Free Rhinoceros by Colin Forbes

when fog covered the island in daylight. A short distance below it he saw the tall stone chimney-like edifice that housed the most advanced scientific system in the world.
    'I still can't reach the man I must see,' Lisa protested. 'I have called several times and he's always out.'
    'Whoever it is, you must persist,' Herb advised.
    They were were eating lunch in an isolated room behind the bar at The Hangman's Noose. Herb was doing his best to calm her down but without much success.
    'I have persisted, damnit,' Lisa snapped, banging down her fork.
    'Have you an address?' Herb enquired.
    'Yes, I have.'
    'Is he the sort of man you can just call on, then?'
    'No, I don't think so. I should make an appointment.'
    'Then do that when you can.'
    'Don't you think I have tried time and again? Seeing Delgado prowling round was the last straw.' She had raised her voice. 'Something very violent is being planned . . .'
    She stopped speaking. The door from the bar had opened and a man stood looking at them. Delgado. Lisa reached under her jacket, gripped the Beretta behind her belt. The giant walked in closer.
    'Heard my name. What you two doing?'
    'This is a private room,' Herb said.
    'What you two doing?' repeated Delgado, coming closer.
    Behind him Millie rushed into the room, dashed into the kitchen, came out with a large rolling pin in her hand. Her face was very red. She brandished the rolling pin.
    'Get out. Get back to the other side of the bar. Then get back out of the pub before I smash your stupid skull in, you scum.'
    She seemed larger than Lisa had thought her to be. The giant took a step back, then another as Millie followed him. She yelled at him at the top of her voice. He ran back through the door, leapt to the other side of the bar. Herb was on his feet, just behind Millie. Delgado glared at him.
    'Your place will be first to go up in flames . . .'
    Then he rushed to the outer door, knocking over a table as he passed it. Customers' beer was spilt over the floor and he was gone.
    'Sorry, gentlemen,' Herb said calmly. "Ad too much, he 'ad. What he knocked over was lager. More comin' up. On the 'ouse . . .'
    He closed the door to the room, leaving Lisa inside. She picked up a phone and pressed numbers. She was breathing heavily and held her throat when the same woman answered and she asked for Tweed, giving her name.
    'He's here now. Sony you've had so much trouble . . .'
    'Tweed here. Who is this?'
    'Lisa. We met yesterday at Lord Barford's party. Do you remember me?'
    'Of course I do. You wanted to come and see me about something.'
    Herb had come into the room. He was carrying a pail and a cloth he'd used to clean up the spilt lager. He paused, unsure if she wanted privacy. She smiled at him, went on talking.
    'If I could come at six o'clock? It will be dark then and might be safer.'
    'Safer from what?'
    'Mr Tweed, large organized gangs of refugeees are prowling the city, choosing the places which will be targets when they start devastating riots. I don't think they're ready yet but I can point out the targets they've chosen so far.'
    'Are you sure about this?'
    'I've seen them with my own eyes. It's a huge operation and, at the moment, covers London from the West End to the East End. Have you a few men, tough men, you could bring with you? Just in case.'
    'I think we might handle that problem, but first, could you get here at, say, 5.30 p.m. so we can have a chat? You have the address.'
    'I'll be there at 5.30 on the dot. Don't be surprised how I'm dressed.'
    'I'll look forward to seeing you . . .'
    Lisa thanked him, put down the phone, turned round to find Herb staring at her, still holding his pail and cloth. He shook his head.
    'Goin' over the top a bit, aren't we? Large organized gangs. There weren't so many of them. And look how Delgado scarpered when Millie went for 'im.'
    'Bert gave me a long list of places in the West End he saw them looking at. Delgado will need a lot of thugs to cause mayhem over such a large area.