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for security reasons； you see…but can you at least tell us your man's role within the Corporation？ We'll e to his name later； if and when there is an agreement between us。' Quinn…Reece shifted in his seat； as if even more unfortable。 'I'm afraid I can't tell you that either； not at this stage。 Once a contract is agreed； then Magma will give you all the necessary information…on a 〃need to know〃 basis； of course。'
'We're well used to such discretion；' Snaith assured。 'In fact； we encourage it。 But so long as you understand that nothing absolutely nothing…must be withheld from us should we decide to take on the job。'
'I understand perfectly；' the deputy chairman replied； nodding his head gravely。
I wonder if he really does； thought Snaith。 That every part of the 'target's' life would be delved into…his wife； family； friends； his habits； recreations。 Whether or not he has a mistress。 Especially that。 A mistress （or mistresses） was always a weak link in any operation of this sort because usually the target himself tried to cover up that particular side of his activities； would even endeavour to elude his own protectors for the occasional tryst with his woman。 Shield would also have to know how the target was regarded as a man…stubborn； soft； fit； unfit； loving； harsh； conformist or otherwise； and so on （intelligence was assumed if he was worth insuring in this way）。 If married and had children； what kind of husband was he； what kind of father？ Snaith and his operatives would need to know his precise movements； every hour； every minute of the day and night。 Were these movements regularly reported both inside and outside the Corporation？ Would the media ever be informed in advance'？ He was already aware of the employee's value to Magma…an incredible ￡50 million…but what was the nature and value of his function？ All these questions； and many more； would have to be answered before Shield could begin to devise a specially…tailored security cover。 Even then； no such protective system could ever be foolproof； not where terrorists were concerned。 But one question had to be answered at the outset。
Snaith leaned forward on his desk； his fingers interlocking； thumbs turning circles around each other。 'Why now？' he asked。 'Why do you feel this member of your corporation needs protection at this point in time？'
'Because；' Quinn…Reece replied blandly； 'he told us so。' This time Snaith and Mather did not refrain from looking at each other。
'Your man has received a warning； a threat？' asked Mather。
'Not exactly。' Dieter Stuhr； who had been jotting down odd notes throughout the proceedings； rested his pen。 'Is Magma involved in some venture that could put your employee at risk？'
'Not at this moment。'
'It has been in the past？' Stuhr persisted。
Buchanan quickly spoke up。 'Gentlemen； I'm sure you're all well aware of the Magma Corporation's undoubted prominence in the mercial world。 It has widespread international interests in the mining； industrial and energy sectors； with assets of over ￡6；000 million and an annual turnover of something like ￡45；000 million。 It would take you a whole day to study the list of subsidiary panies the Corporation owns。'
'Thank you for the information； Alexander； but what the hell has that to do with what we're talking about？' Snaith enquired bluntly。
'Only that you may rest assured that Magma is not involved in any enterprises that might be considered； er 。 。 。'
'Shady？' Mather obligingly finished for him。
Stuhr smiled way past his left eyebrow。
'Questionable；' Buchanan allowed。
'I'm sorry； I didn't mean to imply 。 。 。' Stuhr； still smiling； began to say。
'That's quite all right； I understand；' said Quinn…Reece。 'You need to be fully in the picture； as it were。 Let me put it this way： the man we are discussing has certain 。 。 。 abilities 。 。 。' he stressed the word '。 。 。 that panies whose mercial activities are similar to our own might well envy。 In that respect； he could always be at risk should one of those rival panies； shall we say； bee over…envious。'
'They could always pay more than you for his services；' suggested Mather； being somewhat intrigued by their prospective client。
'If；' Quinn…Reece replied almost slyly； 'they knew of his existence。' He smiled at the three men facing him； pleased with their rapt attention。 'I'm sorry to sound so mysterious but； you see； our man has unique skills that would be virtually impossible to match。 Not that our petitors would ever have knowledge of them…those skills are kept secret even within our own organisation。' Mather rested his hands over the handle of his cane。 He glanced towards the room's huge window； a gull catching his eye as it swooped by； wings dazzling white in the cold sunshine。 'This sounds； uh； quite interesting；' he said； returning his gaze to the deputy chairman。 'Yes 。 。 。' the word drawn out '。 。 。 interesting indeed。 Would you care to elaborate？' Quinn…Reece held up his palms。 'Again； I'm afraid not。 At least； not until you agree to the assignment。 I know that puts you in an awkward position； but we have our own security requirements。 There is also one other matter that might not meet with your satisfaction。' Stuhr's pen was poised once more。
'The man we're discussing；' Quinn…Reece went on； 'already maintains a strong protection unit around him。'
'Ah；' said Mather。
'Bodyguards？' enquired Stuhr。
Quinn…Reece nodded。
'Are they well…trained？' asked Snaith。
'Reasonably so； I believe；' replied Quinn…Reece。
'Then why does Magma need our services？' The deputy chairman looked at Buchanan。
'That's a priority condition of Acorn Buchanan if we're to take on the risk；' said the underwriter。 〃These personal bodyguards may well be proficient； but my pany would feel more fortable if Achilles' Shield were running the show。'
'It's no problem；' mented Stuhr。 'I can work out an effective operation into which they can be absorbed。 First though we would have to ascertain just how goad these men are； and how trustworthy； and they would have to recognise implicitly our authority over them。'
'Naturally；' agreed Quinn… Reece。 'Your pany would have plete control。'
'That's fine then；' said Snaith。 At least； he thought it was fine。
'Buchanan cleared his throat。 'There is yet another factor； Gerald；' he said。
The tone of his voice hinted that Snaith and his colleagues were not going to like this one。
'I've already explained to Mr Quinn…Reece and his chairman that it's Achilles' Shield's practice to have at least three operatives in direct contact with the target； so ensuring a too friendly relationship never develops between protector and protected。'
'It's our way of making certain；' Snaith told Quinn…Reece； 'that if our precautions fail and our client is abducted then negotiations between the kidnappers and our man won't be hindered by personal involvement。'
'I can appreciate that；' the deputy chairman responded。
'Unfortunately；' Buchanan went on； 'the Magma Corporation will allow only one of your men to cover the target on a close basis。'
'Good Lord；' said Mather； while Stuhr muttered under his breath；