1967 - Have This One on Me Read Online Free Page A

is the Soviets’ best man. Well, at least, we know he is there. So ...’ Dorey paused to study his fingernails, his eyebrows coming down in a frown. ‘We have to fool Malik and get Latimer into Prague.’
    Knowing Dorey had already solved the problem. O’Halloran said nothing. He waited.
    ‘We must create a smoke screen.’ Dorey went on. ‘We will put an obvious agent into Prague and while Malik is working him over, Latimer slips in.’
    O’Halloran rubbed his fleshy jaw.
    ‘Sounds fine, but the obvious agent as you call him will have it rough.’
    Dorey smiled bleakly.
    ‘Yes, certainly, but he will be expendable.’ He paused and regarded O’Halloran, then went on, ‘Did you know Girland is back? He arrived from Hong Kong this morning.’
    ‘Girland?’ O’Halloran sat forward. ‘Back here?’
    ‘Yes. I keep tabs on Girland. He owes me a lot of money. It is time he paid me back.’ Dorey picked up his paper knife and examined it. ‘I am going to use Girland as my smoke screen. When Malik hears Girland is in Prague, he will jump to the conclusion that Girland is our replacement. While he is working Girland over, Latimer will slip in. How do you like the idea?’
    O’Halloran stared down at his freckled hands while he thought. He had considerable respect for Girland who, at one time, had been Dorey’s best agent.
    ‘What makes you think Girland will go to Prague?’ he asked finally. ‘Girland no longer works for us. He is no fool. I can’t see him going behind the Curtain.’
    ‘Girland has two weaknesses: women and money,’ Dorey said. ‘He will go. I guarantee it.’
    ‘If he does, you will lose him. Do you want to lose him?’
    Dorey’s thin lips tightened.
    ‘Girland thinks only of himself. He has worked for us only because he has made a profit out of us. He has managed to swindle me out of quite a large sum of money. It is time we made use of him as he has made use of us. So we lose him ... it will be no great loss.’
    O’Halloran shrugged.
    ‘If you’re smart enough to get him to Prague, then it is no skin off my nose what happens to him. I don’t have to remind you he’s a smart cookie. Just why should he go to Prague?’
    ‘If the bait is tempting enough, the fish always bites,’ Dorey said. ‘I have a beautiful tempting bait for Girland. He’ll go to Prague.’
     
    * * *
     
    Worthington came out of the tiny bathroom, dabbing his face with a towel. He had shaved off his moustache and his lean face now looked longer and weaker.
    ‘It makes quite a difference,’ he said. ‘I have worn a moustache for twenty-five years. I feel rather lost without it.’
    He took from breast pocket a pair of horn-rimmed spectacles and slipped them on. Wearing these and without my moustache, I don’t think they can possibly recognise me, do you?’
    Mala stared hopelessly at him. The moustacheless upper lip and the glasses had changed his appearance. The way he had taken over her apartment, the way he had assumed that she would help him had left her stunned.
    ‘I thought I would bleach my hair,’ Worthington went on, peering at himself in the mirror over the fireplace. ‘I have a bottle of peroxide in my bag. I’m not sure how to use it.’ He turned and looked inquiringly at her. ‘Could you help me?’
    Mala drew in a long shuddering breath.
    ‘No ... I won’t help you!’ she said, trying to control her voice.
    Terror was mounting inside her. She knew if they caught Worthington, he would betray her. That long weak face warned her there was no steel in him. Once they began to interrogate him, he would tell them everything. Then they would come here and take her away. The thought of being in the hands of the Security Police, what they would do to her, made her sick with fear. ‘Please go. I mean it. Please ... please go!’
    Worthington looked reproachfully at her.
    ‘You don’t mean that,’ he said. ‘Suppose I make you a cup of tea? Tea is so much better than alcohol.’ He looked