Lord Worth said: «The place—Lake Tahoe, California. The address—»
The telephone jangled. The stenographer gave Lord Worth an «excuse me» smile and picked up the handset. Howell said to the Secretary: «Dammit, I gave the strictest instructions—»
«It's for Lord Worth.» She was looking at Benton. «A Mr. Mitchell from Florida. Extremely urgent.» The Secretary nodded and the stenographer rose and handed the phone to Lord Worth.
«Michael? How did you know I was here . . . Yes, I'm listening.»
He listened without interruption. As he did so, to the considerable consternation of those watching him, the color drained from his tanned cheeks and left them an unhealthy sallow color. It was Benton himself who rose, poured out a brandy and brought it across to Lord Worth, who took it blindly and drained the not inconsiderable contents at a gulp. Benton took the glass from him and went for a refill. When he came back Lord Worth took the drink but left it untouched. Instead he handed the instrument to Benton and held his left hand over Ms now screwed-shut eyes.
Benton spoke into the phone. «State Department. Who's speaking?»
Mitchell's voice was faint but clear. «Michael Mitchell, from Lord Worth's home. Is that—is that Dr. Benton?»
«Yes. Lord Worth seems to have received a severe shock.»
«Yes, sir. His two daughters have been kidnaped.»
«Good God above!» Benton's habitual imperturbability had received a severe dent. No one had even seen him register shock before. Perhaps it was the bluntness of the announcement. «Are you sure?»
«I wish to hell I wasn't, sir.»
«Who are you?»
«We—my partner John Roomer and I—are private investigators. We are not here in an investigative capacity. We are here because we are neighbors and friends of Lord Worth and his daughters.»
«Called the police?»
«Yes.»
«What's been done?»
«We have arranged for the blocking of all air and sea escape routes.»
«You have descriptions?»
«Poor. Five men, heavily armed, wearing stocking masks.»
«What's your opinion of the local law?»
«Low.»
«I'll call in the FBI.»
«Yes, sir. But as the criminals haven't been traced, there's no evidence that they've crossed the state line.»
«Hell with state lines and regulations. If I say they're called in, that's it. Hold on. I think Lord Worth would like another word.» Lord Worth took the receiver. Some color had returned to his cheeks.
«I'm leaving now. Less than three hours, I should say. I'll radio from the Boeing half an hour out. Meet me at the airport.»
«Yes, sir. Commander Larsen would like to know—»
«Tell him.» Lord Worth replaced the phone, took another sip of his brandy. «There's no fool like an old fool, and only a blind fool would have overlooked so obvious a move. This is war, even if undeclared war, and in war no holds are barred. To think that it should come to this before you had incontrovertible proof that I am indeed under siege. Unforgivable. To have left my daughters unguarded was wholly unforgivable. Why didn't I have the sense to leave Mitchell and Roomer on guard?» He looked at his now-empty glass and the stenographer took it away.
Benton was faintly skeptical. «But against five armed men?»
Lord Worth looked at him morosely. «I had forgotten that you don't know those men. Mitchell, for example, could have taken care of them all by himself. He's lethal.»
«So they're your friends, and you respect them. Don't take offense, Lord Worth, but is there any way that they could be implicated in this?»
«You must be out of your mind.» Lord Worth, still morose, sipped his third brandy. «Sorry, I'm not myself. Sure, they'd like to kidnap my daughters, almost as much as my daughters would like to be kidnaped by them.»
«That the way it is?» Benton seemed mildly astonished. In his experience, billionaires' daughters did not normally associate with the likes of private investigators.
«That's the way. And hi answer to your next two questions: yes, I approve and no, they don't give a damn about my money.» He shook his head wonderingly. «It is extremely odd. And I shall forecast this, Mr. Secretary. When Marina and Melinda are brought back to me it won't be through the good offices of either the local police or your precious FBI. Mitchell and Roomer will bring them back. One does not wish to sound overly dramatic, but they would, quite literally, give their lives for my daughters.»
«And, as a corollary, they would cut down anyone who got in their way?»
For the first time since the phone call Lord Worth smiled, albeit faintly. «I'll take the fifth amendment on that one.»
«I must meet those paragons sometime.»
«Just as long as it's not over the wrong end of Mitchell's gun.» He rose, leaving his drink unfinished, and looked round the room. «I must go. Thank you all for your kindness and consideration, not to say forbearance.» He left with the Secretary by his side.
When the door closed behind him General Zweicker rose and poured himself a brandy. «Well. What may be the kidnaping of the century pales into insignificance compared to the likelihood of the Russkies starting to throw things at us.» He took some brandy. «Don't tell me I'm the only person who can see the hellish witches' brew Lord Worth is stirring up for us?»
It was clear that all three listening to him had a very sharp view of the cauldron. Howell said: «Let's give Lord Worth his due. He could even be right when he says he's glad he's got a British passport. The stirrers-up are our own compatriots; the holier-than-thou major American oil companies, who are willing to crucify Lord Worth and put their country at jeopardy because of their blind stupidity.»
«I don't care who's responsible.» The stenographer's voice was plaintive. «Does anyone know where I can get a bomb shelter cheap?»
Benton led Worth down one flight of stairs and out onto the sunlit lawn, where the helicopter was waiting.
Benton said: «Ever tried to find words to tell someone how damnably sorry you feel?»
«I know from experience. Don't try. .But thanks.»
«I could have our personal physician accompany you down to Florida.»
«Thanks again. But I'm fine now.»
«And you haven't had lunch?» Benton, clearly, was finding conversational gambits heavy going.
«As I don't much care for plastic lunches from plastic trays, I have an excellent French chef aboard my plane.» Again a faint smile. «And two stewardesses, chosen solely for their good looks. I shall not want. «
They reached the steps of the helicopter. Benton said: «You've had neither the time nor opportunity to give me that list of names. For the moment that's of no consequence. I just want you to know that my guarantee of protection remains in force.»
Lord Worth shook his hand silently and climbed the steps.
By this time Conde, aboard the Roomer, had arrived at the S&awitch, and the big derrick crane aboard the platform was unloading the heavy weaponry and mines from the Louisiana arsenal It was a slow and difficult task, for the tip of the derrick boom was two hundred feet above sea level and, in all, the transfer was to take about three hours. As each dual-purpose antiaircraft gun came aboard Larsen selected its site and supervised Palermo and some of his men in securing it in position: this was done by drilling holes in the concrete platform, then anchoring the gun-carriage base with sledgehammer-driven steel spikes. The guns were supposed to be re-coilless, but then neither Larsen nor Palermo was much given to taking chances.
The depth charges, when they came, were stacked together in three groups, each halfway between the three apexes of the triangle. That there was an inherent risk in this Larsen was well aware: a stray bullet or shell—or perhaps not so stray—could well trigger the detonating mechanism of one of the depth charges, which would inevitably send up the other charges in sympathetic detonation. But it was a risk that had to be taken if for no other reason than the fact there was no other place where they could be stored ready for immediate use. And when and if the time came for their use the need would be immediate.