The Danger. Part 25

"Great,"shesaid;then,reflectively,"Johnsoundedpleased,youknow,that MirandaandDominicwouldbeoutofthehouse.He'ssoodd.You'dthinkhe'dbe deliriouswithjoy,havinghis...o...b..ck,andhealmostseemed...annoyed."

"Thinkofyourownfather'sstateafteryougothome."

"Yes,but..."Shebrokeoff."Howverystrange."

"JohnNerrity,"Isaidneutrally,"islikeoneofthosesnowstormpaperweights, allshakenup,withbitsofguiltandfearandreliefandmeannessallfloating aroundinaturmoil.Ittakesawhileaftersomethingastraumaticasthelast fewdaysforeverythinginsomeone'scharactertosettle,likethesnowstorm,so tospeak,andforalltheoldpatterntorea.s.sert."

"I'dneverthoughtofitlikethat."

"Didherealize,"Iasked,"thatthepresswilldescendonhim,astheydidon you?"

"No,Idon'tthinkso.Willthey?"

"'Fraidso.Sureto.SomeonedowninSuss.e.xwillhavetippedthemoff."

"PoorMiranda."

"She'llbefine.Ifyouringheragain,tellhertoholdontoDominictight throughalltheinterviewsandkeeptellinghiminhisearthathe'ssafeand thatallthepeoplewillgoawaysoon."

"Yes."

"Seeyoutomorrow,"Isaid.

Dominicwasabignewsitemonbreakfasttelevisionandnear-headlinesinthe newspapers.Miranda,Iwasgladtosee,hadmetthecameraswithcontroland happiness,thewordlesschildseemingmerelyshy.JohnNerrity,headback, moustachebristling,hadconfirmedthatthesaleofhisDerbywinnerwouldgo throughasplanned,thoughheinsistedhewasnowherenearbankruptcy;thatthe storyhadbeenmerelyaploytoconfoundthekidnappers.

Theyallaskedwh.o.r.escuedhisson.

Thepolice,JohnNerritysaid.Nopraisewastoohigh.

Mostpeopleintheoffice,havingseenthecoverage,readTony'sandmyreport withinterest,andwebothansweredquestionsattheMondaysession.Gerry Clayton'seyebrowsroseacoupleoftimes,butonthewholenooneseemedto wanttoinquiretoocloselyintowhatwehaddonebesidesadvise.Thechairman concludedthatevenifNerritystucktohisgunsandrefusedtopayafeeit shouldn'tworryus.ThedeliveranceofDominic,hesaidcontentedly,hadbeen tidilyandrapidlycarriedoutatlittlecosttothefirm.Liaisonwiththe policehadbeenexcellent.Welldone,youtwochaps.Anymorebusiness?Ifnot, we'lladjourn.

TonyadjournedtothenearestpubandItoLambourn,arrivinglaterthanIwould haveliked.

"Thankgoodness,"Alessiasaid,comingoutofthehousetomeetme."Wethought you'dgotlost."

"Heldupintheoffice."Ihuggedherwithaffection.

"Noexcuse."

Therewasanewlightnessabouther:mostencouraging.Sheledmethroughthe kitchentothemoreformaldrawingroomwhereDominicsat.w.a.tchfullyon Miranda'slapandPopsywaspouringwine.

"h.e.l.lo,"Popsysaid,givingmeawelcomingkiss,bottleinonehand,gla.s.sin theother."Outwiththewand,it'sbadlyneeded."

Ismiledathergreeneyesandtookthefilledgla.s.s."PityI'mnottwentyyears younger,"shesaid.Igaveheran"oh,yeah"glanceandturnedtoMiranda.

"h.e.l.lo,"Isaid.

"h.e.l.lo."Shewasquietandshaky,asifill.

"h.e.l.lo,Dominic."

Thechildstaredatmegravelywiththebigwideeyes.Blueeyes,Isawby daylight.Deepblueeyes.

"Youlookedterrificonthebox,"IsaidtoMiranda."Justright."

"Alessiatoldme...whattodo."

"Alessiatoldhertodresswell,tolookcalm,andtopretendeverythingwas normal,"Popsysaid."Iheardher.Shesaiditwasagoodlessonshe'dlearned fromyou,andMirandamightaswellbenefit."

Popsyhadmadeaninformallunchinthekitchen,ofwhichMirandaatelittleand Dominicnothing,andafterwardsshedroveusalluptotheDownsinherLand Rover,thinkinginstinctively,Ireckoned,thatasitwastherethatAlessia feltmostreleased,sowouldDominicalso.

"HasDominiceatenanythingatallsincewebroughthimback?"Iaskedonthe way.

"Onlymilk,"Mirandasaid."Hewouldn'ttoucheventhatuntilItriedhimwith oneofhisoldbottles."Shekissedhimgently."Healwaysusedtohavehis bedtimemilkinabottle,didn'tyou,poppet?Heonlygaveitupsixmonths ago."

WeallinsilencecontemplatedDominic'sregressiontobabyhood,andPopsyput thebrakesonupbytheschoolingfences.

"Ibroughtarug,"shesaid."Let'ssitonthegra.s.s."

Thethreesat,withDominicstillclingingtohismother,andIleanedagainst theLandRoverandthoughtthatPopsywasprobablyright:thepeaceofthe rollinghillswa.s.sopotent.i.talmoststretchedoutandtouchedyou.

Mirandahadbroughtatoycar,andAlessiaplayedwithit,wheelingitacross therug,upMiranda'slegandontoDominic's.Hewatchedhergravelyforawhile withoutsmilingandfinallyhidhisfaceinhismother'sneck.

Mirandasaid,hermouthtrembling,"Didthey...didtheyhurthim?Hehasn'tany badbruises,justlittleones...but...whatdidtheydo,whatdidtheydotomake himlikethis?"

Isquattedbesideherandputanarmroundhershoulder,embracingDominicalso.

Helookedatmewithoneeyefromunderhismother'sear,butdidn'ttryto squirmaway.

"Theyapparentlykepthimfastenedtoabedwiththesortofharnessyougetin prams.Ididn'tseeit,butIwastold.Idon'tthinktheharnessitselfwould havehurthim.Hewouldhavebeenabletomovealittle-situp,kneel,liedown.

Herefusedtoeatanyfoodandhecriedsometimesbecausehewaslonely."I paused."It'spossibletheydeliberatelyfrightenedhimmorethantheyhadto, tokeephimquiet."Ipausedagain."Therewasaholeinthefloorboards.Abig hole,bigenoughforachildtofallthrough."Ipausedagain."Theymighthave toldDominicthatifhemadealotofnoisethey'dputhimdownthathole."

Miranda'swholebodyshudderedandDominicletoutawailandclungtohis motherwithfrenzy.ItwasthefirstsoundI'dheardhimutter,andIwasn't goingtowasteit.

"Dominic,"Isaidfirmly."Somenicepolicemenhavefilledupthatholesothat nolittleboyscanfalldownit.Thethreemenwhotookyouawayinaboatare notcomingback.Thepolicemenhavelockedthemupinprison.Nooneisgoingto takeyoutotheseaside."Ipaused."Nooneisgoingtostickanymoretapeon yourmouth.Nooneisgoingtobeangrywithyouandcallyouhorridnames."

"Oh,darling,"Mirandasaidindistress,hugginghim.

"Thatholeisallfilledin,"Isaid."Thereisnoholeanymoreinthefloor.

n.o.bodycanfalldownit."

Thepoorlittlewretchwouldhavenightmaresabout.i.tperhapsallhislife.Any personwhocouldfindapreventionfornightmares,Ioftenthought,would deservean.o.belprize.

IstoodupandsaidtoAlessiaandPopsy,"Let'sgoforastroll,"andwhenthey stoodupIsaidtoDominic,"Giveyourmummylotsofkisses.Shecriedallthe time,whenthosehorridmentookyou.Sheneedsalotofkisses."

Sheneededthekissesherhusbandhadn'tgivenher,Ithought.Sheneededthe comfortofstrongadultarms.Shewashavingtogeneratestrengthenoughtosee herselfandDominicthroughalone,anditstillseemedtomeatossupwhether she'dsurvivetriumphantlyorendinbreakdown.

Popsy,Alessia,andIwalkedslowlyovertooneoftheschoolingfencesand stoodtheretalking.

"Doyouthinkyoudidright,remindinghimoftheholeinthefloor?"Popsy asked.

"Splintershavetocomeout,"Isaid.

"Orthewoundfesters?"

"Yes."

"Howdidyouknowwhattheythreatened?"

"Ididn'tknow.Ijustguessed.Itwa.s.solikely,wasn't.i.t?Theholewasthere.

Hewascrying.Shutupyoulittlebleederorwe'llputyoudownit."

Popsyblinked.Alessiaswallowed."TellMiranda,"Isaidtoher,"that.i.ttakes alongtimetogetoversomethingasawfulasbeingkidnapped.Don'tlether worryifDominicwetsthebedandclingstoher.Tellherhowit'sbeenwith you.Howinsecureitmadeyoufeel.Thenshe'llbepatientwithDominiconcethe firstjoyofhavinghimbackhascooleddown."

"Yes,I'lltellher."

PopsylookedfromAlessiatomeandbackagain,butsaidnothing,anditwas AlessiaherselfwhohalfsmiledandgavevoicetoPopsy'sthought.

"I'veclungtoyouallright,"shesaidtome,lookingbrieflyovertoMiranda andthenback."Whenyouaren'there,andIfeelpanicky,Ithinkofyou,and it'sasupport.I'lltellMirandathattoo.Sheneedssomeonetoclingto, herself,poorgirl."

"YoumakeAndrewsoundlikeasortoftrellisforclimbingplants,"Popsysaid.

Wewalkedagain,asfarasthenextschoolingfence,andstopped,lookingout acrossthehills.Highcirruscloudscurledinfeatheryfrondsnearthesun, omenofbadweathertocome.We'dneverhavefoundDominic,Ithought,ifithad rainedthedayafterhewastakenandtherehadbeennoca.n.a.ldiggerwithhis grandmotheronthebeach.

"Youknow,"Alessiasaid,suddenlystirring,"it'stimeformetogobackto racing."Thewordscameoutasifunpremeditatedandseemedtosurpriseher.

"Mydarling!"Popsyexclaimed."Doyoumeanit?"

"IthinkImeanitatthismoment,"Alessiasaidhesitantly,smilingnervously.

"WhetherImeanittomorrowmorningisanyone'sguess."

Weallsaw,however,that.i.twasthefirsttricklethroughthedike.Iputmy armsroundAlessiaandkissedher:andinaninstant.i.twasn'tjustagestureof congratulationbutsomethingmuchfiercer,somethingwhollydifferent.Ifelt thefirerunthroughherinreturnandthendrainaway,andIletgoofher thinkingthatthebas.e.m.e.nthadtakenchargeofmerightandproper.

Ismiled.Shruggedmyshoulders,Madenocomment.

"Didyoumeanthat?"Alessiademanded.

"Notexactly,"Isaid."Itwasasurprise."

"Itsurewas."Shelookedatmea.s.sessinglyandthenwanderedawayonherown, notlookingback.

"You'veprunedheroffthetrellis,"Popsysaid,amused."Thedoctorkissedthe patient;mostunprofessional."

"I'llkissDominictooifitwillmakeyoufeelbetter."

ShetookmyarmandwestrolledincomradelyfashionbacktotheLandRoverand therug.Mirandawaslyingonherback,dozing,withDominiclooselysprawled overherstomach.Hiseyes,too,wereshut,hissmallfacerelaxed,thecontours roundedandappealing.

"Poorlittlesweetheart,"Popsymurmured."Pitytowakethem.

MirandawokenaturallywhenAlessiareturned,andwithDominiestillasleepwe setoffontheshortdrivehome.Oneoftheb.u.mpsintheruttedDownstrackmust haverousedhim,though,becauseIsawhimhalfsitupinMiranda'sarmsand thenlieback,withMiranda'sheadbentoverhimasiftolisten.

Alessiagavemeawildlookandshetoobentherheadtolisten,butIcould hearnothingabovethesoundoftheengine,andanywayitdidn'tseemtomethat Dominic'slipsweremoving.

"Stopthecar,"AlessiasaidtoPopsy,andPopsy,hearingtheurgency,obeyed.

Dominicwashumming.

Forafewsecondsthelownoisewenton:randomly,Ithoughtatfirst,though certainlynotononenote.

"Doyouknowwhatthatis?"Alessiasaidincredulously,whenthechildstopped.

"Isimplydon'tbelieveit."

"What,then?"Isaid.

Foranswershehummedthephraseagain,exactlyasDominichaddone.Hesatup inMiranda'sarmsandlookedather,clearlyresponding.

"Heknowsit!"Alessiaexclaimed."Dominicknowsit."

"Yes,darling,"Popsysaidpatiently."Wecanseehedoes.Canwedriveonnow?"

"Youdon'tunderstand,"Alessiasaidbreathlessly."That'soutofIlTrovatore.

TheSoldiers'Chorus.'"

Mygazesharpenedonherface."Doyoumean..."Ibegan.

Shenodded."Ihearditfivetimesadayforsixweeks."

"Whatareyoutalkingabout?"Mirandaasked."Dominicdoesn'tknowanyopera.

NeitherJohnnorIlikeit.Dominiconlyknowsnurseryrhymes.Hepicksthoseup likelightning.Iplaythemtohimonca.s.settes."

"Holyh.e.l.l,"Isaidinawe."Popsy,drivehome.Allisfine."

WithgoodhumorPopsyrestartedthecarandtookusbacktothehouse,andonce thereIwentovertomycartofetchmybriefcaseandcarryitintothekitchen.

"Miranda,"Isaid,"I'dlikeDominictolookatapicture."

Shewasapprehensivebutdidn'tobject.Shesatatthekitchentablewith Dominiconherlap,andItookoutoneofthephotostatsofGiuseppeandlaidit faceuponthetable.MirandawatchedDominicanxiouslyforafrightened reaction,butnonecame.Dominiclookedatthefacecalmlyforawhileandthen turnedawayandleanedagainstMiranda,hisfacetoherneck.

WithasmallsighIputthepicturebackinthecaseandacceptedPopsy'soffer ofauniversalcupoftea.

"Ciaobambino,"Dominicsaid.