Rhinoceros (26 page)

Going back inside he sat down, checked the number
Kent had given him, pressed the number for an outside
line and then the German's number.

'Who is this?' a gruff voice demanded in German.

'My name is Tweed. We have a mutual acquaintance . . .'

'Ah! You have arrived quickly. Keith phoned me that
you were coming, gave me your description. A necessary
precaution. I am Kefler.'

The German was speaking in English now. A necessary
precaution? It had an almost sinister sound.

'I'm at the Four Seasons, Dr Kefler.' He gave him his suite number. 'I would like to see you as
urgently as possible. Also, I would like to bring my assistant, Paula Grey - and Robert Newman, the foreign correspondent.'

'All will be welcome. But you must come well after dark. Take a taxi, tell the driver to drop you just before
he reaches the Fish Market. Then walk along Grosse
Elbstrasse. Soon, on your right you come to a high grassy
bank. There is a footpath up to a terrace of old houses.
Climb up the footpath. I am number 23. Keep in the shad
ows as you walk. I suggest we meet at eleven o'clock.'

'Tonight?' Tweed asked.

'Yes, tonight. Who can guarantee there
will
be a tomor
row? Thank you for calling . . .'

Someone tapped on his door. When he opened it, Paula
walked in. She looked round the suite, walked out on to
the balcony, took a deep breath of air, although it was still
hot. She turned round.

'I should have asked if this is a convenient moment.'

'Very. Sit down. Listen.'

He relayed to her every word of his conversation with
Dr Kefler. She frowned, gazing at him as he spoke from
an armchair. He waved a hand.

'That's it,' he concluded.

'We're going, then?'

'Yes.'

'It all sounds rather menacing, downbeat. "Come well
after dark. Keep in die shadows. If there's a tomorrow",'
Paula commented.

'On the contrary, Kefler sounded very jovial, very
warm.'

'Well, Keith Kent did say Kefler reminded him of a
teddy bear. But don't you think there was a grim element?'

'Yes, I do. We shall therefore take heavy protection.

Later we'll walk to the Hotel Renaissance where Harry Butler and Pete Nield are staying. I want Harry to guard our rear,' Tweed decided.

'And Mark?'

'Would be one too many.'

He went to the door. Someone had rapped hard on it.
Opening it, he looked at the tall figure standing outside.

'Mr Tweed. I am Victor Rondel.'

Paula looked with curiosity as their visitor entered, was introduced to her. He held on to her hand only briefly and
his grip was firm. She was rather struck by him.

Six feet tall, slim, athletically built, he was clean-shaven
and had blond hair neatly brushed back from his forehead.
His brown eyes had a humorous hint and his smile was attractive. In his late thirties or early forties, he was clad
in a pale blue polo-neck sweater, fawn slacks with a razor-
edged crease and white trainers. He accepted Tweed's
invitation to sit down, paused when Tweed gestured to
the champagne in an ice bucket the management had
provided.

'It's not been opened. You might like to keep it for
later.'

'The ice in the bucket is almost water now,' Tweed com
mented. 'I think you'd do us a favour if I opened it now.'

'Then I will be happy to do you that favour.'

He smiled again as Tweed took the bottle into the
bathroom to open. He was smiling at Paula, who had
perched herself on the arm of another chair.

'Would this be your first trip to Hamburg, Miss Grey?'

'Paula, please. No, it isn't. I was here quite a few years
ago when the old family was running it. In this hotel,
I mean.'

'Ah. The end of a dynasty. I fear a lot of that is happening
these days. Thank heavens the new owners - a chain - have
preserved its original character. I understand you are Mr
Tweed's close assistant.'

She didn't reply because Tweed had returned with the
bottle opened. He poured champagne into three of the six glasses laid out on a table, raised his glass.

'To peace and prosperity.'

'I will certainly drink to that,' Rondel agreed.

'How did you know I was here?' Tweed asked suddenly, still standing.

'I saw you and Miss Grey . . .'

'Paula, please,' she said again, smiling.

'I saw you and Paula come in when I was having coffee in
the lounge downstairs. The gentry in Hamburg patronize
that room.'

'But how did you know it was me?' Tweed persisted.

'Information is one essential element in my job. Sometimes
more valuable than gold. You are the Deputy Director of
the SIS.'

'And may I ask you what your job is?'

'You just did.' Rondel laughed pleasantly. 'I am one of
the two partners who control the Zurcher Kredit Bank.'

'With a reputation of being the most trustworthy bank
in the world.'

'I would hope so. I would most certainly hope so.'
Rondel emptied his glass. 'Thank you for the drink. That champagne is a most superior brand. Now, I have taken
up enough of your time. This was in the way of a first
introduction. We would be most happy if you could be
our guests at one of the best restaurants in town.' He
extracted from his chamois wallet a long off-white card,
handed it to Paula. 'We have reserved a good table for you
for tomorrow night. I hope that is acceptable. The table
number is on the back.'

'Very kind of you,' replied Tweed. 'Would I be out of order if I brought someone else as well as Paula? A man
called Robert Newman.'

'Ah! The world-famous foreign correspondent. He would
be most welcome.'

'I will, of course, pay for him . . .'

'You won't be able to.' Rondel laughed again. 'The
manager will have been instructed to put three guests on
my account. No argument, please. Oh, I hope you will not think it unfriendly, but you will
be dining by yourselves. I shall be at another table with my partner — by tomorrow
evening an urgent cable will have arrived and we must make a decision.'

'That is quite all right. You refer to "we", and mention
your partner.'

'That, as I think I mentioned, is who I shall be dining with.' Rondel stood up. 'Soon we may well wish you to
visit us at our headquarters.'

'Which are where?'

'Information never disclosed in advance.' Rondel smiled
again, shook hands with both of them. 'We will keep in
touch . . .'

Alone with Paula, Tweed looked at her. Taking off
his glasses, he polished them with a clean handkerchief,
perched them back on his nose.

'What did you think of him?'

'Bit of a whirlwind. I liked him. Never met anyone like
him before. I've heard of this restaurant.' She handed him
the card. 'It is supposed to be super.'

'Fischereihafen Restaurant,' Tweed read aloud. 'Grosse
Elbstrasse 143. That means it's not so far from where Dr
Kefler lives.
Hafen,
you know, means harbour.'

'What
did you
think of him?' Paula asked.

'Very secretive. Rondel cleverly evaded giving us the
name of his partner - and where their headquarters are
situated. I wonder how he found out who I was, that we'd be coming here? Paula, on this journey into a mirage we
can trust no one except our own team. No one.'

'You found Rondel suspect?'

'I didn't say that.' Someone knocked on the door.
'Maybe that's Newman. He's staying here, of course, as
is Mark.'

Tweed open
ed the door, was taken aback. Standing there with a half-smile on her face was Lisa Trent.

CHAPTER 16

'Welcome to Hamburg,' said Lisa as she walked in, went
over to hug Paula. 'Amazing,' she said, turning to Tweed. 'Truly amazing. You worked out my message, you clever
man,' she ended cheekily.

'Interested in a glass of champagne?' Tweed suggested.

'Buckets of it,' Lisa rapped back after checking the
bottle. 'Can I sit down? It's bloody hot,' she remarked,
sitting down.

She wore a white blouse, khaki shorts. Her feet were clad
in sandals. No jewellery — not even one ring on her fingers.
Tweed gave her a glass of champagne. She drank half of it straight off.

'How did you know we were here?' Tweed asked casually.

'I make it my business to know what's going on. Thought
you'd have caught on to that when I made it my business to
come to London - to warn you where the imminent riots were going to take place. Wake up, Tweed,' she rapped
out, again saucy.

'Why have you come to see us now — glad as we are of
your restrained presence?'

'Touche!
My guess is you're hunting Rhinoceros.'

'Is it?' Tweed sat down facing her so as not to miss any nuance of expression. 'And supposing that was one of the
reasons we are here?'

'Then you're in the right place. Germany.'

'Rhinoceros is in Germany? Whereabouts?'

'No damned idea.' Lisa refilled her glass, knocked back half of her fresh drink. 'You really will have to do some of
the work yourself.'

'I have been known to exert a little energy. What about a hint?'

'I haven't a clue.' She suddenly dropped her flippant
attitude, stared at Paula. 'But I can tell you that all of you
are in grave danger.'

'From who?'

'This interrogation has gone far enough.' She flared up,
her face flushed with anger. She turned on Tweed. 'I do
not
know. Don't you bloody well think I'd tell you if I did?'
Standing up, she confronted him. 'There's a quality called trust. Ever heard of it?
Trust]'
she shouted at him. 'As you
obviously don't trust me we have no more to talk about.'
She reached for the champagne glass, saw it was empty,
threw it onto the table where it shattered. 'When I think of
what I went through in London to help you and you treat
me like this!'