The door of the restaurant opened. Vandam froze with a cigarette half way to his lips, then relaxed again, disappointed: it was only a small boy. The boy handed a piece of paper to a waiter then went out again. Vandam decided to order another drink. He saw the waiter go to Elene’s table and hand her the piece of paper. Vandam frowned. What was this? An apology from Wolff, saying he could not keep the date? Elene’s face took on an expression of faint puzzlement. She looked at Vandarn and gave that little shrug again. Vandarn considered whether to go over and ask her what was going on-but that would have spoiled the ambush, for what if Wolff should walk in while Elene was talking to Vandam? Wolff could turn around at the door and run, and he would have only the MPs to get past, two people instead of six. Vandam. murmured to Jakes: “Wait.” Elene picked up her clutch bag from the chair beside her and stood up. She looked at Vandarn again, then turned around. Vandam. thought she was going to the ladies’ roonL Instead she went to the door and opened ft. Vandarn and Jakes got to their feet together. One of the sergeants half rose, looking at Vandam, and Vandam waved him down: no point in arresting Elene. Vandarn and Jakes hurried across the restaurant to the door. As they passed the sergeants Vandarn said: “Follow me.” They went through the door into the street. Vandam. looked around. There was a blind beggar sitting against the wall, holding out a cracked dish with a few piasters in it. Three soldiers in uniform staggered along the pavement, already drunk, arms around each other’s shoulders, singing a vulgar song. A group of Egyptians had met just outside the restaurant and were vigorously shaking hands. A street vendor offered Vandarn cheap razor blades. A few yards away Elene was getting into a taxi. Vandam broke into a run. The door of the taxi slammed and it pulled away. Across the street, the MPs’ car roared, shot forward and collided with a bus. Vandam caught up with the taxi and leaped on to the run- THE KEY TO REBECCA 185
Ding board. The car swerved suddenly. Vandam lost his grip, hit the road running and fell down. He got to his feet. His face blazed with pain: his wound was bleeding again, and be could feel the sticky warmth uiider the dressing. Jakes and the two sergeants gathered around him. Across the road the MPs were arguing with the bus driver. The taxi bad disappeared. 15
Flene was terrified. It had all gone wrong. Wolff was supposed to have been arrested in the restaurant, and now he was here, in a taxi with her, smiling a feral smile. She sat still, her mind a blank. “Who was he?” Wolff said, still smiling. Elene could not think. She looked at Wolff, looked away again, and said: “What?” “rhat man who ran after us. He jumped on the running board. I couldn’t see him properly, but I thought he was a European. Who was he?” Elene fought down her fear. He’s William Vandam, and he was supposed to arrest you. She had to make up a story. Why would someone follow her out of a restaurant and try to get into her taxi? “He . . . I don’t know him. He was in the restaurant.” Suddenly she was inspired. “He was bothering me. I was alone. It’s your fault, you were late.” “I’m so sorry,” he said quickly. Elene had an access of confidence after he swallowed her story so readily. “And why are we in a taxi?” she demanded, “What’s it all about? Why aren’t we having dinner?” She heard a whining note in her voice, and hated it. “I had a wonderful idea.” He smiled again, and Elene suppressed a shudder. “We’re going to have a picnic. There’s a basket in the trunk.” She did not know whether to believe him. Why had be pulled that stunt at the restaurant, sending a boy in with the message “Come outside.-A.W.” unless he suspected a trap? What would he do now, take her into the desert and knife her? She bad a sudden urge to leap out of the speeding car. She closed her eyes and forced herself to think calmly. If he 186 THE KEY TO REBECCA 187