Read Online Sepulchre by James Herbert - Free Book Online
Authors: James Herbert
Tags: Fiction, General, Horror, Modern & contemporary fiction (post c 1945), Horror Tales, Horror & Ghost Stories, Fiction & related items
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chauffeur until then.'
Halloran nodded.
Snaith spoke: 'Miss Redmile also confirms that her employer agrees to the list of conditions regarding his own actions in the forthcoming weeks. I understand you had lunch with her today?' He was looking directly at Halloran. 'Apart from their business relationship, what is she to Kline? Is she his mistress?'
Halloran took time to consider the question. Finally, he said, 'She could be.'
'She's that type?' 'What type?'
'The type who beds her boss.'
'I wouldn't know.'
'But she's a looker.'
Halloran nodded.
'Let's assume that's the case, then.'
Mother noticed the brief flare of anger in Halloran's eyes and was puzzled by it. Liam usually held his emotions totally in check. 'I don't see that it's entirely relevant, Gerald,' Mather put in. 'After all, Kline isn't married, and there's no mention of other girlfriends - or boyfriends, for that matter - in the dossier from Magma.'
'She could be a weak spot,' Snaith replied. 'He might put himself at risk if he knows she's in danger. There could be other possibilities, also. Has she been checked out?'
'I have her file right here,' said Stuhr. 'Charles brought it back from Magma earlier today, so I've only managed to glance through it. She sounds pretty solid to me. Raised in Hampshire, an only child, father a university lecturer, mother a local GP, both now deceased. Attended private school until eighteen, bright seven Os and three As - but never went on to university. Rents an apartment in Pimlico, has a substantial sum of money in her bank account - what's left of the proceeds from the sale of her parents' home, plus a little of her own savings. Magma is her first and only job apart from a bit of summertime temping when she was still a student; she worked her way up in the organisation and I think she is wonderful.' He took a black and white photograph from the file and held it up for the others to see.
Snaith didn't smile. 'Dig deeper over the next few days. Find out who she socialises with, boyfriends, lovers, her politics, religion - you know the kind of thing. She's close to the target, so we can't take chances.'
Snaith paused, ran fingers through his short ginger-grey hair.
'Now,' he said, looking round at all of them. 'Our friend Mr Kline. Just what the hell do we know about him?'
'Hardly anything,' answered Stuhr. 'It took me all of half-aminute to read through his file.'
'Hmn, that's what I was afraid of. This bloody secrecy can be taken too far.'
'Oh, I don't chink Magma is to blame,' said Mather. 'When I spoke with the chairman this morning it became very apparent that the Corporation doesn't actually know too much about Felix Kline's background. I got the impression that so long as the man continues to make them money, they're not particularly bothered.'
'Would somebody please tell me just what it is he does for Magma?' complained Stuhr.
'Sorry, Dieter.' said Snaith, 'that isn't necessary for you to know. Their terms, I'm afraid, so don't sulk. What does his file tell us?'
Stuhr made a snorting noise, but didn't argue. 'Like I said there isn't much. He was born in Israel, arrived in England eleven years ago, began working far the Magma Corporation almost immediately =
'A Jew with two Arab companions?' interrupted Snaith.
'They're not all bitter enemies. He moved into the penthouse suite of the Magma building when it was completed about five years ago. He also has a country home in Surrey, by a lake, two thousand acres of pastures and woodland. I need hardly say that's a huge amount of land to own in the Home Counties. He's obviously a very wealthy man. Unmarried, doesn't drive, doesn't smoke, drinks a little, no mention of drugs -but there wouldn't be - doesn't gamble. That's about it.'
'What?' said Snaith incredulously. 'There must be more.'
Stuhr reached for a file lying beneath Cora Redmile's. He opened it and indicated the single sheet of paper inside. 'I told you there wasn't much to read.'
'It must give
Halloran nodded.
Snaith spoke: 'Miss Redmile also confirms that her employer agrees to the list of conditions regarding his own actions in the forthcoming weeks. I understand you had lunch with her today?' He was looking directly at Halloran. 'Apart from their business relationship, what is she to Kline? Is she his mistress?'
Halloran took time to consider the question. Finally, he said, 'She could be.'
'She's that type?' 'What type?'
'The type who beds her boss.'
'I wouldn't know.'
'But she's a looker.'
Halloran nodded.
'Let's assume that's the case, then.'
Mother noticed the brief flare of anger in Halloran's eyes and was puzzled by it. Liam usually held his emotions totally in check. 'I don't see that it's entirely relevant, Gerald,' Mather put in. 'After all, Kline isn't married, and there's no mention of other girlfriends - or boyfriends, for that matter - in the dossier from Magma.'
'She could be a weak spot,' Snaith replied. 'He might put himself at risk if he knows she's in danger. There could be other possibilities, also. Has she been checked out?'
'I have her file right here,' said Stuhr. 'Charles brought it back from Magma earlier today, so I've only managed to glance through it. She sounds pretty solid to me. Raised in Hampshire, an only child, father a university lecturer, mother a local GP, both now deceased. Attended private school until eighteen, bright seven Os and three As - but never went on to university. Rents an apartment in Pimlico, has a substantial sum of money in her bank account - what's left of the proceeds from the sale of her parents' home, plus a little of her own savings. Magma is her first and only job apart from a bit of summertime temping when she was still a student; she worked her way up in the organisation and I think she is wonderful.' He took a black and white photograph from the file and held it up for the others to see.
Snaith didn't smile. 'Dig deeper over the next few days. Find out who she socialises with, boyfriends, lovers, her politics, religion - you know the kind of thing. She's close to the target, so we can't take chances.'
Snaith paused, ran fingers through his short ginger-grey hair.
'Now,' he said, looking round at all of them. 'Our friend Mr Kline. Just what the hell do we know about him?'
'Hardly anything,' answered Stuhr. 'It took me all of half-aminute to read through his file.'
'Hmn, that's what I was afraid of. This bloody secrecy can be taken too far.'
'Oh, I don't chink Magma is to blame,' said Mather. 'When I spoke with the chairman this morning it became very apparent that the Corporation doesn't actually know too much about Felix Kline's background. I got the impression that so long as the man continues to make them money, they're not particularly bothered.'
'Would somebody please tell me just what it is he does for Magma?' complained Stuhr.
'Sorry, Dieter.' said Snaith, 'that isn't necessary for you to know. Their terms, I'm afraid, so don't sulk. What does his file tell us?'
Stuhr made a snorting noise, but didn't argue. 'Like I said there isn't much. He was born in Israel, arrived in England eleven years ago, began working far the Magma Corporation almost immediately =
'A Jew with two Arab companions?' interrupted Snaith.
'They're not all bitter enemies. He moved into the penthouse suite of the Magma building when it was completed about five years ago. He also has a country home in Surrey, by a lake, two thousand acres of pastures and woodland. I need hardly say that's a huge amount of land to own in the Home Counties. He's obviously a very wealthy man. Unmarried, doesn't drive, doesn't smoke, drinks a little, no mention of drugs -but there wouldn't be - doesn't gamble. That's about it.'
'What?' said Snaith incredulously. 'There must be more.'
Stuhr reached for a file lying beneath Cora Redmile's. He opened it and indicated the single sheet of paper inside. 'I told you there wasn't much to read.'
'It must give
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