The Shivering Mountain by Paul Somers

Author:Paul Somers [Somers, Paul]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781447215912
Publisher: Pan Macmillan UK

Chapter Nine

She saw me, and braked. Then, quite coolly, she reversed and drew in alongside us, winding her nearside window down. “Well,” she said, with a faint smile, “we meet again.… Your Belgian, I presume!”

I was so angry with her, I could scarcely speak. It was obvious, now, that her morning call had merely been to check up that I was going to be out of town, that I was taking the money that day—and I deeply resented the trick. Also, I could see stacks of trouble ahead.

I got out of the car and walked round to her. “Just what is the idea?” I said.

“I’d have thought that was obvious—I’m following you. I’ve followed you all the way from Chancery Lane. It’s been quite difficult, I can tell you.”

“You’d no right to.”

“Oh? Why not? You’ve followed me often enough.” Her composure was infuriating. “Didn’t you once tell me it was a standing instruction at the Record—‘keep your eye on Mollie’? Well, now I’m keeping my eye on Hugh! It’s only fair.”

Clara called, “Who is it, Hugh?” She obviously didn’t remember Mollie. Her face was pale with anxiety.

“Another reporter,” I told her. “Mollie Bourne, of the Courier.”

Mollie said, “So it’s ‘Hugh’ now, is it? My, you are on good terms!”

“Look, Mollie,” I said, “this isn’t an ordinary story.…”

“It certainly isn’t.…” She gave Clara a cold stare. “It looks more like a promising elopement to me. Everything so cosy, and thirty thousand pounds in the back of the car!”

“Mollie, this isn’t a joking matter—it’s serious.… You’ve no right to be here. The Courier’s agreed not to interfere—everyone has.”

“I haven’t,” she said. ” And I’ve got the day off—I told you. I’ve got to-morrow off, too!”

“If the Courier hears about it, they’ll be mad.”

She gave me her “spoiled darling” look. “That I rather doubt—especially if I go back with an exciting story of how the money was handed over, and perhaps even an interview with Arthur Landon. They’re very forgiving at the Courier.”

I said, “Listen, Mollie—we’ve been warned that if anyone else is seen around at the rendezvous, Landon will be killed. I think he will be. Surely you don’t want to put a man’s life in danger for the sake of a story?”

“I shan’t put anyone’s life in danger if I keep in the background. …”

“There won’t be any background. They’ll be watching every move we make from the time we get there. For all we know, they may be watching us at this very moment.”

“It seems most unlikely,” Mollie said. She was quite unmoved.

Clara had left the Riley and joined us. Her face was white. “Please, Miss Bourne!” she said. “Please leave us alone. My father’s in terrible danger already.… Don’t make it worse.”

Mollie ignored her. I wouldn’t have believed she could have behaved so badly. “Where’s the rendezvous?” she asked me.

“I wouldn’t dream of telling you.”

“Then I shall keep right behind you. I can, you know—this car goes awfully well. The hire people had just tuned it. It’s not quite

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