Another year! She had only stayed this long in Abyla to meet the British Queen.

Beatrice Menendez propped herself on her elbows. “Darling,” she called tenderly into the steam. “That doesn’t mean they’ll have to cancel the bullfight?”

11

In the Café Ulises, they were watching the Governor’s speech live on television. Unnoticed, Captain Panteco marched up to Silkleigh at the bar. The policeman was accompanied by the fisherman’s dog. He gripped an axe. “Unless you like hospital food, Silkleigh, you’re coming with me.”

Silkleigh held up his hands. “Relax, Panteco. If someone’s an arsehole, that’s what they are. Period.”

“Shh,” said Dionisio Porcil, the banker, and, mopping his forehead, he turned back to the screen.

The policeman drove through the deserted wet streets to the Consulate building. As they climbed to the first floor, Panteco said, “It might interest you to know I’ve been watching you day and night for the last fortnight.”

“So?”

Panteco made a supreme effort to continue. “It might interest you to know it isn’t you.”

“I say, old thing, that is good news,” said Silkleigh.

“But that girl you’re going out with in your boat, Silkleigh.” Excitement brightened Panteco’s eyes. His tongue roamed uninhibited over his lips. He raised his axe. “I have a funny feeling she is not all she claims to be.”

An avalanche of snow, that’s what Panteco hoped to find as he splintered apart the door. That’s what he hoped he’d found when he saw the boxes carefully stacked one above the other to the ceiling. Hundreds of them! One box was enough to merit a Medalla de la Ciudad – and citation. He stumbled through the boxes, sending them tumbling. Impatiently, he tore at the grey sealing tape. He drew out an object contained in a plastic bag.

“What’s this, Silkleigh?” He turned to the diver, sitting on a box, with Toribio licking his face.

On a label fastened to the bag were written in clear print the words THROTTING & WHITTLE – WATER SYSTEMS. SIMPLY THE BEST.

12

“Something’s cropped up,” explained Sir Derek Cullis. He would not blind his superior with mere details, but it was clear that Max’s man had done his job. “We’re going to have to postpone the Royal Visit.”

The Foreign Secretary heard him out. “Frankly, Derek, I’m relieved.” In another year there would be a new government. “As I’m sure the Prime Minister will be.”

The two men walked together down the corridor. “I’ll tell him tomorrow – and we’d better let the Palace know,” said the Foreign Secretary. He would reallocate the time to review a batch of crime books for the Telegraph. “Tredwell will be disappointed. But that’s for the military to cope with. Who’s our eyes and ears in Abyla?”

Cullis told him.

“Thomas Wavery. Do I know him?”

“Very unlikely, Foreign Secretary.”

“Where was he before?”

“Peru.”

“Ah, yes.” The Foreign Secretary nodded. “Didn’t Winnie the Pooh come from Peru?”

“I believe that was Paddington Bear, sir.”

“That’s who it was.” He tapped his head. “There’s no question, Derek. The old memory is not what it used to be.” They had reached the top of the staircase. “Going to the Danes?” The new Ambassador was giving a reception.