'I should have known,' said the Czech, getting out of the chair. He walked to the bedside telephone as Khalehla relinquished it and moved away. 'Greetings again, Mr. B. Nothing has changed, you understand. No names, no identities.'
'What does my niece call you? Mind you, she's my niece.'
'She calls me by the erroneous name of Milos.'
'Meelos? Slavic?'
'American, sir.'
'I forgot, you made that clear.'
The Secretary of State, please?'
'He's arrived in Cyprus.'
I'm relieved.'
'We all are, if, indeed, there was cause for alarm to begin with.'
'The information was accurate.'
'Unfortunately, we haven't been able to confirm it at our end. Grinell wasn't at the hotel and he hasn't shown up at his residence.'
'He's with the Vanvlanderen woman.'
'Yes, we know. According to a desk clerk, there were several others with them both. Any ideas?'
'Grinell's guards, according to the information I received. I mentioned to you that there were men with him, that you should be prepared.'
'Yes, you did… Do we work together?'
'From a distance.'
'What have you got to offer?'
'Proof of certain things I've told Miss Rashad,' replied Varak, thinking of the edited tapes and transcripts he would give to the intelligence officer—edited so that Eric Sundstrom would remain an anonymous conspirator; a dead man did not need an identity. 'Perhaps nothing more, but it's the core of what you need.'
'It will be gratefully accepted.'
'However, there's a price, Mr. B.'
'I don't make payments—’
'Of course you do,' broke in the Czech. 'You do so all the time.'
'What is it?'
'As long as my demands require a complicated explanation, I'll let Miss Rashad tell you in her own words. I'll reach her tomorrow and we'll communicate through her. If your answer is positive I will arrange for the delivery of my material to you.'
'And if it's not?'
'Then I'd advise you to weigh the consequences, Mr. B.'
'Let me speak to my niece, if you please?'
'As you wish.' Varak turned to Khalehla and handed her the telephone as he headed back to his chair.
'I'm here,' said Rashad.
'Just answer yes or no, and if you can't answer, stay silent for a second or two. All right?'
'Yes.'
'Are you safe?'
'Yes.'
'Would his material help us?'
'Yes—emphatically.'
'Just “yes” is sufficient, Agent Rashad… He's obviously staying at the hotel—do you think he'll remain there?'
'No.'
'Has he given you any information as to how he got the Oman
