'What defeats me is how a girl like you could have made such films.'
Are you telling me you are working for my father?' Gilly half sat up, then controlling herself, she relaxed back on the li-lo.
'That's what I'm telling you. I work for anyone who pays me,' Girland said. 'I don't like your father. I don't like you. This is a job... simple as that.'
'You don't like meV Gilly glared at him. 'You didn't dislike me last night!'
'When a woman walks into my bedroom and throws herself at me - especially when she is as well put together as you are -1 take what she offers,' Girland said. 'But that doesn't mean I like her or think anything of her.'
'Oh! Just why don't you like me?'
'Because you are a blackmailer.' Girland released smoke down his nostrils, eyeing the burning end of his cigarette.
'Blackmailers are never my kind of people.'
Gilly lay still, her hands on her breasts. Her face had lost colour and her mouth was now a thin, hard line.
'All right. . . I'm a blackmailer. How else could I stop my father becoming President? I don't give a damn about myself...
I never have, but I am determined he isn't going to be President. I used the only weapon I had to stop him.'
Girland turned his head to study her.
'Tell me why you want to stop him?'
'I'll tell you... because he is unfit for high office. Because he is weak, vain and stupid. Because he and my mother only think of themselves and seeing themselves with power.'
'That's your point of view . . . I'm not saying you are wrong. You're working with Rosnold, aren't you? This Ban War organisation gives you a kick, doesn't it?'
'And why shouldn't it?'
'It's the old story, Gilly . . . people like to be big fishes in a small pond. If Rosnold and his organisation wasn't so interested in you -and they are interested because you can stop a man from becoming a President - you wouldn't be making this trouble. Isn't it because this organisation is making you an important person, you are blackmailing your father?'
'All right... if you like to think that... I don't care! There are many reasons. Anyway, he made a mess of my life . . . now, I'm going to make a mess of his!'
'Are you sure he made a mess of your life?' Girland asked. 'Are you sure you're blaming him instead of blaming yourself?'
'Don't feed me that stuff!' Gilly said fiercely. 'Neither of my parents wanted me... they did everything they knew how to get rid of me. So now I'm in the position to give them something really to be ashamed of. I don't expect you to believe this ... and I don't care, but I hated making those films. Pierre promised me once they were made, my father couldn't become President... so I made them.'
'Oh, come on!' Girland said impatiently. T don't believe it. Why don't you face facts, Gilly? You are an immoral slut.
You have let this weak-kneed organisation go to your head. You are glorifying in being someone important because you are in the position to stop a man becoming President o&the United States. If it wasn't for Rosnold and this organisation, you wouldn't give a damn if your father became President or not.'
'God! I hate you!' Gilly said. 'Everything you've said is not true!' She sat up and leaning over him, she went on fiercely,
'This count can have the films! Whyshoyldlcare! When I get back to Paris I will make other films! My father is not going to be President!'
'When you get back to Paris?' Girland stubbed out his cigarette. 'What makes you think you are going back to Paris?'
She stared at him: her eyes opening wide.
'Of course, I'm going back to Paris! What do you mean?'
'You can't be this dumb,' Girland said as he stared at a floating cloud. 'When von Goltz gets the films, he will make sure none of us leave here and neither you nor Rosnold ever make another stag film.'
Gilly lay for a long moment, frowning, then her eyes opened wide with shock.
'But he can't do that! How can he? He said once he had the films, we were free to go. As soon as I get back to Paris, I will make more films!'
'The trick with this is you don't return to Paris.'
Gilly began to say something, then paused. She lost colour as she stared at Girland.
'You can't mean...'
'Of course. When the films arrive, your nice, handsome count will get rid of us permanently.' Girland lifted his head and looked across the wide, immaculate lawns to the distant, dense forest. 'There are plenty of convenient places out there for a triple burial'
'You mean he will murder us?' Gilly sat up. 'I don't believe it!'
'If he is anything like his charming uncle... and I'm sure he is... he won't hesitate to wipe us out as you wouldn't hesitate to swot a fly.'
'But you can't kill three people ... just like that.' Her voice was husky and her eyes alarmed. 'I don't believe it! The hotel knows we are here. When - if- we are reported missing, there will be an inquiry. The police... he can't... he wouldn't dare.'
'I saw something interesting from my bedroom window before I came down here,' Girland said, closing his eyes against the sun. 'One of von Goltz's servants drove off in your T.R.4. Another of his servants drove off in my car. At a guess, the T.R.4 will be found at the Munich car park. My car could be found anywhere. Yes, of course the police will come here, but von Goltz is important in this district. He will tell them we were here for the night and then left for Paris. He has no idea what could have happened to us. You can't expect the police to dig up every metre of this enormous estate in the hope of finding our bodies, can you?'
Gilly shivered.
I just don't believe it... you're trying to frighten me because you hate me!'
Girland shrugged.
'I don't hate you, Gilly. I just think you're a mixed-up kid and I must admit I'm so bored with mixed-up kids. Listen: the messenger will arrive in Paris around 22.00 hrs. tonight. He will pick up the films tomorrow morning and catch the 14.00 hrs. flight back to Munich. He should be here with the films around 18.00 hrs. So we have from now until 18.00 hrs. tomorrow to dream up a way to get out of here alive.'
Gilly said, 'You really believe this man will kill all three of us when he gets the films?'
Girland got to his feet and draped his towel over his shoulders. He smiled down at her.
'Wouldn't you if you were in his place?' he said and walked across the terrace and up to his room.
Gilly looked across the wide sweep of lawn. At the edge of the forest she saw the two black alsatian dogs, their heads resting on their paws, staring towards her.
With a sudden sick feeling of fear, she scrambled to her feet, snatched up her towel and ran after Girland.
From the upper window, Lu Silk touched off the ash of his cigarette and stood up. He regarded the distant dogs, then crossed the room to where a .22 target rifle, equipped with a telescopic sight, lay on the table. He picked up the weapon and balanced it in his capable, killer's hands. He liked the feel of it. Carrying it to the open window, he aimed the rifle at one of the alsatian dogs. The cross hair line of the telescopic sight centred on the dog's head. Silk adjusted the sight slightly, bringing the dog sharply into focus, then satisfied, he lowered the rifle and put it against the wall.
There came a tap on the door and von Goltz came in.
'The two cars have gone,' he said as he closed the door. 'Are you satisfied that it will be safe to get rid of them here?'
'Yes... where else?' Silk sat down. He put a cigarette between his thin lips. 'Where can we bury them?'
'There is a rubbish tip in the forest that is permanently smouldering and white-hot,' von Goltz said. 'They can
