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The Doomsday Conspiracy :: Sheldon Sidney
Страница: 173 из 213It’s probably youronly chance of escape. He was reluctant to involve Susan in his danger, and yet he could think of no other alternative. It was the only way out of the trap he was in. They would not be looking for him on a private yacht. If I can find a way to get to the Halcyon, he thought, they could drop me off near the coast near Marseilles, and I can get ashore by myself. That way, they won’t be in danger.
He parked the car in front of a small trattoria on a side street, and went inside to make the call. In five minutes, he was connected with the Halcyon.
“Mrs Banks, please.”
“Who shall I say is calling?”
Monte has a fucking butler to answer his phone on the yacht. “Just tell her an old friend.”
A minute later he heard Susan’s voice. “Robert … is that you?”
“The bad penny.”
“They … they haven’t arrested you, have they?”
“No. Susan.” It was difficult for him to ask the question. “Is your offer still open?”
“Of course it is. When …?”
“Can you reach Naples by tonight?”
Susan hesitated. “I don’t know. Hold on a moment.” Robert heard talking in the background. Susan came on the line again. “Monte says we have an engine problem, but we can reach Naples in two days.”
Damn. Every day here increased the chances of his getting caught. “All right. That will be fine.”
“How will we find you?”
“I’ll contact you.”
“Robert, please take care of yourself.”
“I’m trying. I really am.”
“You won’t let anything happen to you?”
“No, I won’t let anything happen to me.” Or to you.
When Susan replaced the receiver, she turned to her husband and smiled. “He’s coming aboard.”
One hour later, in Rome, Francesco Cesar handed a cablegram to Colonel Frank Johnson. It was from the Halcyon. It read: “Bellamy coming aboard Halcyon. Will keep you informed.” It was unsigned. “I’ve made arrangements to monitor all communication to and from the Halcyon,” Cesar said. “As soon as Bellamy steps aboard, we’ve got him.”
The more Carlo Valli thought about it, the more certain he was that he was about to make a big score. Pier’s fairy tale about the American running away from his wife was a joke. Mr Jones was on the run, all right, but he was running from the police. There was probably a reward out for the man. Maybe a big reward. This had to be handled very delicately. Carlo decided to discuss it with Mario Lucca, the leader of the Diavoli Rossi.
He parked the car in front of a small trattoria on a side street, and went inside to make the call. In five minutes, he was connected with the Halcyon.
“Mrs Banks, please.”
“Who shall I say is calling?”
Monte has a fucking butler to answer his phone on the yacht. “Just tell her an old friend.”
A minute later he heard Susan’s voice. “Robert … is that you?”
“The bad penny.”
“They … they haven’t arrested you, have they?”
“No. Susan.” It was difficult for him to ask the question. “Is your offer still open?”
“Of course it is. When …?”
“Can you reach Naples by tonight?”
Susan hesitated. “I don’t know. Hold on a moment.” Robert heard talking in the background. Susan came on the line again. “Monte says we have an engine problem, but we can reach Naples in two days.”
Damn. Every day here increased the chances of his getting caught. “All right. That will be fine.”
“How will we find you?”
“I’ll contact you.”
“Robert, please take care of yourself.”
“I’m trying. I really am.”
“You won’t let anything happen to you?”
“No, I won’t let anything happen to me.” Or to you.
When Susan replaced the receiver, she turned to her husband and smiled. “He’s coming aboard.”
One hour later, in Rome, Francesco Cesar handed a cablegram to Colonel Frank Johnson. It was from the Halcyon. It read: “Bellamy coming aboard Halcyon. Will keep you informed.” It was unsigned. “I’ve made arrangements to monitor all communication to and from the Halcyon,” Cesar said. “As soon as Bellamy steps aboard, we’ve got him.”
The more Carlo Valli thought about it, the more certain he was that he was about to make a big score. Pier’s fairy tale about the American running away from his wife was a joke. Mr Jones was on the run, all right, but he was running from the police. There was probably a reward out for the man. Maybe a big reward. This had to be handled very delicately. Carlo decided to discuss it with Mario Lucca, the leader of the Diavoli Rossi.