Crimson Jade by George B Mair

Author:George B Mair [Mair, George B]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lume Books
Published: 2020-04-01T22:00:00+00:00

7

‘I’m buying you, Grant’

Krystelle was ushered into the Magnolia Suite by two men whom Grant hadn’t noticed before. One had a gun against her back, and although she had been slightly rumpled during what Grant guessed had been an expertly arranged kidnap she still managed to look as though she was arriving at a Savoy cocktail party.

She bowed slightly towards Brandt and flashed a smile which made Grant glow with satisfaction. One thing was for sure, if ever he went down and Krystelle was around they would go down in style and with her smile still radiating self-confidence to the end! She chose to speak normal English, which Grant interpreted as a sign that she was playing it cool but prepared to erupt when necessary. And no one knew better than Grant that when she did she would move like a wild cat. ‘Are you going to introduce me, David?’

Grant shook his head. ‘Not your type. A shifty con-man who hires other people to do his dirty work.’

Brandt flushed and then went suddenly pale. ‘What do you mean, con-man?’ The girl tensed with expectation David worked in a mysterious way, but he usually held most of the cards and knew how to throw his personality. The contempt in his voice would have rocked a stronger man than Brandt was likely to be.

Grant pointed to the house-boy and spoke in reasonable Castilian Spanish. ‘Have the goodness to give the lady her daiquiri.’ He watched, while Krystelle, ignoring the men behind her, sat down near him and lifted the glass. ‘Ah yes. You were asking about con-men. Don’t you agree it’s a fair description?’

Brandt clipped his second cigar. ‘Carry on.’

‘I accept your story about the doped wine, bugs and cameras, and obviously that you picked up the last part of my contact with this young lady tonight or else she wouldn’t be here. I even accept that your own description of the dope incident as a “sick joke” is probably true, though you also hoped it would be useful as another lever to blackmail me. Forgetting, of course, that Krystelle wouldn’t be annoyed with anyone except yourself, that she would rate Petra’s behaviour as normal and that she knows about drugs. Anyhow orgies lost most of their news value several years ago and your video tape of the bedroom routine isn’t worth a dud peso.’

Grant ordered another clarito and realised when Brandt failed to interfere and place the order himself that initiative had begun to swing. ‘Then your story about the Middle East, Israeli Commandos and hunting war criminals is amateurish. The Israelis wouldn’t stage a major trial for a link-man on the Nazi-escape route even if your story had been true. They have too many other problems these days to enjoy the luxury of sidetracking from essentials. And as for raising interest in Germany, it wouldn’t rate more than a minor by-line.’

Krystelle saw Grant’s index finger twitch against his knee and rose to the cue. ‘You’ve been listing angles which don’t matter, David.

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