The Cauldron (33 page)

'Harry will get him safely home. Want to come and join us?'

'I'll wait outside in the BMW...'

Grenville was speaking to everyone as Newman resumed his seat. His manner was apologetic.

'Can't understand what's got into Maurice. Never seen him like that before. Would have thrown him out of the club if he'd behaved like that. Will do if it happens there.'

'You've never seen him drink too much?' Tweed queried. 'Is that what you're saying?'

'Up to a point.' He pulled at his moustache, glanced towards Paula, who was gazing down through the window. 'He knocks it back a bit, but who doesn't, eh?

By the by, we're having a bit of a shindig at the club HQ this evening. Why not come along, all of you? Here's a card giving the details. You'll be most welcome.' He looked at Marler. 'You don't say a lot, sir.'

'Sometimes I find it more interesting listening.' Marler drawled.

Paula took all this in automatically as she gazed down at the seething ocean. She was convinced Maurice had only pretended to be drunk. An immense wave crashed into the tip of the cape which was Rocky Point. It seemed to symbolize the heaving cauldron of California.

22

They were leaving the restaurant when Newman excused himself and went towards the entrance to the bar. Paula glanced in that direction and stiffened. A familiar and attractive woman was greeting him warmly. Dressed in a pale green trouser suit, Vanity Richmond looked her usual glamorous self.

'Look who we have here,' Newman said as he brought her over to them. 'Again it's a small world.'

'Hello, everyone.' Vanity had a roguish smile as Newman introduced her to Paula. 'I remember you,' she said. 'You had a table to yourself at Nansidwell back in Cornwall. We never got a chance to talk.'

'You both have now,' Newman commented cheerfully.

Tweed merely nodded when they shook hands, saying nothing. Paula was observing Vanity, her long, well-shaped nose, the greenish eyes which seemed to notice everything, the good figure. Her full red lips were smiling constantly and she seemed delighted at meeting them.

'Where are you off to?' Newman enquired.

'Spanish Bay. The hotel on the coast outside Monterey. I'm staying there, as I did during my last visit.' she said as she looked at Paula. 'Maybe this time we could get together? Last time you seemed abstracted.'

'Last time I had a somewhat grisly experience,' Paula said, looking directly at Vanity, who had thrown back her mane of blazing red hair from the side of her face. 'I dragged a dead woman out of the sea.'

'So it was you who found her? How horrible. I read about one of two twin sisters being found - and the other washed ashore in Cornwall. Must have shaken you up...'

'You two can chat in my car,' Newman suggested.

'I've got my Audi parked outside ...'

'Let me borrow your keys and I'll drive it back for you,' Marler suggested.

'I'm also staying again at Spanish Bay.' Paula told Vanity.

It seemed to Paula this was a good opportunity to get to know more about Vanity. She'd also noticed with amusement that Newman never stopped smiling. Vanity thanked Marler, gave him her keys and a warm smile as she gazed straight at him.

On their way back along the highway the dark clouds had disappeared and it was a glorious sunny afternoon. Paula sat in the back with Vanity and they chatted away animatedly. In the front, Tweed, sitting beside Newman, remained silent.

Behind Newman followed the Audi, driven by Marler - and a distance behind him Butler was driving the BMW with Maurice beside him and Pete Nield in the back. Tweed wondered what had caused their delay in departing.

* * * *

Maurice had felt ill before he climbed into the BMW back at Rocky Point. Butler had accompanied him to the toilet and looked after him. Now, as they drove along Highway One he was surprised by Maurice's swift recovery.

'Sorry to put you to this inconvenience, old chap,' Maurice said to Butler. 'But you were right. Don't often make a fool of myself like that, but I'm worried.'

'Worried?' Butler glanced at him. 'What's on your mind?'

"The situation here - in California and at the Anglo-Pacific Club.'

'Something odd about the situation?' Butler enquired.

'Very. Can't make it out. I've got a premonition of a terrible disaster.'

'What kind of disaster?' Butler asked casually.

'Don't know. There's tension among certain people I know. Can't give you any names.'

'Very informative,' Butler commented. 'Why not?'

'Because I want to be sure I've pinpointed the right people.'

Sounds like Tweed, Nield was thinking in the rear of the car. Gives us a glimpse and then drops the curtain.

'We're nearly at Carmel,' Maurice warned Butler. 'You turn off the highway in a minute. If I could guide you...'

'Do that.'

'I'm here - on Junipero,' Maurice said after a few minutes. 'If you could pull in here.'

'I'll come with you,' Butler said firmly. 'See you safely in your dog kennel.'

'No need ...'

Butler ignored the suggestion, got out with Maurice, walked alongside him into a small complex courtyard, cobbled and with hanging baskets. Maurice pointed to an iron staircase.

Tm living up there now.'

'Now?' queried Butler.

'Just moved in. Place became vacant suddenly. The rent is reasonable - a murder took place here and the police have just gone away. That's why the rent is cheap. Most people don't like the idea of staying somewhere where something like that has happened. The landlord wanted quick occupation.'

'I'll see you up the staircase. Who was murdered?'

'A private investigator called Linda Standish. I'm not at all worried about ghosts walking. And thank you for seeing me home.'

'All in a day's work ...'

Arriving at Spanish Bay, Paula was surprised to discover the hotel had given her the same spacious apartment she had occupied on her previous visit. The organization of top hotels in the States was quite something.

Tweed, whose luggage had been taken to another apartment, came in at her invitation and Paula beckoned to Vanity to join them and inspect her quarters. The two women were examining the complex while Tweed fiddled with the large picture window, slid it back and stepped out onto a terrace with a table and chairs. He sank into a chair.

"This apartment is swell - I mean super,' enthused Vanity as they went into the bathroom. 'I'm trying not to pick up Americanisms. Look at that Jacuzzi, and the shower stall. This is great.'

'Care for a drink?' Paula suggested.

She investigated the large minibar in the living room, brought out a bottle of Chardonnay, held it up to show Vanity.

'Any good?'

'Very good. One glass will do me.' She wandered out through the open window where Tweed was sitting. 'Fancy a glass of wine, Mr Tweed?'

'No, thank you.'

He resumed the brooding look Paula knew so well, staring at a line of pine trees. Then he got up, wandered along a path crossing the grass. He soon had a panoramic view of the Pacific beyond trim, rolling golf links. The flat roofs of golf carts moved along a lower level, looking as though they were floating by themselves. The calm Pacific was a startling blue. He could see why people would be hypnotized by the sheer beauty of the scene.

Tweed refused a drink.' Vanity announced merrily as she rejoined Paula. 'Doesn't seem very sociable.'

'He's probably working on an insurance problem.' Paula told her. 'He's got terrific powers of concentration.'

'And I thought it was me. Cheers!'

They sat down on a couch by a fireplace with a large gas-operated log fire which was unlit. Vanity looked round the living room.

"This place oozes comfort. It's so relaxing.'

'Not bad.' Paula agreed. 'You know what I do for a living, so give - how do you earn your daily crust of bread?'

'Like you, I'm a personal assistant. My boss is tough and very successful. You've heard of Vincent Bernard Moloch?'

"The quiet billionaire? You work for him?'

'Yes. And I earn my daily crust like you do, I imagine. Vincent is a workaholic. Makes the average American go-getter look like an idler. I'm at his beck and call both day and night. Luckily I can get by with very little sleep.'

'Does sound a tough job. What does it involve?'

'Keeping his daily paperwork and appointments in order.' She laughed. 'Keeping him in order. I don't know much about what he does. Very secretive, VB is. Always working on some new project.'

'Got one on the go at the moment, has he?'

'Yes. Something which seems to take up a lot of his time. I haven't a clue what it is. There's a borderline I don't cross. The salary is enormous, so I'm careful not to put a foot wrong.' She finished her drink, checked her watch. 'Hope you don't mind. I must fly. Maybe we could have dinner together this evening? I'll call you.'

She looked up as Tweed returned, leaving the sliding window open. It was hot outside. He nodded to Vanity as she got up, held out her hand.

'Sorry that we couldn't talk together. I have to go.'

'Another time, perhaps,' Tweed replied.

'You weren't very amiable with her,' Paula chided him after Vanity had left. 'She's admitted to me she works for Moloch.'

'She's smart. Now we're here she'd know we'd find that out. I'm going along to my room to unpack.'

'You look tired. I'll come and help.'

They were walking along the wide carpeted corridor when a man came round the corner. Brigadier Arbuthnot Grenville stopped, surprised as he tweaked his moustache.

'You people staying here?'

'For a short time,' Tweed said quickly.

'Don't know whether you read my invitation card. We've taken over the Bay Club here for the dance tonight. Good that you are on the spot. See you 2000 hours. Sharp. Do you know whether Maurice got home safely?' he enquired as though not really interested.

'Yes, I gather he did,' Tweed assured him.

'Don't do anything I wouldn't,' Grenville said with a broad smile, looking at Paula. "That gives you all the latitude in the world c'

Tweed was sitting down in his own apartment, his brow furrowed in thought. Paula swiftly unpacked everything. Then she insisted on showing him where everything was.

He had just thanked her when the phone rang. Paula automatically picked it up.

'Could you please repeat that?' she requested. "Then I'll see if Mr Tweed is available. Thank you.'

She turned to Tweed, her hand over the mouthpiece while she spoke.

'It's Hoarse Voice. Monica told me about him.'

'I'll take it.'

Tweed suddenly was alert, took the phone from her, gave his name and listened for several minutes without speaking. The conversation closed when Tweed spoke for the first time.

"Thank you. I'm grateful - very - for that data.'

"That was the mysterious Waltz.' Paula commented. 'Monica swore me to secrecy when I took a call from him and I was alone in the office at Park Crescent. He refused to say a word when I told him he must have got a wrong number. Later Monica warned me about the caller she had nicknamed Hoarse Voice. Sounds as though he smokes a lot.'

'Maybe.' Tweed paused. 'I've just been warned that time is running out. Whatever project VB is working on should soon be ready for launching. We may. have arrived too late.'

Paula called Room Service, ordered coffee. She could sense that Tweed was very worried, which was unlike him. When the coffee arrived she poured two cups, sat in a chair close to him, started talking.

'How did you know Maurice had arrived home safely? When you told Grenville?'

'Butler and Nield arrived soon after us. They're upstairs in two smaller rooms. I saw Harry give me a thumbs-up sign. That meant he had delivered the drunken package.'

'If Maurice was drunk.'

'Why do you say that?'

'It struck me he was putting on a very clever act. Possibly for Grenville's benefit.'