The Kiwi Target

rather tall man, perhaps in his early fifties, who was wearing a beautifully cut lounge suit. Bishop was there, and also present, beaming affably, was Superintendent Winston.
    A discreet waiter came in to take the drink orders. Peter asked for a martini, while the others chose whiskey and soda.
    “Tell me, Mr. Ferguson,” the minister began. “How do you like your station? I understand that you’re living there now.”
    “It’s a totally new experience,” Peter answered, “but I like it very much.”
    Within a minute or two the waiter was back. He served everyone, set down two or three plates of light snacks, and then left.
    “May I call you Peter?” the minister asked.
    “Please do, sir.”
    “Peter, I know that you’re aware of some problems we’ve been having recently concerning our tourist industry. Superintendent Winston told you, I believe, that Pricane is interested in a certain Piece of land at Russell.”
    “That’s right,” Peter acknowledged.
    “As soon as he did that, you gave him some detailed and valuable information based on your knowledge of Pricane and its methods.”
    Peter sipped his drink and continued to listen.
    “That was much appreciated. Now let me state the case clearly. We’re most concerned with corporate raids being made against our tourist industry. Pricane has a buying team coming into Auckland this weekend. Also, a Hong Kong investment group has taken a keen interest in us. We’re having some serious police problems that may be associated with them.”
    “Very serious,” Winston contributed.
    “In this situation we believe, Peter, that you might be of some real help to us, if you’re so disposed.”
    “What would you like me to do?”
    Cooper consulted his drink before he answered that.
    “You’re an obvious American who’s generally known to have come into a considerable inheritance. It’s quite logical, therefore, that you might choose to travel the country a bit, enjoying yourself as a sightseeing tourist.”
    “Of course,” Peter agreed.
    “We believe that you’re in a unique position to evaluate whatever moves Pricane may make; you’ve already demonstrated that. What would you say to visiting some of our principal tourist attractions as a government guest?”
    “To try and foresee what Pricane might do?” Peter asked. “Yes, precisely. Or perhaps to be on hand to advise us if they attempt any major takeovers.”
    “I’ll be glad to,” Peter said.
    “It’s done, then,” Cooper said. “You can work out the details with Superintendent Winston.”
    The minister rose to his feet and once more held out his hand. Winston followed Peter out the door. “I’ll be in touch with you very shortly,” he said. “Meanwhile, there is something I think you should know. From information received, we’re aware that the piece of property in Russell isn’t the only one that these outsiders are anxious to acquire.”
    “I know—they’re after any good tourist facilities they can get.”
    “Exactly right, Peter, but there’s more. We happen to know that they’re also very anxious to take over your station.”

CHAPTER 21

    With a reassuring awareness that he knew exactly what he was about, Theodore Kincaid prepared himself for the business of the evening. He knew better than to wear a formal business suit. Instead, he put on casual clothing and planned to walk to his destination. It was a fine evening, warm and balmy at the Bay of Islands, and he had only a short distance to go.
    As he set out from the Duke of Marlborough, he was inwardly smiling. The morning flight from Los Angeles would bring in a full Pricane acquisition team to work under his direction. By the time he met with its members for dinner, he would have some very specific instructions to give. He had been carefully busy during his stay, and his plans were well advanced.
    While he climbed steadily up the narrow road, he reviewed each step he proposed to take and made sure that he had all of the bases covered. After he completed his errand, he had a date to drop by Susie’s place “for a cup of tea.” Tea to him was a mild form of poison, but Susie was an altogether different matter. On the one occasion he had been in bed with her, she had been sensational.
    A less-than-fifteen-minute walk, which included some fairly stiff climbing, brought him to the top of the site he had chosen. He knew that most of the property was under option to a Hong Kong-based organization, but that