by Ray Saunders
“You shouldn’t be,” I assured her. “But the guy who shot at me will guess that I took the diamonds and will be wanting to get his hands on them.”
“Matt, I’m worried for you, and if anything happens to you, I don’t know what I shall do. I’ve come to rely on you.”
“Listen, kid,” I said, “this isn’t the first scrape I’ve been in, and I’ve always come through okay. Don’t worry, I’ll survive and then we’ll both return to our normal lives.”
“I’m not sure that I want to.” she said.
“How’s that — I thought you said you enjoyed the sex business, and the money you could earn.”
“I know I said that, but this business here with you has made me realise there’s more to life than just sex and money.”
I took her hand. “How old are you, Christine?” I asked.
“I’m twenty-two.”
“Well, you’re a lovely young girl with a whole lifetime in front of you. Maybe you’ll meet mister right and settle down.”
She looked at me. “I think I’d like that,” she said.
I couldn’t help feeling sorry for her. I knew nothing of her background but felt that she had lost her way and had been searching for something, not knowing quite what it was.
We continued talking until it was time for me to go and phone Steve again.
This time he was there. “Have you spoken to London?” I asked him.
“Yes. They’re keen that we contact Zola Peterson as soon as possible. Has she arrived there yet?”
“I haven’t seen her, are you sure she’s coming?”
“Yes, she’s flying to Nice, and should be coming to the Grand Hotel in Monaco.”
“Well, I’ll check reception,” I said. “When she arrives, I’ll make contact. What do you want me to say?”
“Tell her you’re from the British government and that we want to ensure her safety and ask her if she’s willing to help us.”
“What if she refuses?”
“Use your charm, Matt, I know you have plenty where women are concerned.”
I was not sure if that was a compliment or just sarcasm.
“Okay,” I said. “What about Professor Linstead? Any news as to his whereabouts?”
“Yes, he’s taken refuge in the US Embassy in Bern.”
“Shit! So, what happens now?”
“Well, our ambassador there is trying to contact him. That’s all I know,” he answered.
I thought back to my previous encounter with the Americans, and from what I knew of them, they would stop at nothing to get him to the States.
Steve’s voice interrupted my thoughts. “You still there, Matt?”
“Yes, I’m here. Any idea what Zola Peterson looks like?” I asked.
“By all accounts she’s in her thirties, quite tall and wears glasses. That’s all I know.”
“Right,” I said. “I’ll get back to you when there are any further developments.”
We both hung up.
I went back to my room. Christine was still there, and I filled her in with the news.
We agreed to meet later for dinner, and she went back to her room.
The time came and we both went down to the foyer. Standing at the desk was a smartly dressed woman, who fitted the description that Steve had given me.
I took Christine through to the dining room and we sat down.
“Do you think that was her?” Christine asked.
“It would be too much of a coincidence if it wasn’t,” I said.
“What will you do, Matt?”
“Play it by ear, I guess. Let’s worry about that after we’ve eaten.”
We were halfway through when she came in. Steve was right, she was rather tall, and about thirty-five, and the glasses did not detract from her good looks.
She ordered her meal, refused the dessert, and finished the same time as us. When she got up to leave, we followed her out. She hesitated, then went through to the bar.
“You’d better leave this to me,” I told Christine. “You’d better go to your room.”
“Why can’t I come with you?” she asked.
“Because I’ve got to tell her that I’m from the British government, and it you’re with me she might find it difficult to believe.”
“All right then, but don’t get too involved. You’re on a rain check, remember?”
I laughed, and I walked through to the bar.
My target was sitting at one end, and there were several others seated at intervals along the bar.
I found a stool next to her and signalled to the waiter. Before he came, I turned to her.
“Excuse me,” I said, “but aren’t you, Zola Peterson?”
She looked me in the eyes. “Do I know you?” she asked rather angrily.
“No,” I answered, “but I’ve been told to contact you.”
“Really? So, who are you?” she asked.
“I represent the British government,” I said. “We’re keen for you to help us. Your work is well known to us, and we know that you’ve come here from South Africa.”
“Well, if you know that, you’ll also know that I’m here to meet someone.”
“That’s right. Professor Linstead,” I said.
The waiter came.
“Permit me to offer you a drink,” I said.
“All right. I’ll have a Kir Royale,” she replied rather disdainfully.
“Make that two,” I told him, and he went off to open the champagne.
“Professor Linstead isn’t here,” I told her.
She looked surprised, and lifted her glasses then replaced them as she spoke. “You seem to know a lot. Do you mind telling me what this is all about? If he isn’t here, then where is he?”
“He’s fled from the Chinese Triads and taken shelter in the US Embassy in Bern. He’ll probably be contacting you.”
“I see.” She took it calmly, and I could see she was a very self-assured woman.
“I think that you could be in danger,” I went on, “but we’re keen to help you, if you will help us.”
“In what way?” she asked.
“Well, we’d like you to bring your work to England and try to get Professor Linstead to do likewise.”
She laughed. “That’s a pretty tall order, and if he’s gone to the US Embassy there’s little chance of you getting your hands on him now.”
“That’s not up to me. My job is to convince you that your best interests are served by coming to England.”
Our drinks came. “Cheers,” I said.
“Cin-cin,” she replied. Taking a sip, she said, “I’ll have to think about it, and I need to talk to Carl first.”
“Fair enough, but time is pressing, and don’t forget the Triads are here and on his trail.”
“What’s this about the Triads being here?” she asked.
“Well, I assume you know that he was in debt and has borrowed a lot of money from the Chinese.”
She became more interested in what I was telling her. “I know of his gambling habit, of course, but I didn’t know that he’d borrowed money. I thought they were funding his research.”
“That’s not the way they see it, and I’ve already had one run in with them,” I said.
“How do you mean?”
I did not want to alarm her, but it was necessary to make her aware of the threat, especially if I was to convince her into coming to England.
“Why do you think Carl fled to Bern to seek refuge? His life is in danger and your connection to him places you in danger too,” I said.
I could see I had hit a home run.
“I think I’m safe enough here,” she said.
“Perhaps. But these people are resourceful and will stop at nothing.”
“Well, I’ll sleep on it,” she replied.
I could see that she was a cool customer, and I was warming to her.
“Have another,” I said, pointing to her empty glass.
“I’ll get them,” she said
. “By the way, what’s your name?”
“Sands, Matt Sands.”
“Well, Matt Sands, I don’t know a thing about you, but you seem to know an awful lot about me. How do I know I can trust you?”
“At the moment you don’t, but you will when you get to know me better.”
She smiled at me and I smiled back. “You’re very sure of yourself, aren’t you? I don’t think I want to know you better. I don’t like pushy men.”
“I adore difficult women,” I replied, “especially the attractive ones.”
She finished her drink. “Goodnight,” she said and left.
“That could have gone better,” I told myself, then drank up and went to my room.
Reaching the door, I decided instead to look in on Christine. She came to the door wearing a see-through negligee.
“I was hoping you’d come. Are you here to pick up the rain check?” she asked.
“No, I’ve come to let you know about Zola Peterson.”
She stood close to me and put her arms around my neck.
“Let’s forget about her until tomorrow.”
As she said it, she tried to kiss me, but I pulled her arms away, and pushed her from me.
“Look, you’re a very attractive girl and not easy to resist, especially since my ego has just been deflated,” I told her. “The other night was great, and I know you enjoy doing it, but I think that you’re wasting your life, and you should be looking for something better.”
“I’ve got plenty of time for that, so let’s enjoy this while we can,” she persisted.
I was beginning to struggle with my conscience on the one hand, and my natural desire on the other.
“Don’t fool yourself, or before you know it, you’ll be past your prime and totally alone,” I said.
It seemed to cool her down and she backed away.
“Well, all right,” she said, “but just tonight wouldn’t matter, would it?”
“It would matter to me. I can’t have sex with you, knowing that I’m helping to destroy your life.”
I thought it sounded rather hollow as I said it and wondered if I would come to regret my honourable stance later.
“I thought you liked me,” she murmured.
“I do and it’s because I do, that I want to try and steer you onto another path.”
She came close to me again, and it was all I could do not to grab her.
“Perhaps our paths were meant to run together,” she whispered.
“It would be a stony path, kid,” I said. “and before long you’d tire of my way of life.”
She went over and sat by the bed, her arms dangling between her legs.
I turned away. “I’ll see you in the morning.” I told her and left the room before I changed my mind.
Back in my room, half of me felt that I had done the right thing, the other half thought I’d just been a bloody fool.
All in all, it had not been a good day. Linstead had fled to the American Embassy, one woman had cold-shouldered me, and the other one wanted me, and I’d turned her down.
Oh well, perhaps tomorrow would prove better. With that I went to bed.
Chapter 4
I had not slept well. My mind kept going over the previous days’ events. I showered and shaved then got ready for breakfast. I went for Christine and told her it would be best if we ate separately, as I did not want Peterson to see us together. With breakfast over, Zola Peterson had not appeared. Maybe she was sleeping late, so I left Christine and sat in the lounge waiting. An hour passed and still no sign of Peterson.
I crossed to the desk and asked for her room number.
“Miss Peterson has left,” the clerk said.
“Did she say where she was going?”
“No, sir, she ordered a taxi, that’s all I know.”
“Do you know which taxi it was?”
“Yes, sir, I ordered it from the rank in the square.”
Leaving the hotel, I hurried across to the square and approached the line of taxis.
A huddle of drivers stood there smoking.
“Did one of you pick up a woman from the Hotel Grand this morning?” I asked them.
One of them nodded.
“Was she tall with glasses?”
He nodded again.
“Where did you take her?”
He remained silent, so I took out some money, peeled off a note, and handed it to him.
“Nice airport,” he said.
That could only mean that she had been in touch with Linstead and was flying to Geneva to meet him.
Thanking him, I went back to the hotel and phoned Steve.
“What’s happening?” he asked. “Have you contacted Zola Peterson yet?”
“Yes, I met her last night, but she wasn’t very cooperative, and this morning she left the hotel and went to Nice.”
“Nice?”
“Yes, it’s my guess that Linstead has been in touch with her, and she’s flying to Geneva to join him.”
“Okay,” he said, “our people are watching the embassy, so if she shows up there, we’ll know.”
“What do you want me to do now?” I asked.
“You and Christine better get back here, I’ll phone the Movenpick and book you in.”
“Make sure it’s for two rooms this time,” I told him.
“I’ll try,” he said. “And don’t forget to bring the diamonds.”
Christine was in her room, and I told her to pack as we were going back to Geneva. Collecting my things, I joined her in reception. I collected the packet of diamonds, and we went off to the car.
The little blue Alpine was gleaming and had been cleaned and polished by the hotel. It was all part of the service and reminded me that one never saw a dirty car in Monaco.
The drive up to the Col du Tende was steep and winding but the little car took it in its stride.
Before we reached the tunnel, Christine asked me to stop at Tende as she needed to use the bathroom. I pulled into a garage with a café, and we went our separate ways to the toilets. Returning to the car, she was already there, and when I drove off towards the tunnel, she asked me to stop the car again. I pulled over and felt a prod in my side. Looking down I saw that she was holding the Luger that I had hidden under the seat.
Before I could say anything, she said, “Give me the diamonds Matt.”
It was a moment or two before I realised what was happening.
“Are you crazy?” I said, “What do you think you’re doing?”
“You told me I should make a new life for myself, and I will. With these diamonds I can make a fresh start in life.”
“That doesn’t make sense, these stones are uncut,” I told her. “You couldn’t use them, they’re only any use to the trade.”
“I’ve got it figured out. One of my clients in London is a jeweller, and he’ll be only too willing to help me dispose of them,” she said.
I began to realise that my belief in her innocence had been misplaced.
“Look,” I said, “stop this before it’s too late. It’ll land you in jail when you’re caught.”
“Who will catch me? The diamonds were part of an undercover deal, and no one will want that to come out and involve their governments.”
I had to admit to myself that she had a point.
“What if I refuse to give them to you?”
“I’m serious, Matt. I will shoot you, not to kill you, but you won’t be capable of stopping me.”
It didn’t take long for me to decide what to do.
“Okay, kid, you win,” I said. “I don’t intend to get shot for not giving you something that doesn’t belong to me anyway.”
I handed them over.
“Get out of the car, Matt,” she said.
“You’re not leaving me here stranded in the mountains?” I pleaded.
“You’ll be okay, you’re a resourceful man.”
I got out and watched as she drove off. I thought about using my Browning to shoot at
her, but I still felt she needed help, rather than punishment.
I stood in the road wondering what to do next, as several cars drove past. My best option was to thumb a lift back to Monaco. After a while, a car driven by an elderly couple pulled up. The woman spoke some English, and they were heading for Antibes, so kindly said they would drop me off in Monte Carlo.
I returned to the hotel, and my room was still vacant, so I checked in and sat pondering what to do next. I would have to report to Steve, and he would want to know why I’d been so willing to trust her. The diamonds were not his loss, but he would not be pleased about losing the Sunbeam. When he reported it to London, they would be upset about its effect on their budget. Bluebells was proving to be a complete cock up.
I felt hungry, so I decided to go to lunch before I gave him the bad news.
Lunch over, I made my way to the phone, and called Steve.
“I’ve got some bad news,” I told him.
“What is it?”
I told him what had happened. He thought for a while before replying.
“Okay, if she’s on the route that you took, she’ll be heading up to the St Bernard pass and the Swiss border. We’ll alert them to watch out for the car and stop her. She’s in a stolen car and they’ll detain her and inform us.”
“What if she manages to slip through?”
“Well, we’ll also get in touch with the port customs, and they’ll stop her there.”
“She’s a smart kid,” I told him. “She could drive to somewhere in Italy or France and ditch the car and fly back.”
“In that case we’ll tell our airports to watch out for her. She’ll have to go through passport control.”
“What will you charge her with?”
“I’m not sure but our people will think of something that won’t implicate our operation.”
“What shall I do now?” I asked.
“You better come back here to Geneva. You can fly from Nice. Call me back in ten minutes and I’ll let you know if there’s a flight.”
I hung up and waited. My head told me it was the right thing for them to catch her but in my heart, I somehow wished that she could get away with it.
I rang Steve back.
“There’s a plane from Nice at four o’clock. You have plenty of time to catch it, and I’ll meet you at the Geneva terminal,” he told me.