By Stealth Read Online Free PDF Page B

visit Stanstead, the Chief Constable. Keep your ear open for the sound of his car, then follow him. Stanstead has a house somewhere outside Brockenhurst.'
    `You want me to make sure that's where he goes?' Newman checked.
    `Partly. I don't like this set-up one little bit. Your other task is to make sure he doesn't know he's being followed, but mainly to see if anyone else follows him.'
    He went on to give Newman a brief digest of their visit to Prevent , including Paula's macabre discovery inside the freezer, his own discovery of the bugs, and their encounter with Andover.
    `A severed right arm,' Newman repeated slowly. `And you think it was Irene's?'
    `No doubt about it,' Tweed said tersely. 'Andover mentioned the emerald ring he'd given her only months ago. What worries me is his comment that no ransom at all has been demanded. The kidnappers have something quite fiendish in mind.'
    `So shouldn't the police be informed?' Newman pressed, echoing Paula's earlier suggestion. 'Regardless of the fact that for some crazy reason he doesn't want to let them know.'
    `Definitely not. I gave him my unqualified word. We've no idea what is going on. I may know more when I've read that file he handed me. Is that the sound of a car coming?'
    Newman was already climbing out of the car. He ran towards the road, looked round the end of the copse of trees, ran back. On his way to the Merc. he stopped briefly where Tweed had lowered his window.
    `Rover just coming out of the drive. Andover is on his way. So am I...'
    Tweed waited until Newman had driven off, tapping his fingers on the wheel, the only sign of how disturbed he was. Paula kept quiet for a few minutes, guessing Tweed was taking a decision, before she spoke.
    `What now?'
    `I think we should follow up Andover's suggestion and call in on Brigadier Maurice Burgoyne, another old China hand, as he put it.'

    3
    Tweed was turning the Escort into the drive of Leopard's Leap when he stopped. Further along the wide grass verge outside the property a large pile of bricks stood next to a concrete mixer.
    `The Brigadier must be having some work done,' Paula observed.
    Tweed drove on between the open wrought-iron gates and along another curving drive. But this surface was newly tarred. Like sentinels, ornamental shrubs lined the borders with here and there neatly trimmed topiary.
    I smell money,' Paula remarked. 'But will the Brig. welcome strangers at this hour?'
    `I'm not a stranger. I've met him several times over dinners in London. Just as I have met the neighbour further along this wilderness, Willie Fanshawe. They all belonged to a very exclusive institute and I was invited as a guest several times. Here we are..
    They drove round another bend and suddenly in front of them loomed a magnificent Jacobean mansion. Unlike the gloom of Prevent , it was illuminated powerfully with a battery of ground searchlights aimed at the frontage. A burglar alarm attached to the wall showed up prominently.
    'Burgoyne's security is an improvement on Andover's,' Tweed commented.
    `And I smell even more money.'
    The mansion was constructed of mellow stone and its tall characteristic chimneys reared up into the night. At one corner rose a turret with a witch's hat topping it. Despite the glow of lights Paula shivered. Something about the aura of the house worried her.
    `Let's hope he's in,' Tweed said as he parked the car at the foot of a flight of stone steps leading up to the imposing entrance. 'There are lights inside.'
    They walked up the steps to a large porch projecting well forward from the main edifice. As Tweed rang the bell Paula looked back. At the edge of the drive was a trim lawn with well-tended flowerbeds. A strong light came on over the outside of the porch, a blinding glare. The door opened after a moment and the glaring light was switched off. A tall slim figure stood silhouetted in the glow from lights beyond.
    `Tweed! Of all people. What a welcome surprise. And you've brought me an attractive