gasped, not certain that what he saw made any sense at all.
The skull of the near faceless corpse had a huge, gaping hole, as if a postmortem explosion had taken place, the fragments of skin and tissue spread out like an opening strawberry, the fluid gray and diseased-looking. Quickly, the attendant closed the vault, not caring even to breathe the gaseous residue. Let someone else find it.
laude Moreau issued an irreversible order at eight thirty in the morning. Latham and De Vries were Cagain under the protection of the Deuxieme. American security might offer suggestions as to their safety, but the [email protected] alone would make all final decisions.
Unless, of course, the two decided to remain confined to their embassy, which under international law was American territory and therefore beyond the [email protected]'s jurisdiction. When Drew roared his objections, Moreau's answer was succinct.
"I cannot permit the citizens of Paris to risk their lives being caught in the crossfire of those trying to kill you," said the Frenchman, sitting across from Drew and Karin in the suite at the Hotel Normandie.
"That's bullshit!" yelled Latham, putting his morning coffee down with such force that half of it spilled onto the rug.
"Nobody's going to start a war in the streets. It's the last thing they'd do!"
"Perhaps, perhaps not. So why don't you both move into the embassy, and the question becomes irrelevant? I'd have no objections whatsoever, and the citizens of Paris would be free of harm."
"You know I've got to move around!" Drew rose from the couch angrily, his undersize hotel bathrobe constricting him.
"Then move with my people or stay off the' streets That's final, mon ami.. .. Oh, and one other thing. Wherever you go, whatever you do, will be cleared by me."
"You not only talk too much, you're impossible!"
"Speaking of the impossible," continued the Deuxieme chief, "Ambassador Courtland is arriving on the Concorde at five o'clock this afternoon. His wife will be meeting him at the airport.
I don't know that any amount of training prepares a man for the charade he will have to perform."
"If Courtland can't handle it, he should take himself out," said Drew, pouring coffee for himself and returning to the couch with his cup.
Moreau raised his eyebrows at Latham's curt tone.
"Perhaps you're right, mon ami. One way or the other we'll have our answer before nightfall, nest-ce pas? .. . Now, as to the rest of the day, I want you to familiarize yourselves with the Bureau's protection procedures. They're quite different from my friend Witkowski's operation, but then, the colonel does not have the resources we have."
"Incidentally," Drew broke in, "have you run all this by Witkowski? Does he agree with your off-the-wall 'orders'? "
"He not only agrees, he's filled with relief. I think you should know that he's extremely fond of both of you perhaps the edge goes to the lovely Karin-and he's aware that my resources are far greater than his. Also, he and Wesley Sorenson have their hands full orchestrating the reunion of the ambassador and his wife, a most delicate situation that calls for constant monitoring. What more can I say?"
"You've said it," said Latham without enthusiasm.
"What do you want us to do?"
"To begin with, meet and familiarize yourselves with our escorts.
They all speak fluent English, and the leader, in fact, is your aid-in survival in the Gabriel-"
"Who else? The others will be around you night and day. There will always be two in the hotel corridor when you are here. Then, perhaps, I thought you might be interested in our various surveillances on Le Pare de Joie and Madame Courtland.
Everything's in place."
"I'll get dressed," said Drew, again rising and taking his coffee with him as he headed for the bedroom door.
"Don't forget to shave, darling. Your dark stubble is rather apparent in contrast to your hair."
"That's another thing," mumbled Latham.
"I want to wash that stuff out just as soon as possible," he added clearly, walking into the room and closing the door behind him.
"Bien," said Moreau, continuing in French.
"We may talk now, madame."
"Yes, I knew this was coming. A few moments ago your eyes were like two rifles aimed at me."
"Shall we speak German?"
"No need to. He can't hear anything in there and French, when spoken rapidly, escapes his ear anyway. Where do we begin?"
"With the obvious," replied the chief of the Deuxieme matter-of factly