Strike Lightning by Steve Cole

Author:Steve Cole [Cole, Steve]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ian Fleming Publications
Published: 2016-09-02T00:00:00+00:00

15

For the Sake of Traitors

IT WAS MORE vital than ever to learn exactly what Whittaker and Herta were planning here, James thought. Perhaps Grünner could lead him to their rendezvous. Or perhaps I can be more proactive. They’re not likely to talk in front of everybody at the party, so . . .

‘James?’ Kitty grabbed his hand as he tried to slip away. ‘Where are you going? I thought you wanted to hear the speech—’

‘I’ve got no glass for the final toast,’ James hissed. ‘Do excuse me.’

‘All right.’ Kitty smiled hopefully. ‘You’ll hurry back?’

‘You won’t miss me,’ James told her. I only hope Blade and his cronies do.

He took the elegant staircase down to the ground floor and approached the front desk with a face like thunder. ‘Where is Herr Grünner’s meeting to take place?’ he demanded of the staff in fluent German. ‘I am his junior assistant. The Ambassador has almost finished his speech and needs to know that all is in readiness!’

The man behind the desk looked baffled. ‘Ready for what, sir? I don’t know—’

‘Find whoever does!’ James snapped. ‘This is urgent.’

Turning to a colleague, the man spoke quickly and softly before turning back to James, still puzzled. ‘We have kept the cigar room for Herr Grünner’s private meetings this evening – but surely he knows of this . . .?’

‘You misunderstood me,’ James lied boldly. ‘I said, I wish to see where this room is – I must inspect it for myself. Who will show me?’

‘I assure you, our standards of cleaning are most high—’

‘Who?’

The man gave a patient smile and signalled to his elderly colleague to lead the way. James tried to maintain an officious air as he followed the receptionist. Suddenly he realized that Whittaker and Herta might already be waiting for Grünner. Should he try to confront them with everything he’d learned?

James braced himself as they reached the cigar room – but sighed with relief to find it empty: he saw only elegant couches, mahogany tables and heavy glass ashtrays, a blue-black carpet and velvet drapes pulled across large French windows.

‘I hope you are satisfied, sir?’ The man’s smile was forced.

‘This all seems to be in order,’ James concluded. ‘You may go.’

‘No, sir. I shall remain to ensure that no one enters the room ahead of Herr Grünner’s arrival.’

‘Well . . . excellent. I am glad to hear it.’ James noted a door handle protruding through a gap in the curtains; the cigar room must give onto a patio, he thought. Which meant that the room could be accessed from outside . . . ‘Thank you.’ With a curt nod, James turned and left the room, walking quickly back down the passage. He could hear applause from the ballroom upstairs, swiftly followed by strains of music; Grünner must have finished his speech.

He looked at his watch and saw that it was nine forty-five. The meeting might take place any time now.

As James made his way back to the hotel reception, he took note of the layout, trying to work out how to reach the cigar room from the outside.

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