Betrayal (53 page)

'It's my fault,' said Lisa hysterically. 'I've probably killed him. If I hadn't…'

'He volunteered for the job,' snapped Renato, determined to stop her before she lost control. 'He knew the risk but wanted to do it. Even if he is dead, you are not to blame. Now get your daughter, and hurry!'

'Why would he take such a risk?' demanded Lisa as she ran up the stairs, but Renato didn't answer her. He knew only too well why Mike had done it and thought that Lisa would come to understand in her own time, but now wasn't the moment to burden her with such knowledge.

Chapter Thirty

They sped through London at eight in the morning. Twice Renato jumped the traffic lights to shake off any possible tail. Lisa had never been driven so fast before and yet she wasn't worried. Renato Bellini handled cars like he handled women, very efficiently indeed. By eight-thirty they were safely in the grounds of Giovanni Muti's mansion, and after that Lisa stumbled through a confused hour of settling the children and Janice while trying to listen to what the two men were discussing, although they had an irritating habit of lapsing into Italian when they didn't want her to understand them. Finally Eleanor took her quietly upstairs into a lovely lilac and white bedroom with adjoining bathroom.

'This is yours for as long as you wish to stay,' she said with a smile. 'Now I will send a maid to help you undress and then you must sleep. You are totally exhausted.'

'I don't have any clothes with me!'

'Signor Bellini has already thought of that. You will find day clothes in the wardrobe, and nightgowns and robes in the case beside the bed. Rest well, signora.'

The maid, who didn't speak a word of English, helped Lisa out of her filthy ballgown and into the bath she'd prepared for her. Then, as Lisa used the enormous box of Chanel talcum, she brought her a cream silk nightgown with capped sleeves. At last, with a sigh of relief, Lisa slipped beneath the goose-feather duvet and closed her eyes.

She'd expected to fall asleep immediately but her mind continued on its own mad whirl. She kept picturing Mike, wondering where he was and if he would manage to stay alive long enough to join them again. Annoyed at her wakefulness she tossed and turned, then jumped as her bedroom door opened. She sat up quickly as Renato came slowly into the room. 'Not asleep?'

'No, I…'

He saw the look of anxiety in her eyes and wondered just what kind of a husband Neal Gueras had been to reduce a woman of such obvious spirit as Lisa to a nervous wreck at the sight of a man in her bedroom. Surely she didn't believe he'd attempt to seduce her in her present condition? he thought, but from the look in her eyes she did. He smiled reassuringly. 'I bring you a pill. It will help to calm your mind and then sleep will come quickly, yes?'

'I hope so!'

'You are afraid of me.' He made the statement casually as he handed her the pill and a glass of water .

'Not exactly.'

'You look afraid of me.' 'I didn't mean to.'

'Listen to me.' He sat down on the side of the bed, keeping his voice very calm. 'I love you but I would never force myself upon any woman. Love is special. It is a gift too precious to abuse, and if you love me then eventually you will want us to make love together. It will be your decision, I promise you, so no more anxious looks every time I appear, yes?'

She gave a reluctant smile. 'I'm sorry, you must think me… ' with a yawn, she lost track of what she'd been saying. 'I shan't ask you to make love to me,' she muttered, her lids already closing as she lay back on the pile of pillows.

'Why not?'

'Because then you'd know.'

'Know what?' He bent down to catch her murmured answer. She frowned, drifting away to sleep. 'Know what?' he repeated.

'That I'm frigid,' she sighed, and then her breathing became regular, her lashes lay motionless against her cheeks and he knew she was finally asleep. Her answer made him smile. If ever he'd seen a woman who was made for love it was Lisa and his judgement in such matters was never wrong. She'd lost confidence in herself but that didn't matter. Once she was willing to take him as her lover her fears would quickly be removed, but it was another mark against her husband.

While Lisa slept away the next twenty-four hours, Janice coped with Alexi and Renato himself sat with Jessica, letting her examine her room for as long as she needed, not even interfering when she wrenched down a shelf of books. Because he neither looked directly at her nor interfered with what she did, Jessica began to cast covert glances in his direction, intrigued by someone who ignored her presence so completely, and in consequence she settled relatively quickly.

At tea-time, when Lisa still hadn't woken, Renato went into town, collected Luciano from his music lesson and took him straight back to the new house. He didn't even stop to pick up any of his son's clothes or toys, knowing full well that his own apartment was bound to be watched. Fortunately, Luciano didn't mind. It was all a great adventure to him and he was looking forward to seeing Lisa again.

'Any word from Mike?' asked Renato when he arrived back at the Muti's.

'Not yet.'

'I wonder where he is?' mused the Italian.

Neal Gueras was wondering exactly the same thing.

'Find him!' shouted Neal. 'I don't care how long it takes or how many men are needed. Just find him and bring him here. He must know where she's gone.'

'Not necessarily,' said Bishop. 'He only let her go, he didn't have to have access to any further information.'

'We're not talking about a computer, we're talking about a human being. He was obviously besotted with my wife and would never have let her walk off into the night. He knew where she was going and I want to know as well. Yes?' he added as Steve came reluctantly into the Chelsea flat.

'I've had a call from Louise, sir.'

'Do you seriously think I'm interested in talking to my daughter at a time like this?'

'The children are gone.'

Every man in the room fell silent and only Bishop had the courage to look at Neal's face which went purple with fury while the veins in his temples bulged. 'Which children?' he barked.

'Jessica and… ' 'Yes?'

'Your son.'

'She's taken Alexi? How the hell did she manage that?'

'A black cab arrived at the house just after Bishop left on that wild goose chase. Louise didn't realise who'd gone from the house until much later. She…'

'I'm not interested in what Louise thought, she's totally brainless. It's a pity you rushed off on that call, Bishop. If you'd checked with me first my son might still be at home.'

'If I'd checked every emergency call with you over the past two years we'd be a severely depleted organisation,' retorted Bishop, inwardly smiling at the way his employer had been out-maneuvered. 'Find that damned chauffeur!' instructed Neal, and then slammed off into the bedroom. They glanced at one another. 'Something wrong?' enquired Bishop.

'He's bound to be armed,' commented Steve. 'So?'

'We can't have a shoot-out in the middle of London. People might notice!'

'If any of you see him, just keep your distance and send for reinforcements. We should be able to take him quietly if there are enough of us. Now move!'

Murmuring and grumbling, they went out of the door. All of them liked Mike and resented the job they had to do. Once they'd gone, Bishop checked the silencer was on his gun, slipped out of the kitchen window and down the fire escape. Mike had been his choice for the organisation, and they went back a long way together. He had no intention of letting Neal find out the full extent of Mike's betrayal and the only way of stopping that from happening was to get to him before anyone else. Knowing him as well as Bishop did, he thought it should be relatively easy.

At 11 p.m. that night, Mike settled down on a bench near Marble Arch and covered himself with old newspapers. He'd spent the day dodging from doss houses to railway sidings, sighting operatives from the organisation several times but always managing to keep one move ahead of them. After tonight he thought he'd ring the number Bellini had given him. It was too early to be sure, but providing he got through this second night he would allow himself to consider the possibility of escape.

It never took him long to fall asleep and within ten minutes he was drifting pleasantly when he felt the round, hard end of a gun in his side and as he slowly sat up, Bishop removed the sheet of paper covering his face. 'Comfortable?' he asked politely.

'Very,' responded Mike. He noted the silencer and realised that Bishop was anxious to protect himself from any awkward questions should Mike reveal all he knew. He would therefore protect Mike from what would undoubtedly have been a highly painful and unpleasant final few hours on earth.

'You've been a bit stupid,' Bishop continued, his face very white in the light from a nearby lamp.

'A man's gotta do what a man's gotta do!' 'Why?' Bishop was genuinely puzzled.

'I didn't like the way she was treated.'

'You mean you threw it all away because of her? Not for money; not because you thought P2 offered the best prospect, but just because of one bloody woman?'

'I know, amazing isn't it! And I used to think girls were wet. Mind you, I was only ten at the time!'

'I wish to God he'd never set eyes on the stupid woman!' muttered Bishop. 'She's brought nothing but disaster to us all.'

'Me more than you, don't you think? '

Bishop's eyes narrowed. 'Yes, you more than me.' 'I take it I'm not to be questioned?'

For a moment a flicker of regret crossed Bishop's face. 'No, I wish you could be. You deserve it, playing the white knight of all things—I've no patience with that. Money, power… I could have understood it then, but not this. Regrettably I recommended you, and the less they know about your misplaced gallantry the better for my reputation. So, as you correctly surmised, you won't be questioned.'

'You'll never take it all over,' cautioned Mike. 'Why not?'

'Because the Italian won't rest until there's nothing left to run.' 'Did he tell you that?'

'He didn't have to.'

'I see, you're psychic as well as soft in the head! Any last messages for anyone?'

'No.'

'Anyone you want told?' 'My mother ought to know.'

'Right. A case of "no flowers by request" I think, don't you?' Mike gave a slight smile. 'Definitely no flowers by request.' 'That's it then. Remember who brought this about, won't you?' And he did remember. The very last thing he pictured was the way Lisa Gueras had smiled at him the first time they met, and because Bishop was quick and efficient there was very little pain. Dying, reflected Bishop as he walked swiftly away, could be far easier than being born. Providing, of course, that you had someone like him to speed you on your way.

For three days, Lisa did little but eat and sleep, scarcely leaving her room even to see the children, and Renato removed the telephone from beside her bed once he realised how much she dreaded hearing it ring. Eventually, as they'd known he must, Neal located her.

His first move was to use Rebekah. Lisa went to the phone when Eleanor told her there was a little girl crying and asking for her. At the sound of her stepmother's voice, Rebekah burst into sobs, pleading with her to come home because she was so lonely.

'I can't,' explained Lisa, wishing her hands would stop trembling. 'I don't want to live with your father any more.'

'No one cares about me any more,' cried Rebekah. 'Daddy just tells me not to be a baby and that nasty Bishop keeps pulling my hair. He says I'm the plainest girl he's ever set eyes on and I ought to be put down. I'm not a dog! He can't make Daddy have me put down, can he?'

'He's just trying to upset you. Of course he can't make him do any such thing. Besides, your father loves you,' she added weakly.

'It isn't nice! I hate it here. Please come back, Lisa. Daddy promises he'll be nicer if you do.'

'I can't.' She could barely speak for the tears.

'When will I see you again? I don't even know where you are.' 'Your father knows, he gave you the telephone number. Ask him to let you come and see me.'

'I'm not allowed to come to you, but you can come here. Will you, Lisa? Just for a few hours?'

'I'm sorry, I can't,' she whispered, and replaced the receiver to shut out Rebekah's sobs. How could she tell the already terrified child that if she went back she would be murdered? Now Rebekah was even more upset, certain that all Lisa's affection had been false, and was once again alone in the large, uncaring household. Despite her tears, Lisa was angry. Angry with Neal for using his daughter and angry with Bishop and Louise for upsetting Rebekah with their teasing.