Алистер Маклин - Time of the Assassins

‘No, not yet. Why was he set up?’

‘What?’ Kolchinsky replied in surprise.

‘You know exactly what I’m talking about, Sergei. I spoke to the policeman in charge of the case this afternoon. He said the NYPD identified Mike by his prints. But they only know him as Graham. He travelled under the name of Green. How could they have matched the prints unless UNACO authorized it?’

‘We had no choice,’ Kolchinsky said at length. ‘If the Beirut police had continued to probe who knows what they might have uncovered? We had to protect the organization.’

‘And what if Mike gets arrested? Will UNACO leave him to rot in some Beirut jail to protect themselves?’

‘He brought this on himself. It was an unauthorized mission.’ Kolchinsky sighed deeply. ‘No, we wouldn’t leave him in some Beirut jail. We’d get him out. Somehow. But don’t let it come to that, Sabrina. Find him and bring him back.’

‘That’s easier said than done. All my enquiries have drawn a blank so far.’

‘I suggest a change in tactics. He’s after Bernard, right? If you find Bernard first you won’t have to chase after him any more. He’ll come to you. And then you can intercept him before he can get to Bernard.’

‘And how do you suggest I find Bernard? According to Bailey’s dossier, his bodyguards are Hezbollah fundamentalists. They’re hardly going to take very kindly to a woman poking her nose into their affairs, are they?’

‘They only act as his bodyguards in the Lebanon. He flew out of Beirut last night, destination Habane. He used the name Alain Devereux.’

‘Zimbala? Why?’

‘I don’t know. Bailey told me this morning. And he only found out from one of his operatives who had seen Bernard at Beirut Airport last night.’

‘So he still hasn’t contacted Bailey about the hit?’

‘Not a word. This is a critical stage of the operation, Sabrina. That’s why you’ve got to stop Michael from getting to Bernard.’

‘I’ll get the next flight out to Habane,’ she assured him. ‘Who’s my contact in Zimbala?’

‘We don’t have anyone in Zimbala. Bailey offered to get one of his men at the embassy to liaise with you but I decided against it. I don’t want the CIA interfering in our business. What they will do is leave an envelope for you in one of the lockers at the airport. It’ll contain your hotel reservation, money, maps of the city – the usual. I’ve also asked them to leave a Beretta there for you. The key will be at the information desk. But apart from that, you’re on your own.’

‘It won’t be the first time,’ she muttered.

‘Call me when you get there. I hope to have more on Bernard by then.’

‘How’s the Colonel?’

‘He’s fine. I saw him this morning.’

‘Send him my regards when you next see him, will you?’

‘Of course. And Sabrina, be careful.’

‘You can count on it.’ She replaced the receiver and looked round at Graham who was hovering at the door. ‘Bernard left for Zimbala last night.’

‘I got the gist of the conversation. Why the sudden change of heart? You were determined to spill the works when you went to the phone.’

‘What good would it have done telling Sergei I’d found you? You wouldn’t have come back with me anyway. Then I’d have had to chase after you wherever you went. It would have been like something out of the Keystone Cops. At least this way I know where you are. And I know Bernard will be able to tip off Bailey before you get to him.’ She gave him a wry smile. ‘Well, that’s what I’ll say in my defence when I get back. I don’t think it’ll save me from suspension though.’

‘Why should you be suspended? It’s not as if I gave you much choice. You did what you thought was best under the circumstances. The Colonel can’t fault you for that. And what was all that about sending him your regards? Is he ill?’

‘I haven’t told you, have I? With all this going on, it completely slipped my mind.’

‘Told me what?’

They returned to the room where she explained about Philpott’s heart attack and his subsequent convalescence at the Bellevue Hospital where he would remain for the next few days.

‘He can be a cantankerous old fossil at times but I hope this isn’t going to force him to retire. The place wouldn’t be the same without him.’

‘It’s up to his doctor to decide if he’ll be fit enough to return to work. But the signs are encouraging by all accounts.’ She gestured to the door. ‘Well, I’d better get back to the hotel and pack.’

‘How will I know where you’re staying once you reach Zimbala? You’re sure to get there first.’

‘We don’t need to travel separately. UNACO don’t have anyone in Zimbala so word can’t get back to Sergei that we’re working together.’

‘But word can get back to Bernard. Remember, he doesn’t know what happened at the factory tonight. As far as he’s concerned, I’m still a threat to him. And that means he’s sure to have people at the airport ready to intercept me the moment I arrive there.’

‘What about me? If Al-Makesh knew we were with UNACO, then Bernard’s sure to know it as well. And for all he knows, we could be working together to track him down.’

Graham shook his head. ‘He’ll know the real reason why you’re in Beirut.’

‘How? Sergei said Bernard hasn’t been in touch with Bailey for days, certainly not since C.W. and I were assigned to the case.’

‘Because Al-Makesh knew why you were in Beirut. All Bailey had to do was tell the Mossad why you were here and they would have got Al-Makesh to pass the information on to Bernard. How else do you think Al-Makesh knew we were from UNACO? Not from some informer on the street corner. From the Mossad.’ Graham sat on the bed and looked up at her. ‘Bernard will make sure you’re given a free hand wherever you go. You’re his guardian angel – the one person keeping me away from him. No, don’t worry, you’ll be perfectly safe in Zimbala.’

‘How are you going to get there?’

‘I don’t know yet. My best bet would probably be to fly into one of the neighbouring states and sneak over the border at night. Which brings us back to my original question. How will I know where to contact you?’

‘I’ll have the use of a locker at the airport…’ she trailed off with a despondent sigh. ‘Sorry, I forget. You can’t go near the airport.’

‘Leave it there. I’ll sort something out.’

‘What name will you be using?’

He thought for a moment. ‘Well, I can’t use Michael Green any more. I’ll use the Miles Grant passport.’

‘OK, I’ll leave the key for the locker at the information counter.’ She glanced at her watch. ‘As I said, I’d better get back to the hotel. I still have to make all the necessary travel arrangements before I go to bed.’

‘See you in Zimbala.’

She walked to the door then paused to look back suspiciously at him. ‘I’ve put my neck on the block for you, Mike. Don’t jump the gun and go after Bernard by yourself.’

‘As if I would,’ he replied, his hands held out in a gesture of mock innocence. His face suddenly became serious. ‘We made a deal. I’ll stick to it.’

‘Sure,’ she replied with a quick smile then left the room.

He returned to his room and pulled his holdall out from under the bed. He could hear Sabrina in the bar below talking to the two men. Then silence. He turned his attention to rounding up his clothes and packing them in the holdall.

‘Knock, knock,’ Laidlaw said from the open doorway behind him.

‘Come in, Russ,’ Graham said without looking round.

‘So, you’re off on your travels again. Where to now, or can’t you say?’