The Scarletti Inheritance - By Robert Ludlum Page 0,69

And since we know who your would-be assassin was and who he worked for - Godwin-somebody-or-other, Wall Street - I think the picture's pretty clear. Someone, someone in the fifth largest brokerage house in New York, is angry enough with you or frightened enough of you to want you killed.'

'That's speculation.'

'Speculation, hell! I've got the bruises to prove it!'

'How did Washington make this... questionable connection?'

'"Washington" takes in too many people. We're a very small department. Our normal concerns are quietly dealing with larcenous but highly placed government officials.'

'You sound ominous, Mr. Canfield.'

'Not at all. If an uncle of the Swedish ambassador makes a killing in Swedish imports, we'd rather straighten it out quietly.' He watched her closely.

'Now you sound harmless.'

'Neither I assure you.'

'About the securities?'

'The Swedish ambassador, as a matter of fact,' Canfield smiled. 'Who, to the best of my knowledge, hasn't any uncle in the import business.'

'The Swedish ambassador? I thought you said Senator Brownlee was the one.'

'I didn't. You did. Brownlee caused enough of a fuss to make the Justice Department call in everyone who ever had anything to do with Ulster Scarlett. At one point, we did.'

'You're with Reynolds!'

'Again, that's your statement. Not mine.'

'Stop playing games. You work for that man, Reynolds, don't you?'

'One thing I'm not is your prisoner. I'm not going to be cross-examined.'

'Very well. What about this Swedish ambassador?'

'You don't know him? You don't know anything about Stockholm?'

'Oh, for God's sake, of course I don't!'

The field accountant believed her. 'Fourteen months ago Ambassador Walter Pond sent word to Washington that a Stockholm syndicate had pledged thirty million dollars for large blocks of American securities if they could be smuggled across. His report was dated May fifteenth. Your son's visa shows he entered Sweden on May tenth.'

'Fimsy! My son was on his honeymoon. A trip to Sweden was not out of the ordinary.'

'He was alone. His wife remained in London. That's out of the ordinary.'

Elizabeth rose from the chaise lounge. 'It was over a year ago. The money was only pledged - '

'Ambassador Pond has confirmed that the transaction was concluded.'

'When?'

'Two months ago. Just after your son disappeared.'

Elizabeth stopped pacing and looked at Canfield. 'I asked you a question before you went after that man.'

'I remember. You offered me a job.'

'Could I receive cooperation from your agency on your approval alone? We have the same objective. There's no conflict.'

'What does that mean?'

'Is it possible for you to report that I voluntarily offered to cooperate with you? The truth, Mr. Canfield, merely the truth. An attempt was made on my life. If it weren't for you, I'd be dead. I'm a frightened old woman.'

'It'll be assumed that you know your son's alive.'

'Not know. Suspect.'

'Because of the securities?'

'I refuse to admit that.'

'Then why?'

'First answer me. Could I use the influence of your agency without being questioned further?... Responsible only to you.'

'Which means I'm responsible to you.'

'Exactly.'

'It's possible.'

'In Europe as well?'

'We have reciprocal agreements with most - '

'Then here's my offer,' interrupted Elizabeth. 'I add that it's nonnegotiable - One hundred thousand dollars. Paid in installments mutually agreeable.'

Matthew Canfield stared at the confident old woman and suddenly found himself frightened. There was something terrifying about the sum Elizabeth Scarlatti had just mentioned. He repeated her words almost inaudibly. 'One hundred thousand - '

'"Dust thou wert," Mr. Canfield. Take my offer and enjoy your life.'

The field accountant was perspiring and it was neither warm nor humid in the suite. 'You know my answer.'

'Yes, I thought so... Don't be overwhelmed. The transition to money takes but minor adjustments. You'll have enough to be comfortable, but not so much for responsibility. That would be uncomfortable - Now, where were we?'

'What?'

'Oh, yes. Why do I suspect my son may be alive? Separate and apart from the securities you speak of.'

'Why do you?'

'From April to December of the past year, my son had hundreds of thousands of dollars transferred to banks throughout Europe. I believe he intends to live on that money. I'm tracing those deposits. I'm following the trail of that money.' Elizabeth saw that the field accountant did not believe her. 'It happens to be the truth.'

'But so are the securities, aren't they?'

'Speaking to someone on my payroll and knowing that I'll deny any knowledge of them outside of this stateroom... yes.'

'Why deny it?'

'A fair question. I don't think you'll understand but I'll try. The missing securities won't be discovered for nearly a year. I have no legal right to question my son's trust - no one has - until the