Read Online Ultimate Issue by George Markstein - Free Book Online

force trial?”
    “Tony’s been specially requested by the accused,” intervened Laurie.
    “You must have some reputation,” said Unterberg. “All the way from Germany! Or do you know the man?”
    “Never met him, never even heard of him,” said Verago.
    “But you like fighting lost causes, don’t you?” Unterberg smiled.
    Again, Verago had a moment of unease. “Are you in the service?” he asked.
    “Clyde’s a civilian,” said Laurie, as the drinks came.
    “Technician?”
    “Sort of,” said Laurie.
    “Lockheed?”
    Instead of answering, Unterberg lifted his glass.
    “Success,” he toasted. “How long are you planning to stay?”
    “As long as it takes.” said Verago.
    “Well, good luck.” He finished his drink and pushed back his chair. “You’ll have to excuse me. I’ve got to drive to High Wycombe tonight. I’ll give you a call, Laurie.” He pecked her cheek. Then he nodded to Verago. “Nice to have met you, Tony.”
    Something doesn’t fit, thought Verago, as Unterberg made his exit. It doesn’t seem right. Had he really planned to leave her on her own and take off? What if he hadn’t shown up? Would Unterberg still have left her high and dry? Why the hell was he leaving the stage clear for somebody else?
    “You’re not very talkative, Tony,” said Laurie. It seemed to him her eyes were slightly mocking. “Something on your mind?”
    45
    “What does he really do?” asked Verago.
    “Clyde?”
    He nodded.
    “He’s a spook,” she said quietly.
    Suddenly he looked at her in a new light.
    “That’s what I thought,” he said. “Thanks.”
    “What for?”
    “For playing it straight.”
    “Playing what straight?” she asked, surprised. “Telling you he’s a spook? Well, he is, isn’t he?”
    “Who for? Who with?”
    “Come on, Tony,” she said, and again she was slightly mocking. “Would I know?” She smiled. “He’s not with the Russians, if that’s what you mean,” she said, laughing.
    The idea really amused her.
    “CIA? OSI? he pressed. “Some outfit like that?” He frowned. “How do you know him?”
    “Captain Verago,” she said, sham serious, “this is not a courtroom, I’m not on the stand, and you’re off duty. Agreed?”
    Damn it, she’s attractive, he thought. She’s not beautiful, she’s got more than that going for her.
    He wished the chair was closer to her.
    “Remember what you said today?” he asked.
    She shook her head. “What?”
    “You said ‘London can be a lot of fun at night.’”
    “You want to go sightseeing right now?” she teased him. “The pubs will be closed.”
    “I didn’t have pubs in mind.”
    The almondshaped eyes flickered. “What do you have in mind?”
    “I leave that to you,” said Verago.

London
    As Alex handed Daventry his drink he suddenly asked her, “You remember the Howards? I met their daughter today.”
    “Oh?” said Alex. “And how is Serena?” She had a fantastic memory for names. She had trained it. She noted every address and phone number and kept a special book with dozens of people’s birthdays in it.
    “Fine,” he replied casually. It seemed to him his tone was almost too casual.
    “What’s she doing now?”
    “She didn’t say.”
    46
    “Wasn’t she doing some modeling? At Fortnum’s?”
    “I don’t know.”
    “She’s got a very nice figure.” She took some potato chips, then offered Daventry the glass dish. “Which I won’t have if I go on nibbling these. Do you want one?”
    He shook his head as he studied her. “You don’t have to worry, Alex,” he said, kissing her on the forehead. She worked hard at keeping slim, because she knew he disliked fat women.
    “They’re nice people, the Howards.” Her U-turn back to the subject startled him slightly.
    “Yes,” he said rather flatly.
    “Don’t say it.” Alex smiled. “Too cocktail partyish for you. They bore you.”
    “Alex, I don’t even know them well enough for that.”
    “I’d have thought Serena