what Julius saw in her.'
'I thought she was rather ordinary,' Paula said tactfully. 'You mentioned to Tweed you knew Cornwall. He wondered what part of it you come from?'
'Launceston, just beyond where Bodmin Moor ends. That's how I know Gaunt.'
'And he came all this way to tell you about Julius? A nice gesture. Tweed is intrigued by Gaunt.'
'I don't wonder. He has such a strong personality. No, he didn't come just for that. He has business interests in Zurich. Don't ask me what they are. I'm hopeless when it comes to money. That's why the fact that Walter now controls the bank is a worry. What money I have is in that bank.'
'Walter is still in Zurich?'
Eve produced her ivory holder, inserted a cigarette, lit it. She waved the holder.
'I imagine so. Haven't heard a word from him, let alone seen him. Strange man.'
So she didn't realize Walter was now in Basle, Paula thought. He obviously doesn't let his sister-in-law know a thing.
'Lucky – from your point of view – that you didn't think of going to Cornwall with Julius,' Paula suggested.
'I can't make up my mind about that. He might still be alive if I'd gone.'
'I think that's highly unlikely – considering what took place. I was there – and only escaped with my life by pure chance.'
'Frightening,' Eve said. 'You lead a charmed life. I expect I shall go back to Launceston when this is all over.'
'They didn't try to get you back to attend to the funeral arrangements?'
Eve took a deep drag oh her cigarette, blew out smoke. Again she brandished the holder.
'It was all settled by phone. Julius always said if anything happened to him he wanted to be buried in Cornwall. He loved the place, hoped to retire there. I suppose in a macabre way he got his wish. I didn't go – it would have been too upsetting. I'll visit his grave when I do go back.'
The phone began ringing. Eve made a moue, crossed the room with brisk steps. She picked up the phone, her back to Paula.
'Yes, who is it?'
She listened, then replied, her voice high-pitched.
'Not now. It's not convenient. I'll get back to you this afternoon. At least, as soon as I can. Goodbye.'
She waved the holder a third time as she sat down again. Paula thought she detected a trace of annoyance in Eve's manner.
'That was Gaunt,' Eve said. 'Wanted to come and see how I was getting on. Very considerate, but you can have too much of a good thing.'
'Sorry, I'm not with you.'
'Just between you and me, he's a nice man. But I find him overbearing at times. Wants to order your life for you.'
'Where did you first meet him?'
'In Padstow, where I was born. That was when I was long grown up. Quite a while after I'd left Roedean School and started to live a normal life. You won't believe this, but I was Head Girl for a short time – and hated every minute of it. Felt like a fish in an aquarium. I bought a house outside Launceston when my father died -I'd had enough of Padstow. The summer, the best time, was ruined with ghastly trippers.'
'I've taken up a lot of your time. I think I'd better go, let you get on with that lovely shopping.'
'Excuse my attire. Don't like women who frolic about in denims. You see a lot of that in Padstow these days. But they're practical for shopping.'
Paula was standing up to go when she turned round as Eve prepared to see her to the front door.
'One more thing Tweed wanted to know, if it's not too personal. He gathered Julius decided on his trip to Bodmin Moor at short notice. So he must have phoned Gaunt to see if Tresillian Manor was available for him. It really was very short notice for Gaunt to clear out to his cottage at Five Lanes. How did Gaunt react?'
'Said Julius could have the manor for as long as he liked, that he needed the money.'
She opened the front door and came out into the porch as Paula thanked her. Eve looked at the parked Audi.
'I'm glad to see that. It's just been returned from our service garage after a maintenance check. Something about the brakes. Arrived just before you did.'
'In time for your shopping. Again, many thanks…'
Butler waited until he had turned the black Mercedes in the road and was heading back for Zurich, before he asked Paula: 'Did you get what Tweed wanted?'
'No idea. I won't have until I've reported our conversation to him. You never know what he's really after.'
Tweed arrived back in the late afternoon from police headquarters with Newman. He went straight to Paula's room and Butler left them alone.
'Tell me,' Tweed requested.
Paula began to speak by rote. She spoke with her eyes closed, seeing and hearing all that had happened from the moment she had left the car and walked up the drive to Eve Amberg's villa.
Meticulously, she recalled every detail – the Audi in the drive, Eve answering the door quickly, dressed to go out shopping. Her clothes, her manner, every word she had said. Tweed sat in a chair facing her, recording every word Paula said.
'That's it,' she eventually told him.
'Word for word?'
'That's what you asked for. That's what you got.'
'What was her mood after she'd taken that phone call?' he asked.
'I told you. Annoyed. Irked. A bit put out.'
'Gaunt. Gaunt. Always Gaunt,' he repeated.
'No point in asking what you're after?' she suggested.
'A link, between Cornwall, Zurich – and Washington.'
'Norton here…'
President Bradford March lounged in his chair, his feet clad in sneakers perched on his desk. He wore jeans and an open-necked shirt exposing the hair on his broad chest. A leather belt encircled his waist in an attempt to hold in his ample belly.
'Norton here,' the abrasive voice repeated. 'I got the code-word on my answerphone to call you…'
'So squat on the butt and listen. The courier with the big bucks is on his way. He hits Zurich airport tomorrow certain. Aboard Swissair flight SR 805, ETA Zurich 4.25p.m. He takes a cab to Hotel Baur-en-Ville. That right? Where Mencken is shacked up?'
'I don't want Mencken in on this
'Shut your trap. I said listen. OK? Great. You'll make it yet. Courier's name is Louis Sheen. Got it? He'll carry a suitcase, brown in colour. When he arrives at this Baur place 5.30p.m. Zurich time, he goes to reception, tells them at the top of his voice that he's Louis Sheen, that they have a reservation, which they won't have. You contact him immediately with the code-words Lincoln Memorial. Got that? Then you take him to a safe place, wait for instructions from the creep who calls me.'
'I'm not showing my face
'Your problem. The creep demanding the dough phoned, gave three possible exchange points. Note them – I'll spell them out… OK? Something else – Sheen will be handcuffed to that suitcase. It stays that way until you meet the bastard who tries to collect. The case has combination locks. Only Sheen knows the numbers which open it. Try opening that case without operating the combination, a small thermite bomb inside explodes, burns the contents to crap.'
'I ought to know that combination,' Norton demanded.
'All those big bucks? You're a joke, Norton. One more thing – you kill the guy who comes to collect…'
In Zurich Norton was surprised when the line went dead. He'd never have thought March could have dreamed up such a diabolical trap as the thermite bomb.
