Commander Noble of Naval Intelligence. I want to phone him as soon as I can.'
`He called me only a few minutes ago to speak to you. He's working through the night at the Admiralty. I'll not risk the phone – I'm jumping into my car and driving over to tell him personally. With no traffic at this hour the job will be done within fifteen minutes from ending this call.'
`Let's end it then.'
`Tweed, good luck…'
`Why did you have to resign?' Newman asked while they were still alone. 'I know you think it might give us three days to find her, but let's face it – Wand is so inhuman Paula may be dead already.' He looked so downcast that Tweed rallied.
`Yes,' he said, standing up and pacing, 'that is one reason. And a top priority is to save her. But another priority is to throw Wand off guard. When the news of my resignation reaches him he'll think all opposition to him has faded away. I'm pretty sure I know now how his evil mind works.'
`So, what next?'
`I have been worrying that our forces were split in the wrong way. Now I realize I've got it exactly right. One task force – Marler, Nield, and Butler – is heading for Jutland. The sordid Dr Hyde is in that area, as Kuhlmann discovered. It may not be a pleasant thought, but I'm sure that wherever the sordid Dr Hyde is, Paula is being held. Marler won't let the grass grow under his feet. And you and I will go to Copenhagen later tonight with Cardon…' He paused. 'How tired are you? If Kuhlmann will lend us a car I propose we drive to the Danish capital through the night. Otherwise I could drive…'
`No! I can go two nights without sleep. I'm fresh as a daisy. And I suspect you're still in a state of shock, running on automatic pilot
…'
The door opened, Kuhlmann thrust his head inside, spoke quickly to Tweed.
`There's a man called Cardon on the line. Wants to talk to you urgently.'
`He's one of mine…'
Tweed was lifting the receiver as Kuhlmann disappeared. He asked who was speaking.
`Cardon, Chief. From Newman's favourite public phone box. Marler came on the line, asked for me when they couldn't get you at the Four Seasons. Can I talk?'
`I'm on scrambler. Tell me about Marler.'
`He's reached Denmark. He played it clever, knowing he was going through an operator. He said, 'I'm having a super holiday. I'm at a place called 'TOnder.' He gave me his hotel name – I gather it's a small place – and the number. Here it is..
Tweed noted down the details on a notepad already lying on the table in front of him.
`Philip, is your case packed?'
`Yes. I'm ready to leave at a moment's notice.'
`Do just that. Your bill is paid. Give the hotel some plausible excuse for leaving at this hour. Damned if I can think of one.'
`I'm moving to the Atlantic,' Cardon said instantly. `Why? Because my girl friend's staying there and I want to be closer to her. I'll watch the clerk's expression, see if he can preserve the dignified 'the client is always right' this place is noted for. What do I do then?'
`Get well clear of the Four Seasons. Find a cruising taxi. There are always some in Hamburg. Get the driver to take you to the Hotel Berlin, pay him off. Then look round – I'm at Berliner Tor and it's the only twenty storey high building in sight. Ask for me – I'm on the fifteenth floor…'
`You smiled at something he said,' Newman observed. `He said something funny. He always cheers me up. He'll be here soon.'
He had just finished speaking when Kuhlmann entered the office like a whirlwind, sank into a chair facing Tweed.
`Something I forgot to tell you. Dr Wand landed at Kastrup Airport a few hours ago. Inspector Nielsen called me. A limousine met him – he arrived alone. The limo drove him to the Gentofte area north of Copenhagen – a wealthy district with some expensive villas…'
`That's Dr Wand,' Tweed said cynically. 'All financed by his refugee aid organization. You have an address?'
Kuhlmann took out a piece of folded paper, pushed it across the desk.
`That's it. Near some posh hotel called Jaegersborg, Nielsen said. His men are watching Wand's villa.' He held up a hand as Tweed opened his mouth to speak. 'Don't worry – Nielsen's men are being very discreet, conducting their surveillance from a distance with special equipment.'
`Could you do me a favour?' Tweed produced the envelope addressed to Howard containing his written resignation. 'I badly need a courier to fly with this to London urgently tomorrow – no, today. He is to go to Park Crescent and deliver this envelope into Howard's hands personally. No one else but Howard.'
`That's easy.' Kuhlmann took the envelope. 'Any of the local detectives welcome a trip to London. Kohler will choose someone reliable_ He'll be aboard the first flight.'
`Another favour. Can you provide us with a good car to drive to Copenhagen? There are no flights at this hour and I want to be at the Puttgarden ferry terminal to cross the Baltic to Denmark as early as possible. I think I can outmanoeuvre the insidious Dr Wand.'
`A Mercedes, if possible,' Newman chipped in. 'Without police plates.'
`Not wasting time, are we?' Kuhlmann commented. 'I'll go and arrange for a car now. Be back soon…'
Thirty minutes later he opened the door again. `A friend of yours. See you…'
Philip Cardon walked into the room, winked at Newman, sat down on a couch with his case by his side.
`Has Marler a chance in hell of tracing Dr Hyde?' Newman asked anxiously.
`I'm convinced Starmberg is in Jutland with them,' Tweed told him. 'And Marler has pictures of that gentleman he took at Blankenese yesterday morning – you showed one to Paula. He gave me copies.'
Opening the case he had brought from the Four Seasons, Tweed extracted a plastic wallet packed with prints. He handed Newman several of Starmberg. Walking over to Cardon, he selected more prints, spread them on the couch.
`That one is Dr Wand – taken by Marler at London Airport. This one is Dr Hyde. And these three are Jules Starmberg.' Standing up, he felt the fatigue, sat down at the table again.
`When Kuhlmann provides the car I suggest we leave at once, driving through the night to Puttgarden. It's the direct route to Copenhagen.'
`And I suppose,' Newman mused, 'we mustn't forget Stealth – especially after our experiences at Blankenese harbour with the Holsten.'
`Stealth ships are in the forefront of my mind,' Tweed assured him. 'Especially with Wand dashing off to Denmark – and that large colony of unoccupied but furnished houses waiting for occupants in Jutland.'
43
Latitude 57.45N. Longitude 20.0W. The Mao III, with the Yenan close behind it, was proceeding at less than top speed over two hundred miles west of the tiny island of Rockall. The two vessels, still avoiding the main shipping lanes as far as possible, were well out in the Atlantic.
Kim had ordered Captain Welensky to reduce speed because they had made such good time from the Cape of Good Hope – and it was essential they arrived at the rendezvous at the agreed time. Not before.
It was dead of night as Welensky's massive figure stood on the bridge, arms folded, while the diminutive form of Kim stood beside him. Welensky hoped the Chinese would remain silent, a false hope.
`You will, I assume, continue on course before we make the big turn south-east,' Kim remarked.
`It is my job to maintain the course, to arrive on schedule,' Welensky snapped. 'And what about your problems? I have heard the Scandinavian passengers we are carrying and also those aboard the Yenan are getting restless.'
`No more,' Kim purred. 'When strong mugs of coffee were being prepared for them I personally ground up a
