Whiff Of Money (14 page)

'I keep it,' he snapped and looked away.

'But it's mine!' Vi cried with a sudden desperate flash of courage. 'You can't keep it! Give it to me!'

Lintz turned to stare at her as Malik said in his flat, dead voice, 'I keep it.'

Vi bit her lip and moved away. She felt trapped, and again terror went through her, leaving her cold and shaking.

'Here he is,' Lintz said suddenly.

Labrey came hurrying up the street to join them.

'I lost my way,' he said breathlessly, ignoring Vi. Tm sorry I'm late.'

Malik drew him aside.

'What has been happening?'

'Girland is at the Alpenhoff Hotel,' Labrey said. 'He has hired a Mercedes. Right now he is in the hotel.'

'Is there a hotel near his?'

'Right opposite. I've booked us all in.'

'Then we will go there now.' Malik regarded Labrey. 'You have done well.'

Vi and Labrey got in the back of the Volkswagen and Malik and Lintz in the front. Vi put her hand on Labrey's and looked beseechingly at him, but he snatched his hand away. He knew Malik could see them in the driving mirror and he was scared of Malik.

It took only a few minutes to reach the Alpenhoff Hotel. The hotel opposite was more modest. Malik sent Lintz and Vi into the hotel and he and Labrey took a table on the sidewalk and ordered beer. From there they sat they could look directly into the Alpenhoff Hotel's courtyard.

They saw Count von Goltz leave in a silver-grey Rolls Royce. He meant nothing to them. Then ten minutes later they saw Girland, Gilly and Rosnold come out and get into Girland's hired Mercedes and drive away.

'Who is the woman?'Malik asked.

'I haven't seen her before.'

Malik brooded, then he said, T want your girl's wristwatch.'

Labrey gaped at him.

'Vi's watch?'

'Get it!' the snap in Malik's voice brought Labrey to his feet. He hurried into the hotel, up the stairs to Vi's bedroom where he found her sitting on the bed, her head in her hands. She looked up as he came in and jumped to her feet.

'He's taken my passport!' she said wildly. 'You must get it back! Paul! I...'

'Shut up! Give me your watch!'

She shrank back, staring at him.

'My watch... why?

'Give it to me!' Labrey's thin face had that vicious expression that always frightened Vi. With shaking fingers she undid the gold-plated strap and handed him the watch.

Snatching it from her, Labrey left the room and ran down to the street.

'Here it is,' he said, handing the watch to Malik.

Malik examined it and his short, thick nose wrinkled.

'It isn't much but it will have to do. Wait here.' He got to his feet and moved to the edge of the crowded sidewalk. He had to wait a few moments before there was a gap in the steady flow of traffic, then he crossed the street and walked into the Alpenhoff Hotel's lobby.

The reception clerk looked up from his work as Malik came to rest at the desk. He stood up and inclined his head politely.

'Yes, sir?'

'A young lady left here a few minutes ago,' Malik said in his fluent German.' She was wearing a red trouser outfit. As she got into her car, she dropped this.' He held up the watch. 'I wish to return it to her.'

'Thank you, sir. I will give it to her with pleasure.'

Malik regarded the clerk with a suggestive smile.

'I would like to give it to her myself. Who is she?'

'Miss Gillian Sherman. I believe she has gone out to dinner, but she will be back some time tonight.'

'Then I will return the watch tomorrow. Would you tell her I have found it?'

'Certainly, but you should be here before ten o'clock tomorrow. Miss Sherman is leaving us.' The clerk guessed this shabbily dressed giant was after a reward.

'If I miss her, do you know where she is going?'

'She will be staying at the Obermitten Schloss,' the clerk told him. 'Count von Goltz's estate.'

'Then I will be back before ten o'clock.'

Malik walked across the lobby to the row of telephone kiosks. He put through a call to a Soviet agent in Munich. He learned the Obermitten Schloss was owned by Herman Radnitz. Malik knew all about Radnitz. He talked for some minutes to the agent, instructing him to call Kovski in Paris. The agent promised to call him back at the hotel as soon as he had made contact with Kovski. Malik left word with the hotel's telephone operator where he could be found and went into the hotel lounge to wait. An hour later, his Munich call came through. He listened to the information he was given, grunted his thanks and hung up.

Six

It was after midnight when Girland returned to his hotel bedroom. It had been a good evening. The meal had been a little heavy, but excellent, and the restaurant, gay and amusing. Both Gillian and Rosnold had been good companions.

If it hadn't been for Dorey and his dreary assignment, Girland thought as he undressed, he would have thoroughly enjoyed the hours he had spent with these two, but mindful that he had to earn Sherman's ten thousand dollars, he tried to switch his mind to the best approach to get the three films from Gillian.

But full of good food and German wine, he couldn't be bothered, and decided to concentrate on the problem in the morning. Tomorrow, the three of them would be at the count's castle. There would certainly come an opportunity to talk to Gillian during their five days stay.

Taking a shower, and then getting into bed, he reached for a cigarette and lit it. Gillian had made an impression on him.

She was beautiful, gay, amusing and sensual. He found it hard to believe she had taken part in the film he had seen.

Thinking about her, Girland came to the conclusion that he dug for her.

Rosnold had also been amusing. Girland always kept an open mind about people. If this man made money by shooting pornographic films, this was no affair of his, Girland told himself. What he did for a living didn't matter. This was Girland's philosophy. It was the people themselves that were important, not what they did.

While he was finishing his cigarette and thinking he would now sleep, the telephone bell at his side buzzed, startling him.

He picked up the receiver. 'Yes'

'It's me.'

He recognised Gillian's husky voice and immediately he became alert.

'Hello ... what do you want?'

'I'm lonely.'

'Funny thing ... I seem to be lonely too.'

'Shall we be lonely together?'

'Then we wouldn't be lonely, would we? Two people together can't be lonely, can they?'

'Some can.'

There was a long pause while Girland stared up at the ceiling, trying to make up his mind if this was a good or a bad move.

I am in Room 462. It's at the end of your corridor,' Gilly told him.

'Do you like it at the end of the corridor?'

Gilly giggled.

'This is an invitation, stupid, not a geography lesson.'

Girland decided this invitation was unwise. Gilly was Rosnold's property. He didn't believe in poaching.

'It's too far,' he said firmly. 'Go to sleep,' and he replaced the receiver.

He stubbed out his cigarette and relaxed back in bed. He didn't have to wait long. The door eased open and Gilly slid into his room, closing the door softly after her.

She had on a white robe to cover a shortie nightdress. Her slippers were pale-blue. She looked very attractive as she regarded him.

'Hello there,' Girland said, smiling at her. 'As lonely as all that?'

She came to the end of the bed and glared at him.

'You are a pig!' she exclaimed. 'When you had my invitation, you should have come to me!'

'I told you to go to sleep,' Girland reminded her. 'But since you don't want to sleep, and since I don't want to sleep, you'd better get in here before you catch cold.'

He flicked aside the blanket and sheet and shifted over to m<,ke room for her.

'If you imagine I intend to sleep with you now, you are making a great mistake. I came just to tell you that I think you're a pig!'

Girland flicked the blanket and sheet back into place.

'That has now been recorded ... I am a pig. Good night,' and he reached for the bedside lamp and turned it off. The room was plunged into darkness.

'Put that light on!' Gilly said sharply. 'How can I find my way out?'

'Fall over the furniture. I want to go to sleep,' Girland said out of the darkness. 'Good night... I'll see you in the morning.'

She groped her way around the bed as Girland, grinning in the darkness, once more flicked back the blanket and sheet.

There was a pause, then he heard the rustle of her clothes as they dropped to the floor.

'I hate you,' Gilly said, 'but now I'm here, I will stay.'

'I thought you might. It's a drag to walk all that way down that long corridor.' Girland reached out, his hands sliding around her naked back, pulling her down on him.

He lay still with her resting on him. She began to unbutton his pyjama jacket. His hands moved down her back and clasped her firm buttocks. She gave a long ecstatic sigh and her mouth found his.

During his chequered career, Girland had known many women. The act of love to him was always a unique experience.

Sometimes he was disappointed, sometimes he was satisfied, but this experience with Gilly was something he hadn't experienced before.

Later, they rested side by side, both breathless. Girland couldn't remember a more exciting and exhausting episode.

The moonlight came through the chinks in the shutters, making a pattern on the carpet. The sound of fast-moving cars came and went. Faintly he could hear swing music from the cafe opposite.

Gilly touched his chest. She sighed.

'I knew you had to be good, but I didn't imagine you could be that good.'

' Sleep,' Girland said. 'No post mortems.'

She curled up against him, one long leg across his legs, her face close to his, her warm, scented breath fanning his neck.

They slept.

The sunlight coming through the shutters brought Girland awake. He screwed up his eyes and then opened them as he yawned. Gilly lay by his side, beautiful in her abandoned nakedness. She breathed gently, her shell-pink nipples bathed in a streak of sunlight.

Girland put his hand lightly on the apex of her thighs. She murmured something and turning to him, her eyes still closed, she slid her arms around him.

This drowsy passion was less violent than before but more gentle and more satisfying. Once she cried out, her body stiffening, but then she became relaxed again, her breath quick and irregular. Again they slept.

Later still, Girland woke, raised his head and looked at his strap watch. The time was twenty minutes after nine. He prodded Gilly gently.

'Time you went to your room,' he said. 'It's long after nine.'

'Who cares?' Gilly said drowsily, stretching her lovely body. 'Kiss me.'

But Girland was alive to the risk. He had no idea what time Rosnold got up. He didn't want Rosnold to find Gilly's bedroom empty. He slid out of bed and went into the bathroom. Before turning on the shower, he called. 'Oh your way.

I'll see you downstairs in an hour.'

When he had shaved and showered, he returned to the bedroom to find she had gone. He felt relaxed and fine. He ordered toast, marmalade and coffee and then dressed. He threw open the french windows and stood, breathing in the sharp May air, watching the movement of the people on the street below.

* * *

At the modest hotel opposite the Alpenhoff, Malik left his room, walked down the corridor to Labrey's room. He tapped and entered.

Vi, wearing bra and panties was making up her face before the small mirror. Labrey was putting on his shoes.

'Just bust in!' Vi said angrily, snatching up her wrap and struggling into it. 'Haven't you any manners?'

Malik ignored her. He tossed her passport on the bed, then he signed to Labrey to follow him. Out in the passage, Malik said, 'Ihave no further work for you two for the moment. You are to return to Paris.' He took from a worn wallet several 100 DM bills and handed them to Labrey. 'I am satisfied with your work. Lintz and I can now handle it. You are to report to Kovski. Tell him I am still following Girland. Tell him nothing else. Do you understand?'

Labrey nodded. He was relieved he could take Vi back to Paris. He had had a hell of a night with her.

'And she?' Labrey asked.

'Tell her she will work for us in the future. Give her some of that money. There is plenty for both of you,' Malik said. I thought I might use her here, but she is now no longer necessary. Get off quickly.'

He left Labrey and went downstairs and joined Lintz who was sitting at a table outside the hotel.

'You've checked us out?' Malik asked as he sat down.

'Yes ... we're all ready to go.'

'I've got rid of those two upstairs,' Malik said. 'They have served their purpose. Now, they will only be in the way.'

'So what do we do now?' Lintz asked.

'The three of them will be going to the Obermitten Schloss some time this morning,' Malik said, lighting a cigarette. 'We follow them there. This is rather like a jigsaw puzzle, but now, the pieces are falling into place. I know now that this girl, Gillian Sherman is the daughter of the future President of the United States and that they are estranged. She is living with Pierre Rosnold, the man she is travelling with. He specialises in pornographic films. The girl is without morals and we can assume she has made a pornographic film. We know Sherman had a movie projector with him which he gave to Dorey who passed it on to Girland. I think it is obvious the girl is blackmailing her father. Now Radnitz's nephew appears on the scene. We know Radnitz and Sherman have a bargain. Radnitz will get a big contract from Sherman if Sherman becomes President. It would be in Radnitz's interest to stop the girl blackmailing her father. The girl, Rosnold and Girland have been invited to Radnitz's Schloss . . . why? Knowing Radnitz, they are going there to get their throats cut.'

'Do we care?' Lintz asked, looking at Malik.

'Yes. For reasons I will not discuss with you, we care,' Malik said quietly.

Half an hour later, while the two men still sat watching the movement of the crowd as it passed along the narrow sidewalk, Labrey and Vi came from the hotel. Labrey was carrying a suitcase. He paused at Malik's side.