Colin Forbes - Precipice

Gustav staggered, three bullets in his back, stumbled off the kerb in front of the juggernaut. Too late, the driver applied his air-brakes. His huge truck rolled over the body lying in the road, crushing Gustav's skull and the rest of his body.

'Keep moving,' Newman said quickly. 'Across the street.'

Marler, the automatic he had fired back inside a pocket, met them, joined them as they continued towards Beck's HQ. Tweed said nothing until they turned down a side-street. They heard the distant wail of the sirens of an approaching patrol car near the platz.

'Thank you, Marler,' Tweed said quietly. 'How did you know?'

'Thought I'd better take up guard duty outside your hotel. Noticed this chap just standing, stamping his feet as though feeling the cold, but he still stayed there. Decided to keep an eye on him.'

'And you said Brazil admired you.' Newman snorted.

'I saw Eve near this end of Bahnhofstrasse.' Paula said. 'She hoofed it pretty quick when she saw what had happened. I wouldn't put it past that hellcat to have set this up.'

Eve's mind was racing as she hurried back to the Baur-en-Ville. She was in a bad jam and knew it. She had to be the first to inform Brazil of what had happened. She was making up a story in her head as she entered the Baur-en-Ville, got into a lift, hurried to her room.

Once inside she poured herself a stiff vodka, lit a cigarette while she thought. To give herself extra confidence she changed her coat, putting on a long trench coat with wide lapels. Earlier, because of its length, it had flapped against her as a wind blew up Bahnhof-strasse from the lake. She stubbed out the cigarette, took a deep breath, went along to Brazil's room, and, this time, knocked on the door.

'Come in.'

Brazil, behind his desk, smiled broadly when he saw who it was. He made his comment as she shut the door and came towards him.

'I like that trench coat. You look very smart, my dear.'

'My latest purchase. There's something bad I have to tell you about.'

'First, take off your coat. It's warm in here. Then sit down, make yourself comfortable. I expect you could do with a drink.'

'That would be very pleasant.'

She waited while he poured two vodkas, a large one for her. Going back to the chair behind his desk, he raised his glass, smiled again.

'Cheers! Now, compose yourself and tell me what this is all about.'

'Gustav is dead,' she burst out. 'It's awful. He tried to shoot Tweed, but someone else shot Gustav first. It was ghastly. Gustav fell under a passing juggernaut.'

'So probably.' Brazil said after sipping his drink, 'the police won't easily identify him. In any case, as you know, members of my staff never carry any identification when on a job. I wonder why he tried to kill Tweed?'

'When he went out he was drunk. I passed him in the corridor and smelt it on his breath. I was worried as to what he was up to, so I put on this coat and followed him up Bahnhofstrasse.'

'You say Gustav was drunk?'

'Pretty high, I'd have said. Not reeling. He walked up the street quite steadily. Then when Tweed comes out of the hotel with Newman and Paula Grey he tries to shoot Tweed.'

'Fortunate that it sounds as though Tweed had someone posted outside the hotel, someone armed. I've dismissed Francois and the other guard I left behind, paid them well. So that just leaves you and me to depart tomorrow.'

'Where?' Eve asked, eyeing him over the rim of her glass.

'Dorset. Grenville Grange. There's one more banker I want you to soften up for me.'

'There aren't any big banks – or top men, anyway – in that sleepy county.'

'Oh yes, there is one. Who lives there in his country farmhouse at the weekends. Separated from his wife, so he'll be interested in some feminine company.'

'Not the bedroom,' she warned.

'Of course not. Have I ever asked you to go that far? They're more pliant when they go on hoping. We'll fly there in the jet, land at Bournemouth International, and I've already arranged for a car to be waiting for us.'

'Sounds as though you've thought of everything.'

'Believe me, I have. Now let's go downstairs and have a long, leisurely dinner.' He smiled again. 'I could do with some pleasant company myself. You can pack your case tomorrow. I have to call in at a bank.'

Before Paula and Newman had entered Police HQ, Tweed had warned them not to say anything about the attack on himself.

'It could make life difficult for Beck – he would have to investigate the circumstances of the shooting of the gunman, whoever sent him. That would involve you, Marler. I don't want anything to delay our departure from Zurich when Brazil leaves – which I'm sure he will soon.'

Marler had volunteered to stay outside on guard.

'We can't tell how desperate Brazil is. He may have just changed his mind about you, Tweed. I know this is police headquarters, but four men armed with machine-pistols could rush the place and get inside.'

'Don't freeze to death,' Tweed told him. 'We'll be as quick as we can be.'

Beck jumped up from his desk to greet them warmly. He told the officer who had brought them up to order coffee and cakes for everyone.

'The pastries will be from Spriingli,' he said when the officer had left the room.

'I'll make a pig of myself,' Paula told him.

'That's why I ordered them,' he replied with a smile. 'Now, I have news. Brazil is playing tricks, I'm sure. Is out to confuse us.'

'What tricks this time?' Tweed enquired.

'The pilot of his jet waiting at Kloten has filed three flight plans provisionally. One for take-off at 11 a.m.

One for 1 p.m. The third for 3 p.m. All being provisional.'

'That's to confuse me.' Tweed said. 'For what destinations?'

'All for the same destination. Bournemouth International Airport.'

'So he's returning to where it all started. Grenville Grange in Dorset. Interesting. We're going after him.'

'I guessed you would.' Beck said with a wry smile. 'You never give up. By the way, after you'd landed in Brazil's plane in an obscure area, I asked the controller to keep the jet under wraps – out of sight in the same area. To have the machine fully refuelled and maintained. A Swiss aircrew will be ready to take off the moment you wish to. It will probably be the same crew which flew you from Sion. They are spending the night getting some sleep.'

A uniformed policewoman had brought in a tray with coffee and pastries. Paula lunged for an exotic concoction with a lot of chocolate and whipped cream.

'Scrumptious.' she announced. 'What a generous plateful. I'm going to have another.'

'That's what they're there for – to be consumed.' said Beck, amused.

'What I'd like to do.' said Tweed, 'is for all of us to be aboard our jet by 10 a.m. Then we're ready to take off soon after Brazil has left – whichever flight plan he uses.'

'It shall be done.' said Beck. 'In which case I'll have two unmarked police cars pick you up from the Schweizerhof at 8.45 a.m. In case Brazil chooses the 11 a.m. flight, you'll be safely aboard the other jet.'

'Your service and organization are truly remarkable.' Tweed commented. 'Thank you for all your help.'

'You'll let me know eventually what has happened to Mr Brazil, please. Heaven knows he's succeeded in turning the world upside-down. Having heard of the decisions in London, the Swiss Army has been put on partial mobilization.'

While Tweed called the PM, Beck picked up napkins, wrapped them round another of the pastries Paula had liked, presented it to her with a little bow.

'I will send you some Sprungli chocolates, a really big box. For a brave lady.'

'Thank you. You're always so kind to me.'

He hugged her, they left, found Marler chatting up the very attractive policewoman who had served their coffee and cakes.