‘She sent it exactly as we discussed?'
`Precisely. Word for word.'
It was almost six p.m. but it was still hot on the Town Beach. Skinner had been true to his word to Sarah, and had slept away most of Wednesday on a lounger on the terrace. Now he sat, wearing only shorts and trainers, on the low wall at the edge of the sand. Arturo Pujol sweltered uncomfortably beside him, even though clad in light slacks and a cotton shirt. Each man drank from a can of Seven-Up acquired from one of several dispensers around the promenade.
`I have a copy here,' said the Commandante. He fished in his shirt pocket and handed a folded piece of paper to Skinner.
The photocopied fax was printed on Montgo SA letterhead. Skinner read through it, translating the French laboriously. `Senora Alberni has asked me to contact you. She is forced to sell her villa because of problems with her late husband's insurance, and she wonders whether Montgo SA would consider acquiring it as an investment, at no more than she and Senor Alberni paid for it. The matter is urgent, since she is being pressed by her husband's bank. She asks if you will come to L'Escala this week, on Thursday or Friday, to discuss it with her. She decided to contact you through me, rather than directly, since she felt that Madame Vaudan might not appreciate your having calls from strange women.'
Skinner handed the creased paper back to Pujol. 'You told Gloria, I take it, in case he decided to phone her.'
`Si. But he has not.'
`Has Veronica had an acknowledgement?'
`Yesterday. Vaudan says that he will arrive on Friday afternoon, that he will go straight to his villa, and that he will see Senora Alberni once she has finished work, at six p.m. at his office.'
`Ace! One minute past six and he's nicked.'
Pujol shook his head. 'No. If he goes to his villa, we will arrest him there.'
Skinner frowned. 'What d'you want to do that for? The villa's built on the hillside up in Punta Montgo. He knows its layout — you don't. Wait till he gets to the office, and arrest him there. Much easier. You don't want to underrate this guy, Arturo. You're going to arrest him for ordering at least one murder, and maybe two. Don't assume that he'll just hold out his hands for the cuffs. And never give a man like that anything that might be an edge.'
`Si, Bob. I understand that, but if we go into the office. Skinner nodded. 'I get it. The lovely Veronica'll be right in the middle of it!'
Pujol flushed.
`Get her out of there. Tell her to go to the ladies at two minutes to six, and lock herself in! When you go in, don't advertise yourselves. Your guys don't have to wear their green suits and their funny hats. You have heard of plain clothes, haven't you?'
`No, Bob. That is not the way we do it. We will take him in uniform, at his villa.'
‘Fuckin" ell, I don't know! Just as well that you'll have me along.'
Pujol looked at him sideways and shook his head. 'No, I am sorry. I am grateful, Bob, for all your help, but I think that now I have to follow the rules. This is a murder case in my jurisdiction. If I allowed you to take part in the arrest, my superiors would take — what is it you say? — a dark view.'
Skinner sat upright on the wall. 'Come on, man. You can't keep me out of it now!'
The Commandante's round, sallow face wore a pained expression. 'I am sorry, but if you were there and there was an. . accident. No, it is not possible.'
`Arturo, this probably will be a straightforward arrest. But on the off-chance that it isn't, I've got experience you haven't. I've dealt with people who'd make Vaudan piss his pants.'
Pujol shook his head. 'Much as I would be comforted by having you at my side, I cannot allow it.'
Skinner saw that he would not win the argument. 'All right. Let me be a spectator. Give me field-glasses and a radio, and I'll keep watch on the villa and call you once he's inside.'
The Commandante considered this request for a few moments in silence. Eventually he smiled. 'Okay. That I will allow. After all, I cannot keep you from going to the top of the Garbinell, can I? But, to be proper, one of my men will go with you. He will have the radio and the binoculars. I will do things by the rules.'