The Scarlatti Inheritance(68)
“Perhaps he was just a burglar.”
“He wasn’t. He was a killer. I don’t mean to alarm you.”
The old woman looked carefully into Canfield’s eyes. “Who is ‘they,’ Mr. Canfield?”
“I don’t know. That’s where the talking comes in.”
“You believe they’re connected with my son’s disappearance, don’t you?”
“Yes, I do.… Don’t you?”
She did not answer directly, “You said we should start at the beginning. Where is that for you?”
“When we found out that millions of dollars’ worth of American securities were being sold secretly on a foreign exchange.”
“What has that to do with my son?”
“He was there. He was in the specific area when the rumors started. A year later, after his disappearance, we received reliable intelligence that the sale had been made. He was there again. Obvious, isn’t it?”
“Or highly coincidental.”
“That theory was knocked out of the box when you opened the door for me an hour ago.”
The old woman stared at the field accountant as he slouched in the chair. He, in turn, watched her through half-closed eyes. He saw that she was furious but controlled.
“You presume, Mr. Canfield.”
“I don’t think so. And since we know who your would-be assassin was and who he worked for—Godwin-some-body-or-other, Wall Street—I think the picture’s pretty clear. Someone, someone in the fifth largest brokerage house in New York, is angry enough with you or frightened enough of you to want you killed.”
“That’s speculation.”
“Speculation, hell! I’ve got the bruises to prove it!”
“How did Washington make this … questionable connection?”
“ Washington’ takes in too many people. We’re a very small department. Our normal concerns are quietly dealing with larcenous but highly placed government officials.”
“You sound ominous, Mr. Canfield.”
“Not at all. If an uncle of the Swedish ambassador makes a killing in Swedish imports, we’d rather straighten it out quietly.” He watched her closely.
“Now you sound harmless.”
“Neither I assure you.”
“About the securities?”
“The Swedish ambassador, as a matter of fact.” Canfield smiled. “Who, to the best of my knowledge, hasn’t any uncle in the import business.”
“The Swedish ambassador? I thought you said Senator Brownlee was the one.”
“I didn’t. You did. Brownlee caused enough of a fuss to make the Justice Department call in everyone who ever had anything to do with Ulster Scarlett. At one point, we did.”
“You’re with Reynolds!”
“Again, that’s your statement. Not mine.”
“Stop playing games. You work for that man, Reynolds, don’t you?”
“One thing I’m not is your prisoner. I’m not going to be cross-examined.”
“Very well. What about this Swedish ambassador?”
“You don’t know him? You don’t know anything about Stockholm?”
“Oh, for God’s sake, of course I don’t!”
The field accountant believed her. “Fourteen months ago Ambassador Walter Pond sent word to Washington that a Stockholm syndicate had pledged thirty million dollars for large blocks of American securities if they could be smuggled across. His report was dated May fifteenth. Your son’s visa shows he entered Sweden on May tenth.”
“Flimsy! My son was on his honeymoon. A trip to Sweden was not out of the ordinary.”
“He was alone. His wife remained in London. That’s out of the ordinary.”
Elizabeth rose from the chaise longue. “It was over a year ago. The money was only pledged.…”
Ambassador Pond has confirmed that the transaction was concluded.”
“When?”
“Two months ago. Just after your son disappeared.”
Elizabeth stopped pacing and looked at Canfield. “I asked you a question before you went after that man.”
“I remember. You offered me a job.”
“Could I receive cooperation from your agency on your approval alone? We have the same objective. There’s no conflict.”
“What does that mean?”
“Is it possible for you to report that I voluntarily offered to cooperate with you? The truth, Mr. Canfield, merely the truth. An attempt was made on my life. If it weren’t for you, I’d be dead. I’m a frightened old woman.”
“It’ll be assumed that you know your son’s alive.”
“Not know. Suspect.”
“Because of the securities?”