Chateau Montbec
The setting sun shone on the battlements of the old castle. Kirstin rested her arm on the window ledge and peered through her binoculars. She was inclined to agree with Humphrey. The crenulations did, indeed, look more decorative than functional. He said the imposing building dated from the early fifteen-hundreds and could not have withstood a bombardment by the big cannons of the day.
‘By that time, the military classes were excavating big holes and putting squat castles inside them,’ he said. ‘They weren’t building multi-story dwellings and perching them on the edges of cliffs … it’s a plaisance.’
‘If you say so, Humphrey.’
‘You don’t sound totally convinced, Mother.’
‘Couldn’t it just be a posh residence?’
‘Same thing …’
‘No Humphrey. You made it clear that a plaisance was a holiday resort for very rich people. It was a medieval version of that place David went to in South Africa.’
‘You mean the Flamingo?’
‘Yes. The place frequented by members of the Cabal.’
‘Well. It looks like they have an even more exclusive place here in the Pyrenees. It’s called Chateau Montbec. Olaf has told me all about it.’
Humphrey pulled off his coat and sat down. He had just returned from another meeting with Olaf. This time, they had caught a series of buses and been driven around.
‘Mario’s parents are currently in residence,’ he continued. ‘They control Olaf and appear to be running the place.’
‘Did he admit to killing people for them?’
‘He came close on a number of occasions but could never quite bring himself to tell the whole story.’
‘I assume you were speaking Danish.’
‘We were.’
‘And was anyone showing interest in you?’
‘No.’
‘Where does this get us?’
‘We need to find a way to bring Mario here. Olaf says his parents have been talking about him. He claims to have rigged up a listening device.’
‘You mean he’s bugged them?’
‘That’s what he says.’
‘And what are they saying about their son?’
‘They believe that Mario and Petra de Villiers have been kidnapped by Charles’ Paget’s nephew, David.’
‘So they fell for that one?’
‘I don’t know,’ Humphrey shrugged. ‘It’s difficult to tell with Olaf. He is a very strange fellow.’
‘No one will deny that, Humphrey.’
‘I never know if he is supplying me with information or pumping me for information. I suspect it’s a bit of both but I can’t be sure. One moment, I think he is about to come clean. The next, he is devious again.’
’What sort of information has he supplied?’
‘He thinks we are working for Charlie.’
‘We had guessed that much.’
‘Yes. But Olaf hadn’t told us.’
‘What else did he say?’
‘Mario’s parents evidently think Charlie is alive.’
Kirstin looked relieved.
‘They know about the Zulus,’ Humphrey continued. ‘They think they work for Charlie and he sent them in to help David.’
‘But that’s not true.’
‘No. That’s what they think. Olaf says the Zulus shot up a helicopter and rescued some of David’s friends.’
‘Have you made contact with David?’
‘I’ve emailed him but he’s not replied. We need to work out what’s going on and decide what to do next.’