The Scarletti Inheritance - By Robert Ludlum Page 0,86

STOP THEY HAVE BEEN TOLD OF OUR COMPETITORS IN SWITZERLAND AGAIN SWITZERLAND AID THE COMPANIES

REPEAT COMPANIES INVOLVED STOP THEY KNOW OP THE THREE BRITISH HEMS IS COMPETITION STOP THE* WILL GIVE YOU AIL ASSISTANCE ACT WE EXPECT YOU TO CONCENTBATE AGAIN CONCENTRATE ON OUK INTERESTS IN ENGLAND STOP DO HOT AGAIN DO NOT ATTEMPT TO UNDERBID ODR COMPETITORS IN SWITZERLAND STOP STAY OUT OF IT STOP NOTHING CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED STOP

J. HAMMER WIMBLEDON NEW TORE

Canfield lit a thin cigar and placed the three pages on the floor between his outstretched legs. He peered down at them.

Hammer was Reynolds's code name for messages sent to field accountants when he considered the contents to be of the utmost importance. The word again was for positive emphasis. The word repeat a simple inversion. It denoted the negative of whatever it referred to.

So the Rawlinses - Canfield had to think for a minute before he remembered that the Rawlinses were Boothroyd's inlaws - had been murdered. Not an accident. And Reynolds feared for Elizabeth Scarlatti's life. Washington had reached an agreement with the British government to gain him unusual cooperation - no expense spared - and in return had told the English of the Swedish securities and the land purchases in Switzerland, which were presumed to be related. However Reynolds did not specify who the men in Zurich were. Only that they existed and three upstanding Englishmen were on the list. Canfield recalled their names - Masterson of India fame. Leacock of the British Stock Exchange, and Innes Bowen, the textile magnate.

The main points Hammer made were to protect Elizabeth and stay out of Switzerland.

There was a light tapping on his door Canfield gathered the pages together and put them in his pocket. 'Who is it?'

'Goldilocks, confound you! I in looking for a bed to sleep in.' The crisp British accent belonged of course to James Derek. Canfield opened the door and the Englishman walked in without further greeting. He threw a manila envelope on the bed, placed his bowler on the bureau, and sat down in the nearest stuffed chair.

'I like the hat, James.'

'I'm just praying that it may keep me from being arrested. A Londoner prowling around the Savoy at this hour has to have the look of immense respectability.'

'You have it take my word.'

'I wouldn't take your word for a damn thing, you insomniac.'

'Can I get you a whiskey?'

'God, no! Madame Scarlatti didn't mention a thing to you?'

'Nothing. Less than nothing. She tried to divert my attention. Then she just shut up and locked herself in her bedroom.'

'I can't believe it. I thought you two were working together.' Derek withdrew a hotel key attached to the usual wooden identification tag. 'I had a chat with the hotel bobby.'

'Can you trust him?'

'It doesn't matter. It's a master key and he thinks I'm covering a party on the second floor.'

Then I'll get going. Wait for me please. Grab some sleep.'

'Hold on. You're obviously connected with Madame Scarlatti. I should do the reconnoitermg.'

The field accountant paused. There was ment in what Derek said. He presumed the British operative was far more adept at this kind of sleuthing than he was. On the other hand, he could not be sure of the man's confidence. Neither was he prepared to tell him very much and have the British government making decisions.

'That's brave of you Derek but I wouldn't ask it.'

'Not brave at all. Numerous explanations under the Alien Order.'

'Nevertheless, I'd prefer going myself. Frankly, there's no reason for you to be involved. I called you for help, not to do my work.'

'Let's compromise. In my favor.'

'Why?'

'It's safer.'

'You've won a point.'

'I'll go in first while you wait in the corridor by the lift. I'll check the rooms and then signal you to join me.'

'How?'

'With as little energy as possible. Perhaps a short whistle.'

Canfield heard the short, shrill whistle and walked quickly down the hallway to nine west one.

He closed the door and went to the source of the flashlight. 'Everything all right?'

'It's a well-kept hotel suite. Perhaps not so ostentatious as the American variety, but infinitely more home-like.'

'That's reassuring.'

'More than you know. I really don't like this sort of work.'

'I thought you people were famous for it.'

This small talk covered the start of their rapid but thorough search of the premises. The floor plan of the rooms was identical to the Scarlatti suite two stories below. However, instead of similar furniture there was a long table in the center of the main room with perhaps a dozen