“Goes well with the writing on the wall,” he suggested, and pointed towards the house they were passing. The lights from the car pointed the lettering on its wall. “‘Who touches the Duce touches death.’ Dear me!”
“One up on the Victorians,” said Richard. “They only hung banalities round the house. Now we get totalitarian mottoes in two-feet-high letters all over the gable ends.”
Van Cortlandt, keeping his eyes away from Frances, tried to think of something to add to that but he could only think of the silent way in which she wept. He peered out into the darkness.
“Houses are getting closer now,” he said at last. “Better waste no time.”
Frances had regained her control. She made a pretence of powdering her face.
“I’m ready,” she said, “any time. We’ll see you in Paris.” She managed a smile. “I’m sorry. It was all my fault. I’ve ruined all your plans.”
The American shook his head. “My plans were going to be ruined anyway, although I kept persuading myself that they wouldn’t be. We all have our wishful thinking but it’s just as well to come out of it.”
Thornley switched off the motor carefully, and turned to face Frances.
“I have no plans either, Frances. Don’t worry about that. I had a letter from Tony this morning.”
“Tony?”
“Yes. He’s on his way home to enlist.”
“And the girl in Czechoslovakia?” Frances could have bitten her tongue. Thornley examined the back of his hand.
“Suicide,” he said, too coldly.
Frances saw the three men exchange glances. So they knew. Bob must have told them as she had slept. It must have been something which they thought would have sickened her, unnerved her. As if the man Kurt, when he had tried to break her silence, had not described in detail her possible future. As if she couldn’t guess… But knowing evil could be worse than guessing. When you guessed you could always hope that evil things might not be so bad as your worst fears. But when you knew, then there was no hope left. Then you knew this and this, and the evil of it drove away all hope.
She said nothing, only remembering the look on Thornley’s face when he had looked down at the man Kurt. He had spoken as if to himself, and the words had made no sense then. Now they took shape. One for Maria…the first one for Maria. Frances leaned forward and touched Thornley’s shoulder with her right hand, and then van Cortlandt’s.
Richard helped her to step out of the car. The savageness of his voice did not startle them.
“Yes. I’m all for international understanding: real understanding.” He looked at the other two men and voiced their thoughts. “This isn’t the end for any of us. It’s just the beginning.”
They were all silent for some moments, and then Thornley switched on the engine and the car moved into the night.
Richard picked up the suitcase and gripped Frances’ right arm. They walked softly through dark streets, guided by scattered lights. At last they saw the station. Frances pressed his hand to her breast, and held it there.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Helen MacInnes, whom the Sunday Express called “the Queen of spy writers”, was the author of many distinguished suspense novels.
Born in Scotland, she studied at the University of Glasgow and University College, London, then went to Oxford after her marriage to Gilbert Highet, the eminent critic and educator. In 1937 the Highets went to New York, and except during her husband’s war service, Helen MacInnes lived there ever since.
Since her first novel Above Suspicion was published in 1941 to immediate success, all her novels have been bestsellers; The Salzburg Connection was also a major film.
Helen MacInnes died in September 1985.
ALSO AVAILABLE FROM TITAN BOOKS
HELEN MacINNES
A series of slick espionage thrillers from the New York Times bestselling “Queen of Spy Writers.”
Pray for a Brave Heart
Assignment in Brittany (July 2012)
North From Rome (August 2012)
Decision at Delphi (September 2012)
The Venetian Affair (October 2012)
The Salzburg Connection (November 2012)
PRAISE FOR HELEN MacINNES
“The queen of spy writers.” Sunday Express
“Definitely in the top class.” Daily Mail
“The hallmarks of a MacInnes novel of suspense are as individual and as clearly stamped as a Hitchcock thriller.”
The New York Times
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THE FURTHER ADVENTURES OF
SHERLOCK HOLMES
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s timeless creation returns in a series of handsomely designed detective stories.
The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes encapsulates the most varied and thrilling cases of the world’s greatest detective.
THE ECTOPLASMIC MAN
by Daniel Stashower
THE WAR OF THE WORLDS
by Manley Wade Wellman & Wade Wellman
THE SCROLL OF THE DEAD
by David Stuart Davies
THE STALWART COMPANIONS
by H. Paul Jeffers
THE VEILED DETECTIVE
by David Stuart Davies
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ALSO AVAILABLE FROM TITAN BOOKS
THE MAN FROM HELL
by Barrie Roberts
SÉANCE FOR A VAMPIRE
by Fred Saberhagen
THE SEVENTH BULLET
by Daniel D. Victor
THE WHITECHAPEL HORRORS
by Edward B. Hanna
DR JEKYLL AND MR HOLMES
by Loren D. Estleman
THE ANGEL OF THE OPERA
by Sam Siciliano
THE GIANT RAT OF SUMATRA
by Richard L. Boyer
THE PEERLESS PEER
by Philip Jose Farmer
THE STAR OF INDIA
by Carole Buggé
TITANIC TRAGEDY
by William Seil
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THE HARRY HOUDINI MYSTERIES
BY DANIEL STASHOWER
The Dime Museum Murders
The Floating Lady Murder
The Houdini Specter
In turn-of-the-century New York, the Great Houdini’s confidence in his own abilities is matched only by the indifference of the paying public. Now the young performer has the opportunity to make a name for himself by attempting the most amazing feats of his fledgling career—solving what seem to be impenetrable crimes. With the reluctant help of his brother Dash, Houdini must unravel murders, debunk frauds and escape from danger that is no illusion…
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PRAISE FOR DANIEL STASHOWER
“A romp that cleverly combines history and legend, taking a few liberties with each. Mr. Stashower has done his homework…This is charming…it might have amused Conan Doyle.” The New York Times
“In his first mystery, Stashower paired Harry Houdini and Sherlock Holmes to marvelous effect.”
Chicago Tribune
“Stashower’s clever adaptation of the Conan Doyle conventions—Holmes’s uncanny powers of observation and of disguise, the scenes and customs of Victorian life—makes it fun to read. Descriptions and explanations of some of Houdini’s astonishing magic routines add an extra dimension to this pleasant adventure.” Publishers Weekly
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COMING SOON FROM TITAN BOOKS
THE MATT HELM SERIES
BY DONALD HAMILTON
The long awaited return of the United States’ toughest special agent.
Death of a Citizen
The Wrecking Crew
The Removers
The Silencers
Murderer’s Row
The Ambushers
The Shadowers
The Ravagers
PRAISE FOR DONALD HAMILTON
“Donald Hamilton has b
rought to the spy novel the authentic hard realism of Dashiell Hammett; and his stories are as compelling, and probably as close to the sordid truth of espionage, as any now being told.” Anthony Boucher, The New York Times
AVAILABLE IN 2013
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Above Suspicion Page 29