‘Colonel, a pleasure.’ Asa shook Steiner’s hand.
Lavinia said, ‘Why don’t we all go into the living room and have a cup of coffee? It’s just made.’
‘What a charming idea,’ Munro said.
‘What you like and what you get are two different things, Brigadier,’ Devlin told him. ‘Still, if it’s made, there’s no harm. Five minutes and we’re away.’
‘I wouldn’t count on that. I’ll have to check the situation at Chernay,’ Asa said to him as they moved through. ‘The weather was just as bad there when I left.’
Devlin said, ‘That’s all we need.’ In the living room he pushed Munro down into the other chair by the fire and looked at Maxwell Shaw in disgust. ‘Christ, if you struck a match he’d catch fire.’
‘He’s really hung one on,’ Asa said.
Shaw woke up and opened his eyes. ‘What’s that, eh?’ He focused on Devlin. ‘Conlon, that you?’
‘As ever was,’ Devlin answered.
Shaw sat up and looked across at Munro. ‘Who in the hell is that? What’s he got that stupid thing round his eyes for?’ He reached across and pulled off the scarf before anyone could stop him. Munro shook his head, blinking in the light. Shaw said, ‘I know you, don’t I?’
‘You should, Sir Maxwell,’ Dougal Monro told him. ‘We’ve been fellow members of the Army and Navy Club for years.’
‘Of course.’ Shaw nodded foolishly. ‘Thought I knew you.’
‘That’s torn it, Brigadier,’ Devlin told him. ‘I’d intended to dump you somewhere in the marsh before we left to find your own way home, but now you know whose these people are.’
‘Which means you have two choices. Shoot me or take me with you.’
It was Steiner who said, ‘Is there room, Captain?’
‘Oh, sure, we could manage,’ Asa said.
Steiner turned to the Irishman. ‘It’s up to you, Mr Devlin.’
Munro said, ‘Never mind, my friend, I’m sure your Nazi masters will pay well for me.’
Asa said, ‘I haven’t had the chance to fill you in on what the score is over there yet. You’d better know now because you’ll be up to your necks in it if we get back in one piece.’
‘You’d better tell us then,’ Steiner said.
So Asa did.
The fog was as bad as ever as they all stood around the radio in the barn, Lavinia scribbling on the pad in front of her. She handed the message to Asa who read it then passed it to Devlin. ‘They suggest we delay take-off for another hour. There’s a slight chance conditions at Chernay might have improved by then.’
Devlin glanced at Steiner. ‘We don’t seem to have much choice.’
‘Well, Lcan’t say I’m sorry for you.’ Munro turned to Lavinia with a smile of devastating charm. ‘I was wondering, my dear. Do you think when we get back to the house I might have tea this time?’
Shaw was sprawled in his chair by the fire fast asleep. Munro sat opposite, wrists still bound. Asa was in the kitchen helping Lavinia.
Devlin said to Steiner, ‘I was thinking, Colonel, you might need a sidearm.’ He picked up his holdall, put it on the table and opened it. The silenced Wal-ther was lying inside on top of a couple of shirts.
‘A thought,’ Steiner said.
There was a gust of wind, a creaking at the French windows and then the curtains were pulled back and Jack and Eric Carver stepped into the room, guns in their hands.
Chapter FOURTEEN
DEVLIN said, ‘Look what the wind’s blown in.’
Steiner said calmly, ‘Who are these men?’
‘Well, the big ugly one is Jack Carver. He runs most of London’s East End. Makes an honest bob out of protection, gambling, prostitution.’
‘Very funny,’ Carver said.
‘The other one, the one who looks as if he’s just crawled out of his hole, is his brother, Eric.’
Til teach you.’ Eric advanced on him, his face pinched and angry. ‘We’ll give you what we gave that pal of yours and his niece.’
Devlin went cold inside, his face on the instant turned deathly pale. ‘What are you telling me?’
‘No funny stuff this time,’ Carver said. ‘Check to see if he has that bleeding gun up his trouser leg.’