‘Family?’

‘Yes,’ Schwartz said with a pulled face, ‘family, but more his loves. A close girlfriend or wife, for instance.’

‘He’s not married, I don’t think.’

‘We can check that out. If he has a woman, we can do some damage in a way that no one could ever shoot home the blame to you or Conquer. The CIA can’t protect everyone around him.’

‘But he’ll be damaged?’

‘Exactly.’

‘I wish you would not say “exactly”,’ Bleulance said. ‘It grates. Find another word, will you?’

‘Yes, Baron. Sorry, Baron.’

46 THE NIGHTCLUB

46

THE NIGHTCLUB

After six months of CIA protection, Haut was told by Mr X that he could base himself outside the US, but was cautioned against returning to Hobart.

‘You are most vulnerable there,’ Mr X told him, ‘especially as we believe there could well be another assassination attempt. It may be that there is still an assignment to eliminate you.’

Haut decided he could risk a move to London, where he could step up his drive for funds to develop his oil leases and cold fusion technology.

*

Haut packed his models of the elements and booked an early morning flight from New York to London. He sat at a window seat and was joined by a lean, moustachioed man wearing a white, lightly checked jacket. He had a young female companion. The always outgoing and loquacious Haut was pleased when the man reached out a hand and introduced himself as Ryan Gram and the bespectacled woman, his secretary, as Anne Marie Blanchette.

When breakfast was served Haut asked Ryan why he was going to London.

‘We’re with Tielisten Allan,’ Ryan said.

‘Special Scientific Development—SSD, by any chance?’ Haut asked.

‘We are …’ Gram responded, feigning surprise.

‘I’ve had talks with the director.’

‘Mark Anderson. Really?’

‘He’s interested in investing in my plasmoid technology …’

‘Forgive me, Mr Haut,’ Gram said, ‘but didn’t you decide to go with NASA, not us?’

‘NASA has been slow in coming forward,’ Haut said, ‘but you’re right. They are the frontrunner for me to deal with in the US.’

Over breakfast and the next three hours, Haut outlined his inventions to the rapt attention of Gram and Blanchette. After exhausting their attention, Haut remarked, ‘This meeting is no coincidence,’ which startled them both.

‘What do you mean?’ Blanchette asked.

‘It’s meant to happen,’ Haut replied with certitude. ‘It’s God’s will.’

The others smiled with apparent relief and nodded their agreement.

*

Haut took an apartment in the West End’s Jermyn Street, St James, that had strong security and whose guards were linked with those of the Magic nightclub across the road. This meant that if he ventured out, he need only go a few steps for relief from his apartment confinement.