Vorpal Blade by Colin Forbes Read Free Book Online Page B

Butler smiled pleasantly.
    'It would be your word against mine. You'd be screamin' in agony. So be sensible. Key's in the ignition. All you have to do is turn it, shove off.'
    'I'll remember your face,' snapped the driver.
    'Do that. Just hope you don't meet me in a dark alley. Now, on your way, sonny . . .'
    The driver suddenly grabbed the ignition key, turned it quickly, released the brake, rammed his foot down on the accelerator, aiming to hit Butler with the side of his car as he shot forward. Which is what Butler had expected so he had already nipped round the rear of the Volvo, standing on the pavement.
    The car rocketed to the other end of the Crescent, scraped the side of a Mercedes, both cars stopped. Butler could see them shaking their fists as he returned to the building.
    'Terrible drivers on the roads these days,' he said to himself.

    'That brown Volvo has gone, collided with another car,' Paula reported, sitting down at her desk.
    'Of course it has,' Newman replied. 'Harry Butler has his little ways. Incidentally, I was aware it was following us from ACTIL. Saw it in my rear-view mirror. Didn't think it was worth mentioning.'
    'Bob,' Tweed addressed Newman, 'Roman Arbogast mentioned as we were leaving that one of the guests tonight is a Black Jack Diamond, a friend of Sophie's. I've heard the name but know little about him.'
    'There's a story. Can't say I admire Sophie's taste in men friends. He's good-looking, a professional womanizer, and he used to be a big-time gambler at blackjack. Hence his nickname. Used to play at Templeton's, the swish club in Mayfair. Skilled. Won huge sums. One night the club had to send out to their bank for more money - he'd cleaned them out. Came in an armoured car. He cleaned up that lot. Became so rich he bid for Templeton's, bought the place. Stopped gambling immediately. Now he runs the club. Athletic type. Diamond is his Christian name. Hence Black Jack Diamond.'
    'I shouldn't have thought Roman Arbogast approves,' Paula remarked. 'What's his surname?'
    'Arbogast. He's a cousin. As for Roman's approval, I doubt he has much choice. Sophie struck me as strong- willed, does what she likes . . .'
    'I've never met this Black Jack Diamond,' Paula said with a thoughtful look.
    'And you don't want to,' Newman warned. 'He's dan gerous. A typical rich man's son, thinks the world's his oyster. His uncle, Alfred, Roman's father, went into the munitions business. Roman bought him out when he wanted a life of leisure. Hence the A for armaments in ACTIL. The plant is in America.'
    'Whereabouts in the States?' asked Tweed.
    'Boston.'

    4

    'Ladies and gentlemen, the Vice-President of the United States, the Honourable Russell Straub.'
    All eyes at the array of round tables in the Tree Creeper's spacious first-floor room turned to gaze at the door. His bodyguards, two tough-looking men in grey suits, stood aside at the doorway, and Russell Straub, clad in a din ner jacket, walked swiftly into view, both arms raised as thunderous clapping broke out. He stood there, keeping his arms raised as applause continued.
    'Milking the audience for every second he can,' whis pered Newman, seated next to Paula.
    'Shsh!' she admonished him. 'And that's not the way to clap.'
    Newman had both hands lifted and was patting his fingers together with a bored look. Straub still stood at the top of the steps leading down to the tables, a broad grin on his thin face. More applause.
    'He paints that grin on his face so it will last,' Newman whispered again.
    'You're impossible,' Paula responded, smiling.
    Straub was a tall lean figure with dark hair brushed well back over his head, thin dark eyebrows, glowing eyes, a long sharp nose, a mean mouth and a stubborn chin. As he descended the steps he spread his arms wide as though to enclose the crowded room in a warm embrace.
    'He's going to kiss us all next,' Newman commented.
    'Keep your voice down and shut up.' Paula snapped.
    'Difficult to do both at the same