jherbert.sepulchre-第23部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　　'That's　why　I'm　here；　Kline　。'
　　'Okay。　Let's　change　the　scenario　a　little。　Say　they　held　a　gun　at　Cora's　head　and　threatened　to　blow　it　off　if　you　made　a　move　towards　them。　You　got　your　own　gun　in　your　hand　and　it's　pointed　in　their　direction。　They're　dragging　me　into　their　car　and　the　guy　with　Cora　is　blocking　your　way。　What　would　you　do　in　that　situation？　Would　you　risk　her　life　to　protect　me？　I'd　be　interested　to　know。'　He　smiled　at　Cora。　'I'm　sure　she'd　like　to　also。'　Halloran　looked　from　one　to　the　other；　Kline　grinning；　enjoying　the　moment；　Cora　uncertain；　as　though　the　question　was　more　than　academic。
　　'I'd　let　them　take　you；'　he　replied。
　　Kline's　grin　faded。
　　'Then　I'd　negotiate　the　ransom　for　your　release。'　His　client's　fist　hit　the　table。　'That's　the　wrong　fucking　answer！　You're　being　paid　to　look　after　me；　Halloran；　nobody　else！　Not　her；　nobody！'　Halloran　kept　his　tone　level。　'By　shooting　the　one　who　held　Cora…and　I　could　probably　do　it　without　her　being　harmed…I'd　be　endangering　your　life。　Everyone　would　get　gun…happy；　and　undoubtedly　you'd　be　the　second　target　after　me。　It'd　make　sense　to　keep　things　peaceful；　bargain　for　your　release　later。'　Kline　was　noticeably　quivering。　'Bargain　far　my　release？　You　crazy　fuck。　They　could　take　the　money　and　then　kill　me。'
　　'It　doesn't　work　that　way。　These　people　are　normally　professional　in　what　they　do…to　break　a　negotiated　contract　would　mean　they'd　lose　credibility　next　time。'
　　'You　talk　as　if　the　whole　thing　is　nothing　more　than　a　business。'
　　'That's　just　what　it　is；　a　multi…million　pound　business。　Kidnap　and　ransom　has　bee　one　of　the　world's　few　growth　industries。　Sure；　every　once　in　a　while　you　get　amateurs　trying　their　hand；　but　they're　few　and　far　between；　and　generally　frowned　upon　by　their　own　but　more　petent　kind…their　bungling　makes　successful　transactions　more　difficult　for　the　professionals。　It　doesn't　take　organisations　like　mine；　or　the　police；　to　discover　which　type　we're　dealing　with；　and　I　have　to　admit　I　prefer　to　be　up　against　professionals　…they're　more　predictable。'
　　'And　that　bunch　yesterday？　Haw　would　you　classify　them；　Hall　or　an？'　Kline's　fists　were　clenched　on　the　table…top　and　his　lips　were　drawn　tight。
　　'I'd　say　they　knew　what　they　were　doing。　The　car　they　used　wasn't　traceable；　they　were　patient　and　waited　for　exactly　the　right　moment。　Fortunately　for　us　we　had　them　spotted　before　they　made　their　move。'
　　'They　weren't　that　good。　They　failed；　didn't　they？'
　　'Only　because　we　were　better。　And　the　fact　that　they　managed　to　get　clean　away　confirms　my　belief　that　they　were　petent。　Once　the　first　attempt　failed　they　didn't　pound　their　mistake　by　giving　chase。　That　could　have　been　too　messy。　My　guess　is　they'll　be　patient　a　while　longer；　wait　for　the　right　opportunity　to　e　along。　Or；　at　least；　engineer　that　opportunity　themselves。　Now　they　know　we're　on　the　alert　they'll　be　even　more　cautious。'　〃They'll　try　again？'　It　was　Cora　who　had　asked　the　question。
　　Halloran　looked　at　her　in　surprise。　'Of　course。　But　at　least　we　have　the　slight　advantage　of　knowing　our　client　is　a　definite　target。'
　　'I　already　told　you　that！'　Kline　was　glaring　at　him；　but　although　his　wards　were　spoken　angrily；　the　shrillness　had　gone　from　them。　'Why　d'you　think　Magma　hired　your　pany　in　the　first　place？　You　think　I'm　on　some　kind　of　ego　trip？　Or　suffering　from　paranoia？　This　is　a　real　situation；　Halloran；　I　told　you　that　from　the　start。'
　　'Okay；　so　let's　go　back　to　an　earlier　question：　who　or　what　organisation　do　you　think　is　behind　it？　I　still　can't　accept　that　you've　no　idea。'
　　'Have　any　of　your　previous　so…called　targets　known　just　who　was　out　to　get　them？　Why　d'you　expect　me　to？'
　　'Because　you　were　aware　before　an　attempt　was　ever　made。'　Kline's　sigh　transmuted　into　a　groan。　'After　all　I've　shown　you；　you　still　don't　believe。'
　　'It's　precisely　because　of　what　I　know　about　you　that　I　don't　understand　why　you　can't　sense　who　your　enemies　are。'　For　the　first　time　Kline　looked　unsure。　His　eyes　went　to　Cora；　then　back　to　Halloran。　'There's　the　mystery；　Halloran；'　he　said。　And　then；　as　if　to　himself；　he　repeated；　'Yeah；　there's　the　mystery。'　Once　more　Halloran　was　checking　through　the　house；　prowling　the　corridors；　ensuring　that　no　outside　door　or　window　had　been　left　unlocked。　Even　in　daytime　he　wanted　Neath　shut　tight。　It　was　when　he　was　passing　along　the　first…floor　hallway　overlooking　the　inner　courtyard　that　he　paused。　A　door　was　opening　on　the　other　side　of　the　decayed　fountain。
　　He　waited　by　the　window　and　watched；　curious；　as　Khayed　came　through。　The　Arab　was　carrying　a　round　metal　container　with　handles　on　either　side　and　by　the　way　Khayed's　body　leaned　backwards　the　burden　had　some　weight。　He　scuttled　across　the　yard；　calling　out　to　someone　behind。　Youssef　Daoud　appeared　at　the　same　doorway　and　he；　too；　dressed　in　the　robes　of　his　country　as　was　his　panion；　carried　a　similar　metal　container。　Both　men　were　laughing　and　apparently　joking　as　they　went　through　another　door　leading　to　the　front　of　the　house。
　　On　impulse；　Halloran　hurried　downstairs　and　went　out　into　the　courtyard。　He　quickly　crossed　over　and　went　through　the　door　the　two　Arabs　had　emerged　from。　He　was　in　the　short　passageway　he　had　entered　the　night　before；　at　one　end　the　stairway；　at　the　other　the　sturdy　closed　door。　He　walked　to　the　latter　and　tested　the　handle。　It　was　still　locked。　Or；　if　the　two　men　had　brought　the　containers　from　there；　locked　again。
　　Halloran　stooped　to　examine　the　lock　and　immediately　felt　cold　dank　air　from　the　keyhole　on　his　cheek。　He　touched　the　stone　floor　at　the　door's　base　and　the　chill　draught　was　even　more　noticeable。　It　had　to　lead　to　a　cellar　of　some　kind；　perhaps　where　Kline　kept　his　best　wines。
　　Noises　outside。　The　Arabs　returning。　Halloran　straightened；　taking　one　last　look　at　the　lock　as　he　did　so。　Old　and　strong；　large　keyhole　needing　a　long　key。　Shouldn't　prove　too　difficult　to　open。　But　he　wondered　at　his　own　curiosity。　And　why　not　ask　Kline　or　Cora　what　was　down　there？　He　also　wondered　why　the　was　reluctant　to　do　just　that。
　　The　voices　outside　were　louder；　approaching。
　　He　quickly　went　down　the　short　length　of　the　passage　and　stepped　through　the　open　doorway。　The　two　Arabs　stopped　when　they　saw　him。　The　one　called　Khayed　was　the　quickest　to　regain　his　posure；　his　friend's　look　of　hostility　dissolving　a　fraction　later。
　　Khayed　gave　a　small　bow　and　regarded　Halloran　questioningly。　'Assayed？'
　　'I　found　it　open；'　Halloran　said；　indicating　the　doorway　behind。
　　'Ah；'　said　Khayed；　then　spoke　to　his　panion　in　their　own　language。　'Sadi　koona　hashoor。'　Daoud　smiled　at　Halloran；　who　offered　no　more　explanation　than　he'd　already　given。
　　A　smell　of　spices　drifted　towards　him　from　the　two　men。　They　waited　there　and　he　guessed　they'd　stay　all　day　without　saying　another　word　until　he　went　on　his　way。　It　was　in　his　mind　to　ask　them　again　what　was　beyond　the　locked　door；　but　he　doubted　he'd　receive　a　reply。　He　noticed　Khayed　held　a　long　key　by　his　side。
　　Halloran　waved　them　through；　but　they　remained　where　they　were；　politely　indicating　that　he　should　pass　them。　'Min　fadlak；　assayed；'　said　Khayed。
　　With　a　shrug；　he　cut　back　across　the　yard；　this　time　making　for　the　corridor　leading　to　the　main　hall　and　the　front　of　the　house。
　　Coolness　and　gloom　after　the　brightness　of　the　yard　struck　him　as　soon　as　he　entered　and　his　footsteps　were　hollow　on　the　stone　flooring。　He　frowned　when　he　saw　that　the　doubledoors　of　the　entrance　were　open　wide　and　guessed　that　Khayed　and　Daoud　were　the　culprits。　He　went　to　the　door　and　passed　through　into　the　porch　area。
　　Outside　he　saw　that　the　Rover's　tail　was　up；　and　inside　were　the　two　metal　containers。　He　walked　over　to　examine　them　more　closely；　tapping　them　both　at　first；　the　sound　heavy；　indicating　they　were　full。　The　tops　were　tightly　sealed。
　　He　was　prising　at　one　with　his　fingertips　when　he　heard　the　crunch　of　gravel　behind　him。　Now　there　was　no　quick　disguising　of　the　alarm　in　Khayed's　expression。　He　was　alone；　obviously　having　followed　Halloran　out　while　his　panion　went　nn　about　his　business。
　　'Kala；　assayed；'　the　Arab　said；　recovering　welt　enough　to　smile。
　　Halloran　raised　his　eyebrows。　He　indicated　the　containers。　'What's　in　them？'　he　asked。
　　'Nothing　to　concern　the　good　sir；'　came　the　reply。
　　'I'd　like　to　take　a　look。'
　　'Oh　no；　sir；　there　is　nothing　of　interest　for　you　in　them。　It　is　food；　you　see。'
　　'What'''
　　'I　said　it　is　food　inside　the　bins。'　His　panion　appeared　on　the　porch　and　he　was　holding　vet　another　container。　He　halted　to　look　at　both　men；　then　hurried　over　to　the　back　of　the　car；　politely　edging　past　Halloran　to　place　his　load　inside　with　the　other　two。　He　straightened　and　grinned　at　Halloran；　his　eyes　full　of　amusement。
　　'For　the　dogs。'　he　said。　〃Akel　Ilkaleb　They　will　cat　well　tonight。'　…His　snigger　became　laughter。　Khayed　joined　in　that　laughter。
　　　
　　　
　　　23　THE　LODGE…HOUSE
　　
　　Dusk　was　aided　by　a　clouded　sky；　the　fine　day　having　changed　its　mind　mid…afternoon；　being　overcast　and　broody；　yet　shedding　no　rain；　as　if　sulking　without　tantrum；　leaving　the　air　warm　and　muggy。　Halloran　took　off　his　jacket　as　he　strolled　away　from　Neath's　front　gate；　no　longer　having　to　worry　about　exposing　his　waist…holster　now　he　was　away　from　the　public　road。
　　He　had　just　pleted　briefing　the　two　sets　of　Shield　operatives；　keeping　them　no　more　than　ten　minutes　so　that　the　roads　around　the　estate　would　not　be　left　unpatrolled　for　longer　than　was　necessary　（he　realised　even　double　the　number　of　observer　cars　would　still　be　inadequate；　because　it　would　be　easy　enough　for　intruders　to　enter　the　grounds　during　surveillance　'gaps'；　nevertheless；　even　two　cars　could　usually　spot　potential　trouble　parked　vehicles；　loiterers；　anything　out　of　place　or　suspicious　and　two　were　better　than　one；　one　better　than　none）。　Halloran　wasn't　happy　with　the　situation；　but　knew　that　only　a　small　army　would　really　be　adequate　in　the　circumstances　and　at　least　the　operatives　were　now　discreetly　armed；　he　could　only　hope　that　Kline's　faith　in　his　guard　dogs　was　justified。
　　It　had　been　an　odd　day　（no　reason　it　shouldn