'I'll book it. What about the actual rendezvous, the place where the meeting will be held?'
'No idea. That's been left to the Swiss. They'll find somewhere quiet. Not too far from Kloten Airport would be my guess.' Tweed's mouth tightened. 'Charming. I'm to meet my old enemy for the first time face to face – with no idea of the agenda.'
'Not to worry. You think like chain lightning on your feet.'
Trouble is, we'll probably be sitting down,' he joked.
'Not a word to Paula, I assume?'
'She can know I'm flying to Zurich. But not why. And she should be due here soon,' he said, checking his watch. I see you've had a desk and chair brought in for her. That was thoughtful. She's completely under your jurisdiction, of course. On probation. For six months.'
Monica glanced at the desk against the wall, placed so when the new member was sitting she faced both Monica and Tweed. 'I thought I'd put the welcome mat out for her. She'll need help to pass with flying colours.'
'Up to you,' said Tweed. 'Not perfect timing – with the Zurich thing imminent.'
'And when has the timing ever been perfect?' Monica asked.
Paula came into the office and closed the door, then waited for instructions. Tweed introduced her to Monica who, he noticed, eyed Paula up and down as she walked with her to the new desk.
She had dressed cleverly for her baptism of fire. A severe dark blue two-piece suit, a blouse with a mandarin collar and plain beige tights. No little squirrels running up her shapely legs. She sat down.
'I'll make coffee,' said Monica, who had phoned Heathrow and booked Tweed's flight.
'Please let me do that.' Paula jumped up immediately. 'I'm the probationer. If you'll just tell me where everything is.'
'I'm afraid we keep it in the top drawer of this filing cabinet,' said Monica. 'Instant, too. Milk and sugar in the same drawer with the crocks.'
'How does everyone like it?' Paula was taking out equipment when Howard strolled in without knocking. He stopped in mid-stride at the sight of Paula. Checking the knot of his tie, he smiled broadly.
'Just starting class? Good show. I'm Howard…'
'The Director,' whispered Monica.
'I'm pleased to meet you, Mr Howard,' Paula said with no particular expression, holding out her slim hand.
'May I call you Paula? Don't stand on ceremony here. Just so long as everyone does their job.'
Oh, Christ, thought Tweed, he's trying to be charming and pompous at the same time. Howard held her hand a shade too long, then turned to Tweed.
'Maybe Paula could pop along to my office for a few minutes – give us a chance to get acquainted and all that?'
'I could come in a few minutes, Mr Howard,' Paula said quickly. 'I have a job to finish first.'
'When you're ready, my dear. When you're ready…'
He left the room and Paula arranged the coffee things on a tray. Monica told her where she would find the stove and waited until Paula had left the room before she made her remark.
'She doesn't like Howard.' She smirked. 'He's on the prowl and she guessed. He's looking for compensation now Cynthia is going her own way – one in the eye for his wife is what he's looking for. And he rather likes the idea. And! Did you notice how she was determined to make our coffee before she went near him?'
'Yes,' said Tweed and busied himself with a file. Monica already approved of Paula. He'd never have believed Paula could solve the problem so quickly. Now he could concentrate on Zurich – and the unknown spectre which had risen up in his face.
7
Tweed peered out of the window of the Boeing 737, staring south at the spectacular view as the machine approached Zurich. The sky was cloudless, to the south the vast panorama of the Bernese Oberland range stretched. Even in May the wave of world-famous peaks were snowbound. Silhouetted against an azure sky, the light was blinding. The Jungfrau, the highest peak amid the chain of other giants, stood out like a monarch of mountains.
The aircraft began its descent towards Kloten. He forced himself to relax. He had no idea who would meet him. 'A Swiss who will certainly recognize you,' he had been told. Highly informative.
As he descended the mobile staircase he glanced round at the fir forests surrounding Kloten. One of his favourite airports in the world – quiet, well-organized, peaceful. But this was Switzerland. A familiar figure waited at the foot of the steps, a plump-cheeked man with a ruddy complexion, quick movements, dressed in a navy-blue business suit. Arthur Beck, chief of the Federal Police.
'Welcome,' said Beck, not using Tweed's name. He took him by the arm, guided him towards a black stretched Mercedes with tinted windows parked near the main building. 'A pleasant flight, I hope?'
'Yes. Good to see you again, Beck. What's happening?'
'Straight to business. You haven't changed.' Beck glanced back, saw they were out of earshot of the trail of passengers alighting from the aircraft. '. I have transport -this car. I'm driving you personally to the rendezvous…'
He opened the door of the front passenger seat, closed it as Tweed settled himself, put Tweed's small case in the back and sat behind the wheel.
'We travel as we did for our earlier arrival, General Lysenko. No motor-cycle outriders, no fuss, nothing to draw attention to ourselves …'
'Lysenko has arrived in Zurich? He wasn't expected until this afternoon.'
Beck nodded, a gleam in his grey eyes under bushy brows. 'So we thought, too. We had thirty minutes' warning that he was aboard a regular Aeroflot flight coming in. But I was ready for him – waiting at Kloten. I came here from Berne yesterday. I know the Russians.'
'Where's the rendezvous?' Tweed asked.
'Not far away. A small village called Nurensdorf. I chose it because it is near Kloten, because it is a sleepy place -no chance of either of you being spotted by reporters. The actual location is a nice old hotel, the Gasthof zum Baren. My old friend, Rosa Tschudi will see you are well fed. She is a superb cook. I go there myself when I come to Zurich if I can.'
'How many in Lysenko's bodyguard?'
'None. He travelled by himself as an ordinary passenger.'
'You've spoken with him?' Tweed probed.
'Through his interpreter, yes. Where is yours?'
'Don't spread it abroad. I speak Russian myself now.'
'Really?' Beck looked surprised. There is no end to your talents, my friend. And you are wondering what kind of a mood our visitor from the East is in? I thought so. Very preoccupied. My guess is he is a very worried man…'
They said no more until they arrived in a small attractive village. The Gasthof was an old three-storey building with a steeply-sloping roof and dark red shutters. Beck parked the car in a space at the side, paused before getting out.
'Officially the hotel has been taken over for a convention. The only people here – apart from Rosa, who won't have any idea who her guests are – are my people. Men and women. Take a deep breath, we will go inside if you are ready.'
'Let's get on with it,' said Tweed.
8
