Colin Forbes - The Stockholm syndicate

"Watch it, Ed," Beaurain said very quietly. "Before I smash your teeth in."

" No! You watch it, you bastard! I arrive in Stockholm and try to locate the elusive Dr. Theodor Norling, director of the Syndicate's Scandinavian sector. He can't be found anywhere. Then he arrives. And hell, who do you think also arrives at the same moment? Ex-Chief Superintendent Jules Beaurain."

"If you say "Department of Coincidence" again I'll kick your kneecap off," Beaurain told the American. "Who's been feeding you this poison?"

"Very clever, Jules. You pretend to be tracking down this Hugo, so who is the last person in the world anyone is going to suspect just could be Hugo? Yourself. And now I'm going to feed you on a platter to Washington — unless I have to press this trigger."

"Which would be a very convenient conclusion to the whole complex case from your point of view."

"What do you mean?" Cottel demanded.

Beaurain's voice had hardened when he made his statement and the American detected a subtle change in the Belgian's personality. He noticed there was also a physical change: Beaurain suddenly stopped wriggling his shoulders as though trying to ease the cramp out of his muscles. Cottel was sensitive to personality changes and an interrogator of many years' experience. He was still trying to work it out when a cold hard rim of metal was pressed against the base of his neck.

"You have three seconds to drop the machine-pistol before I blow your head off your shoulders," Palme told him. "My orders are to pull the trigger even if you open fire on Jules Beaurain. I have started counting."

The shock tactic approach had been worked out by Beaurain in advance and was based on his knowledge of the American's psychology. Cottel was a realist and had long ago learned never to buck the odds if there was another option, a chance to live and fight again another day. He didn't hesitate. He dropped the machine-pistol.

"Walk two paces forward," Palme ordered.

The American obeyed and behind him Palme quietly stepped to one side before he scooped up the weapon — in case Cottel had kicked out behind him seeking a vulnerable part of the Swede's anatomy.

"So now, at long last, we get to meet Hugo," Beaurain said, 'and we have penetrated the American connection."

"What the hell are you talking about?" Cottel blazed.

"Shut your trap, Ed, for ten seconds. Louise," Beau-rain called out, 'come here and listen to this rubbish." He waited until she had arrived. "Meet Hugo," he invited.

" Hugo? "

To cover his tracks he was going to offer me up to his chiefs in Washington — on a platter was the phrase, I believe. Who is the big man in Washington, Ed? The one you really report to? I offer Joel Cody as a suggestion."

"I don't report to anyone back in the States any more than I can," Cottel replied quietly. "And when I do send anything it amounts to no more than meaningless words."

"Why?" Beaurain pounced.

"You should know — because I don't know who I can trust. Your Syndicate has penetrated the highest echelons."

"Someone did tell you I was Hugo." Beaurain was suddenly convinced the American was not lying. And yet there had to be an American connection. He had proof. "Who told you?" Beaurain persisted.

"One of my watchers. No, you don't get his name.

Tell your thug to pull the trigger now, but you still don't get his name."

"Eve n though he was bought?" Beaurain asked softly. "Bought to twist the existing facts in a way only Hugo could have done to make everything seem exactly the opposite to what it is? Have you a transceiver in that Renault? You have? Then get through now to the contact who pointed the finger at me."

"Why?" Cottel asked.

"Because you'll find he's not available. By now he will be dead. He's served his purpose and when a man has served Hugo's purpose he's eliminated. Go on, Ed, get back into that car and use the transceiver to call your contact. He should be available?"

"Round the clock." The American sounded doubtful. "Every one of my watchers is now holding himself available round the clock. I'd expected to clean up the whole business within the next twenty-four hours."

"Starting with me? You were fooled, Ed! Fooled! "

"Give me a couple of minutes. Get your man to check me for extra weapons." He waited while Palme obliged. "He can hold me in the sights of his machine-pistol."

Cottel didn't wait for a reply. Slipping behind the wheel of the car he fumbled in the dark, attached a head-set and reached for the microphone. It seemed to Beaurain it was a one-way conversation. Only two minutes later the American climbed slowly out of the car and accepted the cigarette Beaurain offered.

There are things you should know, Jules," he said dully. "And there is an American connection. Stupid Ed Cottel was chosen to come to Europe because Washington thought he was more concerned with tracking down the Telescope organisation. Making enquiries, quote, as to whether the Stockholm Syndicate existed, close quote, was supposed to be a sideline. I think Washington found out I was directing all my resources and firepower on locating the Syndicate after I came over. I've had trouble making contact back home."

"You just tried to call up your contact who said I was Hugo, who convinced you I was Hugo. Any reply?"

"None at all. And he was supposed to be waiting for a signal from me, staying up all night if necessary."

"He's probably floating down the Riddarfjarden by now. You see, Ed, he'd served his purpose, so Hugo has disposed of him. You're supposed to have served your purpose now…"

"Which is?"

"You should have shot me as Hugo. Then sat down and written out your highly confidential report for Washington. End of any rumours about a Stockholm Syndicate, end of any speculation starting in the American press about who was financing it, end of any horrendous scandal which might break and lose the President the coming election."

"I think I got most of it wrong." Ed was deliberately looking at Louise when he made the statement.

"I was conned, but good. Jules, you have any information on the financing of the Syndicate?"

"One of the big contributors is Leo Gehn, chairman of the I.T.E. combine, who is also a generous contributor to the President's campaign war chest. Just imagine those two facts hitting the headlines."

"You think this definitely goes all the way up to the White House?" Cottel asked tersely.

"Harvey Sholto arrived in Stockholm direct from Washington a few days ago," Beaurain threw at him. "Joel Cody phoned the Sapo chief to let him know of Sholto's imminent visit but didn't let him know Sholto was already in the city. Luckily Fondberg's men at Arlanda spotted him coming in, but didn't follow him. Why should they? And Sholto hasn't surfaced. No contact with Fondberg or anyone. He just went to ground."

"Sholto! Jesus Christ!"

"And," Beaurain pressed on, 'neither Cody nor anyone else reported you were coming into Stockholm."

They didn't?" There was sheer incredulity in Cottel's voice. "I kept a low profile to do a better job but I assumed the Sapo people would know I was in town. I don't like this, Jules. Who's next?"

"You are."

Beaurain raised the. 38 Smith amp; Wesson he had picked up from the ground and fired.

*

Further along the road towards the old iron ore mine at Skottvangs Gruva, a large man wearing a wide-brimmed straw hat and outsize tinted glasses sat behind the wheel of his hired Audi. He had not been able to get any closer for fear of being seen. He heard the sound of three distinct shots being fired.

He waited twenty minutes. Earlier that day he had taken up a position behind a pillar in the lobby of the Grand Hotel. He had seen the Swedish peasant with a head like a melon writing on a notepad. As soon as the man had disappeared inside the elevator he had palmed the pad and walked out. Back at the Hotel Reisen the careful scraping of a pencil had brought up the impression on the next sheet of the pad, showing clearly the words Skottvangs Gruva. Now the plan had worked. Cottel's watcher at Bromma had been bought, the information passed to Sholto, who had directed him in turn to pass the misinformation to Cottel, implying that Beaurain was Hugo.