Turning Point Read Free Page A

way might be dull, but it’s relatively safe – as long as you’re not caught snooping.’
    â€˜Gadzooks! I only hope you know what you’re doing? From where I’m sitting, it all sounds a bit hit and miss to me. To begin, how will I know I’m even in the right place? And, this man of yours… I might recognise him but how on earth will he know I’m on his side? Before or after he sticks a knife in my ribs.’
    â€˜
If…
he’s still alive! If it’s humanly possible I want him out before the shit hits the fan. I owe him.’
    â€˜So where do you think these guys are now?’
    â€˜Not a clue – except if they are behind the riots they need access to cities. Lisse was perfect. From there you could dart in and out of at least four or five countries in a matter of hours. That’s why my money’s on the new detention centres.’ Beau glanced up sharply. ‘To my knowledge, there’s three up and running – France, Germany and Spain. The time scale is…’ The agent drew his arms through the air expressing his amazement. ‘Even in America building takes for ever. My guess is, someone had either built or planned them well in advance. At the moment, colleagues back home are delving into European parliamentary reports to find out where the idea originated – someone had to come up with it. If we find that, it might lead us down the chain to the main man.’
    Beau picked up his coffee mug. ‘You said colleagues?’ he said, his voice suddenly serious. ‘How big is this thing?’
    â€˜It’s big in terms of value but not manpower.’
    â€˜Not sure I follow you.’ Sean Terry’s expression was suddenly bleak, making him all at once older than his forty years. ‘Politicians come and go – it’s money that calls the tune and there’s an awful lot of it going astray.’ ‘Do I assume your little hobby has turned into a full-time business?’
    The American nervously cracked his knuckles. ‘You could say that. Your father says these characters are the original G
nomes of Zurich.
A secret society with vast power and influence; yet with all their resources, even they have been unable to track down Mr Smith. With Styrus in his hands, world-wide instability is the most likely outcome – and they’re not about to let that happen.’
    â€˜I see. So, once we find him, they go in guns blazing?’
    â€˜Pretty much. According to my boss, one phone call is all it’ll take. You game?’
    Beau laughed. ‘I like a good challenge and life’s awfully dull at the moment. ‘When do I start?’
    â€˜Now, if you’re okay with it? I’ve already asked Doug to fix you up with a dental appointment – in case.’ Terry got to his feet and strolled across the room, peering out of the window. He remained still for a moment, listening to the echo of feet on the ancient stone steps, watching two women walk across the quadrangle, carefully keeping to the paths, their black gowns billowing out behind them like wings. Their voices wafted through the open window, merging with the scent of wallflowers carried on the breeze. ‘This is a nice place – sure you want to do this?’
    â€˜My dear man, I’d swap ancient Greek and Latin for danger and death any day of the week. Have another doughnut – we might as well finish them. If I’m allowing myself a visit to the dentist, I may not be able to eat solid food for a couple of days, by which time they’ll be stale.’

Two

    Cheese and cuckoo clocks would probably have been Scott’s answer to the question,
what is Switzerland famous for,
although in the hours since their arrival in the little alpine country, he’d seen neither.
    Their flight from Exeter, late the night before, and the efficiency of the Swiss airport had left Scott with the distinct impression that the