The Icarus Agenda by Robert Ludlum

‘You got mixed up with something like that?’

‘I didn’t know it was something like that. I was a lot younger and impressed as hell that they wanted to list us as part of their structure… even more impressed with the money they banked for us in Zurich. Impressed, that is, until Manny said let’s try to get some, just for the hell of it. He knew exactly what he was doing; we couldn’t pull out two francs. Off Shore’s signatures controlled all withdrawals, all assignments.’

‘A dummy set-up and you were the dummies.’

‘That’s it.’

‘How did you get involved?’

‘We were in Riyadh, and Montreaux flew over and conned me. I hadn’t learned that there weren’t any shortcuts—not that kind.’

‘Ardis Montreaux. Ardis… That’s an odd name for a man.’

‘Because it’s not a man—she’s not a man. She’s a lot tougher.’

‘A woman?’

‘Believe it.’

‘With your innate scepticism she must have been very persuasive.’

‘She had the words. She also wanted our heads when we pulled out; she claimed we were costing them millions. Weingrass asked her whose millions this time.’

‘Perhaps we should—’

‘Skip it,’ Evan broke in firmly. ‘She married an English banker and lives in London. She’s faded.’

‘How do you know?’

Showing minor embarrassment, Kendrick answered quickly and quietly. ‘She called me a couple of times… as a matter of fact to apologize. Skip it.’

‘Sure.’ Khalehla went on to the next firm on the printout. As she spoke she wrote two words after Off Shore Investments, Limited. Check out.

Ardis Montreaux Frazier-Pyke Vanvlanderen, born Ardisolda Wojak in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, walked into the marble foyer of the suite at the Westlake Hotel in San Diego. She threw her sable stole over the back of a velour chair and raised her voice, her speech a cultivated mid-Atlantic, rather more nasal stage British than old-money American, but still afflicted with the harsh tones of Pittsburgh’s Monongahela Slavic in the upper registers.

‘Andy-boy, I’m home! We’ve got less than an hour to get up to La Jolla, so move it, sweetie!’

Andrew Vanvlanderen, heavyset with stark white wavy hair and dressed in a tuxedo, walked out of the bedroom, a drink in his hand. ‘I’m ahead of you, babe.’

‘I’ll be ready in ten minutes,’ said Ardis, peering into a foyer mirror and fingering the curls of her perfectly coiffed, frosted brown hair. She was closing in on fifty and of medium height but gave the impression of being younger and taller due to erect posture, a slender figure topped by generous breasts, and a well-co-ordinated face punctuated by large, penetrating green eyes. ‘Why not call for the car, sweetie?’

‘The car can wait. So can La Jolla. We’ve got to talk.’

‘Oh?’ The Vice President’s chief of staff looked over at her husband. ‘You sound serious.’

‘I am. I had a call from your old boyfriend.’

‘Which one, darling?’

‘The only one who counts.’

‘Good God, he called here?’

‘I told him to—’

‘That was dumb, Andy-boy, just plain dumb!’ Ardis Vanvlanderen walked rapidly, angrily out of the foyer and down into the sunken living room. She sat in a red silk wing-backed chair and abruptly crossed her legs, her large eyes riveted on her husband. ‘Take risks with money—on commodities or futures or your stupid horses or any goddamned thing you like, but not where I’m concerned! Is that understood, darling?’

‘Listen, bitch—Dragon Bitch—with what I’ve paid out, if I want first-hand information I’m going to get it. Is that understood?’

‘All right, all right. Cool off, Andy.’

‘You start a rhubarb and then you tell me to cool it?’

‘I’m sorry.’ Ardis arched her neck back into her chair, breathing audibly through her open mouth, her eyes briefly closed. In seconds she opened them, levelled her head, and continued. ‘Really, I’m sorry. It’s been a particularly rotten Orson day.’

‘What’s Viper done now?’ asked Vanvlanderen, drinking.

‘Be careful with those names,’ said his wife, laughing softly. ‘We wouldn’t want our all-American gorillas to learn they’re being bugged.’

‘What’s Bollinger’s problem?’

‘He’s feeling insecure again. He wants a written ironclad guarantee that he’ll be on the ticket next July or we settle ten million on him in a Swiss account.’

Vanvlanderen coughed a swallow of whisky into his glass. ‘Ten million?’ he gasped. ‘Who the fuck does that comedian think he is?’

‘The Vice President of the United States with a few secrets in his skull,’ replied Ardis. ‘I told him we wouldn’t accept anyone else but it wasn’t good enough. I think he senses that Jennings doesn’t consider him a world-beater and would let him go.’

‘Our beloved telegenic wizard, Langford Jennings, hasn’t a goddamned thing to say about it!… Is Orson right? Does Jennings dislike him?’

‘Dislike’s too strong. He just dismisses him, that’s what I hear from Dennison.’

‘That one’s got to go. One of these days Herb’s going to get more curious than we want him—’

‘Forget him,’ interrupted Mrs. Vanvlanderen. ‘Forget Dennison and Bollinger and even your stupid horses. What did my straying, cat hunting old boyfriend have to say that was so important you had him call here?’

‘Relax. He phoned from my Washington attorney’s office; we share the same firm there, remember? But first, let’s not forget Orson. Give him his guarantee. A simple sentence or two and I’ll sign it. It’ll make him happy and happy is better.’

‘Are you crazy?’ cried Ardis, bouncing forward in the chair.

‘Not at all. To begin with, he’ll be on the ticket or he’ll just disappear… like former vice presidents usually do.’

‘Oh, my,’ said Ardis, drawing out the word my in admiration. ‘You’re my kind of fella, Andy-boy. You think so clearly, so succinctly.’

‘Long years of learning, babe.’

‘Now, what did mixed-up old dimples have to say? Who’s after his sensitive skin now?’

‘Not his, ours—’

‘Which is his and don’t you forget it. It’s why I’m here, lover, why he introduced us and brought us together.’

‘He wants us to know that the little group of deluded super people are moving into high gear. During the next three months their congressman will start getting editorials in progressively stronger papers. The theme will be “examining his positions” and he’ll pass all the exams. The point, of course, is to create a ground swell. Our Cupid is worried, very worried. And to tell you the truth I’m sweating a few bullets myself. Those benevolent lunatics know what they’re doing; this whole thing could get out of control. Ardis, we’ve got millions riding on the next five years. I’m goddamned worried!’

‘Over nothing,’ said his perfectly coiffed wife, getting out of her chair. She stood for a moment and looked at Vanvlanderen, her wide green eyes only partially amused. ‘Since you figure to save ten million on Bollinger one way or the other—and my way is better, certainly safer, than any alternative—I think it’s only reasonable that you bank an equal amount for me, don’t you, darling?’

‘Somehow I fail to see the overpowering reason.’

‘It could be your undying love for me… or perhaps one of the more extraordinary coincidences of my career floating among the rich, the beautiful, the powerful and the politically ambitious, especially in the area of government largess.’

‘How’s that again?’

‘I won’t recite the litany of why we’re all doing what we’re doing, or even why I’ve cast my not inconsiderable talents with you, but I will now let you in on a little secret I’ve kept all to myself for, lo, these many weeks.’

‘I’m fascinated,’ said Vanvlanderen, putting his drink down on a marble table and closely observing his fourth wife. ‘What is it?’

‘I know Evan Kendrick.’

‘You what?’

‘Our brief association goes back a number of years, more than I care to dwell on, frankly, but for a few weeks we had something in common.’

‘Outside the obvious, what?’

‘Oh, the sex was pleasant enough but immaterial… to both of us. We were young people in a hurry with no time for attachments. Do you remember Off Shore Investments?’

‘If he was part of that outfit, we can nail him with fraud! Certainly enough to take him out if he climbs on board. Was he?’

‘He was, but you can’t. He pulled out in loud moral indignation, which was the start of that house-of-cards collapse. And I wouldn’t be too anxious to nail Off Shore’s principals unless you’re tired of me, sweetie.’

‘You?’

‘I was the main missionary. I recruited the components.’

‘I’ll be damned.’ Vanvlanderen laughed as he picked up his drink and raised the glass to his wife. ‘Those thieves sure as hell knew whom to hire for the right jobs… Wait a minute? You knew Kendrick well enough to sleep with the son of a bitch and you never said anything?’

‘I had my reasons—’

‘They better be damned good!’ exploded the President’s heavy contributor. ‘Because if they’re not, I may just break your ass, you bitch! Suppose he saw you, recognized you, remembered Off Shore and put two and two together and got four! I don’t take those kinds of chances!’