"We get to hire them because we pay better than the Treasury. But I've had an idea, Tom. I know you did a photo fit of Robinson for the cops, but they've gotten no place with it. I have a kissing cousin who is a pretty fair portrait painter. Maybe she can produce something better."
So it was that I was introduced to Cassie Cunningham, aged about twenty-five and unmarried, who came armed with a sketching block, pencils and water colours. She was quite a good portraitist and, after a few false starts, I began to feel hopeful of success. When we had done Robinson for good measure I asked Cassie to do another of the fake doctor who had whipped me from the lobby of the Cunningham Building.
The next day we flew to Freeport in the Cunningham Corporation Jet Star Apart from Debbie and myself there were six large men with bulges under their arms.
"Six!" I said to Jim Cunningham.
"I'm not going to start a bloody war."
"Billy thought you ought to have a bodyguard, too. Anyway, allocate them as you choose."
After thinking that one over I thought that Billy could very well be right.
"One thing," I said.
"They're not employed by me. The Bahamian Government is very strict about firearms, and if these men are caught they're on their own."
So we went home and I installed Debbie back in the house, with Kitty Symonette as attendant and companion. After making arrangements to bring Karen back from Abaco I went to see how the Theta Corporation had fared in my enforced absence. But it was just going to be a quick look because I was not going to leave Debbie for long. I had learned that lesson well.
^3 The boss of the body guarding team was Steve Walker and he went with me to the office. I introduced him to Jessie in the outer office, then we went into my own. Walker looked around.
"Two doors," he commented.
"Where does that one lead?"
"To the corridor."
The key was in the lock so he turned it, locking the door.
"I'd rather you use just the one door," he said.
"Can I have a desk in the corner of your secretary's office?"
"Sure. I'll have Jessie set it up." So I did, much to her mystification, and when Walker had settled down I sat behind my own desk to do some heavy thinking.
I went over everything Robinson had said and latched on to something.
He had said that Kayles had reported that I knew all about his plans, whatever they were, and that I had not told Kayles directly, but that Kayles had overheard a conversation between me and Sam Ford.
I thought back to the affray on My Fair Lady. Kayles could have listened when Sam and I were talking in the cockpit, but we had not talked about any mysterious plans, only about how to get Kayles back to Duncan Town. Anyway, Kayles would have been too busy cutting himself free and grabbing his gun to listen to us.
The only other time he could have listened to Sam and me was when he was tied up on the bunk. I vaguely remembered that I had a notion he had been feigning unconsciousness at the time, so what had I said to Sam about anyone's plans? I remembered I had been a bit irritable and had blown my top about something, but what it was I could not remember a lot had happened since then. But perhaps Sam would know.
I snapped on the intercom.
"Jessie, get Sam Ford on the telephone. I don't know where he'll be; you'll have to track him down."
"But didn't you know?" she said.
"Know what?"
"He's in hospital in Nassau. A boat fell on him."
"Come in here and tell me more."
It appeared that Sam had been supervising the removal of a yacht from the water. Half-way up the slip it had fallen sideways from the cradle, and Sam happened to be in the way. It was a ten-ton ketch.
"He's in the intensive care unit of the Princess Margaret Hospital," said Jessie.
"He was still in a coma the last I heard."
"When did this happen?"
"About a week ago."
I was filled with a cold rage. If Robi nson had tried to kill me because of what Kayles overheard he would certainly not leave out Sam. This was as much of an ordinary accident as the disappearance of Bill Pinder. I said, "Ask Mr. Walker to come in."
Jessie stood up, then hesitated.
"Who is he?" she asked.
"He's just sitting there reading magazines. And he asked me to give him a signal if a stranger comes in."
"Don't worry about him, but do as he says. And I'd appreciate it if you didn't talk about him to anyone."
All the same she looked a bit worried as she left. When Walker came in I said, "We have another bodyguard job," and filled in the details.
"I don't want anyone getting to Sam."
Walker tugged his ear.
"That might be tricky. Do we get the cooperation of the hospital?"
"I'll see what I can do about that. In the meantime have a couple of your men on alert, ready to fly to Nassau."
He nodded and left, and I was about to ask Jessie to put me through to the hospital in Nassau when she buzzed me.
"Commissioner Perigord to see you."
I had been expecting Perigord but not as soon as this. He was quick off the mark.
"Send him in."
Perigord came in, as trim and elegant as ever in his well-cut uniform.