‘Probably arrested for speeding,’ Danziger smiled.
Morgan shot him another look. ‘How long are you on duty for?’
‘Until you dismiss me. I’m a hired gun.’ He smiled.
It was on the tip of Morgan’s tongue to say, ‘You’re dismissed’. ‘And you know what Makepeace has planned from here?’
‘He consulted me. I gave him my advice.’
‘And that was?’
Danziger smiled. ‘That I take overall charge of this operation, sir.’
Morgan snapped: ‘Any other advice?’
‘Oh, sure. But since Makepeace is my paymaster, I discuss it only with him.’ He added: ‘The client often gets too emotionally involved to be clear-headed.’
‘Jesus, Danziger – I’m your paymaster!’
‘Not entirely, sir. I’m doing this job for Makepeace at a reduced fee. Because when it’s over, Makepeace is going to do a little job for me.’
Morgan glared. ‘Makepeace doesn’t take contracts, does he?’
‘To kill? No. He’s too much of a schoolboy at heart for that yet. But he’ll learn.’
Jesus. ‘Did Spider take contracts?’
‘Not that I know of. And I usually know what contracts are on offer, and who takes them up.’
‘You don’t snap them all up yourself?’
‘Sometimes the pitch gets a bit crowded. I like plenty of elbow-room.’
Morgan held a finger out at him.
‘Let me make one thing perfectly clear, Dan. Right now you’re working for me. I’m your paymaster. I’m not having any private deals between you and Makepeace cloud the question of who gives the orders around here.’ He glared at him: ‘Got that?’
Danziger looked him in the eye, with a twitch of a smile.
‘Yes, sir. Three bags full, sir.’
Morgan wanted to grab the little bastard by the shirtfront. Except the little bastard would have thrown him across the room. Morgan picked up his beer and drank it. He banged the glass down. ‘May I have another, please? And take it up to my room?’
‘Certainly.’ Xaviera snapped the cap off a bottle. ‘Alone?’ She added: ‘You’re paying enough.’
‘I’m afraid so.’
Danziger smiled: ‘Begging your pardon, sir, but a girl may make it look more authentic.’
‘Thanks for the advice, Danziger.’ He added grimly. ‘You better come up and check there’re no Comrades under the bed.’
They followed Xaviera. Danziger went ahead up the stairs. They stopped on the first floor. Xaviera opened a door.
The large window was draped in red velvet and the walls were in regency stripe. There was a triple bed. The room was richly carpeted and split-level. On the upper level was a large, circular, sunken bath. Danziger said:
‘Okay, no bogeymen, sir. I’ll check upstairs, and the fire escapes, then go back to the bar and watch the stairs.’
Xaviera went to the bath, turned on the taps. Steaming water gushed into the sunken tub. She threw in some suds, and bubbles frothed up. She smiled. ‘Anything else?’
‘No, thanks. You’ve been very kind.’
‘Mine is the kindest business in the world.’
All he wanted to do was collapse in that bath but he had to ask some questions. ‘How do you know Dougie Makepeace?’
‘Oh, I know Dougie. But in my business we don’t talk.’
‘Did you know Dan Danziger?’
‘Oh yes. What matters to me is what I don’t know. I don’t harbour criminals but I also don’t want to know my clients’ business any more than if I were selling him a shirt. But when Dougie asked me to look after you, I checked you out with the police. I have some very good friends there. You are not wanted by the Dutch police. That’s good enough for me.’
Morgan stared at her. The police? Oh Jesus, Makepeace …
‘And now I leave you to have your nice bath.’
She dropped the lock on the door as she left.
Morgan stood there. He wanted to bellow his fury with Makepeace to the skies.
He ripped off his clothes and slung them into the water.
He had just finished scrubbing himself when there was a knock on the door. ‘Who is it?’
‘Makepeace.’
He scrambled out of the bath and slung a towel around his waist. He flung open the door. ‘Where’s Anna?’
‘In the dungeon, having a bath.’ Makepeace strolled in, and waved his hand. ‘Ain’t this something?’
‘Makepeace,’ Morgan sighed furiously. ‘Why the hell aren’t you in Switzerland? And what the hell is Danziger doing here? And why the hell did you tell this woman my name? She checked with the police!’
‘I didn’t tell her your name on purpose,’ Makepeace whined, ‘it slipped out …’
‘ “It slipped out” …’ Morgan groaned furiously. ‘Jesus. Do you realize what you’ve done? You’ve undone all that hair-raising escape-driving we did from the airport! Because the Dutch police now know we’re holed up at the Yab Yum whore-house! And if the British ask them, the Dutch will tell them!’ He pointed at the street. ‘Carrington’s mob are probably out there right now! Waiting patiently to follow us to Zurich!’
Makepeace protested, ‘She didn’t ask the police officially, she only asked a friend, it’ll never go any further. Anyway,’ he muttered sulkily, ‘the Comrades don’t know.’
‘Unless they’ve, got a contact in the Dutch police! Which they doubtless have.’ He glared at him. ‘And what are we doing in the heart of Amsterdam? The reason why we came to Holland was to avoid the problem of getting out of Paris because you’ve got no contacts in France. So we come here and we’re out of Amsterdam, and you very efficiently shake off the people following us, and we’re in nice open country, and what do you do? – you bring us into Amsterdam! Now we may have to shake them off again!’
‘But Amsterdam’s the best place in the world to shake off a tail,’ Makepeace protested ‘– all these canals and one-way streets! … And they may have followed us to the airfield! And besides, as Danziger says, why fly from an airfield, which you can be followed to, when you can fly out by seaplane which can land on water anywhere –’
‘Danziger? … So Danziger countermanded me! And what the fuck is Danziger doing on this job anyway?’
‘But you told me to get more men. And I thought about it –’
‘A difficult process!’
‘– and I thought: What would have happened in New York if Carrington’s boys hadn’t been there to back us up against the Comrades? So I concluded that we needed the best professionals –’
‘You know I don’t trust Danziger! There’re plenty of other SAS guys!’
‘Because he’s the best. And you gave me discretion, that’s why we chose Amsterdam.’
Morgan took a deep breath.
‘As soon as we leave Amsterdam, I want him off the job.’
‘He’s already gone,’ Makepeace said ‘– and Clark and Still-goes.’
‘Gone already?’
‘I mean,’ Makepeace said earnestly, ‘they’ve gone to Switzerland. To set things up for us.’
Morgan stared at him. ‘That was your job!’
‘But I haven’t had time,’ Makepeace pleaded.
‘So Danziger knows everything?’
‘No,’ Makepeace sighed ‘– even I don’t know everything. All I know is we’re going to a bank somewhere in Bahnhofstrasse, Zurich. All his instructions are, to have a car waiting for you, hidden in the forest where we land, and to check out the entire area of downtown Zurich and work out several escape routes from Bahnhofstrasse. And that’s why a seaplane is so good, because there’re lakes all around Zurich!’ He ended: ‘All he knows is that he’s to ride shotgun when we leave the bank.’
‘Jesus, Makepeace! … Danziger would take a contract on his own mother.’
‘Bullshit,’ Makepeace said ‘– he’s got his reputation to maintain. He’d never get another job if he double-crossed a client.’
/> ‘If he double-crossed this client –’ Morgan slapped his chest – ‘he wouldn’t need another job! You know what the Russians would pay for the information that we’re going to a bank in Bahnhofstrasse, Zurich? And the Brits! Get onto the telephone! Phone Schipol airport and tell them to come back!’
Makepeace said: ‘They haven’t gone to Schipol airport – in case the Comrades are still watching it. You think we’re stupid? They’re driving to Brussels airport.’
‘Yes, I think you’re stupid! Phone Brussels airport!’
Makepeace said, very sensibly: ‘But what’s the point, Jack? Danziger already knows about Zurich, even if we do fire him. If he’s going to double-cross us, he can do it whether we recall him or not! But he’s not going to double-cross us. And we’re lucky to have him.’
Morgan sat down on the bed, and held his head. ‘Oh, sure, he might have been out of town assassinating some politician …’ He shook his head in his hands. ‘Oh, Makepeace. Why didn’t you stay in Special Boats?’
Makepeace stood there sulkily. Morgan held a finger out.
‘Danziger told me he’s doing this job cheap because you’re going to do a job cheap for him. Just remember that I’m employing you, not Danziger! Your loyalty is to me
‘Of course,’ Makepeace muttered.
Morgan gave an angry sigh. ‘Did you sell those diamonds?’
Makepeace pulled out a plastic bag. He threw it on the bed. Twenty-four thousand dollars. What’s left of it. I paid myself only my upfront money but I paid Danziger and the boys for three days. It’s all written down.’ He complained: ‘I could have got more on the black market, but you wanted an official receipt.’
‘All right,’ he sighed. ‘So we’re flying out of Holland by seaplane. Is the pilot to be trusted?’
‘Of course, he wants another job after this one.’
‘And what’s he costing me?’
‘Five hundred bucks an hour flying time, fifty bucks an hour standing still. About fifteen thousand dollars.’ He added: ‘That’ll clean out that plastic bag.’
Morgan turned to the handgrip. He found the cloth bag, and pulled out more diamonds. ‘Is the black market open on Sundays?’
‘Sure.’
Morgan looked in the plastic bag. He examined the receipts, Makepeace’s accounting, and counted the money. ‘And how do we get out of this whore-house without the Comrades and Brits following us, now that the Dutch police have kindly told them where we are?’ He held up a hand. ‘No, let me guess. The dungeon of this whore-house is connected to a tunnel, which leads to the sewers of Amsterdam, which open into the sea –’
‘Right,’ Makepeace said belligerently. Then said sulkily: ‘You get to the plane by speedboat. Through the canals.’
‘They’ll be wise to that one now! They’ll have both ends of the canal covered by their own boats!’
Makepeace said, wearily: ‘Cars come to fetch the girls at the end of their shift. You leave with them. The car drops you off on another canal, where your boat’s waiting. The Comrades can’t be covering every canal in Amsterdam. You’ll shake them off easy.’
Morgan thought. ‘And where’s this seaplane going to be?’
Makepeace produced a map of Amsterdam. He tapped a large expanse of water on the north-east edge.
‘That’s the IJ-meer. An inland sea. It goes for miles. There’re forests all along it. It’s joined to Amsterdam by canals. You get out to that inland sea in the dark. Down comes the seaplane. Off you go. Schipol airport will see you on radar, but you’ll be gone before they can do anything.’
Morgan looked at the map. He sighed.
‘Okay, Dougie … That’s a good plan. Safer than leaving from an ordinary airfield. And where do we land in Switzerland? Got a map?’
Makepeace glowed. ‘Sure.’ He unfolded one. ‘Of course, the beauty of the seaplane is that Switzerland is full of lakes. But, as Danziger pointed out, the Swiss air traffic controllers will see us on their radar, see us disappear down when we land, then see the plane again when it takes off a few minutes later. So the best plan is to jump. That way, the plane appears legitimate all the way. It simply flies across Switzerland to Italy as per a filed flight plan and we jump here.’ He tapped the map. ‘Where the car’s waiting for us.’
Morgan was staring at him. ‘Jump?’ he said.
‘Yes. With parachutes,’ Makepeace added helpfully.
‘And what makes you think Mrs Hapsburg is capable of jumping?’
‘Hell, there’s nothing to it,’ Makepeace said – ‘I teach ladies to parachute every weekend, it’s a popular sport. A couple of hours’ instruction and they’re up there doing it.’
‘And if she refuses?’
‘Then we have to land on a lake. But it’s a pity. The Swiss air traffic controllers will want to know why.’
Morgan sighed. Oh, Makepeace. It made sense, and the question of Anna jumping was academic because he had other plans for her – but oh Makepeace … ‘Dougie? Don’t you know I hate jumping?’
Makepeace blinked. ‘No, sir. You never told me.’
‘Hate it,’ Morgan sighed.
‘But you can still do it, sir,’ Makepeace said encouragingly. ‘Just one, two, three, woops –’ he gave a little jump – ‘count to ten, then rip her.’ He added earnestly: ‘The alternative is to land on a lake and attract attention.’
Morgan rubbed his chin.
‘And Danziger knows a good place to jump over?’
‘Perfect. Deserted. He’ll be waiting, with a car.’
Morgan nodded unhappily. ‘And the seaplane?’
‘It flies straight on to Lake Como, in Italy, as per legitimate flight plan. There it refuels. The pilot files another legitimate flight plan, to the Zurich See, outside Zurich. He lands, and waits for us. We come out of the bank, jump in a boat, rush off to the seaplane, and off we go. We’ll be gone before the Comrades can say Jackski Robinovitch.’
Morgan took a worried breath. Then put his hand on Makepeace’s shoulder.
‘Okay, Dougie. That’s a good plan.’ He looked at his watch. It was nearly midnight. ‘Where’s the plane right now?’
‘In Copenhagen,’ Makepeace said cheerfully. ‘I go up to Denmark tomorrow. The pilot’s a pal of mine, who flies rich anglers to Scandinavia. We fetch you tomorrow night.’
Morgan sighed. ‘Another whole day we’re at risk! With the wolves at the door.’
‘You’re at no risk here. They’ve got a good bouncer here, a very tough guy called Erik. A hundred per cent reliable. This is a perfect setup for you. Anyway, you need a day’s sleep. And so do I.’
Oh, yes, he was right on that one. ‘This guy, Erik – does he sleep on the premises?’
‘Yes, he’s here twenty-four hours. Sleeps upstairs.’
He dropped his hand on Makepeace’s shoulder again. ‘All right, Dougie.’
‘May I ask a question?’ Makepeace said, encouraged.
‘Yes?’
‘Well,’ Makepeace said earnestly, ‘if this job is legal, why don’t we call in the Swiss police to give Mrs Hapsburg protection when she leaves the bank?’
‘For two reasons,’ Morgan said wearily. ‘Firstly, if she asks for police protection, she’ll have to explain why – tell the Swiss authorities the whole story. And she does not trust the Swiss not to collaborate with the British. She wants secrecy, Douglas. Besides we’re hoping that the Comrades and the Brits will not be waiting outside the bank in Zurich – so calling in the Swiss police would be defeating all our efforts at secrecy, wouldn’t it?’
‘I see,’ Makepeace said. ‘Of course. And where do we fly to after we’ve done the job?’
‘I don’t know yet. England probably.’
‘You better think about it pretty damn quick – the pilot will want to know so he can file a flight plan and appear legitimate. How can you go to England if the Brits are after you?’
‘I’ll get a lawyer. Then I’ll demand official police protection.’
Makep
eace shook his head. ‘I wish I knew what all this was about,’ he said, ‘then I could be more help. And the second reason? – why you can’t go to the Swiss police for protection?’
Morgan sighed tensely. ‘That’s all.’
But of course, there was a second reason. And the thought of it made his nerves cringe. It could blow everything up in his face and send him to a Swiss jail for a very long time. Because the day after tomorrow he had to walk into a Swiss bank and impersonate Max Hapsburg, alias Maxwell Constantine, and forge one or other of his signatures.
But there was no need for Makepeace to know that.
Xaviera led him down the sweeping staircase. There was a tinkle of laughter from the bar. She led him round the bottom of the staircase. ‘Do you see a door here?’
‘No.’
She smiled. ‘Our customers who want this particular service like to feel dramatic.’ She pressed a button, and a section of panelling opened, to reveal a stone staircase. An ornate gas lamp flickered on the wall.
She led the way down. At the bottom was a stout door, with a grille. She held up a big iron key. ‘Most important.’ She inserted it. The door swung open. She pointed imperiously: ‘Get in there!’
He looked at her, astonished. Her face broke into a pleasant smile. ‘Come in.’
The dungeon’s walls and floor were stone, flickering in artificial gaslight. On one side was a cell, iron bars from floor to ceiling. On the other was a medieval rack, and a whipping post. And all around, from the stone walls, hung manacles, collars, chains, black leather whips, corsets and masks. In the centre stood a double bed, glistening with red satin sheets. Next to it was a small table with a candle and a bottle of wine.
‘There’s a very nice bathroom through there, which Anna is using right now. You’re perfectly safe here. Our clients only use this place by appointment. So we can get an expert in.’ She explained: ‘None of my girls do it, you see.’
Morgan smiled, exhausted. ‘These clients really enjoy pain?’
‘Agh, it’s mostly in the mind. We try not to hurt anybody. Their wives won’t play with them, you see.’
‘I see.’
‘In the morning, you’ll find a kitchen upstairs. Help yourself. Including the bar. Sleep well.’ She handed him the key.
A Woman Involved Page 20