Colin Forbes - The Janus Man

`And did you find it?'

`Look.' She reached down for her handbag, opened it and handed something to Newman, leaning forward so he caught the faintest whiff of perfume. She really was a very attractive woman he thought to himself.

Resting on the open palm of his hand was a Browning automatic. 32 calibre. He recognized the weapon. Manufactured at Herstal, Belgium.

`Careful, it's loaded,' she warned.

`You have the experience to use it?'

`I was a crack shot back in the old Nairobi days. A woman left alone while her husband was working needed some protection. The natives could turn on you without warning.'

`And if someone crept aboard this sloop after dark?'

`I'd shoot him point-blank.'

There was a crisp, whiplash in her tone. As he handed back the gun Newman had no doubt she'd do just what she said. She slipped the Browning back inside her handbag and crossed her shapely legs, watching him as she spoke.

`I see your friend, Tweed, is being entertained by Goldenlegs. Is he a widower? He'd better watch it.'

`Goldenlegs?'

`A bit crude perhaps, but it sums up her best assets – and how she uses them…'

`I don't imagine Dr Berlin has much interest in women,' Newman said, changing the subject.

`Your imagination would be wildly wrong. I know he poses as the great Father Figure, the second Albert Schweitzer. But take my word for it, he likes attractive girls. You'll see some of them at his party. He has them carefully vetted before they're admitted into the august presence.'

`Vetted? You're joking…'

`I'm not used to being contradicted. Vetted is what I said. His chief assistant, Danny Warning, checks their backgrounds before any girl is allowed near Dr Berlin. They're on the lookout for reporters slipping through the security. I can't imagine why you've been invited…'

`Maybe because I did once interview him. You've kept your friendship with Dr Berlin since those long ago days in Kenya?'

`Since Nairobi I haven't exchanged a word with him – nor have the rest of the old crowd. He keeps us very much out of his new life.'

`Why?'

`I've no idea. He wasn't sociable back in Kenya. But then the bush hospital took up most of his time in those days.'

`You said none of the old crowd knows him any more. What about Diana Chadwick?'

`Goldenlegs is the one exception. She helped him with the hospital years ago. I suppose they struck up some kind of relationship that has lasted. Mind you, in case you think I'm the perfect bitch, I'm sure her friendship with Dr Berlin is purely platonic, as they used to say.' She stood up. 'And now I'm going to throw you off the sloop. I have my hair to wash – that beastly atrocity last night has upset me. And I see Tweed has torn himself away from Diana and is coming over to see you. Have a good time at the party. It will be an eye- opener…'

Fourteen

The ferry to Priwall Island was like a barge with steel walls and a raised ramp fore and aft. It was crammed with passengers and carried about half-a-dozen cars. One of the crew was chatting to Tweed while Newman and Diana stood near the prow.

`That tall building over there is the Maritim Hotel,' the crewman told Tweed. 'There's a flashing light at the top after dark to mark the entrance to the channel. You can see the old lighthouse – that red structure this side..

Tweed estimated the hotel was well over twenty storeys – far and away the tallest building in Travemunde or Lubeck. The Baltic was choppy with wavelets under the burning sun, but the crossing took less than five minutes.

`Looks like we have a maniac on the loose,' the crewman continued. 'Two girls raped and slashed up in less than twenty-four hours. It's going to affect the season if we're not careful.

I heard a number of holidaymakers have paid their bills and left.'

`How do you know they were raped?' Tweed enquired.

`It's all round the town. People talk of nothing else. I'll have to go now…'

The ferry slowed, bumped against the shore, the forward ramp was lowered and cars and passengers on foot began disembarking. Tweed was about to follow when the voice spoke in his ear.

`Interesting that Dr Berlin doesn't allow anything to disturb his arrangements. A couple of girls carved up,' Kuhlmann went on, 'a trivial incident.'

`You are coming to the party?' Tweed asked as they walked off and started down the Mecklenburger-strasse. He was again struck by the peace of the island, the abundance of trees.

`I may put in an appearance later. Take a good look at the security. God takes good care of himself. Have fun…'

It started immediately at the entrance to the mansion. Tweed was startled to see Newman holding up his arms while two guards patted his body, checking for weapons presumably. Another guard was checking Diana's handbag. Tweed joined the queue and heard Newman's comment loud and clear.

`Hell's bells. You think we're boarding an aircraft? Where are the metal detectors? And if you've got the American President here your security is lousy. Where are the dogs?'

There was confusion. The queue froze. A short, heavily-built man with a bald head which gleamed in the sun hurried up to the guards. He addressed Newman.

`I am Danny Warning, chief of security. Who are you?' `Newman. Robert Newman. And I was invited to this San Quentin circus you're running..

`You said something about dogs,' Warning said nastily.

`To sniff us for explosives. Do the job properly or not at all,' Newman went on sarcastically.

Warning turned to another guard who held a clipboard and a pen. 'Robert Newman,' he snapped.

`Yes, sir. He's on the list…'

`You have some form of identification?' Warning demanded as he turned to face Newman again. 'Driving licence? Passport?' `In a pig's eye…'

A tall thin man came running across the vast expanse of lawn. Tweed realized Newman's voice must have carried clear to the distant mansion looming in front of more trees. The thin man grasped Warning's arm.

`It's all right. I recognize him. No fuss…'

`I have my job to do,' Warning snapped again.

`Dr Berlin sent me to tell you. No fuss,' he repeated. `You may proceed,' Warning said.

Newman looked over his shoulder to where Diana stood watching him with a quirky smile. He beckoned her forward and shouted at the top of his voice.

`Come on! Don't worry. If Danny Warning tries to search you I'll kick his teeth in…'

What the hell do you think you're doing, Tweed wondered at the back of the crowd of waiting people. He watched Diana stroll forward, Newman take her arm and lead her across the lawn. When Tweed reached the open gateway he stopped and waited for the guards to check him. For the first time he noticed the thin man had a walkie-talkie. As Warning stepped forward the thin man again laid a hand on his arm.

`Let Mr Tweed through. He is an honoured guest.' `Thank you,' said Tweed.

Warning's dark eyes, blank of all expression, scanned Tweed, then he snapped his fingers. One of a dozen waiters touring the lawn with trays of glasses came forward.

`Champagne here, sir.' He indicated a line of glasses. 'Or Chablis or Beaujolais…'

`Champagne, I think. Thank you,' Tweed said again and wandered towards the large mansion perched on a slight eminence. It was probably built before the First World War, he guessed. The trim lawn was crowded with groups of chattering guests. Newman and Diana came up to him.

'And what was all that about, Bob?' Tweed asked coldly. 'We didn't come here to be conspicuous.'

'A test. First, I don't like being pawed by Dr Berlin's goons. But mainly to see how much he would take. How badly he wanted us to attend his shindig…'

`You're brighter than I'd thought,' Tweed admitted. 'And His Highness is up there, I think…'

They had their first view of Dr Berlin.