Traitor's Doom by John Creasey

Author:John Creasey
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Crime
Publisher: House Of Stratus
Published: 2014-07-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

A Conference is Postponed

Vasca Bombarda and Hermandes stopped a yard in front of Smith, standing side by side. Brian and Stefan had a clear view of their profiles; they looked like identical twins, of a height, dressed in the same dark clothes and with the same pallor of face. Both wore wide-brimmed, low-crowned hats.

‘Señor Bombarda,’ said Smith, and bowed. ‘A pleasure, señor. ’

‘Allow me to present my brother, Hermandes Bombarda.’

Stefan looked into Brian’s startled eyes. Brian stretched to his full height and rubbed the back of his head.

‘So they are brothers.’

‘You weren’t wrong, my friend,’ said Stefan. ‘And obviously Clive was not completely trusted, or he would have known of the relationship. Either that, or he did not tell us all that he could.’ Stefan paused, then added: ‘We expect a sensation, and find an ordinary, everyday explanation. Bombarda, of course, was in London to discuss Catanese matters with the Marquis, and he is working with Hermandes. That fact answers many questions, I imagine, but we will be wise to wait until we learn more. Now—’ he raised a hand – ‘let us reveal ourselves!’

Brian smiled somewhat ruefully.

They left the lounge and approached the doorway where the others were grouped, Vasca Bombarda indulging in earnest, whispered talk accompanied by gestures which were obviously carefully controlled. Smith glanced past him and saw the others. Skilfully he interrupted the flow, and the introductions were made.

Both men bowed.

‘We’ve met before,’ said Brian.

‘I recall you,’ said Vasca, ‘on board the aeroplane.’

‘I recall you,’ said Hermandes, ‘at the Café del Porto. ’

‘Señor Smith …’ began Vasca with hardly a pause, turning away from Brian and Stefan.

Stefan touched Brian’s arm and drew him away. The Catanese continued to talk to Smith, one against the other, until the Russian and the Englishman went out of earshot. Stefan was smiling as he lit one of his long cigarettes.

‘We are not wanted,’ he said. ‘The brothers Bombarda consider us of negligible importance. We can put the skiff and the Theophilo between the house-boat and the bank, Brian, and thus do something useful and prevent our curiosity from getting too far out of hand.’

There was a small jetty to which they were able to tie the Theophilo before returning for the skiff. Stefan decided that he would not trust his weight to the small craft. Brian bent his back to the sculls, finished the job, and then rejoined the Russian.

The Bombarda brothers had disappeared, but a door opened and Smith came through. His tall, stocky, rather shapeless figure moved briskly, but he lacked the suppleness of Brian and Stefan. His wooden features were not even relieved by a smile as he said: ‘Sorry, Debenham. I’ve had to ask Palfrey not to come with you into Orlanto.’

Brian stared at him with kindling annoyance.

‘But—’

‘The Marquis might recover at any time,’ said Smith. Talfrey will be needed at the parley—although’ – he admitted with a sudden, flashing grin – ‘the parley might have to be postponed.

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