Sepulchre Read Free

then, no such protective system could ever be foolproof, not where terrorists were concerned. But one question had to be answered at the outset.
    Snaith leaned forward on his desk, his fingers interlocking, thumbs turning circles around each other. 'Why now?' he asked. 'Why do you feel this member of your corporation needs protection at this point in time?'
    'Because,' Quinn-Reece replied blandly, 'he told us so.'
    This time Snaith and Mather did not refrain from looking at each other.
    'Your man has received a warning, a threat?' asked Mather.
    'Not exactly.'
    Dieter Stuhr, who had been jotting down odd notes throughout the proceedings, rested his pen. 'Is Magma involved in some venture that could put your employee at risk?'
    'Not at this moment.'
    'It has been in the past?' Stuhr persisted.
    Buchanan quickly spoke up. 'Gentlemen, I'm sure you're all well aware of the Magma Corporation's undoubted prominence in the commercial world. It has widespread international interests in the mining, industrial and energy sectors, with assets of over ’6,000 million and an annual turnover of something like ’45,000 million. It would take you a whole day to study the list of subsidiary companies the Corporation owns.'
    'Thank you for the information, Alexander, but what the hell has that to do with what we're talking about?' Snaith enquired bluntly.
    'Only that you may rest assured that Magma is not involved in any enterprises that might be considered, er . . .'
    'Shady?' Mather obligingly finished for him.
    Stuhr smiled way past his left eyebrow.
    'Questionable,' Buchanan allowed.
    'I'm sorry, I didn't mean to imply . . .' Stuhr, still smiling, began to say.
    'That's quite all right, I understand,' said Quinn-Reece. 'You need to be fully in the picture, as it were. Let me put it this way: the man we are discussing has certain . . . abilities . . .' he stressed the word '. . . that companies whose commercial activities are similar to our own might well envy. In that respect, he could always be at risk should one of those rival companies, shall we say, become over-envious.'
    'They could always pay more than you for his services,' suggested Mather, becoming somewhat intrigued by their prospective client.
    'If,' Quinn-Reece replied almost slyly, 'they knew of his existence.' He smiled at the three men facing him, pleased with their rapt attention. 'I'm sorry to sound so mysterious but, you see, our man has unique skills that would be virtually impossible to match. Not that our competitors would ever have knowledge of them - those skills are kept secret even within our own organisation.'
    Mather rested his hands over the handle of his cane. He glanced towards the room's huge window, a gull catching his eye as it swooped by, wings dazzling white in the cold sunshine. 'This sounds, uh, quite interesting,' he said, returning his gaze to the deputy chairman. 'Yes . . .' the word drawn out '. . . interesting indeed. Would you care to elaborate?'
    Quinn-Reece held up his palms. 'Again, I'm afraid not. At least, not until you agree to the assignment. I know that puts you in an awkward position, but we have our own security requirements. There is also one other matter that might not meet with your satisfaction.'
    Stuhr's pen was poised once more.
    'The man we're discussing,' Quinn-Reece went on, 'already maintains a strong protection unit around him.'
    'Ah,' said Mather.
    'Bodyguards?' enquired Stuhr.
    Quinn-Reece nodded.
    'Are they well-trained?' asked Snaith.
    'Reasonably so, I believe,' replied Quinn-Reece.
    'Then why does Magma need our services?'
    The deputy chairman looked at Buchanan.
    'That's a priority condition of Acorn Buchanan if we're to take on the risk,' said the underwriter. "These personal bodyguards may well be proficient, but my company would feel more comfortable if Achilles' Shield were running the show.'
    'It's no problem,' commented Stuhr. 'I can work out an effective operation into which they can be absorbed. First though we