flight rather than hire a jet. Don't you think I've done rather well'?'
`You'd have done a bloody sight better to consult me first. How do you think I felt when your louse of a brother-in-law comes up to me in front of Rosen to give me this news?'
`Really? Linda must have phoned him at the office. He was working late. She's planned a farewell dinner for us here...'
`Count me out...'
`Robert! It's all fixed.' Her temper began to flare. 'I'm all packed. You said you could pack anytime in ten minutes even to go to Tokyo...'
`That's when I want to go, to Tokyo. Look, Nancy — and don't interrupt. There's not a shred of evidence that there's anything wrong about Jesse being flown to the Berne Clinic. I've talked to Dr Chase. I've had two conversations with Rosen. I've stared at Linda's legs while she talked to me...'
`Is that what you're so anxious not to leave — Linda's legs?'
`Now you're getting nasty. Nancy, you can't just push me around like this. It's no basis for any kind of relationship — let alone marriage.'
`Oh, shit, Bob...'
`Look, Nancy, this argument has been going on practically since we first met in London three months ago...'
`That was when I tried to phone Jesse and heard from Linda that he'd been sent to Switzerland. I really do feel something's very wrong. Remember, I am a doctor...'
`And I'm a foreign correspondent who looks for evidence. I haven't found anything to justify your anxiety. Now you present me with this fait accompli , this package deal all wrapped up in pink ribbon.'
He waved the ticket folders under her shapely nose. She took both his wrists in her hands, leaned up to him and nestled her face alongside his, whispering in his ear.
`Bob, would you please come with me to Berne to quiet my fears. For my sake?'
`That's a better approach...'
`It's the approach I should have used first. You're right — I should never have bought those tickets without consulting you. I'm sorry. Truly.'
He freed one hand and reached under her hair to stroke her neck. The receptionist was putting on quite a performance at not noticing them. She nestled her head against his chest and purred contentedly. He freed his other hand, grasped her chin and lifted it up to kiss her full on the lips.
`Nancy, I have to go back to Dr Rosen to ask him one more question. We leave for Berne tomorrow..
Harvey Wayne had just left Rosen when Newman sat down opposite the doctor. Rosen nodded towards Harvey's retreating back with a grimace.
`He's been pumping me, trying to find out what we were talking about. How did the argument go?'
`The way I expected it to.' Newman's manner had changed. He was crisp, decisive. 'Have you any idea where the majority of patients in the Berne Clinic come from?'
`My impression — it was no more than that — was they mostly come from the States. Plus a few from South America where they can still afford the fees. Is it significant?'
`It could be the key to the whole operation.'
Seven
11 February 1984 . The DC10 flew at 35,000 feet above the invisible Atlantic as the machine proceeded at 500 mph in a north-easterly direction for Europe. In her first-class seat Nancy was fast asleep, her head flopped on Newman's shoulder. He moved her carefully so he could leave his seat. No risk she would wake up: when Nancy fell asleep she went out cold.
Taking a pad from his pocket, Newman wrote the signal in capital letters so there could be no error in transmission. Standing up, he summoned a stewardess, put a finger to his lips and nodded towards Nancy. Taking the girl by the arm he guided her towards the pilot's cabin and spoke only when they were inside the galley.
`I'd like this message radioed immediately to London. Find out the cost while I wait here...'
The stewardess returned in less than a minute. An attractive girl, she studied Newman frankly. You weren't supposed to fraternize with passengers but... She found Newman's droll, easy manner irresistible. And her flat wasn't far from
`You'd have done a bloody sight better to consult me first. How do you think I felt when your louse of a brother-in-law comes up to me in front of Rosen to give me this news?'
`Really? Linda must have phoned him at the office. He was working late. She's planned a farewell dinner for us here...'
`Count me out...'
`Robert! It's all fixed.' Her temper began to flare. 'I'm all packed. You said you could pack anytime in ten minutes even to go to Tokyo...'
`That's when I want to go, to Tokyo. Look, Nancy — and don't interrupt. There's not a shred of evidence that there's anything wrong about Jesse being flown to the Berne Clinic. I've talked to Dr Chase. I've had two conversations with Rosen. I've stared at Linda's legs while she talked to me...'
`Is that what you're so anxious not to leave — Linda's legs?'
`Now you're getting nasty. Nancy, you can't just push me around like this. It's no basis for any kind of relationship — let alone marriage.'
`Oh, shit, Bob...'
`Look, Nancy, this argument has been going on practically since we first met in London three months ago...'
`That was when I tried to phone Jesse and heard from Linda that he'd been sent to Switzerland. I really do feel something's very wrong. Remember, I am a doctor...'
`And I'm a foreign correspondent who looks for evidence. I haven't found anything to justify your anxiety. Now you present me with this fait accompli , this package deal all wrapped up in pink ribbon.'
He waved the ticket folders under her shapely nose. She took both his wrists in her hands, leaned up to him and nestled her face alongside his, whispering in his ear.
`Bob, would you please come with me to Berne to quiet my fears. For my sake?'
`That's a better approach...'
`It's the approach I should have used first. You're right — I should never have bought those tickets without consulting you. I'm sorry. Truly.'
He freed one hand and reached under her hair to stroke her neck. The receptionist was putting on quite a performance at not noticing them. She nestled her head against his chest and purred contentedly. He freed his other hand, grasped her chin and lifted it up to kiss her full on the lips.
`Nancy, I have to go back to Dr Rosen to ask him one more question. We leave for Berne tomorrow..
Harvey Wayne had just left Rosen when Newman sat down opposite the doctor. Rosen nodded towards Harvey's retreating back with a grimace.
`He's been pumping me, trying to find out what we were talking about. How did the argument go?'
`The way I expected it to.' Newman's manner had changed. He was crisp, decisive. 'Have you any idea where the majority of patients in the Berne Clinic come from?'
`My impression — it was no more than that — was they mostly come from the States. Plus a few from South America where they can still afford the fees. Is it significant?'
`It could be the key to the whole operation.'
Seven
11 February 1984 . The DC10 flew at 35,000 feet above the invisible Atlantic as the machine proceeded at 500 mph in a north-easterly direction for Europe. In her first-class seat Nancy was fast asleep, her head flopped on Newman's shoulder. He moved her carefully so he could leave his seat. No risk she would wake up: when Nancy fell asleep she went out cold.
Taking a pad from his pocket, Newman wrote the signal in capital letters so there could be no error in transmission. Standing up, he summoned a stewardess, put a finger to his lips and nodded towards Nancy. Taking the girl by the arm he guided her towards the pilot's cabin and spoke only when they were inside the galley.
`I'd like this message radioed immediately to London. Find out the cost while I wait here...'
The stewardess returned in less than a minute. An attractive girl, she studied Newman frankly. You weren't supposed to fraternize with passengers but... She found Newman's droll, easy manner irresistible. And her flat wasn't far from
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