Quiller's Run

'She means that much to you?'

'Not really. I've only known her a few days. But she's a woman."

He got impatient now, dropped his briefcase onto the end of the couch and put his hands into the pockets of his jacket, thumbs hooked over the edge. 'But surely that's rather Victorian?'

'No, I'm way ahead of my time.' I took a step closer to him, pet subject, he'd better keep off. 'One day they're going to be thought of as important to us.'

He watched me for a bit longer and then sat down in the winged chair, arms across his knees, hands hanging. 'Rabid romanticism,' I think he said, it was under his breath. Louder, looking up, 'And what would you imagine Shoda would do to you, once you were in her hands?'

'Have my head.'

'Having done which, she'd then be free to proceed with her projected coup and set the whole of Southeast Asia on fire. And you would place that as having less importance than the life of one woman?'

'Right on.'

Pepperidge put out a cautioning hand. 'Old boy, you -' and then saw my expression and drew it back, shrugging.

'Your word on this,' Loman said, 'is final?'

'Yes.'

'So if we receive a message from Shoda, through the British High Commission or the Thai Embassy, that McCorkadale is in their hands and an exchange is proposed, we simply hand you over?'

'Yes. But it doesn't have to come to that, with a bit of luck.' I turned to Pepperidge. 'She was seen just after ten yesterday morning – where did she say she was going?'

'No one seems to know.'

'She leave by car?'

'One of the front desk clerks said she got into a cyclo.'

'What's your guess?'

He spread a hand. 'It's on the cards that she got a message asking her to meet you, and didn't question it. She was worried about you, because of Kishnar.'

'Shoda's got a house here in the city, in Saiboo Street, did you know?'

'Yes. How did you know?'

'Sayako told me. That's where I'll have to start.'

I was halfway to the doors when I heard Loman.

'Quiller.'

Sounded quite urgent, sharp. Made me stop and turn.

'I'll offer you a deal.'

'A what?'

'A deal.' He was coming towards me between the tables. 'I respect your abilities, but how much chance would you say you had of finding McCorkadale and getting her out alive, without playing straight into Shoda's hands and getting killed yourself?'

'Not much.'

'I agree. I'd say you have no chance at all. But my own resources are infinitely greater, with the Bureau behind me.'

'This isn't a case for massive support; it needs just one man to go in. I'm -'

'To go in to Shoda's house?'

'No. Into the operation, but that's got to be the focus.'

'We can have it surrounded by police. We can -'

'What good would that do?"

'The first glimpse we get of McCorkadale, the first hint we get that she's in there and against her will we can -'

'Oh come on, Loman, Shoda's untouchable, on a political level, you know that. Otherwise we could have destroyed her before now.'

He took a step closer to me, very intent, not impatient any more, very earnest. 'If you try to save McCorkadale you'll be putting it all on one throw, Quiller. You've only got one life – we've got hundreds.'

'You told me she's expendable —'

'In terms of policy, she's not indispensable, yes, but —'

'For Christ's sake, say what you mean – you're going to throw her to the dogs.'

Very fast – 'Not if you'll make a deal.'

'What deal?'

'You'd need to listen for a moment,' tone rather thin, he wasn't terribly fond of me either, you've probably noticed mat. 'And so far you've shown a certain reluctance.'

May God give me patience with this little prick.

'I haven't got long, so try and use short words.'

He turned away and stood thinking for a couple of seconds. I'd rather thrown him, I suppose, by agreeing to listen at all.

Turned to me – 'If you will continue the mission, I will guarantee that the whole of our resources will be brought in immediately with the object of finding and bringing McCorkadale to safely, with the cooperation of the British High Commission, the Thai Embassy, the Singapore police and every sleeper and agent-in-place we can mobilise in this city and at once. That is the deal.'

I think I started to say something and changed my mind. This thing was too big for emotions to play any part in the decision-making and I'd have to come down off the high or I'd smash things up, no better than a small boy in a tantrum. Loman was a little shit and I couldn't stand him but he was also one of the elite controls in the very highest echelons of the Bureau and he'd run me before, Bangkok and Tangier, and he'd been good in the field, faultless, and he'd got me home alive. So calm down, yes, just let him talk for a minute.

'You would also have the benefit of the Bureau's resources, including the personal supervision of Mr Croder, which carries an importance I'm sure you appreciate.'

I didn't say anything. Let him sell it to me, give me the whole pitch, but if he said a wrong word he'd lose me.

'You would still be working officially for the Thai government and would receive whatever remuneration you've agreed on with them. We wouldn't question it.' He was watching me hard, hoping to see a reaction, but he was forgetting – a good ferret's got bright black eyes that never show anything, it's part of the. job.

'I must tell you, Quiller, that I came out here because we now have only three days left. Mariko Shoda has set a deadline for the launching of her coup – three days from now. In view of this, I hope that you'll decide not to abort your mission at such a critical stage.'

He waited. I let him.

Three days. How the hell could he say that?

I wasn't going to ask. Not yet.

'Anything else?'

He got an envelope from his pocket and pulled out a letter and unfolded it and dropped it onto the little iron table near him and turned away.

'You may care to read that.'

Like someone throwing down the ace. I picked it up.

Very white, very crisp embossed paper, official seal of the Prime Minister, 10 Downing Street. In view of the very critical issues now endangering peace and geopolitical stability in Southeast Asia, nothing must be neglected that might redeem the situation. It is therefore my earnest hope that the agent in question, whose record is well known to me, can be persuaded to proceed with his present mission and bring it to a successful conclusion. You may if you wish convey my feelings to him.

When I looked up Loman had turned back and was watching me with that deadpan complacency he can turn on when he thinks he's won. I dropped the letter back onto the table.

'Sheer bloody blackmail.'

'I'm sorry it strikes you like that.'

'What made you think I'd need "persuading" to stay in?'

'I knew that the moment you saw me here you'd start giving us trouble.' He came and picked up the letter and put it away. 'So you refuse to stay with the mission?'

'No.'

The nerves went slack, suddenly, relief I suppose, I'd got somewhere to go now.

'Do you mean you'll stay in, under the Bureau's direction?'

'Yes. I'll do what I can. That's all I can say.'

I wasn't looking at him, just heard the tone in his voice, nothing triumphant, just very quiet, very cool now. 'That's all we require.'

He'd done well. He'd put a five-star ferret down the hole again without touching the sides and he hadn't expected to do it and it had left him impressed.

'Just find her,' I said. 'That was the deal.'

'Of course. We shall start immediately.' He went across to the double gilt-panelled doors and I heard him calling for Flood, talking about signals, or something.

Pepperidge came up, padding quietly. 'Good show. I know they're bastards to work for, but can you think of anyone better?'