for you.'
Van Effen was back inside two minutes. 'Well, no surprise, surprise. The FFF, again, mysterious message, no doubt stepping up their demoralizing campaign. They say there could be some havoc wreaked along the North Holland Canal tomorrow at Alkmaar at 9 a.m., but they have made no guarantee that there will be. All they have promised is that there will be some quite considerable activity.'
De Graaf said: 'That was all?'
'All. I see. Seems utterly pointless and meaningless. What the devil do you think they're up to now?'
'It's not pointless. That's just the point - to make us wonder and worry about just what the devil they are up to now. They want to create uncertainty, confusion and demoralization and it would seem to me that they're going the right way about it. Speaking of the FFF, sir, how was your pleasure trip to Texel this afternoon?'
'Complete waste of time. I was accompanied, as you more or less predicted, by a bunch of old women.'
'You don't intend to be at Alkmaar at 9 a.m. tomorrow?' 'I intend to be in Amsterdam at 9 a.m. tomorrow. What am I supposed to do? Lurk around and nab anyone who looks as if he is acting suspiciously, such as gloating over the scene of the crime?' 'An unpromising course of action. You've got friends in the University, sir. Specifically, in the linguistics department?' De Graaf said to Annemarie: 'I'm supposed to look startled at this sudden switch and ask "why on earth do you ask that?" ' He looked at van Effen. 'Well, why on earth do you ask that?'
'I listened to the FFF's tapes in the Tekgraph's office earlier on this evening. A woman's voice. A young woman, I would say. And not Dutch, I'm sure.'
'Interesting. Very. Back to our mysterious foreigners again. Any educated guesses as to the country of origin of the caller?' 'That's the trouble, sir. I speak the odd language, sure, but I'm not what you might call an educated linguist. Regional accents, nuances, pronunciation- that is quite definitely not my field.' 'And you think the university could help?'
'It's a chance, sir. As you say, no stone unturned. The tapes are in my office.'
'I'll do what I can. You may as well get to your feet, Peter. A purposeful waiter comes your way.'
Van Effen rose, met the waiter, spoke briefly and moved on. When he took his seat again, he said: 'The opposition is stirring. Whatever opposition that might be. That was my hotel, the Trianon. Message relayed through the office of course.'
De Graaf said patiently:'And how long have you been staying in the Trianon, Lieutenant? You have been evicted from your own apartment?' 'The register book says that I have been there for two weeks. I arranged that about five o'clock this afternoon.'
'Dear, dear. Falsifying register books is a civil offence.' 'I've no time to be arrested at the moment. Romero Agnew or one of his men must have been very busy phoning around and have at last located me as staying at the Trianon. They have posted a watcher in the shadows - in a little old Fiat, actually. I have arranged for another watcher to watch the original. Well, I can't disappoint them. I shall turn up there later on tonight.'
'You lead an active life,' de Graaf said. 'I assume that you do not intend to spend the night there?'
'You assume correctly, sir. I shall park my car at the back of the hotel, where I shall be picked up by a police taxi and deposited at the front door. T hen I pass through the hotel, exit by the rear entrance and drive home. It's a nuisance, no more.' 'And here, again,'de Graaf said,'comes your own private and personal nuisance. My word, you are popular tonight.'
Van Effen looked, sighed, rose, spoke briefly to the waiter again and disappeared towards the telephone booths.
'The same opposition stirs yet again,' he said on his return. 'Ah, a brandy. Thank you, sir. That was Sergeant Westenbrink - Vasco. Message again via the office, of course. Agnelli has been in touch with him. They would, they say, very much like to meet me at ii
Van Effen was back inside two minutes. 'Well, no surprise, surprise. The FFF, again, mysterious message, no doubt stepping up their demoralizing campaign. They say there could be some havoc wreaked along the North Holland Canal tomorrow at Alkmaar at 9 a.m., but they have made no guarantee that there will be. All they have promised is that there will be some quite considerable activity.'
De Graaf said: 'That was all?'
'All. I see. Seems utterly pointless and meaningless. What the devil do you think they're up to now?'
'It's not pointless. That's just the point - to make us wonder and worry about just what the devil they are up to now. They want to create uncertainty, confusion and demoralization and it would seem to me that they're going the right way about it. Speaking of the FFF, sir, how was your pleasure trip to Texel this afternoon?'
'Complete waste of time. I was accompanied, as you more or less predicted, by a bunch of old women.'
'You don't intend to be at Alkmaar at 9 a.m. tomorrow?' 'I intend to be in Amsterdam at 9 a.m. tomorrow. What am I supposed to do? Lurk around and nab anyone who looks as if he is acting suspiciously, such as gloating over the scene of the crime?' 'An unpromising course of action. You've got friends in the University, sir. Specifically, in the linguistics department?' De Graaf said to Annemarie: 'I'm supposed to look startled at this sudden switch and ask "why on earth do you ask that?" ' He looked at van Effen. 'Well, why on earth do you ask that?'
'I listened to the FFF's tapes in the Tekgraph's office earlier on this evening. A woman's voice. A young woman, I would say. And not Dutch, I'm sure.'
'Interesting. Very. Back to our mysterious foreigners again. Any educated guesses as to the country of origin of the caller?' 'That's the trouble, sir. I speak the odd language, sure, but I'm not what you might call an educated linguist. Regional accents, nuances, pronunciation- that is quite definitely not my field.' 'And you think the university could help?'
'It's a chance, sir. As you say, no stone unturned. The tapes are in my office.'
'I'll do what I can. You may as well get to your feet, Peter. A purposeful waiter comes your way.'
Van Effen rose, met the waiter, spoke briefly and moved on. When he took his seat again, he said: 'The opposition is stirring. Whatever opposition that might be. That was my hotel, the Trianon. Message relayed through the office of course.'
De Graaf said patiently:'And how long have you been staying in the Trianon, Lieutenant? You have been evicted from your own apartment?' 'The register book says that I have been there for two weeks. I arranged that about five o'clock this afternoon.'
'Dear, dear. Falsifying register books is a civil offence.' 'I've no time to be arrested at the moment. Romero Agnew or one of his men must have been very busy phoning around and have at last located me as staying at the Trianon. They have posted a watcher in the shadows - in a little old Fiat, actually. I have arranged for another watcher to watch the original. Well, I can't disappoint them. I shall turn up there later on tonight.'
'You lead an active life,' de Graaf said. 'I assume that you do not intend to spend the night there?'
'You assume correctly, sir. I shall park my car at the back of the hotel, where I shall be picked up by a police taxi and deposited at the front door. T hen I pass through the hotel, exit by the rear entrance and drive home. It's a nuisance, no more.' 'And here, again,'de Graaf said,'comes your own private and personal nuisance. My word, you are popular tonight.'
Van Effen looked, sighed, rose, spoke briefly to the waiter again and disappeared towards the telephone booths.
'The same opposition stirs yet again,' he said on his return. 'Ah, a brandy. Thank you, sir. That was Sergeant Westenbrink - Vasco. Message again via the office, of course. Agnelli has been in touch with him. They would, they say, very much like to meet me at ii
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