Pike's Pyramid. Michael Tatlow

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СКАЧАТЬ behind a stack of travellers cheques? Why torture him?’

      De Groote laughed dismissively. ‘There are no crooks in Argo. Old Jack had lost it.’

      ‘I saw a bit of Jack’s dossier about it, Richard. It’s missing.’

      ‘Jack was a master salesman, Blarney. He conned you.’

      ‘Maybe, maybe not,’ Pike allowed. ‘What a dream vehicle Argo is for peddling dope and washing money! People travelling everywhere. Cargoes paid for in cash, going all around the world. There are cut-throats in Prague who’d…’

      De Groote looked pained. He knew manifestly that Jack Sussoms’ throat had been cut.

      ‘Sorry. There are crooks there,’ Pike hammered, ‘who’d kill you for a Starbucks voucher. And Argo’s ready-made for distributing weapons coming out of Russia. Jack was going to present his evidence to Abe Harbek.’

      De Groote buttered a bread roll, looking further affronted. ‘If Abe’s team found any filth…’ He snapped his fingers. ‘Splat!’

      ‘And no publicity,’ Pike observed. He wondered to himself if Bell, and now De Groote, knew about the punch-up at Prague’s airport. He decided not to mention it.

      ‘Yes, Abe kept most of it out of the media,’ De Groote said. ‘Did you expect him to hold a news conference about Jack’s murder?’

      The professor refilled his glass, aggravating Ned. ‘Today Jerry instructed that under no circumstances is the matter of Sussoms’ death, or anything less than positive achievement at the Czech Republic opening, to be reported to the downlines in Tasmania. Any violation will put the offender’s business in dire jeopardy.’ The blue eyes hardened. ‘Understood?’

      Pike bleakly considered his empty glass. He felt like a kid in the headmaster’s office. This was not his main game tonight. ‘Gossip about the Czech mess and Jack’s killing would be damaging, I agree,’ he said lamely. ‘Spreading negativity would flatten our own business. You can tell Jerry the order will be obeyed.’

      De Groote grinned triumphantly. ‘Splendid! Now, let’s order some food.’

      A waiter took their orders. Entrees of Tasmanian oysters in their shells with locally farmed Atlantic salmon. De Groote’s main was to be roast venison. Pike was in near-salivating anticipation of a change from the salty fries of Czech cafes. He chose a baked Tasmanian rock lobster.

      They dined agreeably. De Groote urged his charge to stay the night at the De Groote mansion half a kilometre away, by the beach.

      After a moment’s consideration, Pike accepted. With his mounting lassitude and jet lag, the drive to Stanley, at night in the rain now splattering the window, would take six hours. Doing that would be foolhardy.

      Ned was galled at the presence of the nearly half-full bottle of Richard’s Riesling, on the table, abandoned in favour of a bottle of local pinot noir. ‘Light body and fully flavoured,’ De Groote said, gazing into his glass. ‘A floral character of violets. Brilliant. Try some.’

      ‘No, thanks.’ Pike remembered it fondly. He’s trying to get me back on it. Why? He soberly sipped at a fourth glass of cider. It was time to pounce. ‘You know Jerry forged your signature in Prague to license you with the Government as an enterprise?’ he said.

      De Groote stared at him.

      Pike laughed. ‘He stupidly told me it’s not forgery if the person whose name you are forging wants you to do it.’ Knowing this, he had the power to report his master, present Richard or Bell with a criminal conviction. But doing that would prevent his coach from going to the republic, or get him jailed, away from the Pike recruits, once he was there.

      De Groote finally smiled. ‘That’s our secret,’ he said.

      He’s proud of it, the rogue. Pike’s exasperation sharpened. ‘Look, what I’ve flown to Hobart for is to get your firm commitment to keep your promise and go to Prague, Richard. And soon.’

      De Groote nodded encouragingly, startling his weary inquisitor. Was it the wine? Pike wondered. Was Richard getting a little smashed?

      Here goes. ‘So, when are you going?’ Pike challenged.

      De Groote raised his hands, cuff links of gold, palms out. I’m on your side, they said. ‘Very much between us, Jerry is also worried,’ he said quietly. ‘It will be attended to. Promptly.’

      Pike grabbed at a headline, a legacy from his years as a newspaper sub-editor. Casino Miracle. Rock Turns to Rubber. ‘Thank you.’ He reached both hands across the table and gripped De Groote’s, suddenly feeling foolish. ‘When?’

      ‘When Jerry tells me.’ De Groote inspected his manicured nails.

      Pike despaired again. ‘Are we talking about next week, or next bloody month?’

      ‘I don’t know,’ the professor replied quietly. ‘A few months or so, I suppose.’

      ‘What! Bloody hell, Richard!’ Pike boomed. ‘A few months? Or so?’ An image flashed before him of Pavel and Elishka having to close down their cake shop. ‘I won’t accept that.

      ‘It’s fraudulent to our Czechs. Alex and I took their money on the promise that you would continue their training. It was you who got us to go there. We saved long and hard for that trip. I’m not going to see it go down the gurgler. What’s your real reason for delaying it? Afraid of the thugs?’

      De Groote said nothing.

      Pike considered the empty goblet by his right hand. He was pleased the hand was not sore from that airport lavatory chopping. ‘I still insist that you go there damned soon.’

      De Groote frowned. ‘I am your upline. You are in no position to insist, Blarney. You won’t be insisting after I reveal our reasons.’ The gleam returned. ‘Have faith. The system never fails. Details later, when you’re rested.

      ‘But I’ve got plans for a monster meeting in Burnie, a statewide orgy of inspiration. You and Alex on stage, the conquerors from the foreign front line, telling them inspiring tales of victory with the Czechs. We’ll send them away fired up, bursting to show the pitch to more and more prospects. Then big hurrah presentations in Sydney, Melbourne. Brisbane, Adelaide…’ The man’s ebullience flowed compellingly, like a river.

      Pike sat, agape.

      De Groote said. ‘Give the Prague story a burst at Irishtown. If your Stanley people ask when I’m going to Prague, simply say it’s soon.’

      Pike suppressed a grin. ‘Oh, hell! I rang Dick Street in Burnie just before we left Prague. To get him to line up Irishtown. He now knows all about the mess we’ve fled from.’

      ‘What? The Sussoms killing?’

      ‘’Fraid so.’

      ‘You should not have revealed that,’ said De Groote.

      ‘Christ, Dick’s our sponsor! Our immediate upline.’

      ‘Did you or Alex tell anyone else?’

      ‘No. СКАЧАТЬ