Whiff Of Money

Labrey came hurrying up the street to join them.

'I lost my way,' he said breathlessly, ignoring Vi. Tm sorry I'm late.'

Malik drew him aside.

'What has been happening?'

'Girland is at the Alpenhoff Hotel,' Labrey said. 'He has hired a Mercedes. Right now he is in the hotel.'

'Is there a hotel near his?'

'Right opposite. I've booked us all in.'

'Then we will go there now.' Malik regarded Labrey. 'You have done well.'

Vi and Labrey got in the back of the Volkswagen and Malik and Lintz in the front. Vi put her hand on Labrey's and looked beseechingly at him, but he snatched his hand away. He knew Malik could see them in the driving mirror and he was scared of Malik.

It took only a few minutes to reach the Alpenhoff Hotel. The hotel opposite was more modest. Malik sent Lintz and Vi into the hotel and he and Labrey took a table on the sidewalk and ordered beer. From there they sat they could look directly into the Alpenhoff Hotel's courtyard.

They saw Count von Goltz leave in a silver-grey Rolls Royce. He meant nothing to them. Then ten minutes later they saw Girland, Gilly and Rosnold come out and get into Girland's hired Mercedes and drive away.

'Who is the woman?'Malik asked.

'I haven't seen her before.'

Malik brooded, then he said, T want your girl's wristwatch.'

Labrey gaped at him.

'Vi's watch?'

'Get it!' the snap in Malik's voice brought Labrey to his feet. He hurried into the hotel, up the stairs to Vi's bedroom where he found her sitting on the bed, her head in her hands. She looked up as he came in and jumped to her feet.

'He's taken my passport!' she said wildly. 'You must get it back! Paul! I...'

'Shut up! Give me your watch!'

She shrank back, staring at him.

'My watch... why?

'Give it to me!' Labrey's thin face had that vicious expression that always frightened Vi. With shaking fingers she undid the gold-plated strap and handed him the watch.

Snatching it from her, Labrey left the room and ran down to the street.

'Here it is,' he said, handing the watch to Malik.

Malik examined it and his short, thick nose wrinkled.

'It isn't much but it will have to do. Wait here.' He got to his feet and moved to the edge of the crowded sidewalk. He had to wait a few moments before there was a gap in the steady flow of traffic, then he crossed the street and walked into the Alpenhoff Hotel's lobby.

The reception clerk looked up from his work as Malik came to rest at the desk. He stood up and inclined his head politely.

'Yes, sir?'

'A young lady left here a few minutes ago,' Malik said in his fluent German.' She was wearing a red trouser outfit. As she got into her car, she dropped this.' He held up the watch. 'I wish to return it to her.'

'Thank you, sir. I will give it to her with pleasure.'

Malik regarded the clerk with a suggestive smile.

'I would like to give it to her myself. Who is she?'

'Miss Gillian Sherman. I believe she has gone out to dinner, but she will be back some time tonight.'

'Then I will return the watch tomorrow. Would you tell her I have found it?'

'Certainly, but you should be here before ten o'clock tomorrow. Miss Sherman is leaving us.' The clerk guessed this shabbily dressed giant was after a reward.

'If I miss her, do you know where she is going?'

'She will be staying at the Obermitten Schloss,' the clerk told him. 'Count von Goltz's estate.'

'Then I will be back before ten o'clock.'

Malik walked across the lobby to the row of telephone kiosks. He put through a call to a Soviet agent in Munich. He learned the Obermitten Schloss was owned by Herman Radnitz. Malik knew all about Radnitz. He talked for some minutes to the agent, instructing him to call Kovski in Paris. The agent promised to call him back at the hotel as soon as he had made contact with Kovski. Malik left word with the hotel's telephone operator where he could be found and went into the hotel lounge to wait. An hour later, his Munich call came through. He listened to the information he was given, grunted his thanks and hung up.

Six

It was after midnight when Girland returned to his hotel bedroom. It had been a good evening. The meal had been a little heavy, but excellent, and the restaurant, gay and amusing. Both Gillian and Rosnold had been good companions.

If it hadn't been for Dorey and his dreary assignment, Girland thought as he undressed, he would have thoroughly enjoyed the hours he had spent with these two, but mindful that he had to earn Sherman's ten thousand dollars, he tried to switch his mind to the best approach to get the three films from Gillian.

But full of good food and German wine, he couldn't be bothered, and decided to concentrate on the problem in the morning. Tomorrow, the three of them would be at the count's castle. There would certainly come an opportunity to talk to Gillian during their five days stay.

Taking a shower, and then getting into bed, he reached for a cigarette and lit it. Gillian had made an impression on him.

She was beautiful, gay, amusing and sensual. He found it hard to believe she had taken part in the film he had seen.