[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
to mention the Lucy stopped speaking when she caught sight of
John.
In other circumstances, Jamie would have given anything to
hear her finish the sentence. The next moment, David opened the
bathroom. He was swaying precariously and wiping his mouth.
Now, come back into the bathroom and sit down, Lucy said.
John, could you fetch some water?
The vicar scuttled off, and Carina, looking as if she didn t
know what to do, followed him. Supported by Lucy and Jamie,
David staggered back into the bathroom. The smell of sick was
overwhelming, and, as David settled himself onto the toilet seat,
Jamie opened the window.
How are you? Lucy said, crouching in front of Jamie s
unintentional victim. Do you want to be sick again?
It doesn t matter. I ll never feel better again. I m so unhappy.
Everything s gone so wrong. David waved his hand and would
65
THE HIT LIST
have overbalanced if Jamie hadn t caught him.
He gazed at David in disbelief. His face looked yellow,
haggard. Had he poisoned him just with some aspirins? But no, it
had to be whatever else he d been taking.
I think we should call an ambulance, Jamie said, feeling the
pounding of his heart against his ribs. He s not well and he needs
help.
Don t be silly. You re overreacting, Lucy said. It s just the
drink. And the drugs.
Drugs? Which sort? How many? And did it matter?
Yes, an ambulance, he heard himself gabbling and wondered
if his father would ever survive the shame both of having a
criminal son and one who panicked when under pressure. I mean
it s best to be safe, isn t it? We don t know what effect
combinations of things will have. Do we?
Well, he may be strangely susceptible for some reason, but a
couple of joints, a few beers and some wine aren t going to kill
him, are they?
Jamie stared at the vicinity of Lucy s neck, unable to meet her
eyes. This was his fault. He had to tell her. It was not going to look
good. She d never want to go out with him now, if only for her
own safety. I need to tell you something. That s not all he might
have been&
Before Jamie could finish the sentence, David lurched upwards,
trapping him in his grasp. With the foresight that a medical
background must have given her, Lucy pushed the toilet seat up,
just as David leant over, gagged again and was sick. Some of the
evil-smelling product went into the toilet, but most didn t. Jamie
gagged in sympathy, and it was up to Lucy to soothe David s
forehead, mutter words of comfort and reach for a flannel.
66
THE HIT LIST
From nowhere, the doorbell rang. Who the hell was that? Great
timing for a late guest. Or perhaps the vicar was already inviting
witnesses to this now-disastrous party. He d do anything to
encourage the flock back to the straight and narrow. Lucy, I need
to get the door.
Sure, go ahead. I ll handle this.
As he edged away, his friend was sick again and this time he
caught Jamie right on the trousers.
God! he said, thinking that after this David was toward the
top of his hit list. Then again, if he knew what Jamie had done,
he d be top of David s hit list, too.
It s not his fault, Lucy protested.
I know, I know.
Sorry. David moaned. I don t know what was in that He
retched again.
Grabbing a towel to wipe himself down, Jamie stumbled out of
the bathroom and along the hall, passing John and Carina carrying
a glass of water and a J-Cloth on the way. Then he took a deep
breath and opened the front door.
On the threshold stood an elegant figure with dark hair and
slate-blue eyes staring right into his. Taking in the familiar smile as
well as the unexpected streaks of grey at the temples, Jamie opened
his mouth to say something, but nothing happened.
Hello, Jamie, this new visitor said, gazing with apparent
interest at the traces of vomit on his clothes. Is this a bad time?
It was Robert.
67
THE HIT LIST
CHAPTER 6
Robert Trevelyan. Jamie s half-brother Mark s ex-boss. Their
old family friend not seen for six years. And the last person Jamie
had expected ever to see again. Robert. Top of his hit list if he d
had the guts to write his name on it. Bloody hell. He should be in
Japan. What was he doing here?
I m sorry if this is a shock, but may I come in? Unless you d
prefer it if I went away and didn t come back?
Yes. No. He didn t know.
Who is it? This was from his father who must have wandered
in from the garden.
Great, Jamie thought, he s going to hear David being sick and
ask what s wrong. He held his breath, but there was silence from
the bathroom. Lucy must have sorted it out, or they d both died.
68
THE HIT LIST
Right now, either solution suited Jamie.
It s Robert, he said, utterly unable for some reason to take his
eyes off the man in question.
Robert?
He heard his father shuffle up the hall toward them. Robert!
Robert Trevelyan. We haven t seen you for years, not
since& since&
Since Christmas, 1993. No, my mistake& Easter, 1994,
Robert said.
Well, Jamie, let him in then. Don t stand at the door. Come
in!
His father brushed past, took hold of Robert s arm and chivvied
him inside. As they went by, Jamie caught a faint hint of herbal
aftershave and breathed it down, swallowing. Shutting the door, he
stared at the two men as they walked, already deep in conversation,
toward the living room. As Robert stepped forward and opened the
door, Jamie could hear the faint hum of the other guests still in the
garden acting as a choral background to the sudden burst of
laughter that he recognized as Mary s. Just before the door closed
on them both, Robert glanced back at him once.
Then it was quiet. Drifting down the hallway, he felt nearly as
sick as David must have felt. What should he do?
Jamie?
Yes? Glancing behind, he saw Lucy coming out of the
bathroom with a fragile David in tow. A waft of talc filled the air
around them. He was alive. That was at least something.
You okay? You look like you ve seen a ghost. Anyone
interesting at the front door?
No. Just an old family friend. Nobody important. Is David all
right?
69
THE HIT LIST
Sure. No need to call an ambulance or anything so dramatic.
Great, that s great. He nodded, and started to back away.
You seem to have it all under control, so I ll just go and see
what s happening in the garden.
And what is happening in the garden?
Nothing. Nothing at all. He snapped out of whatever it was
that had taken hold of him for a moment. David, do you want to
go home? I can take you if you like. You can t drive like that.
I don t& want to cause any more trouble, he muttered.
Sorry, I don t know what happened in there.
No, don t worry, Jamie. Lucy smiled. It s very sweet of
you, but you stay here. I ll take David home and make sure he s all
right.
Okay.
If you could just give my apologies to your father?
Jamie nodded, and the two of them helped David hobble down
the hallway and outside into Lucy s red Fiesta. As soon as they
were out of sight, he made his way into the garden.
It all looked calm. Robert wasn t there. People were chatting,
laughing, eating and drinking. Jamie scanned the garden for his
father and saw him sitting on one of the benches talking to Mrs.
Bradley.
Dad?
He peered up, shielding his eyes from the sun.
Ah, it s you. Isn t it nice to see Robert after all these years?
It s funny how people turn up when you least expect them. I
wonder if he s been in touch with Mark at all. Though Mark
would have rung to tell us the news, wouldn t he? I must ask him if
he s here for a holiday, or if it s just business. It reminds me of
when
70
THE HIT LIST
Where is he? Jamie said. Robert, I mean.
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]