Precipice

They ordered and Archie's eyes never left the villa he had pointed to. Paula sat alongside him.

'Activity already.' Archie commented. 'I think that's Brazil's limo pulling up outside with Jose at the wheel. Yes, there's Brazil himself coming out. He looks very smart. Must be going to meet someone important.'

Paula exchanged a glance with Philip but said nothing.

'That's interesting.' Archie went on as the limo pulled away from the villa. 'He's travelling without the thugs Craig always provides him with. He must trust whoever he's off to see totally.'

Again Paula kept her expression poker-faced and this time she didn't look at Philip. Archie continued watching as he spoke.

'I think Brazil is anxious. I caught a glimpse of his expression. He had the look of a man who hopes he is going to succeed in some venture, but fears he will fail.'

'How can you tell all that – when he was across the road?' asked Philip.

'Because I have spent many long hours waiting for Mr Brazil to appear in different parts of the world. I have studied him carefully. A most impressive personality. No wonder he has the ear of presidents and prime ministers all over the world.'

These eggs and bacon are good.' said Paula, concentrating on the most important activity.

'Coffee's good, too.' Philip commented. 'What is it?'

Archie's relaxed figure had become tense. He was leaning forward.

'Ah! Something very interesting is happening now. Very interesting indeed.'

'What is it?' asked Philip, who had his back to the villa.

'Another large car has pulled up in front of the villa. A Volvo. And, if I'm not mistaken, it's being driven by a particularly nasty piece of work. A certain ugly gentleman called Gustav. Craig's henchman.'

'Keep me informed,' said Philip.

He didn't want to twist round in his chair for fear the action would draw attention to them.

'Even more interesting.' Archie continued. 'His Lordship has appeared. None other than the great man himself. Mr Carson Craig, carrying a hold-all which from here looks heavy.'

'He looks like a heavyweight businessman in that suit.' Paula said. 'And I do mean heavyweight. That's odd – it's not at all how Newman described how he was dressed during the fight at Grenville Grange.'

'And here comes the gentle Gustav.' Archie remarked, 'also carrying a heavy bag. Probably weapons.'

'Two more tough-looking types are coming down the steps.' Paula observed. 'And they look as though they mean business. They're getting into the back of the Volvo. Gustav is driving, with Craig next to him. There they go…'

Philip saw the Volvo driving past the hotel in the same direction taken by Brazil's limo. Archie looked thoughtful.

'You know, my informant has told me a little about Craig. He's in charge of security, subject to Brazil's approval. But Craig thinks he knows best how to handle his job and has been known to go his own brutal way, regardless. I am thinking maybe Brazil didn't want an escort for this trip, but Craig is again following his primitive instincts.'

'I don't like this.' said Philip, glancing at Paula. 'I don't like it at all. I think we ought to get moving to our destination now.'

'So do I.' agreed Paula.

Philip paid for their breakfast and Archie's coffee. He stood up and spoke quietly as he put on his coat.

'Archie, you look after yourself. The wolves are on the prowl.'

'I want to remind you both of something.' Archie replied, ignoring the warning. 'Don't forget Anton Marchat down in the Valais…'

Standing at her window, which overlooked Kochergasse, Eve had watched Brazil leaving. Later she had been puzzled when she saw Craig and three other men, including the hateful Gustav, driving off the same way in a Volvo.

Why wasn't Craig driving behind the limo to act as protection for Brazil, which was the normal procedure? Was Craig up to something underhand, playing his own game again as she knew he frequently did, concealing his actions from Brazil. She rubbed her hands together. She would wait and see if she heard a rumour about what was going on. She might be able to claw another five thousand francs out of the detestable Craig.

Then she stiffened. Even though masked from the road by thick net curtains, she almost took a step back, then froze. Movement might betray her presence. She could hardly believe her eyes.

Philip and Paula Grey had emerged from the entrance to the Bellevue Palace. She heard someone come into the room, glanced over her shoulder. Marco, one of the guards, was unlocking a drawer. Swiftly he took out a long knife, slipped it into a sheath attached to his belt.

'Marco!' she called out urgently. 'Come here quickly. Don't disturb the curtains…'

'What is it?'

Marco was already by her side. She pointed to Philip and Paula as they walked towards the underground garage.

'See those two? Follow them. They are enemies of Mr Brazil

'I'm on my way.'

Paula was walking alongside Philip close to the ramp which descended to the garage where their car was parked, when she slipped. Philip saved her and then she froze. She kept him still under the lee of a wall, nodded.

On the opposite side of the road a tall man dressed like a Russian with a fur coat and a fur hat was striding along. Philip stared, opened his mouth to speak, but Paula spoke first.

'That's Bill Franklin. I recognize his walk. What's he doing in Berne? Let's find out.'

'He's gone into a pharmacy. There's a queue at the counter. I'm going to nip down and make sure our car is all right.'

'Berne is like a rabbit warren,' she protested.

But Philip had already run down the ramp and didn't hear her. She stood in a fever of impatience, sure that Franklin would come out before Philip got back. She was relieved when Philip reappeared a couple of minutes later, running back up the ramp.

Pretending to study the menu of the Bistro, the Bellevue Palace's restaurant, for a quick meal, Marco saw Philip disappear and frowned. Obviously he was going to check with the garage attendant to see if he could find out where Brazil was being driven to.

Marco, pencil thin with a face as white as death, was always suspicious, putting the worst interpretation on the actions of anyone he was following. His suspicion was confirmed when he saw Philip hurrying back up the ramp two minutes later.

The target had obviously bribed the attendant to tell him Brazil's destination. Otherwise he would have been in the garage longer if the attendant had been close-mouthed. There would have been a long argument.

'He's still inside the pharmacy,' Paula reported.

'Let's cross the street while we can. Trams come over the bridge above the River Aare.'

They had just crossed when a small green tram rumbled over the bridge. Franklin came out of the pharmacy, looked round, waited until there was no traffic where several roads met, then strode over to the Munstergasse, a quiet cobbled street which descended to the great stone bulk of the Munster, a towering edifice with a tall spire that dominated Berne.

On the side he walked were arcades roofed over the pavement. Philip and Paula followed him slowly, stopping briefly to look in shop windows. There were bakery shops, picture dealers, antiques shops, and a patisserie. Underfoot the cobbles were treacherous, coated with a sheen of ice. The temperature was below zero.

Behind them Marco, wearing a brown leather coat which hung open so he could reach his knife quickly, trudged along. They had all passed several ancient narrow alleys leading off the pavement when Franklin suddenly vanished.

'Where on earth has he gone?' wondered Philip.

'Keep walking and we'll find out.' Paula insisted.

They reached another very narrow alley, not wide enough for two people to pass each other. Peering down it into the gloom they saw the fur-coated figure appear to walk inside a wall. They moved faster inside the alley, using their hands to hold against the walls to avoid slipping.