Radnitz, she had begged him not to. Now, although he still refused to accept Radnitz's estimate of Dorey, he began to wonder if he should have listened to his wife's advice and instead, have gone immediately to Radnitz. After all, Radnitz had everything to gain in helping him and he also had tremendous influence.
Quickly, he came to a decision.
'I will tell you,' he said. Briefly, he told Radnitz about the stag film, the threatening letter and also that there were three other films and his need to find his daughter.
Radnitz sat motionless, drawing on his cigar, bis hooded eyes veiled while he listened.
'So you see,' Sherman concluded, raising his hands helplessly. 'I was desperate. Dorey is my friend. He is helping me. I had to take the risk of coming here, but now I can see I could have been hasty.' He forced a smile. 'I see now I should have come to you.'
Radnitz let rich-smelling smoke roll out of his thin-lipped mouth.
'So Girland is handling this operation?'
Sherman regarded him.
'Sounds as if you know this man.'
'There are few men of his ilk - happily few -1 don't know. I once employed him with disastrous results.(see 'This Is For Real') He is clever, cunning and dangerous ... a man I would never trust.'
'Dorey said he was my only chance to get these films.'
'Yes... I think Dorey might be right. If one pays Girland enough, he delivers. He could find the films and also your daughter.' Radnitz looked quizzingly at Sherman. 'Then what?'
Sherman moved uneasily.
I will destroy the films and control my daughter.'
'Will you? How old is your daughter?'
'Twenty-four.'
'So how will you control her?'
'I'll reason with her... persuade her...'
Radnitz made an impatient movement with his hands.
'What do you know about your daughter, Sherman?'
Sherman looked away, frowning, then he said slowly, 'She has always been tiresome, unruly ... a rebel. I admit I don't know much about her. I haven't seen her for three years.'
' I know that. I have had her watched... she is part of my investment.' Radnitz shifted his bulk in the chair. 'What are your feelings about her?'
Sherman shrugged.
'I can't say I have any great feelings about her. She just doesn't fit in with my way of life. It would be impossible to have her with us at the White House ... utterly impossible.'
There was a long pause, then Radnitz said in his quiet, deadly voice, 'Suppose some unfortunate accident happened to her and you lost her... would you mind?'
Sherman stared at the squat fat man who reminded him of a stone Buddha.
'I don't understand
'You are wasting time!' Radnitz's voice was savage. 'You heard what I asked you. If you never saw your daughter again, would you mind? That's simple enough, isn't it?'
Sherman hesitated, then slowly shook his head.
'No. In fact, it would be a relief to me if I was sure I would never see her again. But why go into this? She's here ...making a nuisance of herself, and I have to accept it.'
'Do you?' Radnitz flicked ash again onto the carpet. 'Your daughter presents a permanent embarrassment to you as long as she is alive. Suppose Girland is successful and he gets the films . . . what good does that do you? She can make other films or she can make other scandals. The fact is she hates you and your way of life as much as you dislike her and her way of life. I have had your daughter investigated. She is tied up with this stupid, juvenile Ban War organisation. She goes around with a man called Pierre Rosnold who runs this vapid organisation for profit. She is under his influence. He is politically minded if you can call his mind a mind. She and he are determined you should not be President. He, because you stand for the escalation of the Vietnam war and because he can profit by his power: she, because you are her father and she wants revenge for the way you have neglected her.' Radnitz paused to stare at Sherman. 'Children have a way of paying back old scores. You wanted to be rid of her, she resented it, and now she has you where she thinks she wants you.' Again Radnitz paused. 'This is why,' he continued, 'you should have brought this problem immediately to me. Dorey may find your daughter, but he would not silence her, nor would he silence Rosnold.' The ice cold eyes surveyed Sherman. 'But I would and can.'
Sherman felt sweat break out on his forehead.
I can't listen to this kind of talk,' he said. T am sure you don't mean what you seem to be suggesting.'
'What other solution is there to this problem?' Radnitz asked. 'Suggest something. Girland will probably find your daughter... then what?'
Sherman had no answer to this. He gnawed his lip, staring down at the carpet.
'Are you going to allow a degenerate chit of a girl to stand between you and the White House?' Radnitz asked. 'Because of the way you have treated her in the past, she will stop at nothing to prevent you becoming President . . . and she has the power to do this if she is allowed to. These films can be found and destroyed . . . they are nothing. It is not the films that need to be destroyed ... it is she.'
A voice broke in on this conversation, coming through the loudspeaker on the wall.
'Passengers for Flight 025 to New York should now proceed to Gate 10. Thank you.'
Sherman got hastily to his feet
I must go,' he said huskily. He looked at Radnitz for a brief, furtive moment, then looked away. T feel sure I can leave this in your hands...'
But Radnitz wasn't going to let this tall, white-faced future President of the United States off his hook, nor let him shift has responsibilities nor let him salve his conscience so easily.
'I am going to cancel my flight,' he said. 'I am at the Georges V hotel. When you get home, telephone Dorey and find out what is happening. Then telephone me. Is that understood?'
Sherman nodded and began edging to the door.
'One moment...' The ice cold eyes surveyed Sherman. T am to take it that I can arrange to get rid of your daughter?
Sherman swallowed and dabbed his face with his handkerchief.
I'll must discuss it with Mary . . . but if you think there is no other alternative ... I -1 suppose I must leave it to you.
Gillian has always ...' He stopped with a shudder. 'I must go.'
'Very well then, I will wait to hear from you. It is your responsibility. I will act if you say so.'
As Sherman hurried from the room, Radnitz made a grimace of contempt.
* * *
Vi sat on the bed, her eyes round as she listened to what Labrey was saying. He was sitting in the shabby armchair, facing her, a cigarette between his nicotine-stained fingers, his eyes glittering behind the green glasses.
At first she thought he was joking, but now she realised he was serious. As he talked on, she felt a cold chill of fear crawling over her.
Paul! Working for the Russians! She had a child-like terror of anything to do with the Russians. She had seen all the James Bond films. She had adored Michael Caine in his spy films. She had read about Philby and Blake. Spies fascinated her so long as they remained on the screen or in newspapers or in books, but now Paul was telling her she was committed... suddenly she was a spy for Russia!
'I won't do it!' she said fiercely. 'I won't have anything to do with it! Take your things and get out! Now... do you hear?
This very minute!'
'Oh, shut up!' Labrey said wearily. 'You're going to do what I tell you! You've only got yourself to blame for
