Colin Forbes - Double Jeopardy

Nobody slept inside the communications coach as the express sped on through the night. The atmosphere grew worse as the air became more clammy and oppressive. Conditions were not improved by the cigar O'Meara smoked as he lay half-sprawled in the lower bunk.

Tweed moved away and sat in a swivel chair screwed to the floor, his head slumped forward, apparently asleep. But he was aware of everything going on as the thump-thump of the train's wheels continued its hypnotic rhythm. The factor he found most disturbing was Stoller's disappearance.

They had arranged a duty roster for one security chief to patrol the corridors of the four coaches where the VIP's were presumably asleep. This was at Flandres' suggestidn despite the armed guards from each contingent occupying the corridors of their respective coaches. At the moment Flandres himself was on duty.

The Bonn signal arrived at the ungodly hour of 0435 – after the express had left Strasbourg and ten minutes before they were due at Kehl on the German border. Tweed sat up in his chair because he saw the cypher clerk decoding the signal which had arrived. He held out his hand as the clerk walked towards O'Meara who appeared to be asleep.

`I'll take it…'

`What the hell is it now?' O'Meara suddenly demanded.

The American – who had obviously not been asleep – was stripped to his shirt-sleeves, exposing the holstered gun strapped under his left arm. He leaned over Tweed's shoulder and the Englishman caught a whiff of stale sweat from his armpits. Howard, who had just entered the coach, joined them as all three men perused the signal.

`Christ Almighty, what is going on?' O'Meara growled and lit a fresh cigar. Howard's reaction was a tightening of the muscles of his jaw, Tweed noted.

Urgent change of schedule. Chancellor Langer will board Summit Express at Kehl, not Mtinich. Repeat Kehl not Munich. Stoller.

'It's a nightmare,' Howard said. 'What does it mean?'

There were pouches under his eyes betraying his fatigue. The underlying strain of mutual suspicion and mistrust was beginning to take its toll on the three security chiefs. Flandres had flow joined them and was mopping moisture off his forehead with a silk handkerchief. The atmosphere was becoming claustrophobic. Each man was conscious of being cooped up inside a confined space he could not escape. Only Tweed seemed relaxed as they re-examined the signal.

'He has given us less than ten minutes' warning. It's just not good enough. What does it mean?' Howard repeated.

`It appears to mean,' Tweed suggested, that Stoller is using his considerable ingenuity to protect his leader. That is,' he added, `assuming Chancellor Langer is the assassin's target…'

He was watching the three men as he spoke, searching for a clue in his blunt reference to the assassin. The American chewed at his cigar and spilt ash down his front.

`You're not making sense,' he complained irritably.

The timetable of the western leaders for their journey to Vienna has been widely publicised,' Tweed-explained patiently. 'Including the fact that Langer was scheduled to board the train at Munich when he had made his brief speech outstide the Hauptbahnof. By coming aboard much earlier this unexpected change may throw the unknown assassin off balance.' He stared round the trio hovering over him. 'It has already thrown you off balance…'

'You're assuming Langer is the target,' Howard pointed out. `True,' Tweed agreed. 'The target may already be on board. I am not sure…'

Just as you're not sure of any of us,' Flandres said amiably. 'True again. And the train is slowing down – we are at Kehl.

So the fourth suspect, Stoller, should join the happy band…'

There was a further surprise when the express drew into Kehl and Flandres opened the door of Voiture Four to find Chancellor Kurt Langer staring up at him, his lean face wearing an expression of amusement. Like the French security chief, the German spoke fluent English and, wearing his well-cut business suit, could have passed for an Englishman.

'Alain Flandres, how pleasant to see you again. I trust my early arrival did not get you out of bed?'

'None of us have had much sleep…'

Flandres ushered the Chancellor quickly aboard into the corridor and away from the open doorway. He peered briefly out into the early morning. The gloomy platform, glowing with sepulchral lamps, was lined with BND men facing away from the express. Flandres frowned and turned to speak to the Chancellor.

`Where is Erich Stoller, Chancellor? Surely he is accompanying you?'

'I have no idea where he is,' Langer answered affably. 'He is as elusive as a lark. The train can leave when you are ready – I go this way? Thank you…'

Flandres signalled to the guard and closed the door. The train began to move again, picking up speed, the coaches swaying slightly as they started to cross Germany, heading for Bavaria. Flandres wasted no time making sure Langer was comfortable: the Chancellor was notorious for his dislike of fuss. He hurried back into the foetid atmosphere of the communications coach where the others sat waiting for him.

'Stoller did not come aboard,' he announced. 'And Langer tells me he has no idea as to his present whereabouts…'

`That's crazy,' O'Meara protested.

'It could also be very serious,' said Tweed.

His remark did nothing to lighten the highly nervous mood which had now spread to the communications technicians. Howard left the coach to take up his duty roster, glaring at Tweed as he passed him hunched in his swivel chair.

The early hours when morale is at its lowest crawled and no one spoke unless it was absolutely unavoidable. Friendly cooperation had long since given way to raw-edged nerves and outbursts of irritation over trivia. Only Tweed remained detached and watchful – like a man awaiting an event he has foreseen and which is inevitable.

When they had at last settled down into some kind of neutral silence the second signal came in from Berne.

Subject: Irma Romer. Height: 5ft. 4 ins. Weight 120 lbs. Colour of eyes: brown. Age: 64. Married to industrialist, Axel Romer, 34 years. Destination: Lisbon. Arnold, Berne.

The second signal promised from Berne reached the communications car of the Summit Express as it was pulling into Ulm Hauptbahnhof at 0805 hours. Tweed automatically converted the details from the metric system as he read the message and passed it to Howard.

`The elegantly-dressed woman who came aboard at the last moment at Paris,' he commented. 'The one you said was of no significance. The description doesn't tally in one single detail…'

'We had better go to the sleeper coach at once,' Flandres said. 'With armed guards,' he added. He looked at Tweed. 'Coming?'

The two men passed through the restaurant coach where breakfast was being laid for the four western leaders to the end door which was kept permanently locked, sealing off the coaches occupied by the public. A guard unlocked the door and Flandres, followed by Tweed, hurried along the corridor of the sleeping car.

'Come with us,' Flandres ordered two of the guards standing in the corridor. 'Have your weapons ready. Good, there is the attendant…'

The uniformed attendant in charge of the sleeper was making the morning coffee and looked up in some trepidation as Flandres began questioning him. He then explained that the passenger, Irma Romer, had left the express at Stuttgart after complaining that she felt unwell.

Stuttgart… The timetable details flashed into Tweed's mind. Arrive 0651; Depart 0703. A twelve-minute stop, the longest of the whole trip except for Munich. Flandres looked at Tweed and made a gesture along the corridor.

`So, once again you are right, my friend. We should examine her compartment?'

`Yes,' said Tweed.