Pray for a Brave Heart Read Free Page A

won’t be used to aid and comfort us.”
    Denning reached for a chair, emptied its contents on to the floor, and then bestrode it. He said thoughtfully, “And who’s behind all this?”
    “Whoever was in a position to find the diamonds.”
    “Is that all you can tell me?”
    “For the moment, yes. Except that it’s a major operation, obviously.”
    “How did you find out about the Herz collection?”
    “That’s one of the ironies of our jobs, Bill. For years I’ve worked on this problem. Results: zero. Then, three days ago, suddenly, a man came to see me in Frankfurt. Quietly. Afrightened little man.”
    “An informer?” Denning spoke the word without enthusiasm.
    “If it weren’t for informers, the jails would be half-empty, and murderers would walk free,” Meyer replied calmly. “Ask any policeman, Bill.”
    “I know, I know.” Denning was impatient. “But can you trust this man?”
    “I wouldn’t exactly throw my arms around him and kiss him on the brow, but I’d listen to what he had to tell. An informer and his information are two quite separate things. You don’t have to stroke the bee to get the honey.”
    “He isn’t just one of those types who want a little publicity?”
    Meyer was suddenly amused. “Hardly. He’s a jewel thief, Bill.”
    Denning looked startled.
    “He’s one of a syndicate, a very minor member,” Meyer continued, enjoying the moment thoroughly. “Actually, it was his boss who sent him to tell me what their intelligence service had discovered. Amusing, isn’t it?”
    “In a sour kind of way.” Then, thoughtfully, Denning said, “How do you rate their intelligence?”
    “Judge for yourself. Here’s their information. First, the diamonds have moved out of East Germany. Second, they have already reached as far south as Switzerland. Third, they are to be smuggled out of Europe, probably by way of Genoa. Fourth, the flat price is three million American dollars, cash on the barrelhead.”
    Denning considered all that. “If this syndicate is any good at its own speciality, why don’t they steal the diamonds before they leave Europe?”
    “Because they’ve discovered that the organisation which is moving the diamonds is more powerful than they are. Much more powerful.”
    “And I suppose we are to take action—”
    “We haven’t much choice, have we? Genoa worries us. Naturally. Next step, New York.”
    “—and once we’ve controlled the situation, they will take the diamonds before the French can get them. Is that the idea?”
    “I shouldn’t be surprised. We’re the simple-minded Americans. Once we stop the diamonds from reaching New York, we lose interest. That’s what the jewel thieves expect, anyhow. Naive characters, in their own way.”
    “So that’s, why they came to you, and not to the French?”
    “They refused to give any information to the French.”
    “Somehow, I don’t feel this is very complimentary to us. Who is head of the syndicate?”
    “Nikolaides, a Bulgarian possibly, of probably Greek descent, now a French citizen.” Meyer gave a wave of his hand, dispensing with Nikolaides. “He isn’t important to us, except that he sent Charles-Auguste with that startling information.”
    “Charles-Auguste who?”
    “Maartens. Charles-Auguste Maartens. Let’s call him Charlie for short. I’m meeting him in Bern. Thursday night. Eleven o’clock.”
    “And he’s scared?” A frightened little man, Denning remembered.
    “He’s scared stiff.”
    “I don’t like it, Max,” Denning said slowly. “I don’t like it one bit. You’re meeting this man, yourself?”
    “That’s the arrangement he made. I wasn’t in any position toargue with him.” Meyer grinned suddenly. “That’s my general excuse. Between us, I just want to close the file on the Herz collection—personally.”
    “What do you expect to find out from him?”
    “The sailing date from Genoa. That, at the very least.” Meyer didn’t elaborate. He went on,