by Adam Hall
‘I don’t want to waste your time, so you should know that I haven’t the slightest interest in anything you have to tell me.’ He sat with his eyes turned upwards in a blank stare. ‘I do not intend going on with the Shoda mission, and nothing you can say will change my mind. I repeat - nothing.’
He went on staring and I went on standing there. Pepperidge hadn’t moved. Then Loman did. He gave one of his long-suffering sighs, got his briefcase from the end of the couch, stood up and without a glance at either of us walked away between the tables and through the doors, and as I watched him I had to fight down a wave of disgust, because everything I’d done since I’d come out here to Singapore had gone for nothing, was down the drain, including six lives lost, one of them ours, gone for nothing.
End of mission.
I don’t know how long I stood there, wishing Loman would walk out of here under a bus, wishing Pepperidge, a man I’d come to like, come to respect, hadn’t conned me into an abortive enterprise, wishing I could go and lie down somewhere and let the throbbing in the blood slow to the delta rhythm of sleep.
‘Still can’t get her to answer, sir.’
Man standing there. Flood.
‘She’s not at the High Commission?’
‘No. They haven’t seen her.’
Something trying to get through to me, but possibly unimportant. Ignore.
‘Keep on trying her flat.’ Pepperidge.
‘Will do, sir.’
Got my attention now.
‘You talking about Katie?’
He looked at me, Pepperidge, face was bleak.
‘Yes.’
‘What’s up?’
‘She’s missing.’
CHAPTER 28
THE DEAL
‘How much does she know?’
‘Not a great deal.’
He didn’t like the way I’d fetched him back.
‘So she’s expendable?’
Loman hedged. ‘She’s not… indispensable.’
‘So if you can’t find her, what’re you going to do? Throw her to the dogs?’
Flood had got us some black coffee and I was back on the cutting edge. It was Loman who looked as if he could use some sleep now; it was gone one o’clock and I suppose he was still under jet lag.
‘I shall be instructed,’ he said, ‘from London.’
‘London.’ I thought about that. ‘Who, in London?’
‘Mr. Croder.’
Oh really. Chief of Control.
Pepperidge eased himself back onto the couch, looking beaten. The last twenty-four hours had been a strain for him too, knowing he’d have to blow his own cover with me and confront me with Loman.
”Croder started this?’ I asked Loman. ‘He initiated the whole thing?’
It was important to know. At the Bureau Croder ranked about equal to the Holy Ghost.
‘Yes.’ Loman was still standing, briefcase hanging from his right hand, polished shoes neatly together. ‘But I rather believe you said you weren’t interested in anything I had to tell you.’
He’d had to get that bit over and I’d been waiting for it, and he’d put it exactly the way I’d known he would, ‘I rather believe,” oh my God.
I just ignored it, of course. ‘When was she last seen?’
‘She left her office,’ Pepperidge said, ‘soon after ten this morning. Yesterday morning. I’ve been trying to contact her ever since then because Mr. Loman wants her report.’
‘What report?’
‘Just routine.’
Fair enough. The London end was out here suddenly and he’d want to debrief everyone in the field as a matter of course.
‘Quiller,’ he said in a moment, ‘since you are now prepared to listen to me, I have a question for you.’
‘Well?’
‘It’s obvious to you that what concerns us is that McCorkadale might have been seized by the Shoda organisation to be held as a hostage in a potential exchange for you. And since you know a very, very great deal more than she does, and since you are the sole obstacle standing in the way of the Shoda organisation’s projected coup in Southeast Asia, my question is this. If the opposition contacts us and offers to release McCorkadale in exchange for you, what would be your decision?’
He was standing with his head lowered, looking upwards at me in an attitude of intense concentration. I was aware of Pepperidge at the edge of my vision, equally intent. A faint singing noise began somewhere; Flood had left the coffee percolator plugged in on the marble wall-table, and its thermostat had just cut in again. Loman was still waiting.
‘I’d do it,’ I said.
I heard Pepperidge suck in his breath.
Loman kept his cool. ‘You would surrender to the opposition?’
‘I’d have no choice. If I refused, they’d begin torture and let me know, and they’d finally kill her out of hand in any case.’
‘She means that much to you?’
‘Not really. I’ve only known her a few days. But she’s a woman.”
He got impatient now, dropped his briefcase onto the end of the couch and put his hands into the pockets of his jacket, thumbs hooked over the edge. ‘But surely that’s rather Victorian?’
‘No, I’m way ahead of my time.’ I took a step closer to him, pet subject, he’d better keep off. ‘One day they’re going to be thought of as important to us.’
He watched me for a bit longer and then sat down in the winged chair, arms across his knees, hands hanging. ‘Rabid romanticism,’ I think he said, it was under his breath. Louder, looking up, ‘And what would you imagine Shoda would do to you, once you were in her hands?’
‘Have my head.’
‘Having done which, she’d then be free to proceed with her projected coup and set the whole of Southeast Asia on fire. And you would place that as having less importance than the life of one woman?’
‘Right on.’
Pepperidge put out a cautioning hand. ‘Old boy, you -‘ and then saw my expression and drew it back, shrugging.
‘Your word on this,’ Loman said, ‘is final?’
‘Yes.’
‘So if we receive a message from Shoda, through the British High Commission or the Thai Embassy, that McCorkadale is in their hands and an exchange is proposed, we simply hand you over?’
‘Yes. But it doesn’t have to come to that, with a bit of luck.’ I turned to Pepperidge. ‘She was seen just after ten yesterday morning - where did she say she was going?’
‘No one seems to know.’
‘She leave by car?’
‘One of the front desk clerks said she got into a cyclo.’
‘What’s your guess?’
He spread a hand. ‘It’s on the cards that she got a message asking her to meet you, and didn’t question it. She was worried about you, because of Kishnar.’
‘Shoda’s got a house here in the city, in Saiboo Street, did you know?’
‘Yes. How did you know?’
‘Sayako told me. That’s where I’ll have to start.’
I was halfway to the doors when I heard Loman.
‘Quiller.’
Sounded quite urgent, sharp. Made me stop and turn.
‘I’ll offer you a deal.’
‘A what?’
‘A deal.’ He was coming towards me between the tables. ‘I respect your abilities, but how much chance would you say you had of finding McCorkadale and getting her out alive, without playing straight into Shoda’s hands and getting killed yourself?’
‘Not much.’
‘I agree. I’d say you have no chance at all. But my own resources are infinitely greater, with the Bureau behind me.’
‘This isn’t a case for massive support; it needs just one man to go in. I’m -‘
‘To go in to Shoda’s house?’
‘No. Into the operation, but that’s got to be the focus.’
‘We can have it surrounded by police. We can -‘
‘What good would that do?”
; ‘The first glimpse we get of McCorkadale, the first hint we get that she’s in there and against her will we can -‘
‘Oh come on, Loman, Shoda’s untouchable, on a political level, you know that. Otherwise we could have destroyed her before now.’
He took a step closer to me, very intent, not impatient any more, very earnest. ‘If you try to save McCorkadale you’ll be putting it all on one throw, Quiller. You’ve only got one life - we’ve got hundreds.’
‘You told me she’s expendable —’
‘In terms of policy, she’s not indispensable, yes, but —’
‘For Christ’s sake, say what you mean - you’re going to throw her to the dogs.’
Very fast - ‘Not if you’ll make a deal.’
‘What deal?’
‘You’d need to listen for a moment,’ tone rather thin, he wasn’t terribly fond of me either, you’ve probably noticed mat. ‘And so far you’ve shown a certain reluctance.’
May God give me patience with this little prick.
‘I haven’t got long, so try and use short words.’
He turned away and stood thinking for a couple of seconds. I’d rather thrown him, I suppose, by agreeing to listen at all.
Turned to me - ‘If you will continue the mission, I will guarantee that the whole of our resources will be brought in immediately with the object of finding and bringing McCorkadale to safely, with the cooperation of the British High Commission, the Thai Embassy, the Singapore police and every sleeper and agent-in-place we can mobilise in this city and at once. That is the deal.’
I think I started to say something and changed my mind. This thing was too big for emotions to play any part in the decision-making and I’d have to come down off the high or I’d smash things up, no better than a small boy in a tantrum. Loman was a little shit and I couldn’t stand him but he was also one of the elite controls in the very highest echelons of the Bureau and he’d run me before, Bangkok and Tangier, and he’d been good in the field, faultless, and he’d got me home alive. So calm down, yes, just let him talk for a minute.
‘You would also have the benefit of the Bureau’s resources, including the personal supervision of Mr. Croder, which carries an importance I’m sure you appreciate.’
I didn’t say anything. Let him sell it to me, give me the whole pitch, but if he said a wrong word he’d lose me.
‘You would still be working officially for the Thai government and would receive whatever remuneration you’ve agreed on with them. We wouldn’t question it.’ He was watching me hard, hoping to see a reaction, but he was forgetting - a good ferret’s got bright black eyes that never show anything, it’s part of the. job.
‘I must tell you, Quiller, that I came out here because we now have only three days left. Mariko Shoda has set a deadline for the launching of her coup - three days from now. In view of this, I hope that you’ll decide not to abort your mission at such a critical stage.’
He waited. I let him.
Three days. How the hell could he say that?
I wasn’t going to ask. Not yet.
‘Anything else?’
He got an envelope from his pocket and pulled out a letter and unfolded it and dropped it onto the little iron table near him and turned away.
‘You may care to read that.’
Like someone throwing down the ace. I picked it up.
Very white, very crisp embossed paper, official seal of the Prime Minister, 10 Downing Street. In view of the very critical issues now endangering peace and geopolitical stability in Southeast Asia, nothing must be neglected that might redeem the situation. It is therefore my earnest hope that the agent in question, whose record is well known to me, can be persuaded to proceed with his present mission and bring it to a successful conclusion. You may if you wish convey my feelings to him.
When I looked up Loman had turned back and was watching me with that deadpan complacency he can turn on when he thinks he’s won. I dropped the letter back onto the table.
‘Sheer bloody blackmail.’
‘I’m sorry it strikes you like that.’
‘What made you think I’d need “persuading” to stay in?’
‘I knew that the moment you saw me here you’d start giving us trouble.’ He came and picked up the letter and put it away. ‘So you refuse to stay with the mission?’
‘No.’
The nerves went slack, suddenly, relief I suppose, I’d got somewhere to go now.
‘Do you mean you’ll stay in, under the Bureau’s direction?’
‘Yes. I’ll do what I can. That’s all I can say.’
I wasn’t looking at him, just heard the tone in his voice, nothing triumphant, just very quiet, very cool now. ‘That’s all we require.’
He’d done well. He’d put a five-star ferret down the hole again without touching the sides and he hadn’t expected to do it and it had left him impressed.
‘Just find her,’ I said. ‘That was the deal.’
‘Of course. We shall start immediately.’ He went across to the double gilt-panelled doors and I heard him calling for Flood, talking about signals, or something.
Pepperidge came up, padding quietly. ‘Good show. I know they’re bastards to work for, but can you think of anyone better?’
‘Not really.’
‘Their genius,’ he said, ‘is in the way they know their shadow executives.’ He talked quietly, and I could hear Loman’s voice out there on a phone, caught the name Croder. ‘You’ve been working under their direction,’ Pepperidge told me, ‘since the day you came out here. You know that now. But what I like,’ he put a hand on my arm, ‘is the way they just gave you the clues and let you run. It’s how you work best, and they’re well aware of that. Take the Kishnar situation.’
I didn’t want to think about the Kishnar situation because the depression was still haunting the psyche but the left brain was catching onto something and I took a look at it and said, ‘Jesus Christ. Was that briefing?’
Faint smile. ‘Yes, old boy.’
All right. First class. First class direction in the field and not from Pepperidge, not from Loman, but from the Chief of Control, London, Croder, because only he had the authority to push the executive for the mission right to the brink and leave him there.
Unless you can think of a quicker way.
Pepperidge, at the clinic. And I’d said I could. And when he’d left there last night he’d known almost for certain that I was going to do the only thing that could be done at this phase of the mission because whatever new direction they found for me I wouldn’t be able to take it until Kishnar was off my back and out of the way. It had been the first action conceivable and they’d known I’d see that and they’d left me there at the brink to make up my mind and that was why Pepperidge had set up a new safe-house - this place - and had it ready for me and got Loman here waiting to put the whole thing on the line.
‘First class,’ I said.
Pepperidge gave a brief nod. ‘I rather hoped you’d say something like that. Because it was.’
Something else they’d done, but I didn’t want to think about that.
‘Look,’ I said, ‘I need some sleep now. Is there any kind of bed in this place?’
‘I’ll show you.’
He shepherded me through the rooms, solicitous, avuncular, which was what a good local director ought to be, hit a shoulder on a doorway going through, not him, I mean I did, hand on my arm.
‘Been a busy day,’ he said. ‘There’s a registered nurse here, by the way, if you need any attention.’
‘She pretty?’ Fell on the bed and slept.
‘No. But you should leave that to us.’
Damn him.
She went on soaking the blood away.
I’d simply asked him if there were any news of Katie.
‘How are you feeling, old boy?’
Pepperidge, on the couch, looking taut, confident. He’d got a ferret to run and felt ready.
‘Operational.�
��
‘I’m so glad.’
Understandable: Loman was going to handle the main briefing in very close liaison with Croder in London but when the final action phase began it’d be Pepperidge who’d have to judge whether I was fit enough to go in.
I was. I’d slept well, nearly seven hours, woke once to find Kishnar bending over me - shadow on the wall, that was all - then it was morning and Flood brought me some coffee, life beginning again, I’d come close to losing it.
‘I want to assure you,’ Loman said, ‘that there’ll be no repercussions regarding what occurred last night. Briefly, neither the UK nor Singapore want to see the stability of Southeast Asia compromised and they’re more than willing to protect the clinic from bad publicity and order the police to hold off. The media never even caught a whiff.’
The rest of the dressing came away and she dropped it into the bowl. Same nurse as last night and obviously Bureau or she wouldn’t be here.
‘I’ve arranged to have the body of Manif Kishnar delivered in a plain coffin to the house in Saiboo Street. I deemed this not only courteous, since he was in effect an adversary defeated in the field, but also a gesture of the greatest possible provocation to Shoda personally, since she apparently came here to claim your head, not his.’
Yes, she’d get the point.
Bitch!
He could have killed me.
‘Hurt?’
‘What?’
‘Sting?’
‘No.’
Bloody iodine, felt like razor blades.
She began on the dressing.
‘You should also know,’ Loman said, ‘that early yesterday morning Shoda had the radio station in Laos dive-bombed.’
I had to give it a beat.
‘Is he dead?’
‘Yes.’
Cho.
Os, Sempai, His head lowered over the chipped, grimed shelf of the radio console, a tear falling from his riven cheek to lie there glistening.
He is my father. Sayako, her soft; hesitant voice over the phone at the clinic.
I let out a breath.
‘Hurt now?’
‘No.’
Yes. Hurt now.
In a moment: ‘I thought General Cho wasn’t a threat to Shoda anymore?’