This United state

'It's just workaday clothes, but they're warm. I'm in a rush.'

'Well, at least you can sit down. Care for some coffee? I think it's probably still fairly hot.'

'No, thank you.' She was breathless, sat down in an armchair. Her small hands twisted in her lap. She was nervous. 'I can't really understand what I'm going to tell you, but it sounded threatening.'

'I'm a good listener.'

'I had a phone call in my room here a little while ago. It was from a man. I didn't recognize his voice. An American. I'm not telling this very well. He said he had a message from Sharon who had had to leave in a hurry. She wanted to meet me immediately at the bar in the Hotel Euler. So I grabbed a cab and went there.'

'What sort of voice did the caller have?'

'Oh, very polite and smooth. He talked quickly. An educated voice. I should have asked his name but it all happened so quickly.'

'I understand. Do go on.'

'Outside here I was lucky. I grabbed a passing cab and it dropped me outside the Euler. I found the bar quickly. It was almost empty and there was no sign of Sharon. I ordered coffee and sat in a booth. I thought she'd been held up. Soon afterwards two men came in and sat in the booth behind me. Americans.'

'Ever seen them before?'

'No, never.'

'Can you describe them briefly?'

'Up to a point. They walked past where I was sitting to get to their booth. Funny pair. One was quite short, squat might be the right word. The other was very tall and thin. I didn't like the look of either of them:'

'What happened next?'

She was still tense, nervous. She unconsciously ran her fingers through her long dark hair.

'They ordered drinks. As soon as they'd been served they started talking quietly, but I could hear every word. The thin man said a meeting of everyone, including Charlie, had been arranged for later today. It would take place aboard a barge on the Rhine called the Minotaur…'

'Are you sure you got that name right?'

'Certain, Alec. Minotaur. Like the legend about the monster on Crete thousands of years ago. He said they'd cruise down to the harbour before dark, about four in the afternoon. They were meeting to work out a plan to destroy Tweed and his whole organization. That's why I used the word threatening. I just wouldn't like anything to happen to you, Alec.'

'I really appreciate your concern. Hear anything else?'

'Yes. Incidentally, the thin man is called Vernon. The squat man used his name once. He went on to say that at long last they'd meet the mysterious Charlie. Then they got up and left. I was lucky again outside the Euler. I grabbed a cab and came back here to tell you. Heaven knows what happened to Sharon.'

'Will you tell her about this experience of yours?'

'No, I won't. She has her own problems. The Swiss couple she goes to see are thinking of separating. She's known them for years. She's trying to persuade them to stay together while they give it some more thought.'

'I'm very grateful to you, Denise, for passing on this news.'

'I must go now. Sharon has given me a ton of backlog work she brought from London.' She had stood up, was near the door when Mailer gave her a hug. She smiled. 'You take good care of yourself.'

'I've had a bit of experience at doing that.'

'Oh, I forgot something.' She paused before he had opened the door. 'The thin man said Jake was organizing the meeting on the Minotaur…'

'Quite a bit to tell you after listening to Denise,' Marler said after returning to Tweed's room.

'We have time, said Paula. 'I phoned the station. We've just missed a train to Delemont. The next one is not departing for an hour.'

'We've still a lot to do,' warned Tweed. 'We have to see Beck before we leave. Paula phoned the Spiegelhof – Basel police HQ, just across the road. Beck is waiting until we arrive. Now, Marler, I'm listening.'

There was complete quiet in the room as Marler recalled every word Denise had said to him. Tweed sat back in his chair, his eyes half-dosed as he absorbed the information. Marler waved a hand when he had finished.

'Interesting that Charlie will be aboard that barge. And now we have even more to tell Beck,' Tweed remarked. 'You get on rather well with Denise, don't you, Marler?'

'She's a nice lady.'

Something in the way he'd said the words made Paula glance across at Marler. Was he falling for Denise? Then she also wondered about Newman – who seemed so enthusiastic about Sharon. Newman spoke just after the thoughts had passed through her mind. He addressed Marler.

'Could you repeat Denise's description of the man she heard called Vernon?'

'First, she called him very tall and thin. Later she referred to him simply as the thin man.'

'And she said his name was Vernon. I think we're encountering at a distance – which is safest – Vernon Kolkowski. He was the man in the Zurcher Kredit Kent described as accompanying Jake Ronstadt. We'd better watch out for him – I told you I saw his mug shot when I was in New York. He's already killed several times and got away with his murders.'

'Time to go and see Beck,' Tweed said briskly, standing up. 'I will take Bob with me. Paula, I've made a note of the train time you gave me, the one to St Ursanne, while Marler was out talking to Denise. Scribble those details dawn on a bit of paper and give it to Marler.' He looked round the room at Butler and Nield. 'You go with Paula and Marler so you're at the Hauptbahnhof in good time. It's a weird set-up – you go to the section known as the French station. Make sure you have your passports. Bob and I will get there as soon as we can – we have a lot to discuss with Beck, including that meeting on board that barge. The tram stop is near where we had the episode with the Umbrella Men. A No 1 or a No 8 will get you there.'

With his coat on Tweed paused at the door. He looked back at Marler.

'You called Denise Chatel a nice lady. You'd all better get it through your heads we can trust no one. No one at all.'

Jake Ronstadt, in his suite at the Euler, made a phone call to another room standing up. Ronstadt had always disliked sitting down – it made him restless. Ever since he was a kid in Hoboken, not the best district in New York, he liked to keep moving. When his number was answered he was cautious. Wouldn't do to have someone listening in to what he was going to say.

'That you, Leo?'

'Operator!' he snarled suddenly. 'Something wrong with this goddamn line.'

He waited for a reply. Nothing. The line was clear, safe.

'Leo, you have started sending down men in relays to watch the Three Kings Hotel?'

'Sure, boss. Got a man on duty now. Just about to drive down myself and take his place.'

'This is a smart mob we're watching. Would they spot the guy there now – or you?'

'No way. We're dressed as Swiss. We pretend to be waiting for a tram. There's a stop close to the hotel. Don't matter that we don't get aboard one. Looks like we're waiting for another one going to a different destination.'

'Sounds like you've got it tied up,' Ronstadt agreed reluctantly. 'Get on down there. You've all got mobiles.

You see any of them, report back to me instanter. I gave you a description of Paula Grey and Tweed. You have pics of Newman from the reference library back in London. Get off the line. Move!'

24

Paula boarded the tram for the station first, followed by Nield and Butler. Butler chose a seat by himself, as though they didn't know each other, and Nield followed suit. The tram was made up of three green cars, joined to each other. It was only about a quarter full.

Marler was the last to mount the steps. He was checking the other passengers who had been waiting at the stop. They all seemed to be local Swiss, wearing heavy winter clothes. Ahead of him a moon-faced man made his way to the very back of the car. Marler decided to join Paula.,