Affair for the Baron by John Creasey

Author:John Creasey
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: House of Stratus

Chapter Twelve

Bad Man With a Cause

Mario Ballas stopped speaking, but did not look away.

Mannering felt the impact of the words, the threat implied, the ultimatum. Nothing and no one was going to prevent this man from getting that film. Why? Why could it be so precious to him? Why was he so sure of its value? And how was Professor Alundo involved in this strange battle for possession?

“Do you understand me?” Ballas demanded softly. “I would give up every one of the rare and priceless things in this room for the microfilin. Do you understand?”

“Yes,” Mannering said; yet he did not truly understand.

“Where is the microfilm, Mannering?”

Mannering countered, after a pause: “Why do you want it, Señor Ballas?” The ‘Señor’ came quite naturally. He heard a rustle of movement behind him but paid no attention.

“That is my business,” Mario Ballas said.

“If I knew why you wanted it I might help you to find it,” Mannering answered quietly.

“You know where it is. You will help me to get it.”

Mannering smiled faintly.

“You think I do, Señor. But must we waste time? I assure you in all earnestness that I won’t lift a finger to help you find the microfilm, until I know what is in it.”

He heard Cyrus catch his breath, and saw Ballas glance towards the man as if forbidding any kind of interruption.

The wax-like hands were placed palm downwards on the table; the lean body did not change position.

“And if you know this, you will help me?”

“If I like your reason for wanting it, yes,” Mannering told him.

“Mr. Mannering,” said Mario Ballas, “no one knows that you are here in Mexico. No one will ever see you leave, whether you are alive or dead. It would be very easy to kill you, and the dying could be very, very painful.”

Mannering said: “I see.” He shifted his position, and heard another rustle behind him. The older man watched. There was no other sound in the room, no distraction. “Señor Ballas,” Mannering went on, “you have a reputation for being a cold-blooded killer. You are hated and you are feared. But I don’t hate you – and I don’t fear you. And there is no way you can make me do anything I do not wish to do.”

After a long, tense pause, Ballas stirred.

“You know so much,” he said.

“I know enough.”

“You would talk, as everyone else has talked.”

“It wouldn’t help you,” Mannering said.

“Explain that, please.”

“I cannot tell you where to find the microfilm. I can only help you to find it. If you kill me, you will lose every chance you have, because”—very softly and deliberately Mannering made his final throw—” only I can help. Only I know the clues.”

“You speak as if this were a game.”

“I carry out all my investigations as if they were games. It is far more absorbing that way.”

“So very English,” Ballas said. “English enough to be the truth. And I have heard that the famous John Mannering never takes anything seriously.” He appeared to brood, and

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