Casanova by Mark Arundel Read Free Book Online

white teeth and said, ‘James Carmichael but everyone calls me Hoagy.’ We shook hands. ‘I know who you are,’ he said. ‘I’ve been fully briefed.’
    ‘Young Robert Redford,’ Meriwether said, referring to Carmichael, ‘is going to be helping us for a few days. I’ve seconded him from VX. Let’s sit down shall we, time is short.’
    We all sat and Meriwether looked at me with that amusement he often had in his eyes. ‘I wanted to call him Sundance but I suppose we’ll have to call him Hoagy,’ he said to me. Hoagy showed off his Hollywood teeth again and said, ‘Everyone does.’
    ‘What’s your skiing like?’ Meriwether asked me.
    I had skied ever since I could walk and Meriwether probably knew that. As a soldier, I spent one winter with the French Foreign Legion at their training camp in the Alps. My regiment was liaising for a dual covert operation in mountainous terrain. We were a small team of exceptional skiers.
    ‘Not bad,’ I said.
    ‘Good,’ Meriwether said. ‘You’re booked on a flight to Geneva; a rental car will be waiting to get you to the resort and we’ve found you a pleasant little room in a comfortable hotel very close to the main lift.’
    ‘...and this is the same resort as Mrs. Casanova?’
    ‘Yes, she and her two daughters have taken a small catered chalet just the other side of the lift from your hotel. Your almost neighbours.’
    Just then the door opened and a man entered wheeling a trolley with a china coffee pot and a round cake with about a third already cut away.
    ‘Who ordered coffee?’ Meriwether asked. ‘We don’t have time for coffee.’
    ‘You did, sir,’ the servant answered.
    ‘Did I? Oh, yes, I did. Oh, well, we had better have it now it’s here.’
    ‘Very good, sir,’ the servant said.
    ‘Hoagy, do the honours will you.’
    The servant left and Hoagy poured the coffee. I took a generous slice of cake, sat back and waited.
    Meriwether sipped at his coffee cup, looked amused by something and then said, ‘You’re on the same flight as C and her grandfather. They’ve taken their usual catered chalet, which is very close to Mrs. Casanova. They go every year for Christmas, as you know. C doesn’t know you’re on the same flight as her. You can use the time to brief her on developments. She’ll like that. It’s only fair we keep her up-to-date. She can take things a bit to heart you know.’ Meriwether smiled at me.
    I did know. I chewed on a mouthful of cake and drank some coffee while I waited for Meriwether to continue.
    ‘Hoagy here has packed you a bag full of ski clothes. Your hotel will arrange a ski-pass and provide you with the necessary equipment from one of the hire shops in the village. If you require a mountain guide, the hotel can arrange that too. You’ll find the Manager most helpful in these matters.’ Meriwether paused and sipped more coffee. ‘Also in your bag you’ll find an ample supply of Swiss francs, I understand the Swiss Alps are expensive, oh, and a brand new K106.’
    ‘You want me to use a K106?’ I questioned.
    ‘I know you had a bad experience with one in Tenerife,’ Meriwether said, ‘but that was different. This time we don’t have a traitor about which to worry. This time it will help you. I want you to use it, agreed?’
    I nodded my agreement.
    ‘Good,’ said Meriwether. ‘Well, that’s about everything. You’d better get off and go to the airport; you don’t want to miss your flight.’
    ‘Apart from skiing, what else am I suppose to be doing there?’
    ‘Oh, yes, well, looking for Casanova, naturally.’
    ‘Is he definitely there?’
    ‘Yes, he’s there.’
    ‘Do you know where?’
    ‘Not yet, but he’s likely to meet up with his wife and daughters at some stage. It is Christmas.’
    ‘So, you think I should follow her?’
    ‘Maybe, but we’re working on his exact location and I’m certain we’ll have it very soon; probably by the time you’ve settled in at your hotel. Isn’t that