Lepski moaned. Here was another fight coming up that could last for hours, and he was tired.
“Okay, okay, baby. I guess it’s my cop training and my narrow mind,” he said, pulling up the sheet and settling lower in the bed. “Let’s sleep, huh? We have quite a trip ahead of us tomorrow.”
Carroll drew in an exasperated breath.
“It’s always ‘Okay, okay, baby,’ when you won’t discuss anything. Let me tell you, Lepski, the Duvines are marvellous people, and we are very, very lucky to have found them!”
Lepski made a soft snoring noise.
“Do you hear what I am saying?” Carroll demanded.
“Sure, baby. Sleep tight,” Lepski mumbled in a feigned sleepy voice and began to snore at volume.
Pierre and Claudette returned to the hotel soon after 01.30. They were both depressed at losing money at roulette.
In their room, after showers, they lay in the twin beds in the half-light of one bedside lamp.
“No luck tonight,” Pierre said gloomily.
“We can’t always win, my treasure,” Claudette said. “What worries me is the Lepskis are getting bored.”
“Americans! Most of them can’t adapt to the European way of life. Not much longer, sugar. On the 20th, we will be in Montreux. Lu will be there to give me the duplicate box. As soon as I get it, you will take the Lepskis on a boat trip. When Lu had given me the duplicate box, he takes off for Zurich to wait for me. As soon as he’s gone, I will switch boxes. When you return with the Lepskis, I will tell them I’ve had a cable saying my mother is dangerously ill and we must return to Paris immediately. Once we are shot of the Lepskis, we will drive to Zurich and get in touch with Radnitz.”
“But will we get shot of the Lepskis? Suppose they say they will return to Paris with us?”
Pierre frowned.
“A good point. We must find out what their plans are after Montreux. Let’s sell them on the idea of going to Gstaad. You do that, sugar. Talk to Carroll and tell her they can’t possibly leave Switzerland without seeing Gstaad.”
“Yes. Then, another thing, when we don’t arrive at the Eden, Zurich, Lu will know we’ve double-crossed him. He could make things difficult.”
There was a long silence while Pierre thought, then he said, “First things first. This is the general plan. Get the Lepskis thinking of Gstaad. I have to get the icon.”
Claudette leaned out of her bed and stroked Pierre’s hand.
“I hate twin beds.”
“There’s room in here with me,” Pierre said and threw back the blanket and sheet.
Claudette slid from her bed and into his, and wound her arms lovingly around him.
Lu Bradey and Maggie Schultz walked into the reception lobby of the Montreux Palace hotel, followed by a porter, carrying their luggage.
It was 11.30 on the 18th September: a bright, crisp autumn morning. Driving from Geneva, along the lakeside road, Maggie had been entranced by the view of Lake Léman, the mountains and the acres of vineyards. The entrance to the hotel also entranced her. She thought the luggage porter a dream, and the reception clerk out of this world.
“We are only staying two nights,” Bradey said as he handed the reception clerk the false passport Ed Haddon had given him in the name of Lewis Schultz.
“Yes, sir, I have your reservation.”
“I want to book a room for my friend who will be arriving on the afternoon of the 20th,” Bradey said. “Mr John Willis. He will be staying a few days.”
“Mr Willis? Certainly, sir. At this time we have plenty of room.” The clerk made a note.
“I believe you have Mr and Mrs Lepski booked in here on the 20th?”
“Mr and Mrs Lepski?” The clerk checked the register. “That is correct. They are with Mr and Mrs Duvine.”
“Mr Willis is an old friend. I would like him to be on their floor.”
The clerk checked, then nodded.
“Perfectly all right, sir. Room 251. Mr and Mrs Lepski will be occupying room 245. If you are leaving on the morning of the 20th, and Mr Willis will be arriving after lunch, you can have this room. Would that be convenient?”
“That’s fine.”
Sergas Holtz, sitting in the reception lobby, pretending to be reading The Herald Tribune, was very much alert. He had been sitting in the reception lobby for more than an hour, waiting developments. He had stiffened slightly as he saw the porter bring in the baggage of these arrivals. He saw the blue vanity box, the twin of the box he had locked in the closet in his room.
So this is Bradey, he thought. His uncle had explained to him that Bradey would arrive with a duplicate of the box and would give it to Duvine to switch with Lepski’s box. But who was this John Willis Bradey was talking about? Another complication?
Up in room 251, having tipped the porter, Bradey joined Maggie on the balcony.
“Isn’t this gorgeous!” Maggie exclaimed. “Oh, let’s explore! Look at that cute steamer! I’d love to go on it! What a cute little town!”
“Maggie,” Bradey said quietly. “Let’s sit down. I want to talk to you.”
Maggie looked at him, her eyes startled.
“Why, of course, sweetheart. Is something wrong?”
They re-entered the room and sat down.
“I am in the pipe-line to make a million dollars,” Bradey said, knowing money was his wisest opening move.
“A million dollars!” Maggie exclaimed. “You can’t mean it!”
“Look, baby, it’s better for you not to know anything about it, but it is a fact: one million dollars.” Bradey smiled. “How would you like to marry me?”
“You and a million dollars? Try and stop me! I’d adore it!”
Bradey suppressed a sigh. He wondered what her reaction would have been if he hadn’t mentioned the million dollars.
“Fine! As soon as we get home, baby, we’ll get married, but to get this money, I need your help.”
“You have only to tell me, Lu. Just tell me how I can help.”
“We leave here the day after tomorrow. We will drive along the lake road to Villeneuve: not far. There, I will leave you. You will take the car and drive to Zurich and stay at the Baur au Lac hotel. I will join you in less than a week.”
“Drive to Zurich?” Maggie’s voice shot up. “But, Lu, I couldn’t. I...”
“There’s nothing to it,” Bradey said patiently. He took from his wallet a folded piece of paper. “Here’s your route. It’s simple. Here’s a street plan showing you how to find the hotel. A room is reserved for you.” He pulled his chair closer. “Let’s go through it together.”
After a quarter of an hour, Maggie said doubtfully that she thought she could find her way.
“But can’t I stay with you?” she asked plaintively. “Must I go on my own?”
“If you want me and a million dollars, you have to go!” Bradey said, a snap in his voice.
“What will you do?”
“Earn a million dollars: something you don’t want to know about.” From his hip pocket, he took a wallet and handed it to her. “These are blank traveller’s cheques: worth fifteen thousand Swiss francs. Have yourself a ball in Zurich while you wait for me. Okay?”
“All this for me?”
“Yes, but you will have to take care of your hotel bill. Okay?”
Maggie gave a squeal of delight.
“You are the sweetest of the sweetest!”
“Fine.” Bradey nodded. “One more thing. The vanity box. I need that. When you are in Zurich, buy yourself another. Right?”
Maggie’s sea-green eyes popped wide open.
“Oh, no! It is the first present you have ever given me! I adore it! You can’t have it!”