Free No Mercy by Colin Forbes Page A

needed sugar. They both said they'd like black coffee.
    'We'll wait here awhile,' Tweed explained after a few minutes. 'Just in case whoever is responsible organized a back-up ambush for us nearer London. They'll think we've turned off to Guildford or somewhere else.' He paused to taste the coffee. 'This is very good.'
    'So is this,' said Paula, who had sampled her cake. 'The cream's very fresh. Where are we now with this horrific case? It's good to get away from Dartmoor. At Abbey Grange I wondered where Drago Volkanian was.'
    'One of the things I hope to discover from Lucinda. You've had a rough ride, so take your time.'
    Eventually they left the cafe and the sun came out, casting a cheerful light over fields where sheep grazed. Arriving at the giant Gantia food plant, they found that the high iron gates were closed. Tweed got out to use the intercom. When he came back he was smiling as the gates swung inward.
    'Guess what,' he said as they drove inside. 'When I gave my name the guard said Miss Voles had warned him I might be coming.'
    'Perceptive lady.'
    Paula was gazing at the Hampton Court-like gardens in front of the artistically shaped building. Evergreen shrubs, some trimmed into birdshapes, others perfect spheres, lined the drive. Volkanian was obviously a perfectionist when it came to presentation.
    After parking their car, they climbed white stone steps to the main entrance. The door opened before they reached it and a smart uniformed guard greeted them, after removing his peaked cap.
    'Welcome to Gantia. Miss Voles is expected back any moment. Oh, here she comes.'
    They heard the approaching roar of a high-powered car. At speed, a red Porsche appeared. Brakes were jammed on as the golden-headed driver swung her car round through the still-open gates. The guard, a man in his late fifties, chuckled.
    'She does step on it. She seems to have an instinct for all the speed traps. She'll be here the moment she's parked in the garage.'
    An automatic door had swung upwards, the Porsche slid inside, the door slowly closed down. Tweed decided there had to be another exit leading directly into the building. As the guard led them into a large hall decorated with expensive vases full of flowers, Lucinda appeared, smiling warmly, hugging Tweed, then Paula.
    'I think you've broken a record, Miss Voles,' the guard said.
    'Come a long way?' Paula asked.
    'Never let on whom I've been to meet. Security,' Lucinda replied with another smile.
    'I have to check you before you enter,' the guard said as he pressed a button.
    'It's procedure,' Lucinda explained.
    You look terrific, Paula was thinking. Lucinda was clad in a leather jacket, which was tight round her figure, and a pair of leather trousers. At her throat she wore a scarf Paula thought was Chanel. As the guard came to pat Tweed down he produced the Walther from his holster to hand over.
    'Let him keep that, Ken,' Lucinda told him. 'This gentleman is higher security than I'll ever be.'
    A uniformed woman guard appeared. In response to Ken's pressing the button, Paula assumed. She produced from her shoulder bag her Browning; again Lucinda said she could keep the weapon. The guards were backing away when Lucinda spoke abruptly, her tone hard, her expression grim.
    'Ken! Haven't I told you before that everyone must be checked before they enter the building? Including myself. I could have gone mad and be smuggling in a bomb.'
    The woman guard, looking appalled, went over to Lucinda and patted her down carefully. Ken looked equally appalled that he had fallen down on the job. Lucinda fired one more verbal shot before she led Tweed and Paula towards an elevator.
    'Don't ever slip up again. Now, incident closed.'
    Paula hesitated as Tweed followed Lucinda inside the elevator. Then she spoke.
    'Miss Voles . . .'
    'Lucinda, please.' She smiled.
    'Is there somewhere I can wait down here? I think Mr Tweed wants to talk to you very confidentially.'
    'All right. I wouldn't have minded but