Алистер Маклин - Athabasca

Willoughby looked baffled.

“Read some more,” Brady prompted. “The next paragraph is only a minor shock to the nervous system.”

The policeman picked up the letter and started again. “So they want you out of Alaska and Alberta – specifically, south of the forty-ninth parallel.”

“As predicted,” said Brady.

“But no mention of any ransom?”

“Again, as we predicted.” Brady sounded smug.

“You’re not getting out, I take it.”

“Oh no? I’m going to contact my pilot in a moment and have him file a flight plan for Los Angeles.”

Willoughby stared at him. “I thought you wanted to go to Crowfoot Lake?”

“We do. But we don’t want to advertise our destination to any ill-natured persons who may be listening-in. Therefore, we file a flight plan for L.A.”

“O.K., I get it.” Willoughby grinned. “What do you want me to do?”

“Well…” Brady became evasive. “First, we need a guarantee from you.”

“You can’t make deals with the police.” Willoughby’s tone suddenly hardened.

“Rubbish!” said Brady comfortably. “It’s done all the time. Felons even make deals with judges in court.”

“O.K. So what do you want?”

“What we don’t want is a company of paratroopers. Sure, they could mop this lot up with their hands tied behind their backs, but they might mop up a few wrong people too. Softly, softly on this one. Finesse. Stealth. Secrecy. Our way or not at all.”

“You making a point or something?”

“Tell me about Crowfoot Lake,” said Brady.

“It’s an ideal place for this sort of thing. Tucked right away in the hills. Big, covered helicopter shelter right by the station. A chopper would never be spotted from the air. I was up there a year back, investigating a reported murder which turned out to be death by misadventure. Couple of young city boys newly arrived at the weather station. Happens at the beginning of the hunting season every year, without fail: all the Dan’l Boones and Buffalo Bills dropping like flies all over the place.”

“How big’s the lake?” Dermott asked. “Can a plane land on it?”

“Well, you can land on it.” Willoughby paused. “But I don’t think it would do you much good. See here: the lake’s only two miles long, so wherever you came down on it, the people in the Met. Station would be bound to hear you. I’ve got a better idea.”

“We need one.”

“Now, Mr Brady. I’ve got a request. I’m in a delicate position. I am the law around these parts, and I’m supposed to know what’s going on. I’m also a blackmailer. In return for guaranteeing that I can get you to the Met. Station undetected, I’d like some degree of participation in your expedition. You can’t operate without police authority, and I’m the authority. All cards very close to the chest, O.K. But I’d like an official watching brief – a presence.”

“I know whose presence I’d like,” Mackenzie said. Up till then he had been chewing steadily throughout the conversation, but a delicate patting of his big face with the napkin indicated that his meal was over. “I’d like Carmody.” Willoughby said: “That’s not a bad idea. I’ll get him right away.”

He went off to telephone, came back and said: “A couple of minutes.”

“Fine.” Brady turned to Mackenzie. “Don, tell Ferguson to go out to the airport and file a flight plan for Los Angeles. Tell him to expect people with provisions out there in just over an hour. Ask the kitchen to give us provisions for two or three days.”

“Just food, Mr Brady?”

Brady loftily ignored the insinuation. “Ferguson is in charge of the commissariat. He’ll know of any shortfalls. George, we’ll need some hand compasses and, I guess, ammunition. Be generous with the ammunition.”

Willoughby said: “Hand compasses we have in abundance. What guns?”

“Colt .38s”

“No problem.”

Dermott said: “Well, thank you. Tell me, Mr Willoughby, you have a deputy chief?”

“Indeed. And a good one.”

“Good enough to be left in sole charge here?”

“Sure. Why?”

“Why don’t you come with us? Giving us the directions is all very well, but it’s not the same as having you on the spot.”

“Don’t, Mr Dermott. You tempt me. You tempt me sorely.” From the momentary gleam of anticipation in his eyes, it was clear that he spoke the truth. “Duty, alas, before pleasure. I have a murder investigation on my hands.”

“You’ve just reported zero progress. There are short-cuts, Mr Willoughby. You wouldn’t want us foreign amateurs to do the job for you, would you now?”

“I’m afraid I’m not quite at my best.”

“You would be when we introduced you to Crawford’s murderer. Where else would he be but at Crowfoot Lake?”

“Mr Dermott, forget my last remark. I’m back at my very best. Ah, here he is.”

Carmody looked as large and formidable as ever.

Dermott said: “With Mr Willoughby’s consent, a request to make on behalf of Mr Brady, Mr Mackenzie and myself. As alien civilians we can only request. Those kidnappers – you’re aware they are multiple killers, desperate men. They’ll shoot on sight and shoot to kill.”

Carmody looked round in slight puzzlement but politely said nothing.

Dermott went on: “Mrs Brady, her daughter and Mr Reynolds: we know where they’re being held.”

Carmody, almost like a man in prayer, clasped his two hands lightly together and said, in a suitably churchlike whisper: “Boy, oh boy. Let’s go get them.”

Brady said: “Thank you. We appreciate it. One hour from now, O.K.?

Willoughby said: “I’ll just nip back to the office and put in a call to Edmonton.”

“Aha! I thought secrecy was the watchword?”

“It still is.”

“Then may I ask?”

“You may not. A surprise. To be revealed at Crowfoot Lake. Or in the very close vicinity. You wouldn’t rob me of my surprises?”

As the jet lifted off Brady looked across the aisle to where Carmody had just withdrawn a peculiar metallic device from its chamois-lined leather casing. It appeared to consist of a small telescope attached to a curving, semi-circular arm which in turn was bolted to a rectangular metal box. Brady said: “What do you have there, Mr Carmody?”

“John, please Mr Brady. Makes me feel less self-conscious. We cops are used to being called many things, but not ‘Mister’. This? This is an infra-red telescopic night sight. These are the securing clamps. Fits on a rifle.”

“You can see in the dark with that?”

“A little light helps. But total darkness is rare.”

“You can see the enemy but he can’t see you?”

“That’s the idea behind it. Unsporting and unfair. Never give the bastards a break – especially, Mr Brady, if they’re pointing guns at wives and daughters.”

Brady turned to Willoughby who was in the window seat. “And what lethal armaments are you carrying?”

“Apart from the regulation revolver? Just this little number here.” He reached down and picked up a zipped leather bag some eighteen inches by ten.

“Funny shape for a gun,” Brady said, intrigued.

“Two pieces that screw together.”

“It wouldn’t be a sub-machine gun?”

“It would.”

There was a short silence and then Brady said: “No chance you’ll be carrying a few hand grenades on you?”

Carmody gave a deprecating shrug. “Only a few.”

“Infra-red sights, sub-machine guns, grenades – aren’t those illegal?”

“Could be.” Carmody sounded vague. “I’m not sure they are at Crowfoot Lake. You’d have to ask Mr Willoughby about that.”

The angle of climb had levelled off, and Brady nodded his thanks as Mackenzie brought him a daiquiri.