Lovers and Liars (90 page)

‘Get these people inside,’ Hawthorne said, in a voice icy with anger, as they passed through. Gini glanced back and saw that the command had been given to Frank Romero, who began to usher these bystanders indoors. Only one nurse and one paramedic remained, waiting. As Hawthorne led her down the steps from the terrace and onto the lawn, both Romero and Malone moved into place behind him, about twenty yards back.

‘Just stay there, for Christ’s sake,’ Hawthorne said, swinging around, and speaking in a low voice. ‘Just let me deal with this, will you? Wait there.’

Romero hesitated, Gini saw, then stopped. Malone ignored the directions. He fell back a little, halting only when Hawthorne and Gini halted. Gini saw him frown again, then scan the gardens, that perimeter fence. Following Hawthorne, she approached the white bench.

Lise did not move until both of them had walked around the bench and were facing her. She looked at them blankly for a second, then - as if she were a hostess at some embassy party

- she rose to her feet. She clasped Gini’s hand, with icy fingers.

‘Gini,’ she said, ‘you’re here. How lovely. Isn’t it the most wonderful day? Such sun - it’s quite warm here in the sun, look.’ She sat down again on the bench, motioning Gini to sit beside

her. Gini looked at her uncertainly. Her face was chalk white but two patches of colour came and went in her cheeks. The sun was out, and very bright - that was true - but it was still bitterly cold. Lise looked as if she had a fever. On the side of her face, Gini saw, there was a darkening bruise. Lise stared at her closely, then gripped her hand in her thin fingers. She shivered again.

Gini hesitated. She looked closely at Lise’s eyes. The pupils were huge, so large, so dilated that her eyes appeared black. What the hell is she on? Gini thought.

‘It’s cold, Lise/ she said gently. ‘Would you like me to get you a coatT

‘Oh no Lise gave a high laugh. ‘I’m not cold at all. It’s just such an amazing day. John - Gini and I will just sit here for a while in the sun. Why don’t you fix us a drink?’

‘It’s ten o’clock in the morning, Lise,’ he replied in a quiet voice. ‘I don’t think Gini wants a drink just yet.’

‘Nonsense.’ Her voice rose on an odd, strained, almost coquettish note. ‘I’m sure she does. Champagne. A glass of champagne. You can drink champagne at any time of the day or night.’

Hawthorne frowned. He looked at Gini, who gave him a slight nod. He hesitated, seemed about to argue, then changed his mind. Re turned away abruptly, and strode back across the grass. At the terrace, he stopped and beckoned to Malone. From across the lawn, Gini heard a familiar sound, half-whine, half-hiss. Lise heard it too. Her grip tightened on Gini’s hand.

‘Is his father thereT She shivered again.

‘I think so. I can’t see him. Maybe he’s just inside the terrace doors.’

‘We don’t have long. Listen to me.’ Lise fixed those black eyes on Gini’s face. She stared at her very closely, frowning, as if she were finding it difficult to focus. She gave an odd little gasp.

‘Tell me/ she said, ‘tell me quickly. Did you sleep with him? Have you slept with him?’

‘With your husband, LiseT Gini said gently. ‘No. Of course not.’

‘Oh, thank Christ.’ Lise tightened her grip, so her nails dug into Gini’s palms. ‘And you won’t sleep with him, will you? You promise me? As long as you don’t, you’ll be safe. I think you’ll be safe. He won’t harm you then. He won’t let his father harm You . - - ‘She broke off. The black eyes narrowed. ‘You are telling me the truth?’

‘Yes, Lise, I am.’

‘Did he try? I imagine he did/ she said with a violent shiver. ‘Did he make you touch him? That’s what he does - at least, he says it’s what he does. He could be lying, of course. Oh, I must think. I must think.’ She lifted her hand, bunched it into a thin fist, and suddenly struck her own forehead hard, three times.

‘There. That’s better.’ She gave Gini a radiant smile.

‘You see, I have to talk to you before they take me away. Once I get in that ambulance, that’s it. He’ll have me certified. All the papers are drawn up. All he has to do is come out to the hospital and sign them … ‘Tears suddenly swam in her eyes, and spilled down her cheeks. ‘Then I won’t see my little boys ever again. It’s so wicked, Gini. And no-one can help me now, not even you. Did he tell you? James is dead … ‘

She gave a low moan of distress. Gini glanced over her shoulder. Hawthorne was still on the terrace, talking to Malone.

‘Lise,’ she began gently, ‘I Idon’t think James is dead. I think you’re wrong about that …

‘He is. He is. They brought him here last night. They killed him right in front of me. That animal Romero did it. They made me watch, Gini. Look. That’s James’s blood, here, on my dress … ‘

Gini looked down. The thin dress Lise was wearing was made of fine white linen. There was not one mark on it, of blood or anything else.

‘Did he explainT Lise said, on a sudden sharp note. ‘Did he tell you lies about me? Did his fatherT She clutched at Gini’s hand. ‘You mustn’t believe him, Gini. He lies so terribly well, he always did. John is very, very dangerous - especially for a woman. You must understand that. He can make women do things - he’s made me do such terrible things, Gini, vile things, so he can watch. He doesn’t love me, of course - did I explain that before? I think I did. But even so, when he gets bored with the girls, with the blondes, he always comes back to me. He humiliates me with other men. He likes that very much. I can’t tell you what he makes me do to them, because it’s so foul, so evil - but I don’t have any choice. Gini, look … ‘

She trembled violently, and turned her face to display the heavy bruising.

‘John did that to me, last night. Tell your friend - Pascal, that’s it

- tell Pascal. If he was taking pictures last night, it wasn’t my fault. John made me do it. And after he closed the shutters, then he hurt me so badly, Gini. Listen, and I’ll whisper it in your ear. I can’t speak it out loud, but I have to tell you - what he did

She pulled Gini toward her and began to whisper frantically in her ear. Gini could scarcely hear her. There was a stream of muddled accusations, and four-letter words. Lise suddenly pulled away. She regarded Gini with an odd staring look.

‘Will you promise me something?’ ‘If I can, Lise, yes.’

‘Now that I’ve spoken to you, I don’t mind leaving. I’ll go away quietly, the way he wants. Maybe it would be good for me to go somewhere quiet, and have a long rest. That’s what John says.’ She gave a little puzzled shake of the head, then, turning away her face, she sighed.

‘But if I do that, Gini, I have to know you’ll be safe. You promise me you won’t go to bed with him, will you, Gini? No matter what he saysT

‘Look, Lise, that’s not going to happen, all right? You can put it right out of your mind.’

‘You mean you’re not even temptedT A sudden sly look crossed Lise’s face. ‘Are you sure? You’re not lying to me? Most women are tempted by John. John can be the most wonderful lover. So passionate. So strong … ‘ She gave a low laugh. ‘You know that phrase, le diable au corps? John has that. It can be quite a ride, Gini. He takes you all the way to hell and back.’

Gini frowned, and looked at her uncertainly. Lise had suddenly sounded far less mad, and far more devious. Abruptly, she glanced over her shoulder, then turned back and snatched at Gini’s arm.

‘Anyway/ she went on in a low rapid voice, ‘never mind that. I just want to know you’ll be safe. So when I’ve gone … Gini, don’t go back into the house with him, will you? Don’t risk that.’

Use, I do have to leave here, you know. Try not to worry__ ‘No. No! Listen to me. I mean it.’ Colour flared in her cheeks. The black eyes fixed Gini with a beseeching look. ‘Promise me. Stay in the gardens, then you can leave through the gardens. Stay where the security men can see you - where that man Malone can see you. You see that path over there? That takes you back to the front gates. Just pretend I said nothing. Oh, my God … He’s coming back.’

Her face went rigid with terror. Gini looked at her with compassion. She was now hugging her thin arms around herself, and fiddling in a frantic way with her watch.

‘Don’t tell him what I said, Gini. For the love of God, don’t tell him!’

Lise averted her face as Hawthorne approached. She inched away from Gini, stared vacantly around the gardens, then bent

again to examine her watch. As her husband reached them, his face grey with exhaustion, she sprang to her feet.

‘It’s so late,’ she cried in an animated way. ‘Gini, I’m so glad we talked. John, I feel so much better now. So much stronger. Gini’s made me understand - I do need a good rest. So I’m going to leave now. No silly scenes, darling, and no fuss.’

Hawthorne looked at her in a cautious way, as if this might be the prelude to a new outburst.

‘The ambulance is waiting outside, Lise. And that Irish nurse, you remember, the one you like? She’ll go with you. I’ll come out to see you later today.’

‘I know that. I know that. You think of everything. You’re so good.’ She gave a little smile. ‘I’ve just been telling Gini … how good you are … Gini. Goodbye. Give my love to Mary. Will you do thatT

She bent and kissed Gini’s cheek. Hawthorne held out his hand to her, and Lise ignored it. She walked around to the far side of the bench. In the distance, a radio crackled. The nurse on the terrace picked up a blanket and moved forward a few steps; she glanced at the paramedic, then nodded.

‘Let me see you to the ambulance, Lise Hawthorne said. ‘No. No, don’t do that.’ Her voice rose.

Hawthorne hesitated, ‘Are you sure, Lise? Maybe you’d prefer it if Gini-!

‘No. No,’ she said shrilly. ‘I want to go on my own, John. I don’t want you. I don’t want anyone .

‘Lise—2 ‘Leave me alone!’ She backed away a few paces. She was trembling, and beginning to pluck at her dress in a distracted way.

‘All right, Lise,’ Hawthorne said, gently. ‘It’s all right. I’ll stay here, if you prefer.’ He glanced away, and made a discreet signal to the nurse.

‘Stay in the garden, show Gini the gardens Lise said on a new brighter note. J know she’d like that. I know you’d like that. Show her our lavender walk, and the new knot garden, darling. You would like that, wouldn’t you, GiniT

‘Sure,’ Gini said quietly. ‘Very much.’

That seemed to pacify Lise. She gave a deep sigh, turned, and walked away without another word. By the terrace, she greeted the paramedic with a smile, and the nurse with a kiss. They stationed themselves on either side of her, and disappeared into the house. Gini watched her leave, frowning. Her insistence

that they remain here in the garden seemed strident, and very odd.

Hawthorne watched this departure, his face expressionless. A few minutes later, they heard the sound of the ambulances’ engines starting up. On the terrace, Frank Romero lifted his hand, and spoke into his wrist-mike. Malone, to their left, thirty yards away, stood there quietly, his eyes scanning the fence. The ambulances drew away. The sound of their engines receded. From the terrace, Romero gave a small hand signal, and John Hawthorne, who had been standing as still as a statue, came back to life.

He gave a long slow sigh. He moved a few feet away from Gini, and looked up at the bright blue-white sky.

‘That’s it/ he said. ‘It’s over. It’s difficult to believe - but that’s it. I can begin living again … ‘ He hesitated, looking back at Gini. ‘Thank you/ he said. ‘You do understand, I had no choice? God, I feel as if I can breathe again.’ He checked himself, then gave her a glance.

‘I know what you’re thinking, Gini. My problems aren’t over yet? I still have to contend with this young woman reporter here, who may yet decide to be merciful, or who may not . . ‘ He smiled. ‘Even so. For the moment I feel … free, something like that. And it is the most wonderful day. So fresh. I’m too hot in this damn thing.’

He pulled off the sweater, and tossed it down onto the bench. He rolled back the sleeves of the checked shirt he wore beneath, looked up at the sky, and stretched.

‘It feels like spring. Come on, Gini, shall I show you the gardens? They’re not much at this time of year - and they’re nothing compared to my gardens in Oxfordshire - but the knot garden is fun. I designed the pattern myself.’ He held out his hand to her. When she did not take it, he checked himself.

‘I’m sorry. I forget.’ He gave a small gesture of the hand. ‘I feel as if we’re friends. And we’re not friends, of course. Not yet, anyway. But … ‘ He broke off. ‘You don’t want to do that? Is something wrong, GiniT

Gini’s heart had gone cold. She stared at Hawthorne. It was the first time she had seen him in an open-necked shirt. As soon as he had removed the sweater, the scar could not be missed. A long, livid scratch, claw-marks, right at the base of his throat. Another mark, on his right arm, where he had rolled back his sleeve. The scars had almost healed. Gini thought: Well, they would have by now. Napoleon had been dead almost a week.

You bastard, she thought. He was still looking at her, an expression of puzzled concern on his face.

Mimicking his ease of manner and relaxation, she said, ‘Yes, I’d love to look at the gardens. Especially the knot garden, John.’

It was the first time she had ever addressed him by his Christian name, and he seemed pleased. As he led her across the gardens, he looked down at her, then put his arm around her waist.

PASCAL RAN fast up the slope; breathing hard, he ducked under the branches of the chestnut trees, pushed past a group of children, and ran out to the ring road. McMullen had disappeared.

He glanced to his right, towards the residence. He heard first one engine, then a second, start up. He glanced to his left; a group of people were approaching the park. He ran across the road, and looked over the fence, into the mosque courtyard beyond. Still deserted. He hesitated, wondering if he could have been mistaken. Perhaps the man with the Barbour jacket had not been McMullen? How far could he have got, with a one-hundred-yard start? Not far, surely? Pascal had expected to see him in the courtyard below. He stared down, scanning the space, and the main road beyond. He looked back over his shoulder, and as he did so, the first of the ambulances passed him, driving fast. A second followed fifty yards behind. They came out from the residence, lights flashing. A second later they emerged into the main road beyond. One swung north, the other west. Pascal vaulted the fence into the mosque precincts and ran down the slope to the courtyard very fast.