Free Terminal by Colin Forbes

can..
    `A name — or names — would be reassuring..
    `I'm not sure that's wise. Reliable help will only cooperate on a basis of total secrecy. If I'm the only person who knows their identity they know who to point the finger at if things go wrong. I take full responsibility..
    `You've hired an outsider already,' Howard accused.
    Tweed shrugged and glanced at the letter on his desk. Howard could have killed him. It was an uncharacteristic action on the part of Tweed, but he would go to any length to protect a source. He decided he had treated Howard rather badly — especially in front of the others.
    `There's already been a body,' he informed his chief. 'A man was murdered in Vienna. Mason can tell you about it...'
    `God Almighty!' Howard exploded. 'What are you letting us in for?'
    `Permission to explain, sir?' the trim, erect Mason interjected. Taking Howard's curt nod for an affirmative he described in concise detail his experience with Franz Oswald. Howard listened in silence, his pursed lips expressing disapproval — and anxiety, a reaction Tweed sympathized with. He wasn't at all happy about the way the situation was developing himself.
    `And did he tell you — while he was alive — how he obtained the thing ?'
    Howard nodded again, this time towards the locked drawer in the filing cabinet. He had calmed down while listening to Mason, a man he disliked but respected — they came from the same background. The trouble was he was Tweed's man. Like that bloody old spinster, Monica, who hadn't spoken a word— but Howard knew that later she could repeat the entire conversation back verbatim from memory.
    `No, sir, he didn't,' Mason answered. 'I did ask but he refused point-blank to go into details. I have, however, got a photograph of the man who boarded the plane at Schwechat — that new camera is a wizard and I always carry it with me. It was a long shot, telephoto lens, but it's come out rather well.'
    `Show it to me. You have got it on you?'
    Mason glanced quickly at Tweed, which infuriated Howard once more. Tweed nodded acquiescence and wished Mason hadn't asked his permission. Still, Mason was being ultra- careful with this one. He watched Howard studying the photograph Mason handed to him.
    `Any idea who he is?' Howard demanded.
    `He's familiar,' Tweed replied. 'It will come back to me...'
    Tut it through Records,' Howard suggested. 'Now, Mason, I'm going to say a word and I want you to react instantly. Give me the first association that comes into your head. Don't think about it. Ready? Terminal ...'
    `An electrical circuit,' Mason responded promptly.
    `That's interesting.' Howard turned to Tweed. 'The Swiss are transforming their whole economy to run on electric power. New houses are heated by electricity — to avoid dependence on oil. Did you know that?'
    `Yes, I knew that. You might have a shrewd point there,' he agreed.
    `Supposing this whole business hinges on a massive sabotage operation?' Howard warmed to his theme. 'The enemy is planning to hit all the key points in the Swiss power system when the moment comes for them to make their move.'
    `You could be right. We'll know when we find out what really is going on inside Switzerland. I need to send in someone the Swiss police and military intelligence don't know. Mason would fit the bill. And the Ambassador in Vienna agreed to bring forward his leave — three weeks...'
    `Good idea,' agreed Howard. He felt a little better about the whole thing now he was contributing . Time to show a modicum of goodwill. He nodded towards the letter on Tweed's desk. 'With her backing we have an open-ended call on resources. But this business still worries me. Who would imagine the Swiss getting mixed up in a situation of such international dimensions? Yes, Mason, was there something?'
    `Permission to find some breakfast — if you're finished with me, sir? Airline meals turn my stomach. I haven't eaten since last night.'
    `Fuel up!' Howard said breezily, still buoyant.