Van Effen said again: 'Why, Kathleen?'

'I suppose it will all come out, won't it?' She was crying openly now. Vasco put an arm around her trembling shoulders and instead of resisting she seemed to lean against him. 'My father is English. He was a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Guards, not under that name. His father was an Earl, who left him a fortune. His sons, my brothers, went to Sandhurst. Both were killed in Northern Ireland, one a lieutenant, the other a second lieutenant. My mother was killed by a renegade off-shoot of the IRA. He's never been the same man since.'

'I guessed as much. He may be tried in this country or be extradited by the British.' Van Effen sounded as tired as he undoubtedly felt. 'In either case, diminished responsibility will apply.'

'You mean he's mad?' she whispered.

'I'm no doctor. Some kind of temporary derangement, I should imagine. Tell me, Maria, had either Romero or Leonardo anything to do with the murder of my wife and children?'

'No, no, no! I swear it. They wouldn't hurt a fly. My two other brothers in prison. I know they arranged it. They are hateful, evil men. I will testify to that in court. I promise.'

'That could mean another five or ten years to their sentence.' 'I hope they remain there till they die.'

'No charges will be brought against you and Kathleen. Accessories are one thing, accessories under duress another. Vasco, be so kind as to release that young lady and put a call through to Uncle Arthur. Tell him all. George, take those four ladies, out for a restorative. There's bound to be a suitable supply in their mess or canteen or whatever. If not, the helicopter is not exactly bereft. Beware of suicide attempts.' Julie said; 'I don't think that anyone is going to commit suicide.' 'Your feminine intuition, I suppose. Well, I agree. And, George, you could bring something back here. I feel very weak.'

George smiled and ushered the four girls from the control room. Vasco was two minutes on the telephone then turned to van Effen, his hand over the mouthpiece. 'I believe Uncle Arthur would like a word with you. May I - ah - join the ladies?'

'By all means. 'van Effen picked up the phone as he heard the first sound of screaming police sirens. Colonel de Graaf 's congratulations were fulsome in the extreme. So were those of Vieringa, who eventually handed him back to de Graaf.

Van Effen said: 'I am, Colonel de Graaf, becoming tired of being the handmaiden who does all the dirty was.h.i.+ng for you. I want a new job, increased salary, or both.'

'You shall have both, my boy. An increased salary is inevitably what goes with my job.' He coughed. 'Six months, say? A year?'

The End