Colin Forbes - By Stealth

`Not yet. Let me go on. I staged my own play act outside your hotel, organized a mock punk fight – which gave me a plausible reason for sending patrol cars into the area. One of the guests at that hotel may be keeping a watch. We found the doorman they grabbed to use his uniform – all tied up with a blanket thrown over him and shoved beneath some undergrowth near the lakeside walk opposite. Edgar, his name is. He's in hospital with a severe chill.'

Tweed looked at Newman who was listening intently.

`Tell us briefly again about the last time you saw her.'

`I've already told Kuhlmann. After you left the Grill Room to change your suit I waited to sign the bill before paying for everything at reception. Paula said she was going upstairs to pack her sponge bag. I haven't seen her since. I feel responsible…'

`No regrets!' Tweed's tone was suddenly decisive. 'It looks as though a fake doorman, dressed in Edgar's uniform, lured her into the street..

`We've already concluded that,' Kuhlmann interjected. `No point in setting up road-blocks, I imagine?' Tweed suggested.

`Too late. They've already had several hours to get clear. I've got men watching the airport for the morning flights. Anyone taken aboard in a stretcher will be checked. But I don't think they'll go that route. Same with the railway stations. And the river police – they are systematically searching every vessel due to move by daylight. Kohler, the Hamburg police chief, is a good friend – he's given me a quarter of his entire force. Plain-clothes men who will use great discretion to keep it quiet.'

`Thank you again,' Tweed said. 'You seem to have covered the waterfront, as we say.'

`I haven't even started! Just listen. You remember you asked me to trace a Dr Hyde? I got lucky when I called a Danish frontier post – from my description the Danish officer told me a driver from Tinglev had taken him as a passenger across into Jutland – Denmark. I called him again a few minutes ago. A white van which transports a special sort of cake Germans like returned after midnight. The officer thought it was a strange hour for him to be coming back. He said his van had broken down, was delayed while it was repaired. They joked about the amount of the cake the Germans eat. Later the officer wished he'd had the van opened up – something rang phoney about the driver's manner.'

`Jutland. Again. Always Jutland,' Tweed said aloud but really talking to himself. He looked at Kuhlmann. 'I'd appreciate the use of your scrambler again. Mind if I make the call on my own? It's a difficult one.'

`I have other things to check in the communications room down the corridor…'

Newman remained silent as Tweed dialled the Park Crescent number. He was more tactful with Monica when she came on the phone.

`I need to speak to Howard again, if he's still there. I will ask him to give you certain instructions after I've finished the call. Instructions which are vital, and I know you'll do a perfect job. He's there? Good. Put him on the line, please…'

`Howard, this time I'm on scrambler at police HQ in Hamburg. So I can talk more frankly. I'll get Kuhlmann to send one of his couriers with my resignation by the first flight in the morning. Written on Four Seasons letterhead, dated and with the time.'

`Do you have to take this drastic action?'

`Yes. And I can't tell you why. What is terribly important is that Monica spreads the news immediately through our network of contacts here and overseas. She'll know who to get in touch with.'

Howard's voice changed, became businesslike. 'It will be done. You're faced with some appalling emergency. I can guess, but I'm not going to.'

`Howard, this is equally vital. Strictly between you and me. Don't even tell Monica – and while I remember, put a strong guard on her. She might just be grabbed to check on the story of my resignation.'

`This gets grimmer. Go on.'

`I want to retain control of all the men I have over here. And that's most secret…'

`You have control.' There was a pause. 'I do have my own bit of bad news. The PM won't sanction use the SAS team from Hereford without knowing more about the operation.'

`Forget the SAS then. We'll have to manage with what we've got. And one man I do need the support of – Commander Noble of Naval Intelligence. I want to phone him as soon as I can.'

`He called me only a few minutes ago to speak to you. He's working through the night at the Admiralty. I'll not risk the phone – I'm jumping into my car and driving over to tell him personally. With no traffic at this hour the job will be done within fifteen minutes from ending this call.'

`Let's end it then.'

`Tweed, good luck…'

`Why did you have to resign?' Newman asked while they were still alone. 'I know you think it might give us three days to find her, but let's face it – Wand is so inhuman Paula may be dead already.' He looked so downcast that Tweed rallied.

`Yes,' he said, standing up and pacing, 'that is one reason. And a top priority is to save her. But another priority is to throw Wand off guard. When the news of my resignation reaches him he'll think all opposition to him has faded away. I'm pretty sure I know now how his evil mind works.'

`So, what next?'

`I have been worrying that our forces were split in the wrong way. Now I realize I've got it exactly right. One task force – Marler, Nield, and Butler – is heading for Jutland. The sordid Dr Hyde is in that area, as Kuhlmann discovered. It may not be a pleasant thought, but I'm sure that wherever the sordid Dr Hyde is, Paula is being held. Marler won't let the grass grow under his feet. And you and I will go to Copenhagen later tonight with Cardon…' He paused. 'How tired are you? If Kuhlmann will lend us a car I propose we drive to the Danish capital through the night. Otherwise I could drive…'

`No! I can go two nights without sleep. I'm fresh as a daisy. And I suspect you're still in a state of shock, running on automatic pilot

…'

The door opened, Kuhlmann thrust his head inside, spoke quickly to Tweed.

`There's a man called Cardon on the line. Wants to talk to you urgently.'

`He's one of mine…'

Tweed was lifting the receiver as Kuhlmann disappeared. He asked who was speaking.

`Cardon, Chief. From Newman's favourite public phone box. Marler came on the line, asked for me when they couldn't get you at the Four Seasons. Can I talk?'

`I'm on scrambler. Tell me about Marler.'

`He's reached Denmark. He played it clever, knowing he was going through an operator. He said, "I'm having a super holiday. I'm at a place called 'TOnder." He gave me his hotel name – I gather it's a small place – and the number. Here it is..

Tweed noted down the details on a notepad already lying on the table in front of him.

`Philip, is your case packed?'

`Yes. I'm ready to leave at a moment's notice.'

`Do just that. Your bill is paid. Give the hotel some plausible excuse for leaving at this hour. Damned if I can think of one.'

`I'm moving to the Atlantic,' Cardon said instantly. `Why? Because my girl friend's staying there and I want to be closer to her. I'll watch the clerk's expression, see if he can preserve the dignified "the client is always right" this place is noted for. What do I do then?'

`Get well clear of the Four Seasons. Find a cruising taxi. There are always some in Hamburg. Get the driver to take you to the Hotel Berlin, pay him off. Then look round – I'm at Berliner Tor and it's the only twenty storey high building in sight. Ask for me – I'm on the fifteenth floor…'

`You smiled at something he said,' Newman observed. `He said something funny. He always cheers me up. He'll be here soon.'

He had just finished speaking when Kuhlmann entered the office like a whirlwind, sank into a chair facing Tweed.