This is For Real Page 24

  “Yes,” Girland said. “You’ve been quite a busy bee, haven’t you?”

  Ambler spoke for the first time.

  “You’re under arrest, Girland. I have orders to fly you back to Paris tonight. Mr. Dorey wants you.”

  Girland shrugged.

  “What about her? She can’t stay in Dakar now.”

  “We’re running a special plane back for you. V.I.P. stuff,” Kerman said. “Dorey is sure to want to talk to her so she can keep us company.”

  Girland slumped back in his seat. Although he was weary, his mind remained busy. He wasn’t worried about Dorey. The micro-film would sweeten him. He would love taking care of Radnitz, and Girland decided he would let him have all the credit. He would be happy too to hear Malik was no more. Anyway, if he did try to start trouble, Girland knew he had him where he wanted him. Dorey wouldn’t want the C.I.A. to know he had been fooled by Janine.

  But what about myself? Girland thought. What am I going to do now? Then he remembered he had Radnitz’s five thousand dollars in his bank. Money solved most problems, he thought. I guess I’ll go back to the States. I’ll find something to do.

  Suddenly smiling, he reached out and put his hand on Tessa’s.

  “We’re going to celebrate after all,” he said, “and you will see my Abstracts.”

  She smiled at him.

  “Will I? We’ll see. I’m making no promises, Mark.”

  The hovercraft droned on over the hot wasteland towards the bright lights of Dakar’s airport.