wrong about money anyway?’ He got up and walked to the door which he opened. ‘Shove off.’
Bruckman put his gun into its holster and walked out into the corridor.
‘Tonight, around ten-thirty,’ Girland said. ‘I’ll be there, watching. So long for now, Oscar, and watch your blood pressure.’ He closed the door as Bruckman walked heavily towards the elevator.
* * *
Smernoff came into the big, sparsely furnished office and closed the door. Malik, dwarfing the desk at which he was sitting, glanced up, pushing aside a pile of decoded cables that had arrived an hour or so ago from Moscow; cables of no interest to him, but which he had to read to keep abreast with G.R.U.’s European activities.
Smernoff pulled up a chair and sat down.
‘The situation develops,’ he said. ‘I have a photograph that will interest you.’ He took from his briefcase a glossy print which he handed to Malik.
Malik looked at the photograph. His expression didn’t change, but his green eyes darkened.
‘Girland!’ he said quietly.
‘It was pure luck. I told Zernov to photograph everyone leaving the building, and this fish comes into the net.’
‘Girland,’ Malik repeated, then sat for some moments, thinking. Finally, he said, ‘He could be Worthington’s replacement.’ He looked at Smernoff. ‘This surprises me. I thought Girland had fallen out of favour.’ He frowned. ‘I can’t see Girland as Worthington’s replacement, can you? Something’s wrong here. Girland would have no reason to stay in Prague. The man who will replace Worthington will work here ... have a job here ... we know Girland never works.’
‘Could be a temporary replacement until the permanent man arrives.’
Malik shook his head.
‘Dorey doesn’t work like that.’ He thought again. ‘Girland could be a smoke screen. Could be Dorey wants us to think he is the replacement.’
Smernoff shrugged. It was Malik’s job to do the thinking.
‘Anything else?’ Malik asked, still staring at the photograph.
‘The Reid girl went this morning to the apartment of Karel Vlast who was out. I’ve checked on Vlast. He is suspect,’ Smernoff said. ‘At one time he was an engraver, now he is a night elevator attendant. Suk suspects that lie fakes passports. He has no proof.’
‘And this woman went to see him? She may be trying to get out,’ Malik said. ‘Why hasn’t Suk arrested this man Vlast?’
‘He says he has no proof against him ... just suspicions.’
‘We don’t need proof.’ Malik said angrily. ‘Arrest him and question him. Have his place searched. If he fakes passports, there will be evidence. Do it at once.’
Smernoff got to his feet.
‘And Girland?’
‘Knowing Girland, he will be at the Alcron.’ The corners of Malik’s lips turned down ‘He always believes in luxury. Have him watched, but leave him alone for the time being. He could lead us to Worthington. Make sure he doesn’t find out he is being watched.’
‘And the girl?’
‘Leave her alone too. She could also lead us to Worthington. I want her room bugged. When she leaves tonight, send Zernov to her place. If Girland’s been there, he will go again. I want a record of their conversation.’
‘I’ll arrange it.’ Smernoff said and left the office.
Malik picked up the photograph and again stared at it.
The last time he and Girland had clashed, he had warned Girland when they next met, it would be their last meeting. With slow, savage viciousness. he tore up the photograph.
* * *
For the past hour Mala had discussed Girland’s visit with Worthington. They kept asking each other who this man was, who was Harry Moss, was this man one of Dorey’s agents, looking for Worthington?
Worthington was nervous. He had hidden in the bathroom while Mala had talked to Girland, fingering his automatic, his body cold with the sweat of fear.
‘I just don’t know.’ he said finally in exasperation ‘We can’t go on and on like this. He
Bruckman put his gun into its holster and walked out into the corridor.
‘Tonight, around ten-thirty,’ Girland said. ‘I’ll be there, watching. So long for now, Oscar, and watch your blood pressure.’ He closed the door as Bruckman walked heavily towards the elevator.
* * *
Smernoff came into the big, sparsely furnished office and closed the door. Malik, dwarfing the desk at which he was sitting, glanced up, pushing aside a pile of decoded cables that had arrived an hour or so ago from Moscow; cables of no interest to him, but which he had to read to keep abreast with G.R.U.’s European activities.
Smernoff pulled up a chair and sat down.
‘The situation develops,’ he said. ‘I have a photograph that will interest you.’ He took from his briefcase a glossy print which he handed to Malik.
Malik looked at the photograph. His expression didn’t change, but his green eyes darkened.
‘Girland!’ he said quietly.
‘It was pure luck. I told Zernov to photograph everyone leaving the building, and this fish comes into the net.’
‘Girland,’ Malik repeated, then sat for some moments, thinking. Finally, he said, ‘He could be Worthington’s replacement.’ He looked at Smernoff. ‘This surprises me. I thought Girland had fallen out of favour.’ He frowned. ‘I can’t see Girland as Worthington’s replacement, can you? Something’s wrong here. Girland would have no reason to stay in Prague. The man who will replace Worthington will work here ... have a job here ... we know Girland never works.’
‘Could be a temporary replacement until the permanent man arrives.’
Malik shook his head.
‘Dorey doesn’t work like that.’ He thought again. ‘Girland could be a smoke screen. Could be Dorey wants us to think he is the replacement.’
Smernoff shrugged. It was Malik’s job to do the thinking.
‘Anything else?’ Malik asked, still staring at the photograph.
‘The Reid girl went this morning to the apartment of Karel Vlast who was out. I’ve checked on Vlast. He is suspect,’ Smernoff said. ‘At one time he was an engraver, now he is a night elevator attendant. Suk suspects that lie fakes passports. He has no proof.’
‘And this woman went to see him? She may be trying to get out,’ Malik said. ‘Why hasn’t Suk arrested this man Vlast?’
‘He says he has no proof against him ... just suspicions.’
‘We don’t need proof.’ Malik said angrily. ‘Arrest him and question him. Have his place searched. If he fakes passports, there will be evidence. Do it at once.’
Smernoff got to his feet.
‘And Girland?’
‘Knowing Girland, he will be at the Alcron.’ The corners of Malik’s lips turned down ‘He always believes in luxury. Have him watched, but leave him alone for the time being. He could lead us to Worthington. Make sure he doesn’t find out he is being watched.’
‘And the girl?’
‘Leave her alone too. She could also lead us to Worthington. I want her room bugged. When she leaves tonight, send Zernov to her place. If Girland’s been there, he will go again. I want a record of their conversation.’
‘I’ll arrange it.’ Smernoff said and left the office.
Malik picked up the photograph and again stared at it.
The last time he and Girland had clashed, he had warned Girland when they next met, it would be their last meeting. With slow, savage viciousness. he tore up the photograph.
* * *
For the past hour Mala had discussed Girland’s visit with Worthington. They kept asking each other who this man was, who was Harry Moss, was this man one of Dorey’s agents, looking for Worthington?
Worthington was nervous. He had hidden in the bathroom while Mala had talked to Girland, fingering his automatic, his body cold with the sweat of fear.
‘I just don’t know.’ he said finally in exasperation ‘We can’t go on and on like this. He
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