"Alistair MacLean - Puppet on a Chain" - читать интересную книгу автора (Maclean Alistair)

'How the hell should I? I've just stepped off the plane. Ask the stewardess, ask the captain, ask a dozen people who were aboard the plane. KL 132 from London, arrival time 1555.' I looked at my watch. 'Good God! Only six minutes ago.'

'You haven't answered my question.' Schroeder not only looked shrewd, he was shrewd.

'I wouldn't know him even if I saw him now.'

'Mm. Has it ever occurred to you, Mr -- ah -- '

'Sherman.'

'Has it ever occurred to you, Mr Sherman, that normal members of the public don't set off in pursuit of an armed killer?'

'Maybe I'm sub-normal.'

'Or perhaps you carry a gun, too?'

I unbuttoned my jacket and held the sides wide.

'Did you -- by any chance -- recognize the killer?',

'No.' But I'd never forget him, though. I turned to the girl. 'May I ask you a question, Miss -- '

'Miss Lemay,' Schroeder said shortly.

'Did you recognize the killer? You must have had a good look at him. Running men invariably attract attention.'

'Why should I know him?'

I didn't try to be shrewd as Schroeder had been. I said: 'Would you like to have a look at the dead man? Maybe might recognize him?'

She shuddered and shook her head.

Still not being clever, I said: 'Meeting someone?'

'I don't understand.'

'Your standing at the immigration exit.'

She shook her head again. If a beautiful girl can look ghastly, then she looked ghastly.

'Then why be here? To see the sights? I should have thought the immigration hall in Schiphol was the most unsightly place in Amsterdam.'

'That'll do.' Schroeder was brusque. 'Your questions are without point and the young lady is clearly distressed.' He gave me a hard look to remind me that I was responsible for her distress. 'Interrogation is for police officers.'

'I am a police officer.' I handed over my passport and warrant card and as I did Maggie and Belinda emerged from the exit. They glanced in my direction, broke step and stared at me with a mixture of concern and consternation as well they might considering the way I felt and undoubtedly looked, but I just scowled at them, as a self-conscious and injured man will scowl at anyone who stares at him, so they hurriedly put their faces straight again and moved on their way. I returned my attention to Schroeder, who was now regarding me with a quite different expression on his face.

'Major Paul Sherman, London Bureau of Interpol. This makes a considerable difference, I must say. It also explains why you behaved like a policeman and interrogate like a policeman. But I shall have to check your credentials, of course.'

'Check whatever you like with whoever you like,' I said, assuming that Mr Schroeder's English grammar wouldn't be up to picking faults in my syntax. 'I suggest you start with Colonel Van de Graaf at the Central HQ.'