Mission to Venice (1954) by James Hadley Chase (writing as Raymond Marshall)

Author:James Hadley Chase (writing as Raymond Marshall) [Chase, James Hadley]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Nine: . . . Or Else

Carl Natzka closed the door and leaned his back against it.

“Forgive me for being so dramatic, Mr. Micklem,” he said, “but the past few hours have shown that you are a man of violence. Busso’s gun is effectively silenced, and he has orders to shoot you if the need arises. It is extremely important that we should talk without interruption.”

“By all means,” Don said, and crossing over to his favourite chair he sat down. “By the way, how is your charming sister?”

Natzka smiled.

“A little anxious about you, Mr. Micklem. She is young and susceptible, and she has taken a liking to you as I have. I am embarrassed to have to threaten you in this way, but the situation is critical and I have no alternative. I can assure you the last thing I would wish to do is to harm you.”

Don grinned.

“That’s fine; I share the sentiment with you.” He reached into the cigar box on the table, selected a cigar and raised it, looking at Natzka. “Will you smoke?”

“I think not,” Natzka said and came to sit near Don.

Don lit the cigar in an atmosphere that had suddenly become tense. He blew smoke towards the ceiling, crossed one leg over the other and looked at Natzka.

“Well, now, what is it you want to talk to me about?”

“About Tregarth.” Natzka laced his fingers together and rested them on his knees. “Tregarth is an Englishman; you are an American. Tregarth has got himself involved in an affair of State. I am hoping that you will be intelligent, Mr. Micklem and declare yourself neutral. This matter is really between the British government and my government. It has nothing to do with the United States: nothing whatsoever, and I am only asking you not to interfere or obstruct either government.”

“That’s reasonable,” Don returned. “I have no wish to interfere with any government.”

Natzka nodded, his slate grey eyes watchful.

“In that case I am sure you will hand over the package in green oilskin that you now have.”

Don looked with interest at his cigar, then glanced at Natzka, raising his eyebrows.

“An oilskin package? What makes you think I have an oilskin package?”

Natzka’s face tightened and his eyes turned cold.

“Don’t let us waste time, Mr. Micklem,” he said. “You have just said you were ready to cooperate. This package. . .”

“One moment,” Don said, raising his hand. “I didn’t say I would cooperate. I said I wouldn’t interfere between governments. That is a vastly different thing to my thinking. Tell me about the package. Does it belong to you?”

“It belongs to my government. It was stolen from our Foreign Office by Tregarth.”

“And why should Tregarth steal it?”

“It contains valuable information, Mr. Micklem: valuable to another power. I have orders to get the package back, and I intend to do so.”

“Surely it was very careless of your Foreign Office to allow Tregarth to obtain this information if it is so valuable?” he said mildly.

Natzka nodded.

“Extremely careless, but then Tregarth is an exceedingly clever man.

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