Colin Forbes - The Janus Man

`I'm sure it is. But that's my strategy. And we're leaving for Lubeck late this evening. After dinner. I want to get there before they expect me…'

`That could be even more dangerous,' Butler insisted. 'For you. The last time you were in Lubeck you said you were attacked. This time they may pull it off.'

`It's your job – and Nield's – to see they don't. Harry, I am stepping up the pressure on Lysenko. I'm convinced he's about to launch a major operation – that he wants me out of the way first. For some reason he thinks I may detect the nature of the operation. I haven't. Yet. But I do think in some way it centres on Lubeck. I'm going to stir up the pot like mad. Someone on the other side is going to make a mistake – and when they make it I want to be there.'

`It's your hide…'

`It's my decision. And you have another job. That girl who came with me – Diana Chadwick is her name. Your other job is to protect her life. She could be a key witness. Don't ask me to what. I haven't worked it all out yet. I think it goes back years into the past. Just make sure nothing happens to Diana. And she doesn't know either you or Nield exist.'

`You are playing this one close to the chest. Suggests to me you don't know who you can trust..

`I can't trust any of them.' Tweed became businesslike. 'I need that notepad for a moment.'

Tweed took a small sheet of plastic from his wallet, slipped it under the first sheet, began writing on it. He wrote only a few words, then handed the notepad back.

`That's where we're staying in Lubeck. There's a room booked in your name. When we get off the train – we travel separately, of course – Nield leaves first. He's staying at a hotel called the Movenpick. Only a few hundred yards' walk from the station. You and I take separate cabs to the Jensen, register like strangers to each other. I'll be travelling with Diana. And I'll give you her room number at the Jensen at the first opportunity. Any questions? If not, I'll get room service to send us up some coffee. Wait in the bathroom when it arrives.'

`No questions,' Butler said laconically.

He was studying Tweed. He'd known him a long time. There always came a time like this. First there was the waiting – the period when Tweed sniffed the air, trod cautiously, merged into the background, feeling his way forward carefully. Then, without warning, came the big change.

Tweed went over on to the offensive, using all his guile to smoke out the opposition, taking risks, even setting himself up as a target – which was exactly what he was doing now. Butler noticed another change. Tweed's tone of voice when he referred to Diana. He'd never heard him talk about another woman in this way – not since Tweed's wife (Roedean and all that) walked off with a Greek shipping tycoon, for God's sake. His musings were interrupted when Tweed gave him Diana's room number, then checked his watch. Tweed rubbed his hands in anticipation.

`Only another few hours – then Lubeck…'

Munzel made his second phone call to Vollmer from the station brief. Vollmer didn't like too many calls, had a short fuse.

`I need someone here to watch the Hauptbahnhof – to report to me at the International when Tweed arrives. You got that? I'm now at the Hotel International..

`You told me before.' Vollmer sounded impatient. 'I can't get anyone there before tomorrow. That will have to do.. `I'm registered as Claus Kramer.

`Noted. Don't make more phone calls than you need to. I'm busy. Tomorrow…'

There was a click. The bastard had rung off. Up yours. He pulled at his beard as he left the booth, fuming.

It was 6.17 p.m. as Tweed and Diana left the express at Lubeck. Tweed had suddenly changed his mind, decided to leave Hamburg by an earlier train. Butler watched them as they climbed the steps off the platform. Nield was already at the top of the flight, disappearing from view as he made his way on foot to the Movenpick.

Following at a gentle pace – to give them time to get a cab – Butler had the impression Tweed couldn't wait to reach Lubeck. Everything had suddenly become hurry-hurry. Walking out of the concourse on the higher level, he saw them climbing into a taxi.

He waited until their cab had pulled away before summoning his own. It was still broad daylight. Holidaymakers strolled back to their hotels for dinner. The atmosphere was warm and humid. Butler suspected Lubeck was at the end of a torrid day.

`It's like coming home again,' Diana said to Tweed, snuggling up against him in the taxi. 'Ann Grayle is in for a surprise when she sees me. I'm looking forward to that.'

`I thought you didn't like her.'

`It's a kind of love-hate relationship.' She smiled impishly. 'I like her, she hates me.'

The manager at the Jensen had welcomed them back, Tweed had registered, was just about to press the elevator button when Harry Butler appeared, carrying his case. Tweed ignored him but said to Diana in a loud voice, 'Your room number is 307, mine is 303 – so you can easily pop along to see me. Let's get down for dinner as soon as we can. I'm famished.'

Fifteen minutes later Butler walked into the large oblong- shaped room which was the restaurant. The place was crowded, had the jolly atmosphere of people enjoying themselves. They gave him a table by the windows at the end of the room overlooking the street and the river beyond. Tweed and Diana were at a table against the wall, chattering like magpies. A few minutes later he idly noticed a tall, heavily-built man with a blond beard and long hair enter accompanied by an attractive brunette. They were given a table on the far side of the room, near the serving counter and bar.

Newman slept for twelve hours aboard the sloop at Travemunde. Ann Grayle had sent Ben to fetch some dry clothes, insisted that Newman took a shower, and when, he came out wrapped in a bath-robe she sat him at a table already laid and presented him with a large bowl of steaming hot asparagus soup.

`It's from a tin, but you do look as though you need some internal central heating quickly,' she drawled. 'And here's a glass of whisky. Neat. Does everything suit His Lordship?'

Later, Newman had put on a pair of outsize pyjamas Ben had brought back. Grayle had asked no questions, typical of the discretion of an ex-diplomat's wife. After the meal he'd been taken to a bunk which he collapsed into, hardly able to keep his eyes open.

Grayle, a glass in her hand, had perched for a moment on the edge of the bunk, a wicked look in her eyes.

`Better if you sleep alone tonight, don't you agree? I'm not sure you'd be up to any sort of physical activity…'

That was the last thing he'd heard anyone say until he woke. Strong light was pouring in through the porthole above his head. He looked at his watch, expecting it to have stopped. Someone had wound it for him while he slept. Christ! It was noon.

He took Grayle out to a long lunch at a place on the waterfront. Again she asked no questions. As for Newman, he wallowed in the release from tension, the end of the need to look at everyone as a potential danger. Grayle talked about her past life in Kenya, mentioning Dr Berlin.

`I didn't even like him then. These do-gooders always bore the hell out of me.'

It was mid-afternoon when they wandered together along the waterfront. Newman pointed to the Sudwind. The cruiser had a deserted look. He asked whether she'd noticed any activity on board.

`No, but I've been on a shopping trip to Hamburg. I spent several days there, so I don't know. The precocious Diana is noticeable by her absence. Must have found some new man to roll around with..

It was after six in the evening when he left the sloop and called Park Crescent from a public phone booth. Monica came on the line and he heard the relief in her voice when they'd talked for only a minute.