The Danger. Part 9

ENGLAND.

Chaptersix.

ISPENTtwomoredaysattheVillaFranceseandthenflewbacktoLondon;and Alessiacamewithme.

Cenci,crestfallen,wantedhertostay.Hehadn'tyetreturnedtohisoffice, andherdeliverancehadnotrestoredhimtotheman-of-the-worldinthepicture.

Hestillworealookofingrainedanxietyandwa.s.stillmakinghiswaytothe brandyatunusualhours.Thefronthehadraisedforthemediahadevaporated beforetheircarswereoutthroughthegate,andheseemedonthefollowingday incapablylethargic.

"Ican'tunderstandhim,"Ilariasaidimpatiently."You'dthinkhe'dbestriding about,boomingaway,takingcharge.You'dthinkhe'dbehisbossyself.a.gain.

Whyisn'the?"

"He'shadsixterribleweeks."

"Sowhat?They'reover.Timefordancing,you'dthink."Shesketchedagraceful balletgesturewithherarm,goldbraceletsjangling."Tellyouthetruth,Iwas G.o.ddamgladshe'sback,b.u.t.thewayPapagoeson,shemightjustaswellnot be."

"Givehimtime,"Isaidmildly.

"Iwanthimthewayhewas,"shesaid."Tobeaman."

WhenAlessiasaidatdinnerthatshewasgoingtoEnglandinadayortwo, everyone,includingmyself,wasastonished.

"Why?"Ilariasaidforthrightly.

"TostaywithPopsy."

EveryoneexceptmyselfknewwhoPopsywas,andwhyAlessiashouldstaywithher, andItoolearnedafterwards.Popsywasaracehorsewomantrainer,widowed,with whomAlessiausuallylodgedwheninEngland.

"I'munfit,"Alessiasaid."Muscleslikejelly."

"Therearehorseshere,"Cenciprotested.

"Yes,but...Papa,Iwanttogoaway.It'sfantastictobehome,but...Itriedto drivemycaroutofthegatetodayandIwa.s.shaking...Itwa.s.stupid.Imeantto gotothehairdresser's.Myhairneedscuttingsobadly.ButIjustcouldn't.I camebacktothehouse,andlookatme,stillcurlingontomyshoulders."She triedtolaugh,butnoonefounditfunny.

"Ifthat'swhatyouwant,"herfathersaidworriedly.

"Yes...I'llgowithAndrew,ifhedoesn'tmind."

Imindedverylittle.Sheseemedrelievedbyherdecision,andthenextday IlariadroveherintheFiattothehairdresser,andboughtthingsforher becauseshecouldn'tfaceshops,andbroughthercheerfullyhome.Alessia returnedwithacurlybobandaslightcaseofthetrembles,andIlariahelped herpack.

OnthateveningItriedtopersuadeCencithathisfamilyshouldstilltake precautions.

"Thefirstransomisstillphysicallyinonesuitcase,anduntilthecarabinieri orthecourts,orwhatever,freeitandallowyoutouseittoreplacesomeof themoneyyouborrowedfromMilan,Ireckonit'sstillatrisk.Whatifthe kidnapperstookyou...orIlaria?Theydon'toftenhitthesamefamilytwice,but thistime...theymight."

Thehorrorwastoomuch.Hehadcrumbledalmosttoofar.

"JustgetIlariatobecareful,"Isaidhastily,havingfailedtodothat myself."Tellhertovaryherlifeabit.Gethertostaywithfriends,invite friendshere.Youyourselfaremuchsaferbecauseofyourchauffeur,but.i.t wouldn'thurttotakethegardeneralongtooforawhile,hehastheshoulders ofanoxandhe'dmakeasplendidbodyguard."

Afteralongpause,andinalowvoice,hesaid,"Ican'tfacethings,you know."

"Yes,Idoknow,"Iagreedgently."Besttostart,though,a.s.soonasyoucan."

Afaintsmile."Professionaladvice?"

"Absolutely."

Hesighed."Ican'tbeartosellthehouseonMikonos...mywifelovedit."

"ShelovedAlessiatoo.She'dthinkitafairswap."

Helookedatmeforawhile."You'reastrangeyoungman,"hesaid.

"Youmakethingssoclear."Hepaused."Don'tyouevergetmuddledbyemotion?"

"Yes,sometimes,"Isaid."Butwhenithappens...Itrytosortmyselfout.Tosee somelogic."

"Andonceyouseesomelogic,youactonit?"

"Tryto."Ipaused."Yes."

"Itsounds...cold."

Ishookmyhead."Logicdoesn'tstopyoufeeling.Youcanbehavelogically,and itcanhurtlikeh.e.l.l.Oritcancomfortyou.Orreleaseyou.Orallatthesame time."

Afterawhilehesaid,statingafact,"Mostpeopledon'tbehavelogically."

"No,"Isaid.

"Youseemtothinkeveryonecould,iftheywantedto?"

Ishookmyhead."No."Hewaited,soIwentondiffidently,"There'sgenetic memoryagainst.i.t,foronething.Andtobelogicalyouhavetodigupandface yourownhiddenmotivesandemotions,andofcoursethey'rehiddenprinc.i.p.ally becauseyoudon'twanttofacethem.So...um...it'seasiertoletyourbas.e.m.e.nt feelingsruntheupperstories,sotospeak,andtheresultisrage,quarrels, love,jobs,opinions,anorexia,philanthropy...almostanythingyoucanthinkof.

Ijustliketoknowwhat'sgoingondownthere,topickoutwhyItrulywantto dothings,that'sall.ThenIcandothemornot.Whichever."

Helookedatmeconsideringly."Self-a.n.a.lysis...didyoustudyit?"

"No.Livedit.Likeeveryonedoes."

Hesmiledfaintly."Atwhatage?"

"Well...fromthebeginning.Imean,Ican'tremembernotdoingit.Digginginto myowntruemotives.Knowinginone'sheartofhearts.Facingtheshameful things...thediscreditableimpulses...Awful,really."

Hepickeduphisgla.s.sanddranksomebrandy."Diditresultinsainthood?"he said,smiling.

"Er...no.Insin,ofcourse,fromdoingwhatIknewIshouldn't."

Thesmilegrewonhislipsandstayedthere.Hebegantodescribetomethe houseontheGreekislandthathiswifehadlovedso,andforthefirsttime sinceI'dmethimIsawtheuncertainbeginningsofpeace.

OntheairplaneAlessiasaid,"Wheredoyoulive?"

"InKensington.Neartheoffice."

"PopsytrainsinLambourn."Sheimparteditasifitwereacasualpieceof information.Iwaited,though,andafterawhileshesaid,"Iwanttokeepon seeingyou."

Inodded."Anytime."Igaveheroneofmybusinesscards,whichhadbothoffice andhometelephonenumbers,scribblingmyhomeaddressontheback.

"Youdon'tmind?"

"Ofcoursenot.Delighted."

"Ineed...justfornow...Ineedacrutch."

"Deluxemodelatyourservice."

Herlipscurved.Shewaspretty,Ithought,underallthestrain,herfacea minglingofsmalldelicatebonesandfirmpositivemuscles,smoothonthe surface,tautbelow,finelyshapedunderall.Ihadalwaysbeenattractedby taller,softer,curviergirls,andtherewasnothingaboutAlessiatotrigger theusualeasyurgetothechase.AllthesameIlikedherincreasingly,and wouldhavesoughtheroutifshehadn'taskedmefirst.

Inbitsandpiecesoverthepasttwodaysshehadtoldmemanymoredetailsof hercaptivity,graduallyunburdeningherselfofwhatshe'dsufferedandfeltand worriedover;andI'dencouragedher,notonlybecausesometimesinsuch accountsonegotahelpfulleadtowardscatchingthekidnappers,butalsovery muchforherownsake.Victimtherapy,paragraphone:lethertalkitallout andgetridofit.

AtHeathrowwewentthroughimmigration,baggageclaims,andcustomsinclose proximity,Alessiakeepingneartomenervouslyandtryingtomakeitlook natural.

"Iwon'tleaveyou,"Ia.s.suredher,"untilyoumeetPopsy.Don'tworry."

Popsywaslate.WestoodandwaitedwithAlessiaapologizingtwiceeveryfive minutesandmetellinghernotto,andfinally,likeagustofwind,alarge ladyarrivedwithoutstretchedarms.

"Mydarling,"shesaid,envelopingAlessia,"ab.l.o.o.d.ycrunchonthemotorway.

Trainscrawlingpastlikesnails.ThoughtI'dnevergethere."SheheldAlessia awayfromherforaninspection."Youlookmarvellous.Whatanutterlydrear thingtohappen.WhenIheardyouweresafeIbawled,absolutelybawled."

Popsywasforty-fivishandworetrousers,shirt,andpaddedsleevelesswaistcoat innavy,white,andolivegreen.Shehaddisconcertinglygreeneyes,ama.s.sof fluffygrayinghair,andapersonalityaslargeasherframe.

"Popsy..."Alessiabegan.

"Mydarling,whatyouneedisalargesteak.Lookatyourarms...matchsticks.The car'sjustoutside,probablygotsometrafficcopwritingaticket,Ileft.i.ton doubleyellows,socomeon,let'sgo."

"Popsy,thisisAndrewDouglas."

"Who?"Sheseemedtoseemeforthefirsttime."Howdoyoudo."Shethrustout ahand,whichIshook."PopsyTeddington.Gladtoknowyou."

"Andrewtraveledwithme..."

"Great,"Popsysaid."Welldone."Shehadhereyesontheexit,searchingfor trouble.

"CanweaskhimtolunchonSunday?"Alessiasaid.

"What?"Theeyesswiveledmyway,gavemeaquicka.s.sessment,cameupwith a.s.sent."O.K.,darling,anythingyoulike."Tomeshesaid,"GotoLambourn,ask anybody,they'lltellyouwhereIlive."

"Allright,"Isaid.

Alessiasaid"Thankyou"halfunderherbreathandallowedherselftobeswept away,andIreflectedbemusedlyaboutirresistibleforcesinfemaleform.

FromHeathrowIwentstraighttotheoffice,whereFridayafternoonwasdawdling alongasusual.

Theoffice,anondescriptcollectionofground-floorroomsalongeithersideof acentralcorridor,hadbeendesigneddecadesbeforetheeraofopen-plan, half-acrewindows,andKewGardensrampant.Westucktotherabbithutcheswith theirstriplightingbecausetheywerecomparativelycheap;andasmostofus werepartners,notemployees,weeachhadasharpinterestinlowoverheads.

Besides,theofficewasnotwherewemostlyworked.Thewarwentonondistant fronts:headquarterswasfordiscussingstrategyandwritingupreports.

IdumpedmysuitcaseinthehutchIsometimescalledmyownandwanderedalong therow,bothtoannouncemyreturnandseewhowasin.

GerryClaytonwasin,makingacomplicatedconstructioninfoldedpaper.

"h.e.l.lo,"hesaid."Badboy.Tuttut."

GerryClayton,tubby,asthmatic,fifty-threeandbald,hadappointedhimself father-figuretomanywaywardsons.Hisspecialtywasinsurance,anditwashe whohadrecruitedmefromafirmatLloyds,whereI'dbeenawater-treading clerklookingformorepurposeinlife.

"Where'sTwinkletoes?"Isaid."Imayaswellgetthelectureover."

"Twinkletoes,asyousodisrespectfullycallhim,wenttoVenezuelathis morning.ThemanagerofLucaOilwa.s.scooped."

"LucaOil?"Myeyebrowsrose."Afteralltheworkwedidforthem,settingup defenses?"

Gerryshrugged,carefullyknifingasharpcreaseinstiffwhitepaperwithhis thumbnail."Thatworkwasmorethanayearago.Youknowwhatpeopleare.Dead keenonprecautionstostartwith,thenperfunctory,thendeadsloppy.Human nature.Allanyself-respectingdedicatedkidnapperhastodoiswait."

Hewasunconcernedaboutthepersonalfateoftheabductedmanager.He frequentlysaidthatifeveryonetookfortresslikeprecautionsandnevergot themselves-inhisword-scooped,we'dallbeoutofajob.Onegoodkidnappingin acorporationencouragedtwentyotherstocallusintoadvisethemhowtoavoid asimilarembarra.s.sment;andasheregularlypointedout,the how-not-to-get-scoopedbusinesswasourbreadandb.u.t.terandalsosomeofthe jam.

Gerryinvertedhisapparentlywrinkledheapofwhitepaperanditfell miraculouslyintotheshapeofac.o.c.katoo.Whennotadvisingantikidnap insurancepoliciestoLibertyMarketclientshesoldorigamipatternstoa magazine,butnoonegrudgedhispaper-foldingintheoffice.Hismindseemedto coastalongwhilehecreasedandtucked,andwouldcomeupoftenasiffrom nowherewithhighlyproductivebusinessideas.

LibertyMarketasafirmconsistedatthattimeofthirty-onepartnersandfive secretarialemployees.Ofthepartners,allbutGerryandmyselfwereex-S.A.S., ex-police,orexsomethingultrasecretingovernmentdepartments.Therewereno particularrulesaboutwhodidwhichjob,thoughifpossibleeveryonewas allowedtheirpreferences.Someoptedforthelecturetourfulltime,giving seminars,pointingoutdangers;allthehow-to-stay-freebit.Somesanktheir teethgratefullyintotheterroristcircuit;others,likemyself,feltmore usefulagainstthesimplycriminal.Everyoneinbetweentimeswrotetheirown reports,studiedeveryoneelse's,mannedtheofficeswitchboardyearroundand polisheduptheirtechniquesofcoercivebargaining.

Wehadachairman(thefirm'sfounder)forourMondaymorning state-of-the-nationmeetings,aco-ordinatorwhokepttrackofeveryone's whereabouts,andanadjuster-Twinkletoes-towhompartnersaddressedall complaints.Iftheircomplaintscoveredthebehaviorofanyotherpartner, Twinkletoespa.s.sedthecommentson.Ifenoughpartnersdisapprovedofone partner'sactions,Twinkletoesdeliveredthecensure.Iwasn'tallthatsorry he'dgonetoVenezuela.

Thisapparentlyshapelesscompanyschemeworkedinahighlyorganizedway, thanksmostlytotheingraineddisciplineoftheex-soldiers.Theywerelean, hard,proud,andquiteamazinglycunning,mostofthempreferringtodealwith theactionoftheafter-kidnapaffairs.Theywereinadditionalmostparanoid aboutsecrecy,asalsotheex-spieswere,whichtobeginwithI'dfound oppressivebuthadsoongrowntorespect.

Itwastheex-policemenwhodidmostofthelecturing,notonlyadvisingon defensesb.u.t.tellingpotentialkidnaptargetswhattodoandlookforifthey weretaken,sothattheircaptorscouldbeinturncaptured.

Manyofusknewanextralikephotography,languages,weaponry,andelectronics, andeveryonecoulduseawordprocessor,becausenoonelikedtherattleof typewritersalldaylong.Noonewasaroundtheofficelongenoughforserious feudstodevelop,andtheco-ordinatorhadaknackofkeepingincompatibles apart.Allinallitwasacontentedshipwhicheveryoneworkedinfrompersonal commitment,and,thankstothekidnappers,businesswashealthy.

Ifinishedmyjourneyalongtherowofhutches,saidafewh.e.l.los,sawIwas penciledinwithaquestionmarkforSundaymidnightontheswitchboardroster, andcameatlengthtothebigroomacrossthefarend,theonlyroomwith windowstothestreet.Itjustaboutseatedthewholestrengthifwewereever theretogether,butonthatafternoontheonlypersoninitwasTonyVine.

"'Lo"hesaid."Hearyoumadeaneffingb.a.l.l.sofitinBologna."

"Yeah."