one's coming out Go on I Drive into the parking area, past the lights.'
The scene at the hotel's canopied entrance explained why no one paid attention to them. There were four police cars, lined up in the circular drive, their roof lights revolving, conveying the aura of emergency. He could see uniformed police among the crowds of excited hotel guests; they were asking questions as well as answering them, checking off names of those leaving in cars, dark-suited hotel clerks at their sides.
Marie St Jacques drove across the parking area beyond the floodlights and into an open space on the right She turned off the engine and sat motionless, staring straight ahead.
'Be very careful,' said Bourne, rolling down his window. 'And move slowly. Open your door and get out, then stand by mine and help me. Remember, the window's open and the gun's in my hand. You're only two or three feet in front of me; there's no way I could miss if I fired.'
She did as she was told, a terrified automaton. Jason supported himself on the frame of the window and pulled himself to the pavement He shifted his weight from one foot to another, mobility was returning. He could walk. Not well, and with a limp, but he could walk.
'What are you going to do?' asked the St Jacques woman, as if she were afraid to hear his answer.
'Wait. Sooner or later someone will drive a car back here and park it. No matter what happened in there, it's still dinner time. Reservations were made, parties arranged, a lot of it business; those people won't change their plans.'
'And when a car does come, how will you take it?' She paused, then answered her own question. 'Oh, my God, you're going to kill whoever's driving it'
He gripped her arm, her frightened chalk-white face inches away. He bad to control her by fear, but not to the point where she might slip into hysterics. 'If I have to I will, but I don't think it'll be necessary. Parking attendants bring the cars back here. Keys are usually left on the visors or under the seats. It's just easier.'
Headlight beams shot out from the dark in the circular drive; a small coupg entered the area, accelerating once into it, the mark of an attendant driver. The car came directly towards them, alarming Bourne until he saw the empty space nearby. But they were in the path of the headlights; they had been seen.
Reservations for the dining room ... A restaurant. Jason made his decision; he would use the moment
The attendant got out of the coupe, and placed the keys under the seat. As he walked to the rear of the car, he nodded at them, not without curiosity. Bourne spoke in French.
'Hey, young fellow I Maybe you can help us.'
'Sir?' The attendant approached them haltingly, cautiously, the events in the hotel obviously on his mind.
'I'm not feeling so well, too much of your excellent Swiss wine.'
'It will happen, sir.' The young man smiled, relieved.
'My wife thought it would be a good idea to get some air before we left for town."
'A good idea, sir."
'Is everything still crazy inside? I didn't think the police officer would let us out until he saw that I might be sick all over his uniform.'
'Crazy, sir. They're everywhere ... We've been told not to discuss it!
'Of course. But we've got a problem. An associate flew in this afternoon and we agreed to meet at a restaurant, only I've forgotten the name. I've been there but I just can't remember where it is or what it's called. I do remember that on the front there were three odd shapes ... a design of some sort, I think. Triangles, I believe.!
'That's the Drei Alpenhauser, sir. The ... Three Chalets. If s in a sidestreet off the Falkenstrasse.'
'Yes, of course, that's it! And to get there from here we ...' Bourne trailed off the words, a man with too much wine trying to concentrate.
'Just turn left out of the exit, sir. Stay on the Uto Quai for about six kilometres, until you reach a large pier, then turn right. It will take you into the Falkenstrasse. Once you pass Seefeld, you can't miss the street or the restaurant. There's a sign on the corner.'
'Thank you. Will you be here a few hours from now, when we return?'
'I'm on duty until two this morning, sir.!
'Good. I'll look for you and express my gratitude more concretely.'
'Thank you, sir. May I