Whiff Of Money

This really must be my lucky day, Girland was thinking. Now I will have the chance to talk to this girl alone.

'Thank you,' he said. 'As I told you, I am here on vacation. I would like nothing better. It is very kind of you.'

Von Goltz shrugged.

'It will be my pleasure.' He got to his feet. T will send one of my servants here at midday tomorrow. He will direct you to the Schloss. It is only an hour's.fast drive from Garmisch. You will arrive in time for lunch.' He took Gilly's hand and brushed it lightly with his lips, then shook hands with Rosnold and Girland. 'Until tomorrow . . . good night,' and with a pleased smile, he left the bar.

'What do you know!' Gilly said as soon as the count was out of hearing. 'A real, live count! And he has a castle! Gosh!'

Rosnold looked at Girland, a puzzled expression in his eyes.

'I didn't know Germans were quite so hospitable ... did you?'

Girland laughed.

'I very much doubt if you and I were on our own, we would have been invited. I think mademoiselle in her scarlet outfit caught the count's eye.'

'Then you both should be very grateful to me,' Gilly said, laughing. 'Anyway, let's check out, Pierre. If we are going to stay at the castle for a week, there's no point in keeping our rooms on.'

'Yes.' Rosnold got to his feet. 'And when we've checked out, we'll eat. I'mhungry.'

The three went to the reception desk.

'We have been invited to stay with Count von Goltz,' Rosnold explained to the clerk. 'We will be checking out tomorrow morning. Will you have my bill ready?'

'Certainly, sir. You should have a very happy stay with the count,' the clerk said, obviously impressed.

'That goes for me too,' Girland said.

They went out into the courtyard where the cars were parked.

'Comeinmy car,' Girlandsaid. 'There'smoreroom.'

Gilly slid into the front passenger's seat and Rosnold got in at the back.

'Where to?' Girland asked.

'Turn right as you leave the hotel. The restaurant is about eight kilometres from here. I'll direct you,' Rosnold said.

Watched by Malik and Labrey who were sitting at the opposite cafe, Girland drove away from the hotel.

* * *

They made an odd-looking trio as they stood outside Garmisch's railway station. Vi with her long, blonde hair, her pale-blue hipsters and red wool sweater looked absurdly small beside Malik who was wearing a short black leather coat and baggy black corduroy trousers, his silver coloured hair like a burnished steel helmet. Max Lintz in a coarsely-woven brown sweater and brown slacks with a brown woollen cap on his head stood on Vi's other side, his small, quick eyes examining the passers-by suspiciously and intently.

They had arrived only a few minutes ago. The time was just after 19.00 hrs. When Malik had reached Munich airport, he had gone to the Hertz Rental service and had hired a Volkswagen 1500. While he was waiting for the car to arrive, he had noticed a tall, white-haired man with a glass eye whom he had seen on the aircraft, standing near him. Malik merely glanced at him, and Lu Silk, not knowing who this giant was, gave him a steady stare from his one cold, hard eye and then looked away.

A big, black Mercedes pulled up and the driver waved to Silk who crossed the road and got into the car. As he was driven away, the Volkswagen arrived.

Malik told Lintz to get in at the back. Vi got in beside Malik, shrinking as far away from him as she could.

Malik had stuck terror into Vi the moment she had seen him at Orly airport. He had come up to her, stared at her with his evil green eyes and had asked abruptly:

'Mademoiselle Martin?'

She had nodded dumbly.

He had held out a huge, cruel-looking hand.

'Your passport.'

With shaking hands, she had found her passport in her bag and had given it to him.

'Follow me,' and he stalked into the airport.

They went together through the police barrier. For a brief moment Vi had been tempted to scream to the police officer that she was being kidnapped, but remembering Paul's warning, terror kept her silent.

In the reception lounge, Max Lintz had joined them. He had glanced at Vi without interest and then had drawn Malik aside. The two men had talked together in German, ignoring Vi who stood uneasily, shaking a little, while she waited.

On the aircraft, Malik had let her sit by herself while he and Lintz occupied the two seats behind her. All during the flight, they had talked softly in German while Vi had sat miserably wondering what was going to happen to her.

While waiting outside the railway station, she had screwed up her courage and asked Malik for her passport.

He turned and looked at her as if he was seeing her for the first time and didn't like what he was seeing.

'I keep it,' he snapped and looked away.

'But it's mine!' Vi cried with a sudden desperate flash of courage. 'You can't keep it! Give it to me!'

Lintz turned to stare at her as Malik said in his flat, dead voice, 'I keep it.'

Vi bit her lip and moved away. She felt trapped, and again terror went through her, leaving her cold and shaking.

'Here he is,' Lintz said suddenly.