Tweed was settling down to his meal in the breakfast room – as opposed to the dining room – when the mobile buzzed. He listened to Monica calling him from Park Crescent. `I have Philip Cardon on the line. Very urgent.' `Tell him to give me thirty seconds while I go somewhere quiet.'
He hurried to the empty dining room. Closing the door he sat in a chair. `Philip, Tweed here…' `A priority-one crisis – if you wish to eliminate Calouste Doubenkian. I've booked all of you on the last Eurostar this evening to Brussels. He's at his HQ a long way outside the city.' `We'll come,' Tweed decided immediately. `I need to give you special instructions…'
Tweed noted down what Philip said, then he was off the line Philip had abruptly broken the call. He made a brief call to Park Crescent, then walked back quietly to finish his breakfast with Paula and Newman. On a sheet from his notepad he had scribbled brief instructions. He handed them to Marler, who read the notes, then left the table immediately. `Trouble?' Paula whispered as Mrs Grandy brought in more plates of eggs and bacon. `Mrs Grandy,' Tweed said with a smile, 'could you help me by serving those breakfasts in the dining room?' `If you say so,' she grumbled. 'Means laying a table with a cloth and the cutlery.' `Of a sort,' he whispered to Paula, answering her earlier question. 'I'll explain when the whole team is assembled. In the meantime I suggest we enjoy a leisurely breakfast.'
After breakfast he strolled with Paula into the dining room. Marler had moved fast. Seated at the dining table, eating the last of their meal were, besides Marler, Newman and Harry.
Tweed's first move was to close the heavy oak soundproof door and perch a large tilted chair against it. Then he sat at the head of the table with Paula on his right. `First,' he began, 'I'll tell you what Philip said when he opened the conversation, then his specific instructions…'
When he had finished, Harry asked, 'What about Pete Nield now holding the fort at Park Crescent?' `I've already informed him and he'll be joining us.' `I like that,' Harry replied. 'He watches my back and I watch his.' `I'm putting Chief Inspector Hammer in charge while I'm not here. I've also warned Buchanan to forbid him from arresting Crystal – on the basis there's not enough evidence. Yet.' `Is Snape confessing now?' Paula wondered. `Buchanan interrogated him and couldn't get a word out of him. So he's parked in a cell.'
Well, we've got rid of the spy who was informing Calouste,' Paula mused. `One of the spies,' Tweed corrected her. 'I'm convinced there is another one hidden away in this manor. The main spy.' `Any idea who that is?' `I haven't a clue,' Tweed told her. 'Incidentally, I'll be telling Marshal, Warner and Lavinia that we have a lead in London and have to search different localities. Also that we shan't be back tonight. One more thing, Philip warned it's very cold in Belgium now So wrap up well.'
They were on the verge of leaving, gathered in the hall, when Leo appeared. He plucked at Tweed's sleeve. `Could we talk together, just the two of us? I've stumbled on something very important.' `Tell me when we get back. I'm behind schedule.' `I wonder what he was on about?' Paula asked as they walked down the steps. `Another of his fantasies, I imagine.' `Well, nothing serious can happen here while we're away.'
It was a remark she was later bitterly to regret making.