He went to the door, returning with a bottle of whisky, a sandwich and her shirt, jeans and shoes.
Nancy took the bottle from him and raised it to her lips, then painfully began to dress.
Porter helped her. ‘If I’d known, I could have prevented this.’
‘It was that vindictive woman. She came after me because you prefer me to her.’
‘She tried to stop me from getting in here.’ He lifted her to her feet so she could finish dressing, then helped her to a chair and offered her the sandwich.
‘I’m starved,’ she said, ‘but I’m afraid to eat. I’ve been promised another torture session tonight, and food will just make me sick.’
‘If I have anything to say about it,’ Porter told her, ‘they’ll keep their distance from you. All of them.’
‘I – I haven’t dared hope—’
‘I know. Eat this and you’ll feel better.’
Nancy ate ravenously.
‘I’m doing everything I can for you,’ Porter said. ‘There’s even a chance I can get you out of here. Tonight.’
She looked at him, hope and fear in her eyes.
‘As you know,’ he said, ‘I have my own pipelines to Washington. I’ve already called headquarters and told them I want you released into my custody.’
‘Oh, Porter, if you can get me out of the hands of these monsters!’
‘I think I can manage. But I’ll need your help.’
‘I’ll lose my mind if that bastard works me over again. I couldn’t see his face, but I know he was enjoying himself.’
‘Don’t think about him,’ Porter said, ‘Let’s concentrate on you. First, it’s no secret to headquarters that you worked for the Russians. As that very substantial payment I made to you testifies. Now there’s an uproar because you taped a phone conversation of mine and took some photographs.’
In spite of her exhaustion she sat upright, and her chin jutted forward.
‘You can play this either of two ways,’ Porter said. ‘If you’re stubborn, I can do nothing for you. They’ll keep you here and sweat the truth out of you. Every session will be more vicious than the one before it. Until you break down. You’re still a beautiful girl, but you’ll be hideous by the time they’re done.’
‘I’m sure,’ she murmured, ‘that’s what that bitch wants to do to me.’
‘There’s no doubt of it,’ Porter said. ‘Your alternative is to cooperate with me. I’ll not only have you out of here in a quarter of an hour, but I’ll get more money from Washington for you.’
Nancy stirred. ‘How much, do you think?’
His scheme was working, but his expression did not change. ‘I should think that would depend on the extent of your co-operation. Tell me everything you can, and it will be substantial. Work with me actively from now on, and it’ll be a great deal more.’
She realized he was offering her future employment as a double agent, but she hesitated. ‘The Americans aren’t the only ones who are vindictive. Not many life insurance companies will sell policies to agents who play both sides of the street.’
‘If we do this the right way,’ Porter said, ‘I’m sure I can get you complete protection, too.’
‘You’d put your own neck on the chopping block for me?’
‘That’s what I’m doing.’
‘Why?’
Porter took her hand. ‘That should be obvious.’
He was speaking a language she understood. She had made enough conquests to accept a man’s infatuation with her as a normal, natural tribute.
‘You have a clear choice,’ he said. ‘But you’ll have to make up your mind right now. The people who picked you up at our house today want credit for squeezing the truth out of you. Without it costing anyone a bloody penny.’
‘My shoulders are sore,’ Nancy said as she reached inside her shirt and squirmed out of her bathing suit top.
Porter was encouraged. In spite of her weariness and discomfort she was making an effort to utilize her strongest weapon, her sex appeal, so she had no intention of submitting to the ministrations of Adrienne and the Deacon.
‘There you have it,’ he said, and waited.
She took another sip from the whisky bottle. ‘You’ve kept your word to me, and you aren’t angry because I spied on you.’
‘If you’re going to work with me, I advise you not to double-cross me again. I’ll be taking a chance by making you my partner, and if I go out on a limb for you, don’t saw it off or we’ll both crash to the ground.’
She flipped back her matted, sweat-soaked hair in a self-confident gesture. ‘Ask away.’
‘A courier picked up a tape and film from your dashboard glove compartment. Who is he?’
‘I don’t really know. I’ve probably never seen him and never shall.’
‘KGB?’
She surprised him by giggling. ‘I think so, but I wouldn’t swear to it. They aren’t my only employers.’
So she was acting as a triple agent. ‘The Chinese?’
Nancy nodded. ‘There are so few places in this area for letter-drops that both of them told me to use the shopping centre parking lot.’
‘What’s their interest in me?’ Porter demanded.
‘The KGB knows you’ve been doing security control for a super-submarine being built at the Richards yards. I’m to find out all I can about the submarine.’
So the Russians were aware of the purpose of Project Neptune, but were mistaken about the details. Therefore he could use the girl to feed them false data and further confuse them. ‘What about the Chinese?’
‘Peking knows something mysterious is happening at the shipyard, and they believe the Americans are developing a new weapon. They’ll take anything I can get for them.’
The Chinese hadn’t learned the object of Project Neptune, and were fishing. ‘What are your pay arrangements?’
‘I’m on straight salary. With both of them. It’s the only way I work.’
‘Then we mustn’t disappoint them,’ Porter said.
She knew he meant she would be used to pass along useless and misleading information. ‘On salary?’
‘Not exactly. I’ll get you several thousand tomorrow as a retainer fee, and then you’ll be paid as you perform. In all, I’d think you can count on another twenty-five thousand. Provided you do as you’re told and don’t try to make any under-the-table deals.’
‘What I like about doing business with the Americans is that they pay more than the rest put together. But I like working with you even more. I can rely on you, Porter, in or out of bed.’
He grinned at her. ‘Let’s make certain I can rely on you.’
‘You’ve saved my skin tonight, and I won’t forget it.’
‘I’ll be back to fetch you as soon as I’ve arranged for your release,’ Porter said, and left the room.
A group of his subordinates awaited him in the living-room.
‘I want to see Miss Howard privately,’ he said, dismissing the others, then detaining the Deacon for a moment. ‘I’m giving you a commendation, my lad. Your softening process did the trick.’
Adrienne listened in silence to Porter’s account of his interview with the Eurasian girl. ‘It sounds solid,’ she said at last, ‘but how do we know she wasn’t telling you what she thinks you want to hear?’
‘We don’t. I’m inclined to believe it was truth, but we’ll find out as we go along. You’re going back to the Richards house?’
‘Unless you have something else for me to do.’
‘You and the Deacon softened up Nancy Wing for me, and that’s quite enough for one day. Bring the Director up to date for me, will you?’
‘He’ll want to know whether she told you any of her contacts, and whether she knows Marie.’