'Eighteen men,' Ferris said, 'your own little army,' and touched my elbow and turned away and I walked along the tiled path between the massed geraniums, not hurrying because I was here now and the party was far from over by the look of things, a crowd of black polished limousines in the car park on my left with chauffeurs standing around and two of our people near the wrought iron gates. I didn't know exactly what orders Croder had given for tonight but he wouldn't have put this amount of support in the field just to keep things jolly, so I suppose he'd told them to watch for a gun hand moving and make a killing drop in time to protect me. They'd carry official bodyguard licences to keep the fuss down when the police wanted to know what was happening: this was routine Bureau procedure.
Skin beginning to itch because the warmth of the night was heating up the Teflon I was wearing under the dinner-jacket, people crossing the portico on their way to the car park, only half a dozen police officers standing around so I suppose Senator Judd had already left: it was midnight. If he'd still been here there would have been fifty of them.
But there were a great many other people also standing around, most of them in blue serge suits. There would be a lot of high-echelon guests here tonight, targets for political activists and weirdos.
'Hi! Can I help you?'
Brilliant smile, a small corsage of carnations, one bare shoulder, Florida chic.
'There should be an invitation here for me. Richard Keyes.'
The name for the face in the photograph. They would know my name too. Shortening the odds, yes, on the other hand 'Sure, Mr Keyes, I have it right here. I'm sorry you missed the Senator.'
'Was he good?'
'O-h-h-h…' with her eyes shining, rolling to heaven, every hormone in her slim preened body lining up to vote for Golden Boy.
On the other hand, it wouldn't be easy in a crowd this big to squeeze off a shot and get clear with all those chauffeurs and police officers and bodyguards standing around, and less easy still to pump out some rapid fire from an Uzi: that would attract even more attention and they wouldn't reach the car before the police dropped them with a fusillade. Seek comfort, my good friend, seek comfort where ye may.
'Enjoy what there is left, Mr Keyes.'
The smile shimmering, the corsage quivering slightly to the body language, what there is left of what, my little darling, you mean my life?
'Champagne, sir?'
'Thank you.'
Cutting quite a dash in my borrowed plumage, glass in hand, the truth of the matter concealed beneath silk lapels, the Teflon itching on the skin, proof against anything up to armour-piercing grade, but if they were professionals they'd go for the head.
YOU'LL MAKE IT, MATHIESON! strung out in huge gold letters on a banner across the podium where the band was playing, a dozen couples still on the dance floor, their shoes brushing through coloured streamers, two waiters on their knees picking at the carpet where a glass had fallen and smashed, three Japanese talking together by one of the tall white-framed windows, and Erica Cambridge.
'Well hello, Mr Keyes.'
Slight, cool-looking in a sheer white silk gown with a lame belt, lame shoes, her violet eyes watching me as the smile was flashed on for the occasion.
'You look stunning,' in fact, did.
Thank you. Did you just get here?'
'Yes.'
'Did you come alone?'
'Yes.'
'Then you didn't see Mathieson.'
'I heard he was very good.'
'He's -' looking away, looking back – 'I have a lot to tell you. Why don't we go outside where it's quieter?'
'It's like a Turkish bath out there.' I led her towards the white moulded archways opposite the windows, giving my glass to a waiter. 'I got here as soon as I could.'
The slapping sound of a rotor cut across the music as another chopper landed. Croder will follow on, Ferris had said; or it could be picking up some of the guests.
'Stylus couldn't stay,' Erica said. 'He had to get back.' We found a couch, blue linen with white rope trim, where it was quiet enough to talk. Someone had left a brocade bag.
'Back to the Contessa?' Stylus von Brinkerhoff.
She looked at me sharply. 'You're well informed, Mr Keyes.'
'My first name is Richard. I'm sorry I missed him.'
'What do you know about him?'
'You said you had a lot to tell me.'
'Ma'am, is this your bag?'
'Oh my God, I've been frantic. Thank you so very – you're Erica Cambridge! I just love your show!'
"Thank you.'
'Well I'm – interrupting.'
'How is Proctor?' I asked her when the woman had gone.
She looked surprised again, wary. One can't always remember, but I think I've never seen a woman so frightened, beneath the maquillage, so close to some kind of brink. 'I didn't see him,' she said.
'But he's on board the Contessa.'
Reaction after reaction, and I began worrying that all she had to tell me was what we already knew.
'I believe I mentioned, Mr – Richard, that I have no one I can really confide in, really trust. I – I suppose I've gone through life antagonising people; at least that's my reputation. So why should I confide in you? Why should I trust you?'
'No earthly reason. You don't even know me.'
'You're not making it easy for yourself.'
I was.
'I didn't ask you to trust me, Erica. There's no obligation. But if you want my guarantee that I won't divulge anything you have to tell me, without your permission, I can give you my word.'
'How much is it worth? I'm sorry, that's not very -'
'It's unbreakable. Would you be prepared to talk to my people?'
'Who are they?'
'Officers of the British government.'
Her hands were on the move again, as they'd been when we'd sat at the table in Kruger Drug. Correction: not frightened beneath the maquillage. Awed. Awed by what she knew, what she'd found out at 1330 West Riverside Way and on board the Contessa.
'The British government,' she said, 'is involved. The entire world is involved. I -'
'Look, if you're willing to see my people, I can arrange it. You'd have more confidence in them than just one stranger. They're much higher than I am.'
It was a get-out but it was logical. If she was ready to talk to Ferris and Croder and Monck I could walk out of this thing and go home with a whole skin and let them put it down in the records, Mission completed, executive debriefed, because if this woman had the information we needed, that was exactly what I'd be doing – completing Barracuda. She was our new objective and I was close to handing her over.
'Whether I agree to see your "people" or not, I've decided to go to the State Department.' Running one violet-lacquered finger-nail along the white rope trim, unable to keep still. 'It would then be for them to consult with the President, and for him to decide whether to summon our allied ambassadors. But I don't know, Richard, this whole thing is -' her hand brushing the air – 'it's so far-reaching. And this is what scares me – I want to help Senator Judd get into the White House and in fact I'm already helping him do that, but now that I've learned what I have, I don't know if it isn't the most dangerous thing I could do. For everyone. For the United States and the rest of the world.'
I didn't say anything.
'I know he went thataway, Simon.' Gusty laughter, much champagne. 'He said the men's room.' Trotting past with uncertain feet, arm in arm. 'But where is Nancy?'