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know whose imagination he dredged them from…his or mine…but they scared the hell out of me even though mon sense told me they couldn't really exist。 He froze me； and it's been a long time since anyone did that。'
'lie was playing games with you。' She had mowed closer and her voice was quiet； almost mournful。 'It was Felix's way of showing you how manipulative his mind is； how sometimes he can direct images into the minds of others。' Halloran shook his head。 'Thought transference…it's the same as hypnosis。'
'No。 No it isn't。 He can't make you do things； control your actions。 He can only suggest images； make you feel something is happening。' Halloran thought back to the white room at the Magma building； remembering his first encounter with Kline； the finger prodding him in the darkness when no one was near； reaching out and touching withered skin when only he and Kline were in the room 。 。 。 'At least it makes a kind of sense；' he said aloud； although it was more a rationale for himself。
Her laugh was brittle。 'Don't look for sense in any of this；' she said。 Cora slipped from his grip and made her way towards the dining room。
A creak from the balcony above。 He looked up sharply and was just in time to see the bulky shape of Monk stepping back out of sight。 Halloran was sure the big man had been grinning。
'Well； I can see your appetite hasn't been spoilt by this morning's little upset。' Kline waved away the Arab who had been pouring him more coffee。
Halloran glanced up from his plate and returned his client's smile。 'It takes a lot to do that。'
'Oh yeah？ For a moment there in the boat I thought you were going to puke。 Couldn't figure it…there was hardly a ripple in the lake。 Unless all that mist out there disorientated you that can often make you giddy； y'know； that and the drifting sensation。 You had me worried。' He sipped from his cup。 'Youssef； give Miss Redmile some more coffee。 She looks as if she needs it。 Make it strong； leave the cream。 Cora； you've got to eat more than you do； you're going to waste away otherwise。 Don't you think she looks kinda drawn； Halloran？ You not sleeping well； Cora？' Halloran had to agree： she looked pale； the dark smudges under her eyes even more pronounced。
'I think that business yesterday is having some effect on me；' Cora said。 'Delayed reaction； I suppose。'
'The attempted kidnapping？' The incident sounded pleasurable to Kline。 'There was no problem； not with our hero along to protect us。 Those bastards didn't stand a chance； am I right； Halloran？ Not with you around。 I bet they couldn't believe their eyes when they saw our car reversing away like a bat outa 。 。 。' He didn't plete the sentence； gulping coffee instead。
'Hopefully your own driver； Palusinski； will have learned the technique by now。 That and a few others to get away from a road…block fast。' Halloran continued eating； a surprisingly good English breakfast provided by the two Jordanians。 He noticed that Kline； for all his jibes at the girl； hadn't eaten much either。 Monk probably made up for the pair of them in the kitchen。
'Were you an army man； Halloran？' The question from Kline was unexpected。
'Most of your outfit are ex…military； aren't they？' Kline went on。 'You ever killed anybody？ Shot them dead； knifed them？ You ever done anything like that？' Cora was watching him； along with her employer。 Halloran leaned back from the table。 'What makes you ask？' he said。
'Oh； curiosity。 Wondered if you had the capability。 Can't be an easy thing taking someone else's life away。 No； got to be the hardest thing in the world to do。 Or is it？ Maybe it's easy once you have the know…how； the experience。 Have you had the experience？ Could you do it？'
'It would depend on the situation。'
'Hah！ Let me give you a situation then。 Suppose those creeps yesterday had managed to stop our car。 Suppose they came at me with guns…which； presumably； given the chance they would have。 Would you have used your own weapon'？'
'That's why I'm here； Kline 。'
'Okay。 Let's change the scenario a little。 Say they held a gun at Cora's head and threatened to blow it off if you made a move towards them。 You got your own gun in your hand and it's pointed in their direction。 They're dragging me into their car and the guy with Cora is blocking your way。 What would you do in that situation？ Would you risk her life to protect me？ I'd be interested to know。' He smiled at Cora。 'I'm sure she'd like to also。' Halloran looked from one to the other； Kline grinning； enjoying the moment； Cora uncertain； as though the question was more than academic。
'I'd let them take you；' he replied。
Kline's grin faded。
'Then I'd negotiate the ransom for your release。' His client's fist hit the table。 'That's the wrong fucking answer！ You're being paid to look after me； Halloran； nobody else！ Not her； nobody！' Halloran kept his tone level。 'By shooting the one who held Cora…and I could probably do it without her being harmed…I'd be endangering your life。 Everyone would get gun…happy； and undoubtedly you'd be the second target after me。 It'd make sense to keep things peaceful； bargain for your release later。' Kline was noticeably quivering。 'Bargain far my release？ You crazy fuck。 They could take the money and then kill me。'
'It doesn't work that way。 These people are normally professional in what they do…to break a negotiated contract would mean they'd lose credibility next time。'
'You talk as if the whole thing is nothing more than a business。'
'That's just what it is； a multi…million pound business。 Kidnap and ransom has bee one of the world's few growth industries。 Sure； every once in a while you get amateurs trying their hand； but they're few and far between； and generally frowned upon by their own but more petent kind…their bungling makes successful transactions more difficult for the professionals。 It doesn't take organisations like mine； or the police； to discover which type we're dealing with； and I have to admit I prefer to be up against professionals …they're more predictable。'
'And that bunch yesterday？ Haw would you classify them； Hall or an？' Kline's fists were clenched on the table…top and his lips were drawn tight。
'I'd say they knew what they were doing。 The car they used wasn't traceable； they were patient and waited for exactly the right moment。 Fortunately for us we had them spotted before they made their move。'
'They weren't that good。 They failed； didn't they？'
'Only because we were better。 And the fact that they managed to get clean away confirms my belief that they were petent。 Once the first attempt failed they didn't pound their mistake by giving chase。 That could have been too messy。 My guess is they'll be patient a while longer； wait for the right opportunity to e along。 Or； at least； engineer that opportunity themselves。 Now they know we're on the alert they'll be even more cautious。' 〃They'll try again？' It was Cora who had asked the question。
Halloran looked at her in surprise。 'Of course。 But at least we have the slight advantage of knowing our client is a definite target。'
'I already told you that！' Kline was glaring at him； but although his wards were spoken angrily； the shrillness had gone from them。 'Why d'you think Magma hired your pany in the first place？ You think I'm on some kind of ego trip？ Or suffering from paranoia？ This is a real situation； Halloran； I told you that from the start。'
'Okay； so let's go back to an earlier question： who or what organisation do you think is behind it？ I still can't accept that you've no idea。'
'Have any of your previous so…called targets known just who was out to get them？ Why d'you expect me to？'
'Because you were aware before an attempt was ever made。' Kline's sigh transmuted into a groan。 'After all I've shown you； you still don't believe。'
'It's precisely because of what I know about you that I don't understand why you can't sense who your enemies are。' For the first time Kline looked unsure。 His eyes went to Cora； then back to Halloran。 'There's the mystery； Halloran；' he said。 And then； as if to himself； he repeated； 'Yeah； there's the mystery。' Once more Halloran was checking through the house； prowling the corridors； ensuring that no outside door or window had been left unlocked。 Even in daytime he wanted Neath shut tight。 It was when he was passing along the first…floor hallway overlooking the inner courtyard that he paused。 A door was opening on the other side of the decayed fountain。
He waited by the window and watched； curious； as Khayed came through。 The Arab was carrying a round metal container with handles on either side and by the way Khayed's body leaned backwards the burden had some weight。 He scuttled across the yard； calling out to someone behind。 Youssef Daoud appeared at the same doorway and he； too； dressed in the robes of his country as was his panion； carried a similar metal container。 Both men were laughing and apparently joking as they went through another door leading to the front of the house。
On impulse； Halloran hurried downstairs and went out into the courtyard。 He quickly crossed over and went through the door the two Arabs had emerged from。 He was in the short passageway he had entered the night before； at one end the stairway； at the other the sturdy closed door。 He walked to the latter and tested the handle。 It was still locked。 Or； if the two men had brought the containers from there； locked again。
Halloran stooped to examine the lock and immediately felt cold dank air from the keyhole on his cheek。 He touched the stone floor at the door's base and the chill draught was even more noticeable。 It had to lead to a cellar of some kind； perhaps where Kline kept his best wines。
Noises outside。 The Arabs returning。 Halloran straightened； taking one last look at the lock as he did so。 Old and strong； large keyhole needing a long key。 Shouldn't prove too difficult to open。 But he wondered at his own curiosity。 And why not ask Kline or Cora what was down there？ He also wondered why the was reluctant to do just that。
The voices outside were louder； approaching。
He quickly went down the short length of the passage and stepped through the open doorway。 The two Arabs stopped when they saw him。 The one called Khayed was the quickest to regain his posure； his friend's look of hostility dissolving a fraction later。
Khayed gave a small bow and regarded Halloran questioningly。 'Assayed？'
'I found it open；' Halloran said； indicating the doorway behind。
'Ah；' said Khayed； then spoke to his panion in their own language。 'Sadi koona hashoor。' Daoud smiled at Halloran； who offered no more explanation than he'd already given。
A smell of spices drifted towards him from the two men。 They waited there and he guessed they'd stay all day without saying another word until he went on his way。 It was in his mind to ask them again what was beyond the locked door； but he doubted he'd receive a reply。 He noticed Khayed held a long key by his side。
Halloran waved them through； but they remained where they were； politely indicating that he should pass them。 'Min fadlak； assayed；' said Khayed。
With a shrug； he cut back across the yard； this time making for the corridor leading to the main hall and the front of the house。
Coolness and gloom after the brightness of the yard struck him as soon as he entered and his footsteps were hollow on the stone flooring。 He frowned when he saw that the doubledoors of the entrance were open wide and guessed that Khayed and Daoud were the culprits。 He went to the door and passed through into the porch area。
Outside he saw that the Rover's tail was up； and inside were the two metal containers。 He walked over to examine them more closely； tapping them both at first； the sound heavy； indicating they were full。 The tops were tightly sealed。
He was prising at one with his fingertips when he heard the crunch of gravel behind him。 Now there was no quick disguising of the alarm in Khayed's expression。 He was alone； obviously having followed Halloran out while his panion went nn about his business。
'Kala； assayed；' the Arab said； recovering welt enough to smile。
Halloran raised his e