Tweed noted down what Philip said, then he was off the line Philip had abruptly broken the call. He made a brief call to Park Crescent, then walked back quietly to finish his breakfast with Paula and Newman. On a sheet from his notepad he had scribbled brief instructions. He handed them to Marler, who read the notes, then left the table immediately. `Trouble?' Paula whispered as Mrs Grandy brought in more plates of eggs and bacon. `Mrs Grandy,' Tweed said with a smile, 'could you help me by serving those breakfasts in the dining room?' `If you say so,' she grumbled. 'Means laying a table with a cloth and the cutlery.' `Of a sort,' he whispered to Paula, answering her earlier question. 'I'll explain when the whole team is assembled. In the meantime I suggest we enjoy a leisurely breakfast.'
After breakfast he strolled with Paula into the dining room. Marler had moved fast. Seated at the dining table, eating the last of their meal were, besides Marler, Newman and Harry.
Tweed's first move was to close the heavy oak soundproof door and perch a large tilted chair against it. Then he sat at the head of the table with Paula on his right. `First,' he began, 'I'll tell you what Philip said when he opened the conversation, then his specific instructions…'
When he had finished, Harry asked, 'What about Pete Nield now holding the fort at Park Crescent?' `I've already informed him and he'll be joining us.' `I like that,' Harry replied. 'He watches my back and I watch his.' `I'm putting Chief Inspector Hammer in charge while I'm not here. I've also warned Buchanan to forbid him from arresting Crystal – on the basis there's not enough evidence. Yet.' `Is Snape confessing now?' Paula wondered. `Buchanan interrogated him and couldn't get a word out of him. So he's parked in a cell.'
Well, we've got rid of the spy who was informing Calouste,' Paula mused. `One of the spies,' Tweed corrected her. 'I'm convinced there is another one hidden away in this manor. The main spy.' `Any idea who that is?' `I haven't a clue,' Tweed told her. 'Incidentally, I'll be telling Marshal, Warner and Lavinia that we have a lead in London and have to search different localities. Also that we shan't be back tonight. One more thing, Philip warned it's very cold in Belgium now So wrap up well.'
They were on the verge of leaving, gathered in the hall, when Leo appeared. He plucked at Tweed's sleeve. `Could we talk together, just the two of us? I've stumbled on something very important.' `Tell me when we get back. I'm behind schedule.' `I wonder what he was on about?' Paula asked as they walked down the steps. `Another of his fantasies, I imagine.' `Well, nothing serious can happen here while we're away.'
It was a remark she was later bitterly to regret making.
33
`The last Eurostar tonight leaves at 7.15 p.m.,' Tweed reminded his fully assembled team at his office at Park Crescent. 'So you all arrive in separate taxis at different times. Monica has distributed the return tickets she had brought over by courier. And maybe you should get some sleep. When we get over there I suspect it will turn into a dogfight.' `Can't I take my tool-kit bag?' pleaded Harry.
'No!' Tweed was at his most emphatic. 'I've already explained Philip's warning. Calouste has under his control a certain highly corrupt section of the Belgian police run by an Inspector Balouster Benlier We shoot a policeman, they catch us, and we could be in a Belgian jail for six months. Yes, sleep would be a good idea. You need to be on maximum alert for the whole trip.' `You will be taking those deadly hands, old chap,' Pete Nield teased his partner. `No nap for me,' Paula remarked. 'I can last out for thirty-six hours.'
Everyone except Paula left the office to go home. Pete Nield came back immediately. `I've checked the reports from overseas agents, sent replies after showing them to Howard, who approved. The tricky one was our main in Marseilles, who said he'd been spotted.' `I see you ordered him to board a cruise liner as a waiter, then leave the ship at Gibraltar,' said Tweed. `Which he has done. We can't afford to lose Roger. And we must guard his safety. He is one of our best agents.' `I congratulate you on your decisiveness.' `Maybe we could go up and see Howard with the reports?' Nield suggested. `We'll do that now.' He checked his watch. 'Time is flying. We will get something to eat on Eurostar. This expedition is going to be interesting.' `Interesting?' Paula queried sceptically. `Calouste has been a nuisance. He's diverted time I needed to investigate two murders.' `A nuisance?' She sounded indignant. 'He's tried to kill you four times. `That's what I meant when I said nuisance.' Tweed stood up. 'I suggest, Paula, you go home and collect some warm clothing. When Philip says "cold" he probably means Siberian. On the way back I suggest you call in at my Bexford Street place and collect some things for me.' `What I need is already at Bexford Street, so it will mean one round trip. In case you hadn't noticed, my desk is piled up with reports I must deal with before we leave.' `Leave it to you. Pete, I see you have an armful of reports. Time we went up to Howard and reassured him And Monica is going to the deli to bring back hot food for the three of us later. Napoleon said an army marches on its stomach, a most undignified way of going to war, I'd have thought.'
It was dark and 7 p.m. exactly when the taxi transporting Tweed and Paula pulled up at the foot of the steps at Waterloo. `You go first on your own,' he whispered to Paula as they alighted.
She ran up the steps which led across the concourse to the Eurostar. Tweed deliberately took several minutes sorting out change to pay the driver and give him a generous tip.
He knew the rest of his team would have arrived earlier, each by himself and at intervals. More of Philip's exact instructions. They knew the coach to board since the number was on the tickets.
Tweed was wearing his fur-lined overcoat with an astrakhan collar, which Paula had brought him from Bexford Street. Mounting the steps, he descended the escalator and the gleaming train extended down the platform. Passing through security, Tweed boarded the correct coach. Second class, it was occupied only by his scattered team.
Paula was seated in the rear aisle seat. Opposite her sat Newman, studying a book on radio technology. Marler was two seats ahead. Nield was halfway down the coach while Harry sat at the front, watching the door. `No trouble with security?' Paula asked as Tweed settled in the window seat. 'What's in that bulging briefcase?' `I simply said "business" and opened the briefcase. It's stuffed with files of useless papers Monica typed for me, plus pyjamas, shaving kit, a fresh suit. The things a businessman would carry for a trip abroad. How did you get on?' `I told the miserable old officer I was going to meet my French boyfriend. Wedding ring on his finger. Probably nagged to death by his wife. Hence his scowling at me.'
The train was gliding out of the station when Newman got up, gave them a little salute as though being polite to strange passengers. `Tweed, I'm sorry I forgot to tell you something. When I was scouting Shooter's Lodge early on I told you about the sophisticated wireless system perched by a chimney. I got up there and clipped two key wires, which would ruin his system.' `Not to worry,' Tweed said with a smile as Newman began heading for the loo to cover his action. `Now he tells me,' Tweed whispered to Paula. 'That's why we're here. I'd wondered about his communications. He'd need them to issue instructions to all the banks he owns on the Continent. He's hustled back to his HQ to sort out his communications system' `A lot was happening then,' Paula said and put up a hand as she yawned. She closed her eyes and rested her head on his shoulder. In no time she was fast asleep. The train stopped briefly at Ashford and then raced on across Kent. There was a moon up and Tweed gazed at the orchards, their stark silhouettes beginning to show signs of life. He'd travelled a lot but he loved England best.