Алистер Маклин - Floodgate

Agnelli reached out a hand. He didn’t touch van Effen, it was just a restraining gesture. ‘Please sit down, Mr Danilov. Perhaps Helmut has rather overstepped the mark but have you ever met a lawyer who wasn’t burdened with a suspicious, mistrustful mind? Helmut – or we – just happened to choose the wrong suspect. Helmut, in fact, has been in Warsaw but only, as you almost guessed, briefly and as a tourist. I, personally, don’t doubt you could find your way about Warsaw blindfolded.’ Paderiwski had the look of a man who wished he were in some other place, any place. ‘A blunder. We apologize.’

‘That’s kind.’ Van Effen sat down and quaffed some more beer. ‘Fair enough.’

Agnelli smiled. Almost certainly a double-dyed villain, van Effen thought, but a charming and persuasive one. ‘Now that you’ve established a degree of moral ascendancy over us I’ll reinforce that by admitting that we almost certainly need you more than you need us.’

Not to be outdone, van Effen smiled in turn. ‘You must be in a desperate way.’ He lifted and examined his empty glass. ‘If you’d just poke your head round the corner, Vasco, and make the usual SOS.’

‘Of course, Stephan.’ There was an unmistakable expression of relief in his face. He did as asked then settled back in his seat.

‘No more interrogation,’ Agnelli said. ‘I’ll come straight to the point. Your friend Vasco tells me that you know a little about explosives.’

‘Vasco does me less than justice. I know a great deal about explosives.’ He looked at Vasco in reproof. ‘I wouldn’t have thought you would discuss a friend – that’s me, Vasco, in case you’ve forgotten – with strangers.’

‘I didn’t. Well, I did, but I just said it was someone I knew.’

‘No harm. Explosives, as I say, I know. Defusing bombs I know. I’m also fairly proficient in capping well-head oil fires but you wouldn’t be approaching me in this fashion if that was your problem. You’d be on the phone to Texas, where I learnt my trade.’

‘No oil fires.’ Agnelli smiled again. ‘But defusing bombs – well that’s something else. Where did you learn a dangerous trade like that?’

‘Army,’ van Effen said briefly. He didn’t specify which army.

‘You’ve actually defused bombs?’ Agnelli’s respect was genuine.

‘Quite a number.’

‘You must be good.’

‘Why?’

‘You’re here.’

‘I am good. I’m also lucky, because no matter how good you are the bomb you’re trying to defuse may be your last one. Peaceful retirement is not the lot of a bomb disposal expert. But as I assume you have no more unexploded bombs than you have oil wells, then it must be explosives. Explosives experts in Holland are not in short supply. You have only to advertise. That I should be approached in a clandestine fashion can only mean that you are engaged in activities that are illegal.’

‘We are. Have you never been? Engaged, I mean?’

‘All depends upon who defines what is illegal and what is not and how they define it. Some people hold definitions which are different from mine and wish to discuss the matter with me. Very tiresome they can be, those alleged upholders of justice. You know what the British say – the law is an ass.’ Van Effen considered. ‘I think I put that rather well.’

‘You’ve hardly committed yourself. May one ask – delicately, of course – whether this discussion you are avoiding has anything to do with your vacationing in Amsterdam?’

‘You may. It has. What do you want me to blow up?’

Agnelli raised his eyebrows. ‘Well, well, you can be blunt. Almost as blunt as you can be, shall we say, diplomatic’

‘That’s an answer? An explosives expert is good for only one thing – exploding things. You wish me to explode something? Yes or no?’

‘Yes.’

‘Two things. Banks, boats, bridges, anything of that kind I’ll blow up and guarantee a satisfactory job. Anything that involves injury, far less death, to any person I won’t have any part of.’

‘You won’t ever be called upon to do any such thing. That’s also a guarantee. The second thing?’

‘I don’t seek to flatter you when I say that you’re an intelligent man, Mr Agnelli. Highly intelligent, I should think. Such people are usually first-class organizers. To seek the help of a last minute unknown to help you execute some project that may have been in the planning stage for quite some time doesn’t smack to me of preparation, organization or professionalism. If I may say so.’

‘You may. A very valid point. In your position I would adopt the same disbelieving or questioning attitude. You have to take my word for it that I am a member of a highly organized team. But, as you must well know, the best-laid plans etc. An unfortunate accident. I can explain to your satisfaction. But not just at this moment. Will you accept our offer?’

‘You haven’t made one yet.’

‘Will you accept an offer of a job in our organization, on, if you wish, a permanent basis, on what I think you’ll find a very satisfactory salary plus commission basis, your special responsibility being the demolition of certain structures, those structures to be specified at a later date.’

‘Sounds very businesslike. And I like the idea of commissions, whatever they may be. I agree. When do I start and what do I start on?’

‘You’ll have to bear with me a little, Mr Danilov. My brief for this afternoon is only of a limited nature – to find out, if, in principle, you are prepared to work with us, which I’m glad to say you seem to be. I have to report back. You will be contacted very shortly, sometime tomorrow, I’m sure.’

‘You are not the leader of this organization?’

‘No.’

‘You surprise me. A man like you acting as a lieutenant – well, this leader I must meet.’

‘You shall, I promise.’

‘How will you contact me? No phones, please.’

‘Certainly not. You will be our courier, Vasco?’

‘My pleasure, Mr Agnelli. You know where to reach me any time.’

‘Thank you.’ Agnelli stood up and gave his hand to van Effen. ‘A pleasure, Mr Danilov. I look forward to meeting you tomorrow.’ Helmut Paderiwski didn’t offer to shake hands.

As the door closed behind them, Sergeant Westenbrink said: ‘I need another beer, Lieutenant.’

‘Peter. Always Peter.’

‘Sorry. That was pretty close. The ice was very thin at times.’

‘Not for a practised liar. I rather gather that you’ve given them the impression that I’m a desperate and wanted criminal?’

‘I did mention that there was the odd extradition warrant out for you. But I didn’t forget to emphasize your generally upright and honest nature. When dealing with your fellow criminals, of course.’

‘Of course. Before you get the beer, I have a phone call to make. Well, get it anyway.’

Van Effen went to the bar and said to the man behind it, ‘Henri, a private call, if I may.’

Henri, the proprietor, was a tall, gaunt man, sallow of countenance and lugubrious of expression. ‘You in trouble again, Peter?’

‘No. I hope someone else will be, soon.’

Van Effen went into the office and dialled a number. ‘Trianon? The manager, please. I don’t care if he is in conference, call him. It’s Lieutenant van Effen.’ He hung on for a few moments. ‘Charles? Do me a favour. Book me in as from a fortnight ago. Enter it in the book, will you, in the name of Stephan Danilov. And would you notify the receptionist and doorman. Yes, I expect people to be enquiring. Just tell them. Many thanks. I’ll explain when I see you.’

He returned to the booth. ‘Just booked myself – Stephan Danilov, that is – into a hotel. Agnelli pointedly did not mention anything about where I might be staying but you can be sure that he’ll have one of his men on the phone for the next couple of hours if need be, trying to locate me in every hotel or pension in the city.’