Алистер Маклин - Red Alert

‘Did he have the vial on him?’ Sabrina asked, getting into the back.

Paluzzi glanced at her in the rearview mirror and shook his head.

‘He’s been searched from head to toe. It wasn’t on him.’

‘Was he wearing a disguise?’ Graham asked.

‘Not when he was caught,’ Paluzzi replied, starting the engine. ‘But he must have worn one to get into the building. How else would he have got past the guards?’

‘It doesn’t make any sense!’ Sabrina exclaimed, looking at Calvieri. ‘Why would he take off the disguise once he was inside the building? It’s almost as if he wanted to get caught.’

Calvieri shrugged. ‘We’ll find out soon enough. The main thing is he’s been caught.’

Paluzzi put a siren on the roof and drove the short distance to the southbound motorway. He took the turn-off for the Offenbach Centre and came to a stop three hundred yards further on in front of a red and white boom gate. An armed guard approached the car. Paluzzi produced the pass provided by Kuhlmann and, after checking it, the guard gave him directions to a side entrance where Kolchinsky would be waiting. The guard then gave the order to lift the boom gate. Paluzzi slid the car into gear and drove into the grounds.

Pantechnicons of varying shapes and sizes, covered with the logos of the world’s media, lined the sides of the road and spilled over into the massive car-park which had been designed to take two thousand cars.

There wasn’t a space available. Paluzzi drove around the perimeter then turned into the alley indicated by the guard and stopped beside a fire escape. Kolchinsky, who had been standing by the door, hurried forward to meet them.

‘Why all this cloak and dagger stuff?’ Calvieri asked, climbing from the back of the car. ‘Why can’t we use the main entrance like everyone else?’

‘Because we’re armed,’ Sabrina answered, patting her bolstered Beretta hidden discreetly beneath her beige jacket. ‘If we used the main entrance the X-ray machines would go berserk.’

‘Have you managed to get anything out of Ubrino yet, Sergei?’ Graham asked as they followed Kolchinsky to the door.

‘He refuses to say anything until he’s seen Calvieri.’

The guard at the door stood aside to let them pass then closed it again behind them. They were in the main foyer, which bustled with activity as journalists sought last-minute interviews with the politicians as they made their way towards the lifts. Kolchinsky took four ID passes from his pocket and handed them out.

Graham clipped his to his jacket pocket.

‘Where did you get the passport photographs from?’

‘The Colonel brought them with him,’ Kolchinsky replied as they walked towards the lifts.

They took the lift to the fifth floor where Ubrino was being held in one of the conference rooms. Kolchinsky stopped outside an ornately carved oak door and knocked twice, paused, then knocked twice more. The armed guard inside peered through the spy hole then unlocked the door to admit them. The room was small and windowless, with a rectangular mahogany table and fourteen matching chairs around it. Kuhlmann dismissed the guard and Kolchinsky introduced Paluzzi and Calvieri to Philpott.

Philpott turned to Ubrino.

‘Well, Calvieri’s here now. Where have you hidden the vial?’

Ubrino merely shrugged his shoulders.

‘I’ll find out,’ Graham hissed angrily.

Philpott put a hand lightly on Graham’s arm, then looked at Calvieri.

‘Talk to him. Maybe you can coax it out of him.’

Calvieri crossed to where Ubrino was sitting and patted him on the shoulder.

‘He doesn’t know where it is.’

‘How do you know that? You haven’t even asked him yet,’ Kolchinsky said.

Calvieri took a small transmitter from his pocket and held it up for them to see. It was the size of a cigarette lighter.

‘He doesn’t know because I never told him.’

Paluzzi stared at Calvieri in horror.

‘You’ve been behind this all along. And we’ve played straight into your hands.’

Graham slid his hand behind his back, feeling for his bolstered Beretta.

Calvieri touched the detonator with his forefinger. ‘The transmitter’s linked to a small charge of plastic explosive attached to the side of the cylinder. It’s powerful enough to break both the cylinder and the vial in half. Question is, Mr. Graham, can you draw your gun and kill me before I push the button?’

‘Let it go, Mike,’ Philpott said without looking at Graham.

Graham’s hand dropped to his side.

‘Now, I want you each to remove your handguns and place them on the table. One at a time. Ladies first.’

Sabrina removed her Beretta, using her thumb and forefinger, and put it on the table. Graham and Paluzzi did the same.

‘You won’t get away with this, Calvieri,’ Kuhlmann rasped sharply.

‘Get away with what? You don’t even know what I want yet.’

‘What do you want?’ Philpott asked.

‘All in good time, Colonel. In the meantime, would you put the key for Riccardo’s handcuffs on the table next to the guns.’

‘I don’t have it. The guard took it with him.’

‘I wouldn’t insult the intelligence of the UNACO Director. Please don’t insult mine.’ Calvieri smiled at their startled expressions. ‘Oh yes, I know who you work for. When you refused to tell me I did a little investigative digging of my own. It took a while but I got there in the end.’

‘How did you find out?’ Philpott demanded.

‘I have my sources, let’s leave it at that. Now, the key.’

Philpott put the key on the table, then turned back to Calvieri.

‘You killed Zocchi, didn’t you?’

‘Had him killed,’ Calvieri corrected, then picked up the key and unlocked one of the cuffs. He gave the key to Ubrino to unlock the second one himself. ‘I must say all your little theories about Zocchi certainly kept me amused these past few days. I knew that with him dead the authorities would have no option but to call us in to help them find the vial. And I was the only Brigatista Signore Pisani would trust with such a delicate task. That’s how the plan came into being in the first place. And as you said, Paluzzi, you played straight into my hands. Riccardo didn’t have the vial on him when he got here, that would have been too dangerous. I had it with me. I knew we wouldn’t be searched when we entered the building. I passed it on to a sympathizer in the foyer. It’s already been secreted somewhere in the building. So I have you to thank for helping me smuggle it past the guards.’

Ubrino tossed the handcuffs on to the chair then collected the handguns from the table. He handed two to Calvieri and tucked the other into his belt.

‘Where does he fit into all this?’ Paluzzi asked, indicating Ubrino.

‘He’s been my inside man in Rome for the past six years. I knew you would immediately suspect Zocchi if Riccardo was involved in the break-in at the plant.’

‘How did you get in?’ Kuhlmann demanded of Ubrino.

‘I pose as maintenance engineer,’ Ubrino replied in a thick Italian accent. ‘Nino Ferzetti, that is his name. We have the same build and height. He wear the beard and glasses. It is an easy…’ he trailed off and looked at Calvieri. ‘ Travestire ?’

‘Disguise,’ Calvieri answered.

‘ Si , it is an easy disguise for me. I carry his pass so the guard do not stop me.’

‘Where’s the real Ferzetti?’ Philpott asked.

‘At home, sleeping off the effects of a spiked drink he had last night.’

Calvieri pointed to the door behind them. ‘I think you’ve taken up enough of my time as it is. Colonel, call me when you have a number where I can contact you. And make it soon. The longer you delay, the less time there will be to process my demands.’