wanted to see me at two o’clock in front of the library building and I had twenty minutes to make it in.
Instead of going upstairs I called Toomey, got him in his room and told him my report was in and for him to be available right after six that night. Newark had already alerted him through Martin Grady and he said he’d stand by.
There was a cab in the slot outside, so I grabbed it and told the driver to drift by the library, spotted Charlie getting there right on schedule, waved him over and had him hop in.
I said, “Hi, Colonel. What’s the good news?”
“You’ll find out. Let’s go to the British Embassy.”
I gave the driver the message and sat back. When anyone was within listening distance Charlie Corbinet wasn’t a talker. When we reached the embassy I paid off the driver and followed Charlie inside. He wasn’t new to the place at all. He got the VIP treatment immediately and we were ushered upstairs to a private office furnished in dark-brown leather and mahogany and before we could get seated three men came in carrying briefcases and folders under their arms, shook hands quickly and were introduced to me.
One needed no introduction. He was Vincent Harley Case whom I had met with Rondine the first day I saw her again.
He said through a Glasgow accent, “Ah, Tiger Mann. Yes, we’ve already met through a mutual friend.”
Charlie gave me a sideways look that could mean almost anything.
“Though I hardly expected to see you again under these—ah —circumstances.”
“It’s a small world.”
“Not any longer, it seems. Please, sit down.”
The chairs were pulled up around a low table, the folders laid out and it was the Colonel’s time for explanation. Evidently they bad expected him to come alone and weren’t prepared for me.
Charlie said, “In view of the facts you’re going to have to leave some things to my judgment, gentlemen. Without going into extreme details I can only tell you that Mr. Mann is an associate of mine, has served under my command and is, at present, engaged in activities that make his presence vital. Security on him is clear. I will vouch for him completely. Has anyone any objections?”
For just a moment there was an exchange of looks, a silent acknowledgment to accept Corbinet’s opinion and Vincent Case nodded. “There is no reason not to go along with you, sir. After all, you are in an official capacity and our governments must work together. We can use all the help we can get.”
Charlie glanced my way and I followed his lead, letting him do the talking. It was for my benefit that he reviewed the details, knowing I would put the pieces together in a hurry. I had to do more than that. I had to figure out just how deep he was with I.A.T.S. and what power he held. Damn, the agencies were smarter than I thought, getting him back in the ranks again. I wondered if he was over the big guy who stayed so close to Watford.
“As you know, yesterday we submitted certain prepared papers to the British regarding our joint efforts in the Climax Project. They contained false information deliberately planted to see if it was picked up.” He paused and searched the faces of the others. “An hour ago our sources inside the Russian Embassy got word out that they had received news of our supposed intent and had called an emergency meeting of their delegates to counteract the proposal that was to be delivered today when the General Assembly convened.
“Since we did not follow it up with the true facts it was decided that the true proposal be discussed and agreed upon in secret, all members present not being allowed to confer with anyone until the time of the session this afternoon.” Corbinet looked at his watch. “You gentlemen will be at that meeting in exactly forty-five minutes at an assigned place you will be given before I leave.
“This new proposal is not a vital one at this stage. It is what will be coming up within the week that will be of major importance.
Instead of going upstairs I called Toomey, got him in his room and told him my report was in and for him to be available right after six that night. Newark had already alerted him through Martin Grady and he said he’d stand by.
There was a cab in the slot outside, so I grabbed it and told the driver to drift by the library, spotted Charlie getting there right on schedule, waved him over and had him hop in.
I said, “Hi, Colonel. What’s the good news?”
“You’ll find out. Let’s go to the British Embassy.”
I gave the driver the message and sat back. When anyone was within listening distance Charlie Corbinet wasn’t a talker. When we reached the embassy I paid off the driver and followed Charlie inside. He wasn’t new to the place at all. He got the VIP treatment immediately and we were ushered upstairs to a private office furnished in dark-brown leather and mahogany and before we could get seated three men came in carrying briefcases and folders under their arms, shook hands quickly and were introduced to me.
One needed no introduction. He was Vincent Harley Case whom I had met with Rondine the first day I saw her again.
He said through a Glasgow accent, “Ah, Tiger Mann. Yes, we’ve already met through a mutual friend.”
Charlie gave me a sideways look that could mean almost anything.
“Though I hardly expected to see you again under these—ah —circumstances.”
“It’s a small world.”
“Not any longer, it seems. Please, sit down.”
The chairs were pulled up around a low table, the folders laid out and it was the Colonel’s time for explanation. Evidently they bad expected him to come alone and weren’t prepared for me.
Charlie said, “In view of the facts you’re going to have to leave some things to my judgment, gentlemen. Without going into extreme details I can only tell you that Mr. Mann is an associate of mine, has served under my command and is, at present, engaged in activities that make his presence vital. Security on him is clear. I will vouch for him completely. Has anyone any objections?”
For just a moment there was an exchange of looks, a silent acknowledgment to accept Corbinet’s opinion and Vincent Case nodded. “There is no reason not to go along with you, sir. After all, you are in an official capacity and our governments must work together. We can use all the help we can get.”
Charlie glanced my way and I followed his lead, letting him do the talking. It was for my benefit that he reviewed the details, knowing I would put the pieces together in a hurry. I had to do more than that. I had to figure out just how deep he was with I.A.T.S. and what power he held. Damn, the agencies were smarter than I thought, getting him back in the ranks again. I wondered if he was over the big guy who stayed so close to Watford.
“As you know, yesterday we submitted certain prepared papers to the British regarding our joint efforts in the Climax Project. They contained false information deliberately planted to see if it was picked up.” He paused and searched the faces of the others. “An hour ago our sources inside the Russian Embassy got word out that they had received news of our supposed intent and had called an emergency meeting of their delegates to counteract the proposal that was to be delivered today when the General Assembly convened.
“Since we did not follow it up with the true facts it was decided that the true proposal be discussed and agreed upon in secret, all members present not being allowed to confer with anyone until the time of the session this afternoon.” Corbinet looked at his watch. “You gentlemen will be at that meeting in exactly forty-five minutes at an assigned place you will be given before I leave.
“This new proposal is not a vital one at this stage. It is what will be coming up within the week that will be of major importance.
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