Читать книгу Desperate Cargo - Don Pendleton - Страница 12

Hugo Canfield was having lunch at his London club when the maître d’brought him the telephone. He plugged it into one of the sockets, then placed the instrument on the table for Canfield.

“The caller said it was quite urgent, Mr. Canfield.”

Canfield nodded. “Thank you, Enright.” He waited until the man had withdrawn before picking up the receiver.

“Canfield.”

“This is van Ryden. Is it convenient?”

Canfield allowed himself a slight smile. The club dining room was exceptionally quiet. Only two other diners were seated together on the far side of the opulent room. All Canfield could hear was the low murmur of their voices and the click of knives and forks as they ate.

“It will cease to be if my roast beef gets cold.”

“There has been a problem with the latest cargo due for delivery. I thought you should know.”

“Explain ‘problem,’ Ludwig.”

There was a slight pause before van Ryden spoke. “The problem occurred at the delivery location and the cargo was lost.”

“I’ll be going back to my office after lunch. Use the jet. I want you in London before the end of the day.”

“Of course, Hugo.”

Canfield ended the call. He beckoned for Enright to remove the phone, then returned to his meal. He found his appetite a little soured at the news. Hugo Canfield did not enjoy being told that one of his shipments had been lost. He knew the details of the particular cargo that had been expected in Rotterdam. He had invested time and money, as he always did, and if it had been lost, then that meant he was going to be down a considerable sum. Not only that but he was going to have to disappoint important clients. They would not be pleased, which meant Canfield would not be pleased. Client satisfaction was something he prided himself on. It was one of the reasons his organization was the best. He allowed no slackening in standards. He would not tolerate failure.

He smiled suddenly at the thought of van Ryden sitting in the comfort of the Learjet as it crossed from Rotterdam to London. The man would not enjoy the flight. His churning stomach would not be put down to air sickness. He would be worrying. He would not realize that Canfield was not about to lay the blame on him. The lawyer was responsible for the legal part of the operation and logistics. He also dealt with finance. He was not a field operative.