Read Online Cell by Colin Forbes - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Colin Forbes
Tags: Fiction, Suspense, Political Science, Terrorism, Political Freedom & Security, Design, Fashion, Tweed (Fictitious Character)
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would be transferred to a small van with the words Fresh Fruit inscribed on its outer bodywork. All five vans, refrigerated, had also been purchased weeks before. To bolster the supplier's confidence, a cheque on a London bank had been paid in advance. It was the supplier's understanding that a new company was entering the business of providing fruit to larger supermarkets at highly competitive prices.
The organizer of the operation, who used the name Abdullah, was confident that if the milk wagons were found, eventually, it would be too late. The spectacular and catastrophic attack would have occurred. Abdullah had no doubt the casualties would run into thousands, the dead casualties.
Inside each concealed container was a new weapon, the warhead armed with an explosive of devastating power.
8
When Beaurain left Park Crescent both Tweed and Paula escorted him downstairs. At the bottom he paused, spoke very quietly to them so George, the guard, could not hear what he was saying.
'Is there somewhere I could have a private word with both of you?'
'Visitors' room,' said Tweed, crossing the hall and open ing a door into a barely furnished room. He closed the door as Beaurain looked round with a cynical smile.
'Don't make your visitors very comfortable, do you? Wooden table, hard-backed chairs, nothing to read.'
'There are visitors I feel I should see but don't want them to linger. What is it, Jules?'
'I want you to know that I'm flying to Brussels - there and back in a day. I have made an appointment to see the top Director of the Banque de Bruxelles et Liege. The place where you told me a dubious lawyer in London sends the rent money collected from Carpford. I want him to tell me where it is forwarded to - I'm convinced it doesn't just sit in Brussels.'
'But,' Paula objected, 'you did say Belgian banks are even more security-conscious than Swiss banks.'
'True,' said Beaurain. 'Clever girl. Luckily I know this man and I don't think he is aware I am no longer Commissioner of Police. It was kept quiet, my resigna tion - maybe because I am popular with the people for putting certain corrupt fat cats behind bars. I know certain illegalities the man I am going to see has engaged in. Blackmail is a powerful weapon.'
'You're wicked,' Paula said with a smile. 'One more thing. I was going to ask you if you know what lies behind that tall brick wall extending from Victor Warner's property. It's pure curiosity, I admit.'
'I imagine it's security,' Beaurain replied. 'Remember what his position is. As for behind it, the ground slopes down steeply and there's a lime pit and an old abandoned quarry.'
'How are you for time?' Tweed enquired.
'I must leave at once or I'll miss my flight. The bad news is I'll be back.'
He hugged Paula, shook Tweed's hand, opened the door and before they could leave the room he was gone.
'I'm going back to Carpford when I can,' Paula said as they climbed the stairs. 'I want to talk to those brothers - Billy and Martin. Something odd about them.'
'Then you won't go on your own. If I'm tied up, Newman can come with you.'
Newman looked up as they came in. He was grinning sardonically. He spoke to Paula.
'I think you've made a conquest. Jules has really taken a fancy to you.'
'Don't be so stupid,' she snapped. Sitting at her desk she glared at him. 'Instead of making foolish remarks you might as well help me. When I can I'm going back to Carpford. To see those two brothers, Martin and Billy. While I'm up there I'd also like to call on Drew Franklin, your favourite columnist. But when is he there?'
'My favourite creep,' Newman told her. 'He'll be there tomorrow evening. I know he likes to hide himself away when he's typing his column. You'd better watch it. He has a reputation for being a professional ladies' man.'
'That might help me to get him talking,' she teased Newman. 'You think I'm his type?'
'He'll either tell you to go to hell or flatter the life out of you. So you won't know whether
The organizer of the operation, who used the name Abdullah, was confident that if the milk wagons were found, eventually, it would be too late. The spectacular and catastrophic attack would have occurred. Abdullah had no doubt the casualties would run into thousands, the dead casualties.
Inside each concealed container was a new weapon, the warhead armed with an explosive of devastating power.
8
When Beaurain left Park Crescent both Tweed and Paula escorted him downstairs. At the bottom he paused, spoke very quietly to them so George, the guard, could not hear what he was saying.
'Is there somewhere I could have a private word with both of you?'
'Visitors' room,' said Tweed, crossing the hall and open ing a door into a barely furnished room. He closed the door as Beaurain looked round with a cynical smile.
'Don't make your visitors very comfortable, do you? Wooden table, hard-backed chairs, nothing to read.'
'There are visitors I feel I should see but don't want them to linger. What is it, Jules?'
'I want you to know that I'm flying to Brussels - there and back in a day. I have made an appointment to see the top Director of the Banque de Bruxelles et Liege. The place where you told me a dubious lawyer in London sends the rent money collected from Carpford. I want him to tell me where it is forwarded to - I'm convinced it doesn't just sit in Brussels.'
'But,' Paula objected, 'you did say Belgian banks are even more security-conscious than Swiss banks.'
'True,' said Beaurain. 'Clever girl. Luckily I know this man and I don't think he is aware I am no longer Commissioner of Police. It was kept quiet, my resigna tion - maybe because I am popular with the people for putting certain corrupt fat cats behind bars. I know certain illegalities the man I am going to see has engaged in. Blackmail is a powerful weapon.'
'You're wicked,' Paula said with a smile. 'One more thing. I was going to ask you if you know what lies behind that tall brick wall extending from Victor Warner's property. It's pure curiosity, I admit.'
'I imagine it's security,' Beaurain replied. 'Remember what his position is. As for behind it, the ground slopes down steeply and there's a lime pit and an old abandoned quarry.'
'How are you for time?' Tweed enquired.
'I must leave at once or I'll miss my flight. The bad news is I'll be back.'
He hugged Paula, shook Tweed's hand, opened the door and before they could leave the room he was gone.
'I'm going back to Carpford when I can,' Paula said as they climbed the stairs. 'I want to talk to those brothers - Billy and Martin. Something odd about them.'
'Then you won't go on your own. If I'm tied up, Newman can come with you.'
Newman looked up as they came in. He was grinning sardonically. He spoke to Paula.
'I think you've made a conquest. Jules has really taken a fancy to you.'
'Don't be so stupid,' she snapped. Sitting at her desk she glared at him. 'Instead of making foolish remarks you might as well help me. When I can I'm going back to Carpford. To see those two brothers, Martin and Billy. While I'm up there I'd also like to call on Drew Franklin, your favourite columnist. But when is he there?'
'My favourite creep,' Newman told her. 'He'll be there tomorrow evening. I know he likes to hide himself away when he's typing his column. You'd better watch it. He has a reputation for being a professional ladies' man.'
'That might help me to get him talking,' she teased Newman. 'You think I'm his type?'
'He'll either tell you to go to hell or flatter the life out of you. So you won't know whether
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