing it on our behalf. But one never knows–it may be for the other side.’
He turned to look at Lord Altamount.
‘Tonight, I understand, you are travelling to Scotland. Is that right?’
‘Quite right.’
‘I don’t think he ought to, sir,’ said James Kleek. He turned an anxious face to his employer. ‘You’ve not been so well lately, sir. It’ll be a very tiring journey whichever way you go. Air or train. Can’t you leave it to Munro and Horsham?’
‘At my age it’s a waste of time to take care,’ said Lord Altamount. ‘If I can be useful I would like to die in harness, as the saying goes.’
He smiled at Mr Robinson.
‘You’d better come with us, Robinson.’
Chapter 23
Journey To Scotland
I
The Squadron Leader wondered a little what it was all about. He was accustomed to being left only partly in the picture. That was Security’s doing, he supposed. Taking no chances. He’d done this sort of thing before more than once. Flying a plane of people out to an unlikely spot, with unlikely passengers, being careful to ask no questions except such as were of an entirely factual nature. He knew some of his passengers on this flight but not all of them. Lord Altamount he recognized.