Girland crossed his long legs and lit a cigarette.
“How old are you, Ginny?”
She stiffened.
“What’s that to you?”
“Eighteen?”
“Of course not! I’m nineteen!”
Girland put his hand over hers.
“I’m nearly twice your age.” He shook his head. “I envy you, Ginny. It’s wonderful to be as young as you are.”
“I don’t know what you are talking about! Do you like me blonde?”
“I like you anyway. How is the patient?”
Ginny moved impatiently.
“She’s all right. You are far more interested in her than you are in me!”
“Ginny dear,” Girland said, keeping his face straight, “she is my wife.”
“You don’t expect me to believe that! I know all about it. She is no more your wife than I am!”
Girland flicked ash off his cigarette.
“Can you guess what we are having for dinner?”
She stared at him, then stood up and walked slowly over to the balustrade. He watched her, then grimaced. Complications, he thought. She is a sweet kid, but...
He remained where he was, smoking and staring up at the stars as they began to appear in the darkening sky.
He was relieved when Diallo announced that dinner was served.
Sadu Mitchell was always being startled by Pearl’s unexpected knowledge and her odd contacts. When they left Nice Airport in the 404 that Hertz Rental had ready for them, she directed him through Nice, along the Corniche to Villefranche Pass and to a tiny hotel, set back against the mountain where a small, elderly woman came out to greet them. This woman, in a white sweater and black slacks, was Vietnamese.
Slightly bewildered, Sadu watched the two women greet each other while Jo-Jo sat in the back of the car, sneering to himself.
The woman, Ruby Kuo, turned out to be Pearl’s aunt. She also owned the hotel. There was a little delay before the three were given rooms as Pearl and Ruby had much to say to each other. Eventually, Sadu got Pearl to himself. Jo-Jo joined them. It was decided that Jo-Jo should go immediately to Dorey’s villa and explore the ground. It was Pearl who gave him the Beaverbrook excuse.
A couple of hours later, Jo-Jo returned. He found Sadu and Pearl waiting for him in the snail garden that Ruby kept for her own use.
“The Army’s there,” Jo-Jo said, shrugging. “I haven’t a hope in hell of getting at her.” He sat down and began to pick his nose. “You are supposed to be the brains of this outfit... you fix it.”
Pearl and Sadu looked at each other. Then Pearl said, “I will talk to Ruby,” and she went into the hotel.
Sadu questioned Jo-Jo about the position of the villa.
“It’s built against the mountain,” Jo-Jo said. “There are high walls around it and the Army’s there. There’s a police dog too. You can’t even see the villa from the gate. If she stays holed up there, we’ll never get at her.”
Sadu got to his feet and walked to the end of the garden. He thought of what Yet-Sen had said: if there is another mistake, an example will be made. What did that mean? His hands turned clammy. He was now regretting getting mixed up with Yet-Sen. It was Pearl’s fault. She had nagged at him, and at that time, it had seemed not only safe and simple, but the right thing to do.
Twenty minutes later, Pearl returned. The two men looked expectantly at her.
“It can be done,” she said. “My aunt knows the villa. She has lived here for many years. There is a little known footpath from the Grande Corniche that leads down to the back of the villa. The path is never used now. We could get near the villa by this path.”
“Suppose they know about it?” Sadu said uneasily. “Suppose there is a man and a dog there, waiting for us?”
Pearl shrugged indifferently.
“A man and a dog does not make an impossibility,” she said. “Jo-Jo has a gun and a silencer.”
Sadu regarded her flower-like, expressionless face. He wiped the sweat from his forehead. This woman, he thought, was too dedicated. He began to hate her.
Jo-Jo got to his feet.
“Let’s go,” he said. “Time’s getting on.”
“I will drive the car,” Pearl said. “You must go with him.” This to Sadu. “I will leave you at the footpath and then go on to La Turbie. I will wait there half an hour, then come back. By then you should have been able to see what can be done.”
“When you two have finished making plans,” Sadu said angrily, “let me remind you I am in charge of this operation. We will not go now. At this hour the Corniche will be crammed with cars. We will wait until the traffic thins out.” He looked at his gold Omega. The time was 14.15 hrs. “We will not leave here until midnight.”
Pearl and Jo-Jo exchanged glances, then Jo-Jo shrugged.
“Don’t we get any food here?” he asked. “I’m hungry.”
“She’s awake,” Ginny said as she came out onto the terrace.
Girland was lying on the chaise lounge. The time was 9.30 p.m. He had had an excellent dinner and was now watching a satellite jinking across the star-laden sky.
He raised his head, then swung his legs off the chaise lounge.
“Do you want me to do anything?”
“She wants to know where she is. I think you had better...”
Girland hurriedly pulled on a sweatshirt and followed Ginny into the villa. There was a table lamp in the woman’s bedroom which cast shadows. He crossed to the bed.
Erica Olsen looked up at him and Girland drew in a long, slow breath. He had thought her beautiful in sleep, but now the big, violet coloured eyes were open, bringing life to her face, she was even more beautiful.
“Where am I?” she asked, looking up at him. “Who are you?”
“I am Mark, your husband, darling,” he said gently. “You are home. It’s all right. There’s nothing to worry about.”
“Home?” Her long cool fingers moved over the back of his hand. “I can’t remember anything. You are my husband?”
“Yes, darling. Don’t you remember me?”
She closed her eyes. For a brief moment, she remained still, then she said, “It is beautiful and black like a grape.”
Girland looked searchingly at her.
“What is? What do you mean?” he asked, sensing that what she had just said was important. “What is beautiful and black like a grape?”
“Did I say that?” She opened her eyes. “I don’t know why I said it. Who did you say you were?”
“Your husband... Mark.”
“You can’t imagine how it feels to remember nothing. I didn’t know I was married. I don’t remember ever seeing you before.”
“There’s nothing to worry about. The doctor says your memory will come back in time. Just don’t worry. You are home now and I am here to look after you.”
“You are very kind.” She sighed and closed her eyes. “I feel so tired. I... I thought at one time I was in hospital.”
“So you were, but I have brought you home.”
“It’s a nice room.” Her eyes opened and she looked fixedly at him. “Mark? Is that your name?”
“That’s right. You try to sleep. Tomorrow, you’ll feel better. I’ll be right here, Erica. You have nothing to worry about.”
“Erica? Is that my name?”
“Of course, darling.”
“I didn’t know.” Again the dark blue eyes regarded him. “And you really are my husband?”
“Yes.”
She seemed to relax and she closed her eyes.
“Oh, it’s good to be home.”
When he was sure she was sleeping, he gently disengaged his hand from hers and stood up.
Ginny and he moved away from the bed.