Шкловский Лев Переводчик. Death Hand Play2222

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Школа кожевенного мастерства: сумки, ремни своими руками

Оставить комментарий © Copyright Шкловский Лев Переводчик Размещен: 28/01/2026, изменен: 28/01/2026. 99k. Статистика. Глава: Детектив, Приключения Скачать FB2		Ваша оценка:

The women and all but one of the txxjyguards got into the

first limousine, and they left.

Rojas got into the passenger seat, and the remaining body-

guard slid behind the wheel of the second limo. •mey pulled

out of the Alhambra's gate as the first limo flashed past

Carter, then tumed the opposite way and headed off into the

night.

Carter waited until the limousine 's taillights all but disap-

EEared in the distance, and then he pulled away from the side

of the road and headed after them.

For a time there was some doubt in his mind as to where

Rojas and his man were going. But after they hui gone way

out to Newham—which was far to the east of London—they

tumed back to the northwest, and then he knew. They were

headed up to Bamet. The Chåteau Le Favre. When they hit

the E8 and headed directly west, he was certain.

Carter the next exit, the 450SL through

the silent, dark British tounüyside.

It was very late at night—or early in the morning, depend-

ing on your point of view—when Carter turned onto Wood

Street, the main street of Barnet. There was absolutely no

traffic stimng as he found a phone booth and lcx)ked through

the directory for the Chateau Le Favre.

There was no listing.

He called information, but they had no listing for such a

place either, the operator no doubt thinking Carter crazy for

looking for a French restaurant at that hour.

He went back to his car and got behind the wheel. For a

minute or two he remained there, staring vacantly at the

phone tx)0th.

It would actually quite simple. He could call AXE in

Washington and have them vouch for him here with the

Barnet police. They would tell him what he wanted to know.

NICK CARTER

+ 110%

NICK CARTER

But that was too risky, given his orders. Rojas was not to

know or even that he wasn't what he presented

himself to be. Nothing more than a very rich playboy. With

incredible guts and even better luck.

Carter started the car and drove off, his mind working. It

would have been too risky to have directly followed Rojas

and his driver out here. Sooner or later they would have

spotted the headlights behind them.

He drifted out toward the E8 where it came into town and

merged with the other highways, and suddenly he had it.

He pulled into an all-night service station-restaurant,

parked in the rear, and went into the restaurant.

As he had hoped, there was a gift shop for tourists to the

area. Included was a magazine rack and book display. He

found the book he was looking for almost immediately:

Homes of Note in Watford, Barnet and Cheshunt. The

Oiåteau LR Favre was listed in the index, as Carter

it might

The guide cost him more than three pounds. He took it

back to the restaurant, where he ordered a cup of tea and a

muffin with marmalade, and started reading.

The home had been built in the late 1600s in Lisieux in the

Calvados region of France. In 1787 a terrible fire all but

destroyed the twenty-seven-room mansion, but eleven years

later it had been rebuilt by an attorney from Paris who had

somehow managed to survive the terrible purges both during

and after the Revolution.

In the late twenties the home was sold to a wealthy Indian,

who had it carefully dismantled, brought to England, and

reconstructed stone by stone on its present site near Bamet.

Since then, the Mansion had changed hands several times.

It had been slightly damaged during the Second World War,

had been opened as a mental hospital in the early fifties, and

since 1977 had been maintained as a private residence by an

DEATH HAND PLAY

Arab gentleman originally from Kuwait. His telephone was

unlistd

The hopee was situated on 150 acres of hilly, heavily

wooded land that had once a game preserve of King

Richard the Lion-Hearted.

Carter finished his snack, paid, and left. Ihe mansion was

way out on Axeton Manor Road to the west of town, and the

gave explicit directions for how to find it. Fifteen

minutes later he was passing a small attached to a

rockpile, that announced LE FAVRE.

He drove on for another few hundred yards he

pulled over to the side of the rozxi and the car in a

wide, grassy ditch. He pcxketed the keys and headed up

through the wcxxLs, angling back toward the driveway he had

passed.

He crossed a low, barbed wire fence—highly unusual for

England , Carter noted—and the land climbed gently from the

low, flat area through which the highway had run. At the

crest of a hill, Carter looked down on the Chåteau Le Favre.

The house was very large, with dormers, chimneys, and

balconies to either side of the main entrance and along the

sides.

Several cars were parked out front, including the

limousine in which Rojas and his had left the

Alhambra.

For a minute or two Carter remained where he was, study-

ing the house and its grounds. But there was little to seen.

There was no movement. No one came or went. And only the

windows in the front right rooms were lit. All else was in

darkness.

Finally Carter made his way down the hill, cmssing the

road well back from the house so that if anyone were on guard

duty, he would not seen.

It tcx)k him fifteen minutes to work his way around to the

+ 110%

NICK CARTER

side of the house and then up the front right balcony.

where he managed to get to one of the windows.

Ihrough the gap in the Carter could see Rojas

seated with two other men. Both of them looked hard. weath-

erbeaten, but both of them were dressed to the nines.

They had familiar faces. but Caner did not recognize

them. They lcxüed almost like soldiers to him. with their

erect bearing. their short haircuts. and their direct motions.

Rojas had a briefcase that he stood up and ogrned on the

big oak desk.

One of the other men pulled something out of the brief-

case. and Carter got a gcxxi look at it.

It was money. A bundle of money. British B'unds. If the

briefcase was filled with money. there was a lot there.

Rojas was delivering money to these men. But who were

they? And for what was the money payment?

Carter stared at the two men for a long time. memorizing

their faces, before he left the window.

Глава 5 Пятая глава

Carter went around to the back of the house, then crossed a

narrow courtyard the garage, where he slipped into

the and crouched down.

From where he was he could s.æ the back of the house, and

tyyond the west side he could see the driveway that led out to

the highway.

When Rojas left, Carter wcRild know it.

The weather was that morning, and a few clouds

to float across the star-studded sky. finally it txgan to

drizzle, a desultory, chilly rain that soon soaked Carter to the

skin.

It was after four in the morning when Rojas's limousine

finally left, and a half hour after that before the lights in the

house all went out.

Carter waited until five, then he moved from his hiding

place, crossed the courtyard, and came up to one of the rear

entrances to the house.

Through a window beside the door he could see a short

corridor that led into what to be a pantry. Canned

goods and other focxLstuffs were stacked on shelves. A door-

way seemed to lead into the kitchen.

NICK CARTER

The door was locked with a deadbolt, but as far as Carter could tell, the window was not alarmed.

He wrapped the butt of his Luger in his handkerchief and carefully broke one of the windowpanes near the sash lock, then removed the fragments of glass.

Quickly he unlatched the window, slid it up, and climbed inside. He turned, went through the pantry, and stepped into the kitchen.

It was a very large room, with the professional equipment needed for cooking banquet-sized meals. Directly across from where he stood were the large serving doors that apparently led into the dining room. To the right was another, narrower door that probably led to the rest of the house.

He silently crossed the kitchen, put his ear to the narrow door, and listened. If anyone had heard the breaking glass, which he felt was highly unlikely, they’d have been stirring by now. But there were no sounds from the house other than what he took to be the ticking of a large clock.

The door opened onto a long vestibule from which narrow stairs rose to the second floor—the servants’ staircase, Carter guessed—and which led to the main hallway at the front of the house.

Carter turned from the stairs and followed the corridor to the front, where he stopped again to listen in the shadows at the foot of the main staircase.

A grandfather clock chimed the half hour in the living room to the right.

The study, where he had seen Rojas hand over the money to the other men, was to the left. Entry was through a set of double doors with wide brass hinges, long handles, and a very large, ornately hooded lock.

It took Carter less than half a minute to spring the two-hundred-year-old lock with his stiletto, and he pushed open...

DEATH HAND PLAY 59

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PLAY HAND DEATH

and closed silently and ,study the into ,doors the

.m.

his out took Carter .tudy. the in light no almost WQS There

and ,desk the of direction general the in it aimed ,penlight

.n. it _flashed

behind seated man large a of impression brief the got He

Carter's when up coming was a.rm man's nle .esk. the

.X(t). the for diving ,left rolled Carter .ut. went penlight

weapon silenced a of plop soft characteristically The

and tE,en had Carter where right the tO once ,twice sounded

once rolled he legas right s' Cafler from away inches just then

.till. perfectly lay then ,again

his held then ,sleeve his of out stiletto his sliprrd Carter

A .esk. the behind from came fabric of rustle a as breath

.uiet. was then ,creaked floorboard

remained Carter ,time long very a like what For

was man Theother .uscle. a moving not ,was he where lying

moment brief the ln .rofessional. a wa.S He •. the doing

one as him recognized had he ,face s' man the seen had Carter

.oney. the handed had Rojas whom tO men tWO the of

of look The .omplexion. Weatherbeaten .air. Short-cropped

.is. now And .an. hard a

this then and ,ca.me dawn the long be not would lt

both for over would darkness the in seek and hide of game

tO Carter for difficult increasingly tEcome would lt .em. of

being without car his tO retum and house the of out get

.etected.

if point this tubesat the godown cwationcould lheentire

than other something wa.S Carter that fact a for knew Rojas

leaving him saw someone If .be tO himself presented he what

.lt. would Rojas ,him identify could and place this

wa.S desk the across man The .ing. one meant Which

•. or minute next the within And .ie. tO have tO going

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CARTER NICK

mouth his the toward head his tumed Carter

evena darkness the ln .nce. coughed and ,hand free his with

.und. the of direction the by fooled be would pro

muzzle the ,door the toward shots tW0 fired gunman The

.arrel. silencer the through visible barely just flash

that in stiletto the threw and knees his tO rose Carter

in shots more tWO fired then ,grunted gunman The .irection.

and left farther swung had Carter but ,direction Carter's

.sk. the of level the below ducked

.ilent. absolutely was study the Again

knew He .blade razor-sharp the with man the hit had Carter

,wound s1Fficial a been have could it But .act. a for that

.eg. or am man•s the in

holstered his for tuxedo his inside carefully reached He

-screw was He .ilencer. the for xket€p his inside then ,Luger

hit something when barrel the endof the onto silencer the ing

.kin. his of out nearly He .esk. the

shoved were book a like sounded what and papers Some

the tO sank presumably gunman the then and .esk. the from

•. soft a with floor

as Wilhelmina onto silencer the screwing finished Carter

,hand right his in automatic the Holding .p. stood slowiy he

the amund himself eased silently he ,left his in penlight his

.esk.

an just for on light the flipped he ,position in wa.S he When

nie• .necessary wasn't it But .ight. feinted then .instant

at clawing hands his ,open eyes his ,ide. his on lay gunman

lhere' .temum. his below just haft the tO buried stiletto the

.hirt. white his of front the down bl)K(d of lot a was

his down laid Carter .esk. the of back the around Once

man•s the studied He .body the beside knelt and Luger

his Or .familiar looked man the Somehow .eatures.

.before seen had Carter that tYF a just wa.S face

wiped carefully and chest man's the of out Hugo eased He

P HAND DEATH

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PLAY HAND DEATH

making first ,it sheathed then ,shirt man's the on blade the

his on or knife the on left blcxxj no wa.S there SUR absolutely

Carter ,jacket or shirt own his on be blcxxi any Should .hands

without hotel the into back get tO able tx not would he knew

.ojas. tO back getting word

there But .kets. his searched and over man the rolled He

BPK To lighter cigarette a than other nothing wa.S

.igarettes. Players of pack a and ,LB love with

interest of nothing desk the of search quick A

-ordi an tE tO apFEared desk the at worked Wtxxver .ither.

filled were Thedrawers .invesmentcounselor bankeror nary

book apfx(intment The .m(rts. and corporate with

which of few a ,meetings for messages cryptic contained

various atx.(ut or at meetings as decipher tO able was Carter

.establishments banking Paris and London

side the inoneof found was interest itemof single neonly

-well A .dictionary English-Arabic an wa.S lt .drawers

-Car and ,desk this at worked Wh)Ever .ictionary. thumbed

done just had he man the not was it suspected strongly ter

.is. regular a on Arabs the with dealt evidently ,with battle

.. it ,money their lnvesting

could Carter ,Rojas here? doing gunman the wa.S what So

would stature and interests business manofhis A .nderstand.

this owned whoever know tO cause of plenty have doubt no

.dead here lying ma.n the not But .place

,windows the tO over went and Luger his up picked Carter

Already .lookedoutside and back curtains the heeased whcre

lt .ky. the of lightening a wa.S there east the tO

end the come would dawn the with And .soon dawn be would

.ndetected. here of out getting for chances his of

tell would that house the in here something wouldbe There

run had he But .it of certain almost was He .something him

.ime. of out

and them 0EEned _Carter .utward. swung windows The

age 1 ******

目

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62(74 of 212)

一十 110%

NICK CARTER

stepped out onto the veranda. He reached back inside and

made sure the curtains were closed as before, then shut the

windows. He was unable to relock them. But he figured it

would most likely go unnoticed.

He made his way directly across the driveway, then into

the woods and up the hill.

It was raining again, this time very hard by the time he

climbed over the barbed wire fence and made it down to

where he had parked the Mercedes in the grassy ditch.

He got into the car, started the engine, and eased back up

onto the highway heading back toward Barnet.

It was pushing eight o'clock, and the morning traffic was

horrendous by the time Carter made it back to the Ritz and

turned his car in at the front door.

He had loosened his tie, and he staggered up the steps and

into the lobby, the doorman's eyebrows raising.

Carter figured there'd be no way he could have made it into

the hotel at this hour without running into one of the staff, no

matter which entrance he used. And if he had been caught

sneaking around, questions were bound to be asked, ques-

tions that would most certainly get back to Rojas.

He was walking a tightrope here. If he stumbled and fell, it

would mean the end of this operation and possibly even his

own death.

It was better, he had figured, to enter the hotel openly.

He stumbled halfway across the lobby and nearly fell. A

bellman rushed across and took him by the elbow.

'Here, sir, let me give you a hand," the man said

"What the hell's the matter with you?" Carter snapped,

pulling his arm away. He straightened up—as if he had just

noticed where he was-and resolutely, but still unsteadily,

made his way the rest of the way across the lobby. He got his

key at the desk.

DEATH HAND DAY

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CARTER NICK

and inside back reached He .eranda. the onto out stepped

the shut then ,fore. a.S closed were curtains the sure made

it figured he But .em. relock tO unable was He .indows.

.unnoticed go likely most would

into then ,driveway the across directly way his made He

.ill. the up and wc«ds the

he time the by hard vety time this ,again raining wa.S lt

tO down it made and fence wire barbed the over climbed

.itch. grassy the in Mercedes the parked had he where

up back eased and ,engine the started cars the into got He

.Barnet toward back heading highway the ontO

was traffic morning the and ,o'clock eight pushing wa.S lt

and Ritz the tO back it made Carter time the by horrendous

.oor. front the at in car his turned

and Steps the up staggered he and ,tie his loosened had He

.raising eyebrows doorman's the ,obby. the into

into it havemade could he way no be d' there figured Carter

no ,staff the of one into running without hour this at hotel the

caught been had he if And .sed. he entrance which matter

—ques ,asked tO bound were questions ,nd. sneaking

.jas. tO back get certainly most would that tions

it ,fell and stumbled he If .here a walking was He

his even possibly and operation this of end the mean would

.cath. own

hotel the enter tO ,figured had he ,better was lt

A .llé. nearly and lobby the across halfway stumbled He

.eltx(w the by him took and across rushed bellman

.said man the ",hand a you give me let ,sir ,Here'.

Caner "you? with matter the hell's the What"

just had he if up--—as straightened He .away a,rrn his pulling

,unsteadily still but ,resolutely was--—and he where noticed

his got He .lobby the acrOSS way the of rest the way his made

(212 of 75)

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PLAY HAND DEATH

askd tE "nrssages? W'Any

no are tirre '. .Mr ,No" nostnls s' ücle Tbe

substantial rairr a tren has Öalth,'ÄJ ,Essagesß

".yrre cashier R.tr) with ECG.lnt ycmar tO d+hlt

things tWO re' rreü lf" .0QKily. sajd gcxxi,"Carter at•s%'

".sr«rts mxr arxi cbeats it's لو ca-Ct I

"suite? your tO up coffee have I Shall. Yes,sir"

bacon q:rne up me And not? Why" .laughed Carter

.toast q.(rne maytr arxi ر.o little A •. spwis eggs,arui ة

he where ,elevator the to way his and He

car the and shut slid rs«& the as wall bæk the agænst leaned

.up starta:i

asked elevator eldedy t}E "sir? ,luck o' Bit"

.pleasantJy

.luck SOT•ne haj I 'tmtin damned re' iSYou .gnnned Caner

".leaners. the tO R0Jas TCY(k

".ir. ,Frard SoI'0

his lurred؛ Carter "big? won I why hear you Did"

.ords.

liding؛ were doors the and ,floor his tO come They

tO tuming ,said man elevator the ,t' I .sir ,No" .n.

.im.

the off and wall the from away pushed Carter

,cheat couldn't American South wiJy ضطا عسة .car

".hy•. that's

elevator the as gasp man old the hear almost could Carter

.down back went car the and shut slKj doors

his tO humed Carter as comdor in one no was nere

and tuxedo qx.iden his off m:eled He. in himself let arvl rry.vrn

and weg«ns the with along ,weapons His. beap a in it left

waylay tO triad lwi who men the frørn taken ha.i he waJlets

.rawer. a lntO went ,jhambra. the near roai the on him

finishing just WZS He .shaved then ,shower aquick tmk He

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CARTER NICK

.ast. his with anived service room when dressing

-exces rnan the tipped Caner ,drunkenness feigning Still

pumps formal and tuxedo his away take him had and ,sively

.leaning. for

,breakfast his down wolfed he ,again alone W&S he When

.igarette. a lit and cognac of shot stiff a himself poured then

sleep tO up keyed (t)X entirely was he but ,tired very was He

.et. just

had He .ird. tren had salvos opening the ,eanwhile.

was lt .ack. stmck had Brazilian the and ,Rojas prodded

tk would the what see tO interesting be tO going

.avre. ßl Chåteau the at out incident morning's the after

tO going was He .at. for wait tO going wasn't Carter But

.again Rojas push

and guns the pocketed own his on strapped He

•. his left and ,goons tWO Rojas's from wallets

the acrOSS way his made he ,erect stiffly himself Holding

shower a taken just had who might ma.n drunken a a.S lobby

.behavior best very his on be tO trying was and

a that he and ,knew he ,heads few a turned He

.im. tRhind in fell men s' Rojas of pair

he and ,taxi a him hail d)k(rman the had Ca1ter ,utside.

of edge the at Memorial Albert the to him take driver the had

.ark. Hyde of west just Gardens Kensington

he yards ahundred within and ,park the out.entered got He

he path the up racing men s• Rojas see tO time in back doubled

.en. just had

and taxi passing a hailed he ,Road Kensington on out Back

He .appened. had what knew tails tWO his bcfore gone WXS

the of rest the of most for park the in be d' they figured

.moming

then .Park Regents of side north the tO cab the took Carter

,station underground Wood John•s .t. the tO walked he

PLAY HAND DEATH

being wasn't he sure make tO times three back doubling

train a on and below he followed

.iccaiilly. toward back heading

Bond the at gotoff and Circus atOxford trains switched He

Grosvenor tO streets the through humed then ,station Street

.mbassy. .U.S. the tO Square

,r)'X(m waiting the in of nurnlxr a were lhere

dire threatening was who woman vociferous one including

need if President the even alxi tYr against action

and desks vacant the of one on phone a up picked Carter

.ffice. s' the dialed

answerd secretary his ",Four-two-one"

the using Carter sm(tted had staff embassy the of One

young three with adiscussion from away broke he and ,phone

.m. the across staned and women

here arn I that Leland •. tell Please .Carter isNick ll(is*'

".immediately. him with speak must l .mbassy. the in

.emanded. secretary the "this? is Who"

",Ziggy tO along message my pa.SS and dear a be Just"

of handful a tO only known nickname the using ,said Carter

.le.

one hold Please" ,said she then But .asped. secretary lhe*

".. .fr. ,oment.

embassy the a.S up looked he and ,said Surely,"Carter"

-ap ,suit corduroy a wearing man young a ,employee

.ached.

These doing? re' you think you do what but ,me Excuse"

"—telephones public aren't

.pleasantly asked Carter "sir? ,you help I May"

think you do What me? SSHelp .puttered. man young ne

—doing re' you

. . .Mr ,you help I may ,Now .rking. l'm"

CARTER NICK

66 NICK CARTER

‘Hodgkiss,’ he said, then sputtered something else, but Carter held him off as the ambassador’s secretary, now a completely diffident woman, came on the line.

“Mr. Carter, sir?”

“I’m still here.”

“Mr. Leland will see you immediately.”

“Will you send someone down for me?”

‘Have one of the staffers bring you up, sir.’

‘Right,’ Carter said, and he hung up the phone.

‘Hodgkiss, my lad, we’re off to see the ambassador’

“What?”

Carter took the young man by the elbow and steered him across the reception area to the elevators. ‘Which way?’

‘Up, fourth floor, but you can’t go up there without an appointment.’

“I have one,” Carter said, punching the button for the elevator.

Ambassador George Leland took Carter into his office and dismissed a very surprised Hodgkiss. Inside, with the door closed, Leland poured them both some coffee.

“Still can’t get used to tea at this hour of the morning . . .” the ambassador began.

‘Is this room secure, sir?”

Leland looked at him sharply, but a second later he nodded. ‘Yes, it is. It’s swept every morning.’

“What have you been told about my job here, sir?”

“Not much, Carter, other than that you’d be here and to give you a hand if necessary. I’m assuming you’re in need of some assistance now?”

‘Just a large padded envelope and a secure telephone to Washington, sir.’

Leland nodded. He picked up his phone. ‘Maggie, get me

an alpha-one circuit to Washington. Mr. Carter will be using it.’ He handed the phone to Carter. ‘When you’re finished, I’ll be in the outer office with your envelope.’

‘I won’t be long,’ Carter said. The ambassador left, and within a couple of minutes Carter had his Washington number.

Although it was very early in the morning in Washington, Hawk came on the line almost immediately, his voice particularly gruff. ‘You’re breaking security.’

‘Yes, sir, but I’m going to need some help.’

‘Just a moment,’ Hawk said. Carter could almost see the man lighting a cigar and perhaps switching on a tape recorder even though all of his calls, even at home, were automatically recorded at AXE headquarters on Dupont Circle. ‘Go ahead, N3.’

Quickly and succinctly, Carter related everything that had happened to him since he had arrived in London scarcely twenty-four hours ago.

‘Sounds like you’ve stirred up a hornets’ nest.’

‘Yes, sir.’

‘It also sounds like Rojas is dealing with some pretty tough people. But we expected that. Were they Russian or Eastern European?’

‘Neither, sir,’ Carter said. Hawk was referring to the two men in the study at the Château Le Favre. ‘And they weren’t Middle Eastern. They seemed English. Or maybe South African.’

‘There’s a good man there in our London embassy, Lowenstein. He’ll be able to work up sketches for you, and we’ll take it from there.’

‘Thanks, sir. Meanwhile, there’s quite a large pile of money in my account at the Ritz.’

‘Yes, congratulations. Finance will be happy for a change.’

68 NICK CARTER

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CARTER NICK

little a money that needing be lill .sir ,that just lt's"

'.onger.

from thousand hundred of couple a have You"

cards credit your plus ,understand I what

tO going He's .Rojas from abundle won sir,butl've ,Yes"

i: of AII .back it want

.autiously. said Yes?"Hawk"

".ut. transferred is money the if know will people His"

"—Nick ,it process can we But"

be tO has money the AII" .lll. cut ir,"Carter. ,that not lt's"

,some lose l'll Perhaps .gain. meet We'll .ight. in left

likeacarrot remain tO got more,butit's some win l'll perhaps

".ose. s' donkey the of front in

".ater. or scx«ner ,win will You"

and nip seem tO has it But .ill. I I .ir. ,yes ,Oh'

in be tO has always money the least at Or .hile. a for tuck

".ojas. for ,sight plain

ll' they although ,bay at Finance keep l'll .right,Nick AII"

"Germany? for leaving you will When .owl. probably

,Sir?t"

-min twenty call the got just I .aden-Baden. .Germany'.

.O. responding were you what that's Thought .go. utes

".aden-Baden. tO way his on is and London left just Rojas

"hotel? What .own. hadn't I ,ir. No."

".arkhotel. Brenners The'

".hours of acouple within leaving be l'll .ir. ,you Thank"

.id. Hawk ",luck "G

ambassador the to out went he ,up hung Carter When

padded large a had man The .ffice. outer the in waiting

.over handed he which ,envelope

of care in Rojas tO the addressed quickly Caner

the of front in ,en. and ,Baden-Baden in hotel deluxe the

stuffed he ,ambassador startled the and secjetary wide-eyed

PLAY HAND DEATH

the two guns and the two wallets inside, and stapled the

envelope closed.

'Get this across in the diplomatic pouch, then see that it

gets delivered, " Carter said

Leland nodded but said nothing.

SIX

Baden-Baden, an ancient city, was founded by the Roman

emperor Hadrian in the second century a D. It is situated at the

edge of the Black Forest and among other things is noted as a

health spa because of its hot mineral springs.

Carter wanted Rojas to know he was being chased but

didn't want it to be obvious, so he took the boat-train from

London to Paris, then the train to Strasbourg. He hired a

limousine to take him the final few miles north and across the

border to the German city.

But neither Rojas nor Carter had come to Baden-Baden for

its springs or its history. Rojas had come because of the

casino at which baccarat was featured. And Carter came

because he was on the hunt.

Carter managed to sleep for nearly six hours on the trip

over, and he was refreshed as he got out of the limo in front of

the Parkhotel on Schillerstrasse. The casino was nearby, and

the hotel was one of the better in Germany.

He had had the Ritz call ahead for reservations, and inside

he was given the VIP treatment. Only his signature and

passport were required; everything else had been taken care

of for him.

At the desk he had the hotel manager promise to telephone

NICK CARTER

the casino and make credit arrangements, and then he went

upstairs to his suite to dress for the evening.

It was well after six o'clock when Carter had finished in the

bathroom. He had nearly finished dressing in his freshly

cleaned tuxedo, when room service showed up with a bottle

of very good champagne.

"I didn't order this," Carter said.

"No, sir," the room service waiter said, wheeling in the

cart. He made a show of opening the wine.

"Complimentary?"

"Actually no, sir. A card comes with it," the waiter said.

He handed Carter a card in a small envelope, then poured a

glass of the wine. Carter tipped him, and the man left.

The card was written in what was obviously a woman's

hand: Enjoy. From an admirer.

The champagne was very expensive and very good. Carter

lit a cigarette, then telephoned for a reservation at the

Schwarwaldgrill restaurant downstairs for eight o'clock.

He turned on some music, then took a glass of champagne

out on the terrace. England had been overcast and rainy. Here

the weather was cool but clear. The smells from the nearby

forest and the park just behind the hotel were sweet. Carter

breathed deeply, exhaling slowly.

This assignment was slowly working into something he

enjoyed. Later this evening he would challenge Rojas at

baccarat, a game that any trained monkey could play ...

any lucky monkey, that is. But it did demand courage,

something Carter instinctively felt Rojas lacked. He would

have preferred to continue playing poker or even craps,

which took a certain amount of skill with percentages. Even

roulette, if played correctly, was a game of skill, as was

blackjack. But baccarat—-or chemin de fer or punto banco,

however it was called demanded nothing more of its

players than guts.

DEATH HAND PLAY

Washington, D.C., his apartment, and the embassy

cocktail party circuit seemed a long way off at this quiet,

contemplative moment. For years, it seemed, he had sat

around idly while the world and her real problems passed him

by. He had been frustrated during the months of relative

inactivity. So frustrated in fact, that he had been worried

about going overboard on whatever his next assignment

might be.

But now he was beginning to feel comfortable. His old

sense of challenge had come back. Rojas was up to some-

thing serious. Carter's job was not merely to stop whatever it

was, but he had to find out what Rojas was doing, who he was

doing it for, and if possible, bend it to America's advantage.

He looked at the card that had come with the champagne.

There was only one woman who could possibly know he was

here: Carmella Perez.

She had come on to him at the casino in the Ritz and again

at the tables in the Alhambra. Was she interested in him? Or

did playing cards dangerously just turn her on?

Inside, Carter poured himself another glass of champagne,

then tied his bow tie, strapped on Wilhelmina, made sure

Hugo and Pierre were in their proper places, then pulled on

his jacket.

He sipped at the champagne, then pocketed his lighter and

put a dozen cigarettes into his gold cigarette case, which went

into a breast pocket.

He finished the glass of wine, then left his room and took

the elevator downstairs. He dropped the key off at the desk,

then sauntered across to the bar and ordered an Asbach-

Urhalt brandy:

"Guten Abend, Herr Carter," the barman said. "Your

table is ready anytime you wish it."

Carter smiled and inclined his head slightly. The word had

spread swiftly. Carter, the high roller from London, was

NICK CARTER

here. No doubt in pursuit of Rojas, the other high roller.

There would undoubtedly be a crowd at the casino this

evening. And if the fight continued for another evening, the

crowd would be even larger.

It was exactly what Carter wanted. Attention. Not so much

that Rojas would run, but enough to make the man very

nervous. . so nervous, in fact, that he'd make mistakes.

He sipped at his brandy, lit another cigarette, then glanced

across the bar toward where a trio was setting up for the

evening

'Good evening, Mr. Carter," a woman said behind him.

Without turning he knew who it was.

"Senhorita Perez,"

he said, facing her. He got to his feet.

"Slumming?"

She laughed, her voice as lovely as her face. 'There must

be a different connotation to that term than I am aware of."

"No."

'Then I would say no, I am not slumming. I am doing the

opposite. " She shook her head. "I am confused. Is such a

thing possible?"

Carter smiled and held the barstool for her while she sat.

"Sure,

, " he said, taking his own seat. 'It's called 'puttin' on

the ritz.' "

She laughed again. "That is an old song..."

"That's right," Carter said. "I think Fred Astaire sang it

in a thirties' movie musical."

The barman came, and Carmella ordered a glass of white

wine. Carter finished his brandy and ordered another.

"Thank you for the champagne,'

" Carter said, watching

her eyes. They widened slightly.

"Champagne?" she asked innocently.

"It doesn't matter. What brings you here this evening? I

thought you would be with Rojas and his entourage."

Their drinks came.

DEATH HAND PLAY

"I have been sent to spy on you. Find out what you are

after. Find out who sent you. Find out how it is you are here

so soon in Baden-Baden.

"I'm after Rojas's money. My own greed has sent me.

And I too had spies back at the Ritz who told me you had

come here."

"You intend following Juan along the circuit?"

"Depends upon what the circuit is. "

"You know-London, here, Monte Carlo, Las Vegas.

The circuit."

"As long as I win and he loses."

"Mr. Carter.

"Nick."

"Nick. Do not do this. It is a foolish mistake. Juan will

..do something very bad. He must win, you know? He

cannot lose.

"Something very bad . . . he'll have me killed?"

"Yes."

"He has had others killed?'

Carmella looked away in frustration for a moment. "I did

not come here to have this kind of a conversation with you. I

came here to warn you. Do not challenge Juan."

"And your introduction was the champagne?"

No," she said. "Juan sent it to your room. He told me

what to write on the card."

'Then you've discharged

your duties," Carter said

coldly. He turned away.

"You no longer have to remain

here. His goons are no doubt watching me."

She reached out and touched his arm. 'No, you do not

understand, Nick."

He turned to her. "What?"

"It's not that way with ... me."

Carter said nothing.

NICK CARTER

She had looked away, but she turned back and looked

defiantly into his eyes. "When I first saw you at the Ritz, and

then again at the Alhambra, I..."

Carter held his silence.

"I was attracted to you."

Carter suddenly felt like a bastard, but this pretty young

woman would be a way to get to Rojas. "It's all right. .."

he started

She picked up her wineglass, took a sip, carefully set the

glass back on the bar, and then without warning slapped

Carter hard in the face.

"Bastard, " she hissed. She got off

the barstool and stormed out of the lounge.

The barman rushed up. "Is there anything the matter, mein

Herr?"

"Everything's fine, " Carter growled. He threw back his

drink, left the bar, and presented himself to the maître d',

who seated him immediately.

He ordered another bottle of the champagne Rojas had sent

up to his room, a half-dozen oysters on the half shell, soup,

salad, and the pheasant.

Throughout the meal, Carter was short with the waiters

and the busboys who served him. He was in a savage mood,

which he figured was just as well for whatever might happen

at the casino that evening. But he was troubled because he

could not bring himself to identify the exact nature of his

mood. Or the exact cause of it. Although way back inside he

knew damned well what had set him off.

He finished the wine and his meal. Afterward, he had

coffee and a Rémy, tipped ostentatiously, and left the hotel,

walking around the corner to the casino.

The fresh air, rather than calming him down, deepened his

black mood, so that by the time he'd paid his way into the

salle privée of the casino, he was eager to meet Rojas at any

game the man preferred and grind him into the floorboards.

DEATH HAND PIAY

To say the casino was ornate was an understatement. Red

damask wallpaper competed with brightly lit crystal chan-

deliers hanging from a heavily molded ceiling in which

garish rococo paintings were gilded and back-lit.

Nearly all the men were dressed in tuxedoes, the women in

evening dresses and dripping with jewels. Among many of

them, there seemed to be a bored indifference to their elegant

surroundings. But it was a studied disregard. Carter had seen

it before in others who were trying, usually without much

success, to be sophisticated.

There were a lot of Arabs in this group, many with Western

girl friends. He had noticed the same thing in London. They

were the people nowadays who had the real money to spread

around.

The salle privée was fairly large. Carter did a couple of

turns around the room, snagging a glass of champagne from a

passing waiter, without spotting Rojas or his group. They

were probably still back at the hotel. It was relatively early.

He had had the hotel advance him some cash on his credit

account. The actual cash would be coming from London very

soon. In the meantime, everyone assured him that his marker

would be good here for as much as he wished.

A couple of good-looking older women were seated at the

blackjack table. Carter joined them, laying a thousand-mark

chip on the square in front of him.

Both women glanced from his face to the chip, their eyes

widening slightly. They had been playing with hundred-mark

tokens.

Carter's first two cards were a pair of tens. He doubled up

his bet, drawing a five on one, another ten on the other. He

split the second pair.

One of the ladies had gone bust, but the other held. Carter

hit his first pair, drawing a seven for a bust. He drew an ace

on one of his tens for blackjack, and a nine on the other.

NICK CARTER

The dealer went bust, and the woman next to Carter, who

had held with what turned out to be sixteen, clapped her

hands.

In the next round Carter went bust, so he doubled his bet to

two thousand marks.

In the third, fourth, and fifth draws Carter was beat by the

dealer, each time doubling his bet, so that by the sixth hand

he'd laid out 32,200 marks. A number of people had gathered

around the table. Another older woman joined them.

The cards were dealt. The dealer's up card was a ten.

Carter drew a pair of fives. It was a pair that was usually

never split. The chances of getting a ten-to make

twenty—were very good. But the dealer's ten meant that he

too had a good chance for twenty.

Carter split his pair, was dealt a ten first out, and a nine for

the second five

The crowd behind him was loving it. Carter was in a tight

spot. If he stayed, he lost automatically. If he hit. he had a

good chance on both hands of busting.

He scratched for a first hit, which was a six for a three-card

twenty-one. The crowd was respectfully silent. He scratched

for a hit on the second of the pairs. then drew an ace for

fifteen. He grinned and scratched for another hit, drawing a

deuce for seventeen. The crowd ate it up

Carter showed the lady beside him his hand. She clucked

and shook her head.

'What will you do, monsieur?" she asked

"I need another card, " Carter said. turning back to the

dealer.

The card came, and Carter made a great show of looking at

it. The crowd gasped. He had drawn a trey for twenty.

The dealer flipped his down card over. It was a nine. He

had to stand at nineteen. The crowd applauded as Carter

flipped over his cards and collected his 64.400 marks.

NEATU WANT DIAU

"That was very well done, monsieur, " the French woman

next to him said.

Carter got up and tossed the dealer a hundred-mark chip.

"Danke, " he said. He leaned over and pecked the woman on

the cheek. "Merci."

"For what, you lovely man?"

"For your luck."

The dealer nodded his thank-you, and Carter turned away

from the table directly into Rojas, who stood there with two

of his goons behind him and one of his young women-not

Carmella Perez-beside him.

'You are a very lucky man, Mr. Carter, " Rojas said.

Carter's black mood had faded when he gambled, but it

came back now. "I would have thought you'd had enough in

London."

The atmosphere in the room was suddenly electric. Those

who knew or suspected something might occur between

Rojas and Carter were watching carefully. The others in the

room simply knew something exciting was starting to hap-

pen.

Rojas was a study in admirable self-control. 'In London

we played poker. Your game. Here the specialty is bac-

carat. "

"I beat you at a man's game, why not try a woman's

game?" Carter snapped. He started to brush past Rojas, but

the businessman stopped him.

'Before we begin, senhor, can you tell me what it is you

do not like about me? Why are you so obviously out to get

me?'

Carter stepped back and looked into the man's eyes. He

smiled. "I don't like being waylaid on English country

roads."

'I do not know what you are talking about ..

'Then you haven't received my package from London

NICK CARTER

yet?" Carter asked. 'The one with the wallets and the

guns?"

Rojas's eyes went flinty. 'It was you."

"No, senhor, it was your people. I don't like being man-

handled."

"You were lucky. "

'Yes, " Carter said. 'Perhaps. Now, do you wish to talk,

fight, or play cards?"

Rojas did not say anything for a moment or two. Then only

the people nearest them could actually overhear the conversa-

tion between Rojas and Carter, but everyone else understood

that something dangerous was occurring.

'You are a confident man. Perhaps too confident?"

"As long as I'm not being seriously challenged, I can

afford to have a good time, " Carter said. This time when he

stepped by, Rojas made no move to stop him.

Carter walked around the blackjack tables to the two bac-

carat tables nearest the front entrance to the private room.

One of the tables was already occupied with a half-dozen

players. At the other, two Arabs were waiting along with the

casino's observateur, who sat in his tall chair.

The velvet rope was clipped back, inviting players. Carter

stepped up to the table, nodded to the man in the tall chair,

then to the Arab gentlemen.

"Permit me to introduce myself. .." he began, but the

observateur motioned him toward a seat.

'That will not be necessary, Herr Carter. We know you."

Carter sat, lit a cigarette, then ordered a cognac. Rojas

showed up a few moments later. He too was recognized, and

he sat across the table from Carter.

"Welcome, Herr Rojas, " the observateur said respect-

fully.

'We are here to play serious baccarat, " Rojas said pomp-

ously. Carter barely suppressed a smile.

DEATH HAND PLAY

"Of course, mein Herr, " the man in the tall chair said.

Both Arabs sat up. They had very large piles of markers

beside them. They were not shills, Carter decided. But they

would provide the impetus for Rojas to bite off as much or

more than he could chew. If Rojas did not pick up Carter's

bet, the Arabs would. But Carter figured that if he had to, he

could coast when Rojas had the bank. It would further anger

the man.

Several decks of cards were shuffled and placed in the

wooden shoe, which was nothing more than a mechanical

dealer. The shoe was offered to Carter, who accepted it.

Carter laid down 25,000 marks in chips, a respectable

opening even for this casino.

Rojas immediately covered the bet. 'Banquo, " he said.

The Arabs bet between themselves, which was not strictly

legal, but no one stopped them.

Carter deftly flipped the cards out of the shoe, and the

croupier, who showed up at the very last moment, used his

long-handled paddle to deal them out.

Rojas grinned and flipped his cards over. He was showing

a natural nine. Carter had only a six. The croupier shoved

Carter's bet across to the Brazilian.

Carter laid down 50,000 marks. Rojas again covered the

bet. The two Arabs sat back, fully aware now and respectful

of the fact that this was some sort of a personal contest

between Rojas and Carter.

Carter dealt the two cards each. Again Rojas flipped his

over, this time coming up with a natural eight for a win.

Carter had drawn a pair of queens, a zero.

This time he laid out 100,000 marks. Rojas hesitated, a

slight grin coming to his lips.

"Is there something the matter?" Carter asked. "Perhaps

you wish to drop out so soon, Senhor Rojas?"

'Your rather simple strategy here seems to be the same as

NICK CARTER

it was at the blackjack table."

"And that is?"

"Double your bet each time you lose. Sooner or later your

luck will change and you will make a killing."

Carter smiled. "Simple but effective. "

"But not real gambling."

"You have a suggestion to make the contest more interest-

ing?"

Rojas inclined his head. "At the Alhambra you took from

me in the neighborhood of three quarters of a million pounds.

That is equivalent, more or less, to two and a half million

marks. What say to a bet, including what you've won here

this evening, of an even three million marks?"

Carter seemed to think about it for a long time. A lot of

people had gathered around the table standing silently behind

the velvet ropes. The salle privée manager came up. Carter

looked at him. The man nodded, the movement almost im-

perceptible. It meant Carter's credit limit was good.

'Very well," Carter said. "An even three million

marks."

SEVEN

It seemed as if most of the activity in the casino had

temporarily come to a halt. Word had spread that there was

action at a baccarat table. Very big action. Three million

marks, after all, was considered to be a major bet in any

casino in any country amongst any company. Even the

Arabs, whose incomes were annually in the tens of millions,

sat back respectfully to watch the North American and the

South American go at it.

Three fresh decks were loaded into the shoe, which was

passed to Carter.

Carter was brought another cognac, and Rojas a glass of

Perrier. There was one good thing about the game of bac-

carat, Carter thought. As long as you kept your manners, it

did not matter if you were drunk or sober. Playing the game

demanded only luck, not skill.

Deftly he slapped out the first three cards from the shoe.

The croupier discarded them, and slowly, one card at a time,

he slipped out two cards each. The croupier passed them.

Rojas eased his cards up so that he could just see their

value. A slight smile flickered across his lips. He laid his

cards back.

Carter eased his cards up. He too grinned. He had drawn a

NICK CARTER

king and a five. Possibly the worst combination in baccarat.

To make anything out of it would be very difficult.

Rojas sipped his sparkling water.

"Another card, senhor?'" Carter asked

Rojas took his time about shaking his head and saying no.

Carter slipped a card out of the shoe for himself, but before

he turned it face up as was required, he lit a cigarette and took

a sip of his cognac.

'Before we go any further, senhor, would you be in-

terested in making the contest more interesting still?" Carter

asked.

"You have not shown your draw."

"No."

«You are bluffing. You had a bad hand, perhaps a three or

four, and now you are trying to bid me out of the game."

"If you had drawn an eight or a nine, you would not still be

talking, senhor. And unless I am mistaken, you are a wealthy

man for whom a few million marks cannot be so catas-

trophic."

Rojas's nostrils flared. "What have you in mind?"

"I would like to double the bet."

A gasp went through the crowd. When it was over, there

wasn't a sound in the salle privée.

"To six million marks?" the croupier asked.

"If Senhor Rojas is interested, " Carter said.

After a moment one of the Arabs sat forward.

"If the

gentleman is not interested, I would be happy to pick up the

three million. You are lucky, Mr. Carter, but not that

lucky."

"That won't be necessary, '" Rojas said. The observateur

nodded to Rojas, extending his limit. Rojas turned back.

'The bet is six million marks."

Carter smiled, finished his cognac, and turned his cards

over one by one, starting with the king for zero, then the five,

DEATH HAND PLAY

leaving his last card still down.

Rojas was grinning broadly. The Arabs were smiling too.

The crowd held its breath. Rojas did not have an eight or a

nine, otherwise he would have declared his natural. The way

he was smiling meant he probably had a seven.

''You have one more card, " Rojas said.

"So I do, " Carter agreed. He flipped the card over. There

was a gasp followed by pandemonium as everyone realized

that he had turned over a four, for a total of nine. No matter

what Rojas had, Carter was the winner.

Rojas was livid. On a signal from the observateur, the

casino's security people moved in around the South Ameri-

can's bodyguards, who were shaking like the big cats in a zoo

at feeding time.

Carter sat back, calmly smoking, and looked into Rojas's

eyes. The Brazilian, the tremendous effort visible on his

face, forced himself to calm down.

"Another game, senhor?" Carter asked.

A sudden hush fell over the crowd.

Rojas slowly shook his head. "Not this evening, I think.

My luck cannot stand up to such an onslaught as yours."

Carter inclined his head, shoved his chair back, and stood

up. He made no move to touch the huge pile of oblong

markers in front of him on the table. That would have been

very bad form.

"I think ten percent would be an appropriate thank-you to

the casino. I don't need the cash in any event, " Carter said

haughtily. The observateur nodded his thanks on behalf of

the casino and the velvet rope was pulled back.

Four of the casino's security men immediately fell in

behind Carter and escorted him slowly across the salle

privee, down the stairs, across the main entry hall, and

outside.

"May we suggest a car to your hotel; Herr Carter?" one of

NICK CARTER

the security men asked.

"By all means, " Carter said.

He climbed into the back seat of the huge Mercedes 600

that slid up the driveway, and within a couple of minutes he

was being deposited at the hotel.

Carter watched the car leave, then he went into the hotel,

got his key, and took the elevator up to his suite.

He was tired. It was a combination of the excitement, the

danger, and some jet lag that was finally catching up with

him, as well as the drinks he had had this evening.

The lights were on low, and music was playing from the

stereo when he opened the door to his suite. Immediately he

fell back, pulling out his Luger.

For several long moments he stood there in a half crouch in

the doorway. Cautiously he eased himself inside, shut the

door behind him, and carefully made his way down the short

corridor and into the main sitting room.

A bottle of champagne and two glasses had been set up in

an ice bucket on the sideboard. Only one light was on. The

stereo was playing something that sounded like Mozart, and

the door to the bedroom was open, a light shining from

within.

This smacked of Rojas's touch. But how had he gotten his

people up here so quickly? It didn't make a lot of sense.

Unless he had contemplated losing. . . .

Across the large sitting room, Carter flattened himself

against the wall beside the bedroom door and carefully

looked inside. The bed had been turned down, the door to the

bathroom was open, and he could hear someone singing. It

was a woman.

Carter went into the bedroom—a round in the Luger's

firing chamber, the safety off—and crossed to the bathroom

door.

Carmella Perez lay soaking in the large tub, the whirlpool

DEATH HAND PLAY

jets on, her eyes closed as she hummed a little tune. There

were no soap bubbles, only the circulating water swirling

around her lovely body.

Carter watched her for a moment, admiring her slender

legs, her elegant neck, and her ample breasts. She was a

beautiful woman, but she was trouble of a different sort with

Rojas. Gambling was bad enough. Women and gambling

were an explosive combination.

Later, he told himself. If he had to, he would use this

woman to hit Rojas even harder. But for now he did not need

the complication.

'Time to leave, Senhorita Perez, " Carter said, holstering

his Luger and stepping across the bathroom.

Carmella opened her eyes, looked up, and smiled, her

moist lips parted, her perfect white teeth gleaming.

Her smile died as Carter reached down into the tub, re-

leased the drain, and shut off the whirlpool.

"What.?" she sputtered.

He turned, got a large bath towel from the rack, and held it

out to her. 'Time to go back to your boss. I'm afraid he will

be in great need of comforting this evening. "

Carmella just looked up at him for a long time, then she

shook her head. "You and he gambled?"

Carter nodded.

"You won?"

Carter grinned. "Six million marks. At his own game,

too."

"Deus, " she said softly. She stood up, the halo around her

nipples very dark, as was the small tuft of hair at her pubis.

Her complexion was tawny and flawless.

Carter held the towel for her, and she stepped out of the tub

into it, hugging it closely. She had pinned her hair up,

exposing the back of her neck. She looked up into Carter's

eyes. She smelled wonderful. At that moment he was very

NICK CARTER

tempted to say the hell with it and take her into his arms.

Instead he turned and went back into the bedroom. Her

clothing was tossed over a chair. She followed him out.

'Please do not make me go like this," she said.

"It will be for the best."

'I am sorry for . . . downstairs."

'What do you mean?"

"For in the bar. . . for slapping you. I thought you meant

to use me to get at Juan.

'I had considered it," Carter admitted.

Her eyes widened. "But not now?"'

"I didn't say that."

"You bastard. " she started, but she cut it off. "Are

you serious? Did you truly beat him in the casino? Six million

marks?"

Carter nodded. "I've told you the truth, now you tell me

what you're doing here in my suite."

Carmella was clearly very worried. "I came to seduce

you, " she said offhandedly.

"Obviously, " Carter said dryly. "Did Rojas send you?"

She shook her head. 'No. If he knew I was here now like

this, he would surely kill me. Especially now that you have

hurt him again. " She looked at him. "He is certain you are

working for the CIA."

Carter opened his mouth to speak, as if he were shocked.

But then he threw his head back and laughed out loud. 'The

CIA?" he said and roared. 'That's rich! The stupid bastard

gets beaten by a gambler, and immediately he thinks it's

some nefarious plot by the American government!"

Carmella was watching him intently, Carter noticed be-

tween guffaws. Was the look in her eyes a little too shrewd?

"I came to gamble. It's what I do. And I am very good at

it. I've been around gaming tables for most of my life. ]

understand the people. I understand how to take care of

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myself. And now it's time for you to go. Get dressed."

"'And if I don't go?"

"I'Il call Rojas and ask him to come fetch you, " Carter

snapped. He turned on his heel and went back through the

bedroom and into the living room, where he poured himself a

glass of champagne.

He shrugged off his jacket, laying it over a chair, undid his

tie and top button, and slipped out of his shoulder holster,

making sure the safety was on. He laid the Luger aside and

went to the window, where he looked outside.

The sky was clear, but it looked cold. It wouldn't be too

terribly long before there was snow here, he thought. Perhaps

when this was over, he'd take his vacation somewhere in

Switzerland, or perhaps Austria. He hadn't been skiing in a

long time.

One part of him felt sorry for Carmella Perez. The other

part of him, however, the part that didn't quite buy her story

that she was here of her own free will, was wary.

He heard her behind him, pouring herself a glass of cham-

pagne. In the windowpane he could see her reflection. She

had slipped on one of his dress shirts. She wore nothing else,

as far as he could see.

For a moment she lingered by his Luger. She reached out

and touched the elastic strap of the shoulder holster. When

she looked up she didn't seem quite so sure of herself as she

had been when she walked into the room.

Carter turned around. "I thought I told you to get dressed

and get out of here."

"Do you always carry a gun?"

'When I'm doing any serious gambling, yes. Especially

when I'm gambling with men like your boss. "

"We have not heard of you."

'Heavy losers usually don't advertise those who beat

them."

90 (102 of 212)

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NICK CARTER

'You always win?" she asked, a slightly amused expres-

sion on her face.

"I make it my business to win. Always."

"Juan will kill you if you continue. Perhaps it is already

too late."

"And you will help him?"

She shook her head. "I warned you earlier this evening,

and I am here now to warn you again. Get out of Baden-

Baden. Leave Juan alone. He is a dangerous man. He too

always wins."

"What about you, Carmella? Do you always win?"

"I came here to be with you."

"And afterward?"

'You will leave, and I shall return to Juan. " Her lips were

moist. Her eyes sparkled. Carter figured his earlier assess-

ment of her, that she simply enjoyed danger, was probably

very close to the truth. And yet there was an element to her,

something undefinable, that bothered him.

She came languidly across the room, sipping her cham-

pagne as she walked.

"I may not leave Baden-Baden after all, " Carter said,

making no move to reach out for her. She stopped just inches

away from him. She had put on some perfume, its scent light

and very lovely.

'You say you are a gambler, Nick. You have gotten what

you came for. Leave now, in the morning, before it is too

late."

Carter smiled. 'You said before it might already be too

late."

She put down her glass, reached out, and began undoing

Carter's shirt studs. He made no move either to aid or hinder

her. She ran her hands up his chest, then pulled his head down

so that she could kiss him, her tongue brushing his lips.

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She looked up into his eyes. 'That does not excite you?

Perhaps you do not like women . . ."

Carter grinned. He put down his champagne, gathered

Carmella in his arms, and kissed her deeply, holding her

close against his body, feeling her breasts through the thin

shirt material.

When they parted she was flushed.

'You are skilled at other things besides gambling, " she

whispered.

Carter stepped past her and went to where he had left

Wilhelmina. He picked up the Luger and turned back to

Carmella. Her eyes were wide.

"Will you shoot me then?"

He said nothing. Instead he took the clip out of the gun,

then ejected the single live round from the chamber, which he

pocketed. He turned and went into his bedroom, where he got

undressed. He shoved the ammunition and his weapons

under the bed on his side, first making certain that Carmella

was not watching from the doorway. Then he went into the

bathroom, turned on the shower, and stepped under the

water.

The spray felt wonderful on his tired, tense body, and for

the first few moments he willed himself not to think about

anything except the moment. But the thought intruded that it

was unlikely Rojas would remain in Baden-Baden after his

humiliating defeat in the casino.

Carter grinned. When he was on the hunt, his blood flowed

and his senses seemed to take on a new sharpness, a

heightened sensitivity.

The shower curtains were shoved back and Carmella,

again nude, stepped in with Carter.

Without a word she took the soap from him and began

lathering his entire body, working from the top down, mov-

NICK CARTER

ing slowly, her hands easing the aches from his sore muscles,

lingering here and there when she encountered pronounced

scar tissue.

He finally pulled her to her feet, and their slippery bodies

came together. This was all a setup, Carter thought. Either

that, or she was out for kicks. Either way it was dangerous as

hell. But at that moment he found he didn't give a damn. She

was a desirable woman. When it was over he would take the

consequences.

He kissed her, his hands running down her back to the

roundness of her buttocks. She leaned back and looked up at

him.

"You are a particularly beautiful man," she murmured

Her half-closed eyes were filled with longing.

The water beat down on them both. Carter slowly turned

around, carrying the girl with him, the hard spray rinsing

them off. Finally Carter reached out and shoved aside the

shower curtains, then reached back and turned off the water.

Carmella's eyes had been closed. She opened them and

looked up.

Carter brushed his lips against hers, cutting off what she

was about to say, then he reached down and picked her up,

and stepped out of the shower.

A warm glow came off her body, and yet she was shivering

in Carter's arms. She kept wetting her lips, and her breath

was coming rapidly as he carried her out of the bathroom.

He placed her on the king-size bed in the middle of the

large bedroom, and slowly he kissed her forehead, her nose,

her cheeks, her lips, her chin, her neck.

She arched her back and moaned. Her nipples were erect,

and she was already nearly dry from the shower.

"Nick ..." she breathed

He kissed her breasts, taking her nipples between his teeth

and biting gently as he ran his fingertips slowly along her

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flanks. Her entire body vibrated like a plucked guitar string.

Carefully his lips worked their way between her breasts

and down her stomach to her gently rounded belly, her hips

coming up to meet him.

Her legs spread for him as he went lower, kissing the

insides of her thighs and the backs of her knees. Every time

he touched her with his lips, or his tongue, or his fingertips,

she jerked as if receiving electric shocks.

He rose up and brushed his forefinger between her legs,

and she gasped in pleasure, her entire body going rigid for

one tense moment.

Her eyes were tightly closed, her tongue flicking in and out

as she reached down and held his head in her hands.

"Oh, Nick," she breathed again. "Mãe do Deus, touch

me again..."

He lowered himself, his tongue finding her, and she cried

out.

Suddenly he rose up and entered her, thrusting deeply into

her quivering body.

She was very good, her long, lovely legs wrapped high

around his middle as she drew him deeper and deeper in

perfect rhythm with her needs as well as his.

And then they were both at the end, holding each other

tightly, pushing harder and harder, the almost unbearable

pleasure continuing in waves, their bodies totally in tune with

one another.

Gradually their movements subsided, punctuated by mo-

ments of shivering, intense sensation, until they lay spent in

each other's arms.

Slowly Carter became aware of his surroundings. Carmel-

la's eyes were open. She was looking up at him. Smiling.

For a long moment Carter just looked down at her, feeling

her body against his, feeling her breasts against his chest,

feeling her moistness still surrounding him. But then he

NICK CARTER

noticed a slight glint of triumph in her eyes, and he pushed

away, rolling over.

Two of Rojas's goons stood in the doorway. their guns

drawn. They were grinning

Carter relaxed. He glanced over at Carmella, who had

shrunk away. It had been a setup.

EIGHT

Carmella got dressed and left immediately, but Carter was

allowed to clean up. Rojas's men had found his Luger in the

sitting room, but as far as they knew, it was the only weapon

he possessed.

"Hurry, senhor," one of them said as Carter emerged

from the bathroom.

"So your boss is mad that I beat him at cards, " Carter said,

crossing the room and sitting on the edge of the bed. He

pulled on his socks. The men were on the other side of the

room, watching him. He bent down for his shoe, scooped up

his stiletto from beneath the bed, and shoved it, haft-end first,

inside his left sock. He quickly slipped on his shoes and stood

up.

Carter put on his jacket, and one of Rojas's men quickly

frisked him, finding nothing.

Together they left the suite and took the elevator up to the

penthouse. Neither of the goons said a thing. They were both

very large men, at least six-four and 250 pounds.

"It must be a real interesting job, ' Carter said to them as

they were riding up

One of them looked at him but said nothing.

NICK CARTER

"I mean. traveling around the world with Rojas, seeing all

those gorgeous women. seeing all the booze and the gam-

bling . . . and not being able to touch one bit of it. "

'Shut up. or I will break your arm," one of them said.

Carter chuckled. "Anytime you'd like to try it. pal. just

say the word."

The elevator doors opened, and they went down the broad.

tastefully decorated corridor to a huge set of double doors.

One of the gorillas rang the doorbell.

The doors opened a second later, and Carter was hustled

inside the large. richly furnished penthouse.

Rojas sat at the bar in front of a vast expanse of glass that

overlooked the casino. A half-dozen more bodyguards were

with him in the main sitting room. One of his women lounged

on a long couch.

"Ah. Mr. Carter, I'm so glad you could join me. " Rojas

said.

Carter crossed the room to him. ''Up here counting your

losses?"

Rojas smiled indulgently. 'Let me see. it's cognac you

enjoy, is that not correct?*

Carter nodded and sat next to the South American at the

bar. The barman poured him a healthy measure of a very old

French cognac in a snifter.

Rojas nodded for the man to leave.

'Evidently you did receive my little package. " Carter

said, sipping his drink

"Package. . .?' Rojas started to ask, but then recogni-

tion dawned in his eyes. "It was you after all who sent me the

guns and the wallets. You were not simply playing a little

joke."

Carter nodded.

"Whatever for? They do not belong to me or to any of my

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people. Besides, where did you get them?"

"I found them in a trash heap on the road near the

Alhambra. If they're not yours, I suggest you turn them over

to the police. People so inept that they'd lose their weapons

like that shouldn't be allowed to carry them in the first place.

Don't you agree?"

Carter could almost hear Rojas's goons in the background

grinding their teeth. The woman on the couch giggled.

Rojas turned around to her, a forced smile on his lips. "It is

time for you to leave, my dear."

The girl sat up, a pout on her round face that changed to

fear when she realized what kind of a mood her boss was in.

She jumped up without a word, and left.

Behind the bar was a large mirror. In it Carter could see the

reflected image of the entire sitting room. Two of Rojas's

bodyguards were stationed by the door. The other four were

positioned around the room. None of them was relaxing.

They were all ready for whatever might occur.

Carter didn't think they'd be so brazen as to fire their guns

here in the hotel. The two who had come for him carried big

.357 magnums without silencers.

With his stiletto in his sock, Carter figured if worse came

to worst he could hold Rojas hostage until his people backed

down, giving him enough room to get out.

''How is your drink?" Rojas asked, turning back.

"You didn't have me brought up here to feed me good

cognac. You're mad that I beat you at the casino."

'You cheated."

Carter almost climbed all over the Brazilian, but one of the

bodyguards was on him, pinning his arms back. Carter had to

play the role, otherwise Rojas would be less inclined to

believe he was the professional gambler he claimed to be.

Slowly Carter let himself fall back, willing his muscles to

NICK CARTER

relax. Rojas finally nodded, and the bodyguard released his

grip. Carter straightened up, adjusted his clothing, and took a

deep drink of his cognac.

"I never cheat, Rojas, " he said. 'I don't have to with

gamblers like you."

"What do you mean by that?"

"You're a poor gambler. You're an amateur."

"I have had my share of luck, until you."

"You've not gambled against a professional. You've

probably played against bored playboys, perhaps rich

widows who don't know any better, and of course oil-rich

Arabs, most of whom have more money than sense when it

comes to things like this."

Rojas just stared at him, a thoughtful expression in his

eyes.

Carter glanced at the bodyguards, who were all very alert

now.

"That, and the fact that you surround yourself with yes

men. There isn't one person here who could tell you the truth

if you didn't like it."

"What sort of truth?"

'That you're a fool," Carter said, tensing for an attack.

Rojas went white. It took him almost a minute to regain

enough control so that he could speak. There was pure hatred

in his eyes. "I called you up here, Mr. Carter, to see if I could

talk some sense into you. There is no room for a man such as

yourself on the amateur gambling circuit."

"Are you threatening me?"

"Yes, 1 am, " Rojas said. He got off his barstool. 'Just so

there will be no misunderstanding, I want you to understand

that tomorrow I shall be leaving for Monte Carlo. Some old

friends will be there, and I shall be playing at the casino. I

wouldn't want to see you show up there. You would most

certainly get hurt. Badly."

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195

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