“Obviously, that someone would have to be able to handle himself if things got tough and be an extraordinarily experienced diver of course.” Vince said.
“I agree on both counts. Especially, with an unknown foe running around, so it’s got to be someone who thinks like a criminal and has no regard for protocol whatsoever.” LJ continued to pace around the office.
“Of course, that someone will be a wild card. Maverick in style, and have a total disregard for personal safety as well as operational procedure.”
“You know, life can be so extremely perverse on occasions, Vince. I must have been very naïve to think that I wouldn’t have to endure that temperamental and capricious character ever again, let alone his flagrant contempt for authority. But I have to concede to the fact that he’s undeniably perfect for this assignment.”
“Is he still on indefinite leave?”
“Yes, the Partners thought it best after that episode in Dorset. But he appears to have redeemed himself in the eyes of the FBI. Which I suppose is something to his credit.”
“Do we know where he is?”
“Oh I know exactly where he is. Ever been to California, Vince?”
“Never, boss.”
“Well, in that case this will be a new experience for you then. I’ll get young Roberts to book us business class seats on the next available flight to Los Angeles. You get off home, and pack a few things. Roberts will phone you later with the flight time. As for me, I’m off to have dinner with Miss Cunningham. Oh and Vince, before you leave, contact that FBI fellow, Dan Parker in Florida, and make sure that our friend is still staying at the Beverly Hills Hilton. If he is there, and I’ve no reason to suppose that he’s not, then please book two rooms in my name.”
“It’ll be a pleasure, boss.”
Chapter Five
Dillon was enjoying a glass of the hotel’s finest vintage Champagne, when a knock came at the door of the penthouse suite. Ignoring this intrusion, he continued to stroke the naked back of his beautiful female companion; asleep next to him on the enormous bed. Five minutes later the bedside phone started to ring. He reached over and picked up the handset, listening to the voice at the other end of the line. It was the hotel manager, informing him that there were two gentlemen from London to see him, and that they were waiting downstairs at the bar by the swimming pool. He put on a pair of linen trousers and short-sleeved shirt. Went back to the bed, leaned over and lightly kissed the attractive blonde-haired woman on the back of her neck. She stirred sleepily, rolling over, and stretching her elegant and sensuous body underneath the silk sheet that partially covered her. On seeing him, she said in a sleepy voice. “Hello, Jake Dillon. Why are you dressed?”
“Because we’ve got company from London.” “Come back to bed, I’m not finished with you yet.” “Well, as much as I’d love too comply with a woman of such persuasion, Tatiana. I’m afraid that I’m going to have to go downstairs, and talk with our two unannounced guests.”
“Who are they, do we know them?”
“No idea, but I’ve got a feeling who it might be. And if I’m right, I should only be fifteen minutes at most. So why don’t you put another bottle of bubbly on ice?” As Dillon turned to leave, Tats reached up and pulled the Englishman back down onto the bed. When they kissed it was hot and passionate, her expensive perfume filled his nostrils. She made his head spin, and his heart pound, as she’d done from the moment they’d met in the corridor of Ferran & Cardini, where they both worked. That was well over a year ago, and the time that they’d started to see each other seriously.
At his Château on the outskirts of Paris, Hugo Malakoff was about to take a mid-morning ride on one of his prized horses, when his butler came out and informed him that there was a telephone call from England. It was Oliver Asquith.
“Hugo, I’m so sorry to trouble you, but I’ve been trying to get you all morning.”
“I lead a very busy life, Oliver. Now what news have you got for me?”
“Levenson-Jones telephoned me late last evening. He’s spoken to the Cunningham girl who has informed him that she doesn’t know the location of the cavern. Apparently her father had told her about the cavern and the U-boat before he flew up to London, but deliberately kept the location a secret.”
“How does Levenson-Jones know that she is not lying about this?”
“Because he has over twenty five years of interrogation experience, that’s how.”
“What of Commander Cunningham’s condition?”
“Still in a coma I’m afraid, Hugo. Doctors say he could come out of it at anytime. It may be weeks even months before he regains consciousness.”
“That is very unfortunate, Oliver. However, Cunningham is not the threat. Levenson-Jones is. Do you know what he’s up to?”
“No, all he said to me was that he’d keep me posted if anything turned up.”
“And what of the girl? Is she still staying with Levenson-Jones?”
“Yes, she’s still at the Belgrave Mews apartment.”
“Good.” said Malakoff.
“So what’s our next move, Hugo?”
“What do you mean, Oliver? Our next move, you will continue to do nothing. After all it is what you do best, isn’t it? I’m still not convinced though that the girl is telling the truth. So I think that we will pay Miss Cunningham a little visit.”
“What do you mean a visit?”
“A visit, Oliver. It will simply be two police officers, or that is what she will think, and they will simply be asking her a few simple questions to assist them with their enquiries into her father’s hit and run accident, if that’s not successful. Well, my people in London will just have to think of some other way to approach her.”
“You can’t expect to get away with that, surely, Hugo. I mean she’ll see straight through it. She’s not stupid or naïve you know.”
“My dear Oliver, there you go again, presuming the worst. It is a very foolish man who presumes what the outcome of something will be, before it has taken place. All that I require from you, is that you keep me posted as regards Levenson-Jones’ plans, and I’ll have the Cunningham girl taken care of. Now, I have business meetings this afternoon and intend to stay here at the château for another day at least. In the meantime I’ll have my boat made ready for sea. We will need to be set to sail immediately we hear that Levenson-Jones is heading for Jersey. Until we know more, I think that’s about it. Now, is there any part of what I’ve just said that you do not understand Oliver?”
“You can be so bloody patronising at times, Hugo. My head is spinning with all of this stuff. It’s alright for you, but if this comes out I’m finished. Do you hear, Hugo, bloody finished.”
“I promise you this, Oliver. That U-boat will never surface. Because I will see to it personally that it doesn’t, my old friend. I’ve no intention of allowing this LevensonJones, or whomever he sends to Jersey to destroy what has taken many years to build. So don’t worry yourself, you leave the messy end of this business to me.”
Malakoff hung up, and immediately rang the yacht club to instruct them to make his sixty-five foot Sunseeker Carmargue ready for sea. He then went back outside, mounted his horse, and set off at a canter across the field on his morning ride.
Dillon came out of the cool air-conditioned interior of the luxurious hotel. To be greeted by the brilliant Californian sunshine and Edward Levenson-Jones who was wearing a dark blue blazer, a pair of khaki trousers and a rather ancient Panama hat. The silk headband of which sported the colours of his old public school. Sitting next to him was Vince Sharp, resplendent in Australian bush hat that had seen better days.