'No. just to check on me.'
'But if they speak to you in
'If they speak to him in Polish ' my dear,'de Graaf said, 'He'll answer in Polish, in which language he's very fluent. Your friend from Utrecht, Peter, of course knew this.'
Annemarie said: 'But - but you'll be recognised. Everybody in that - that ghetto knows you, I mean, knows who you are.'
'Ninny. Sorry, but, please. If you think I'm going to present myself as Lieutenant van Effen you can't be feeling too well. I shall, in the best traditions as befits the circumstances, be heavily disguised. I shall put on about twenty kilos - I have a suit and shirt designed to cope with the excess avoirdupois -fatten my cheeks, tint hair and moustache, wear a sinister scar and a black leather glove. That's to disguise the fearful scars and burns I sustained when - let me see, yes, of course - when I was putting out this oil fire in Saudi Arabia or wherever. It's remarkable what a single black glove does. It becomes the focal point for identification in nearly everyone's mind and if you're not wearing it, you're not you, if you follow me. And don't call Krakerdom a ghetto - it's an insult to decent Jews.'
'I didn't mean to -'
'I know. I'm sorry. Call Henri, tell him it's OK and to let a few minutes pass before giving Vasco the nod.'
She made the call and hung up. 'Everything seems all right. A few minutes. 'She looked at van Effen. 'You already have all the details you want. Why have Vasco make the call?'
'Why have Vasco make the call?' Van Effen tried to look patient. 'Vasco goes back every afternoon to this empty block of flats that they've taken over under so-called squatters' rights. He's been under surveillance since his meeting with the council or whatever they call themselves since last night and it's a safe assumption that he'll remain under surveillance until the time of the meeting in the Hunter's Horn. How's he supposed to have communicated with me to arrange this meeting? Telepathy?'
De Graaf cleared his throat and looked at Annemarie. 'You must forgive our Lieutenant his old-world gallantry. Do you go back to the dreadful place now?'
'Very soon.'
'And you stay there overnight?'
She gave a mock shudder. 'There are limits, sir, to my loyalty to the police force. No, I don't sleep there at nights.'
'No raised eyebrows among the fraternity?'
'Not at all, sir. I have a gentleman friend who comes calling for me every evening. The Krakers; understand this sort of thing.' 'And you go back in the morning?'
'Yes, sir.' She put her hand to her mouth to cover a smile but de Graaf had seen it.
'You are amused, young lady.' His tone had lost some warmth. 'Well, yes, I am a little, sir. Your voice and expression of disapproval and disappointment. This friend is really a very gallant gentleman. Especially as he's married.'
'Inevitably.' De Graaf was not amused.
'He takes me to his cousin's house, leaves me there and comes for me in the morning. That's why he's gallant, because he's very much in love with his own wife. His cousin, Colonel de Graaf, is a lady.' De Graaf said: 'The Chief of Police is in his usual condition, namely, out of his depth.' He was noticeably relieved. 'You will, of course, Peter, have carried out a check on this cousin, this lady?' 'No I have not.' Van Effen spoke with some feeling. 'I wouldn't dare.' De Graaf frowned briefly then leaned back and laughed. 'Behold our intrepid Lieutenant, Annemarie. He's terrified of his young sister. So you're staying with Julie?'
'You know her then, sir?'
'My favourite lady in all Amsterdam. Except, of course, for my wife and two daughters. I'm her godfather. Well, well.'
The phone rang. Van Effen picked it up and listened for perhaps half a minute then said: 'Can anyone overhear my voice if I speak?' Apparently nobody could for van Effen said: 'Say that you'll give me half a minute to think it over.' At the end of that period van Effen spoke again: 'Say to me: "Stephan, I swear to you it's no police trap.
'But if they speak to you in
'If they speak to him in Polish ' my dear,'de Graaf said, 'He'll answer in Polish, in which language he's very fluent. Your friend from Utrecht, Peter, of course knew this.'
Annemarie said: 'But - but you'll be recognised. Everybody in that - that ghetto knows you, I mean, knows who you are.'
'Ninny. Sorry, but, please. If you think I'm going to present myself as Lieutenant van Effen you can't be feeling too well. I shall, in the best traditions as befits the circumstances, be heavily disguised. I shall put on about twenty kilos - I have a suit and shirt designed to cope with the excess avoirdupois -fatten my cheeks, tint hair and moustache, wear a sinister scar and a black leather glove. That's to disguise the fearful scars and burns I sustained when - let me see, yes, of course - when I was putting out this oil fire in Saudi Arabia or wherever. It's remarkable what a single black glove does. It becomes the focal point for identification in nearly everyone's mind and if you're not wearing it, you're not you, if you follow me. And don't call Krakerdom a ghetto - it's an insult to decent Jews.'
'I didn't mean to -'
'I know. I'm sorry. Call Henri, tell him it's OK and to let a few minutes pass before giving Vasco the nod.'
She made the call and hung up. 'Everything seems all right. A few minutes. 'She looked at van Effen. 'You already have all the details you want. Why have Vasco make the call?'
'Why have Vasco make the call?' Van Effen tried to look patient. 'Vasco goes back every afternoon to this empty block of flats that they've taken over under so-called squatters' rights. He's been under surveillance since his meeting with the council or whatever they call themselves since last night and it's a safe assumption that he'll remain under surveillance until the time of the meeting in the Hunter's Horn. How's he supposed to have communicated with me to arrange this meeting? Telepathy?'
De Graaf cleared his throat and looked at Annemarie. 'You must forgive our Lieutenant his old-world gallantry. Do you go back to the dreadful place now?'
'Very soon.'
'And you stay there overnight?'
She gave a mock shudder. 'There are limits, sir, to my loyalty to the police force. No, I don't sleep there at nights.'
'No raised eyebrows among the fraternity?'
'Not at all, sir. I have a gentleman friend who comes calling for me every evening. The Krakers; understand this sort of thing.' 'And you go back in the morning?'
'Yes, sir.' She put her hand to her mouth to cover a smile but de Graaf had seen it.
'You are amused, young lady.' His tone had lost some warmth. 'Well, yes, I am a little, sir. Your voice and expression of disapproval and disappointment. This friend is really a very gallant gentleman. Especially as he's married.'
'Inevitably.' De Graaf was not amused.
'He takes me to his cousin's house, leaves me there and comes for me in the morning. That's why he's gallant, because he's very much in love with his own wife. His cousin, Colonel de Graaf, is a lady.' De Graaf said: 'The Chief of Police is in his usual condition, namely, out of his depth.' He was noticeably relieved. 'You will, of course, Peter, have carried out a check on this cousin, this lady?' 'No I have not.' Van Effen spoke with some feeling. 'I wouldn't dare.' De Graaf frowned briefly then leaned back and laughed. 'Behold our intrepid Lieutenant, Annemarie. He's terrified of his young sister. So you're staying with Julie?'
'You know her then, sir?'
'My favourite lady in all Amsterdam. Except, of course, for my wife and two daughters. I'm her godfather. Well, well.'
The phone rang. Van Effen picked it up and listened for perhaps half a minute then said: 'Can anyone overhear my voice if I speak?' Apparently nobody could for van Effen said: 'Say that you'll give me half a minute to think it over.' At the end of that period van Effen spoke again: 'Say to me: "Stephan, I swear to you it's no police trap.
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