Free The Main Chance by Colin Forbes Page A

A distant gaze as though he was recalling his interview with Bella, a woman he had admired and liked. Admired for her character, for her brainpower. Eighty-four years old. He'd thought she might live to be a hundred.
    `She was so regal,' Paula said very quietly, 'so courteous:
    ` Regal! That's the word for her,' Tweed agreed, suddenly alert again. 'Her murderer must be tracked down however long it takes, no matter what risks it may involve.'
    was just about to ask you,' Buchanan began, 'to take over as chief investigator of the case.'
    `I'll do it,' Tweed said quickly.
    `I have brought Professor Saafeld with me. He is waiting downstairs in the visitors' room.'
    `What the hell has he been parked in that cell for?' `His idea, not mine,' Buchanan said quickly. 'He
    thought I should tell you first. He knew Bella. He had a phone call from her about you after you'd left. She was very fond— I mean she had developed an admiration for you. Now,' he went on briskly, opening his briefcase, producing papers, 'in this case you have full powers, even an authorization of the fact signed by the Assistant Commissioner, together with a search warrant covering the whole of Hengistbury Manor and its three-hundred-acre estate called The Forest - or the large chunk of it belonging to the Manor.'
    Tweed was examining the thick sheets of paper Buchanan had placed on his desk. The Assistant Commissioner's signature flourished at the bottom of both documents.
    `Also,' added Buchanan, 'you have the full backing of the Home Secretary.'
    `Who could be one of Bella's depositors,' Tweed said with a smile, his normal iron self-control now recovered.
    `I wouldn't know.'
    `With all this power I detect a political element.'
    `Well...' Buchanan hesitated. 'Certain Ministers are concerned that the Main Chance Bank could now be bought out by an immensely rich and ruthless gentleman — who might then use his ownership of this powerful organization to go on to bid successfully for one of our Big Four banks. Which would practically give him control of the country.'
    `He is British?'
    `No.'
    `He originates from the East?'

`He does,' said Buchanan grimly.
    `And his name is?'
    `I'm not allowed to disclose that.' Buchanan's mood became more light-hearted. 'As assistant you will have Chief Inspector Hammer.'
    `Always save the best bit till last, don't you?'
    Paula groaned, turned to Newman, who had been comforting her when the news about Bella had been first announced. 'Old Hammerhead,' she rasped well above a whisper.
    `I'm very short of senior detective officers,' Buchanan said, turning to shake a friendly finger at Paula. 'And he is very clear he is your assistant,' he went on, turning back to Tweed.
    `When does he go down to Hengistbury?' Tweed enquired.
    `He's gone down there ahead of you with three photographers, two fingerprint experts and the other technicians.'
    `Then we'd better get down there right away. Pete, you stay behind for the moment. My director, Howard, gets back from holiday tomorrow. Explain everything to him in detail and tell him I'll call him by phone soon as I can.'
    `Will do, sir,' Nield answered tersely.
    `You're in charge here for the moment,' Tweed added.
    He walked to where Paula stood with two suitcases, took his own off her and hurried down to the visitors' room with Roy Buchanan and the rest of his team following. Opening the door he found Professor Saafeld comfortably ensconced in a chair, his legs perched on another, reading a book.
    `I really think this is dreadful,' Tweed began, 'leaving you in a place like this while Commander Buchanan filled me in on—'
    `I've been enjoying Robert Newman's huge bestseller, Kruger: The Computer That Failed .' He stood up. `Isn't that Mr Newman just behind you? Well, Mr Newman, you must be at the least a millionaire from the proceeds. Deserve to be. This is my third reading of your masterpiece. A millionaire at least.'
    `I have got a bit stashed away,' Newman said, smiling as they shook