The Danger. - LightNovelsOnl.com
You're reading novel online at LightNovelsOnl.com. Please use the follow button to get notifications about your favorite novels and its latest chapters so you can come back anytime and won't miss anything.
"Great,"shesaid;then,reflectively,"Johnsoundedpleased,youknow,that MirandaandDominicwouldbeoutofthehouse.He'ssoodd.You'dthinkhe'dbe deliriouswithjoy,havinghis...o...b..ck,andhealmostseemed...annoyed."
"Thinkofyourownfather'sstateafteryougothome."
"Yes,but..."Shebrokeoff."Howverystrange."
"JohnNerrity,"Isaidneutrally,"islikeoneofthosesnowstormpaperweights, allshakenup,withbitsofguiltandfearandreliefandmeannessallfloating aroundinaturmoil.Ittakesawhileaftersomethingastraumaticasthelast fewdaysforeverythinginsomeone'scharactertosettle,likethesnowstorm,so tospeak,andforalltheoldpatterntorea.s.sert."
"I'dneverthoughtofitlikethat."
"Didherealize,"Iasked,"thatthepresswilldescendonhim,astheydidon you?"
"No,Idon'tthinkso.Willthey?"
"'Fraidso.Sureto.SomeonedowninSuss.e.xwillhavetippedthemoff."
"PoorMiranda."
"She'llbefine.Ifyouringheragain,tellhertoholdontoDominictight throughalltheinterviewsandkeeptellinghiminhisearthathe'ssafeand thatallthepeoplewillgoawaysoon."
"Yes."
"Seeyoutomorrow,"Isaid.
Dominicwasabignewsitemonbreakfasttelevisionandnear-headlinesinthe newspapers.Miranda,Iwasgladtosee,hadmetthecameraswithcontroland happiness,thewordlesschildseemingmerelyshy.JohnNerrity,headback, moustachebristling,hadconfirmedthatthesaleofhisDerbywinnerwouldgo throughasplanned,thoughheinsistedhewasnowherenearbankruptcy;thatthe storyhadbeenmerelyaploytoconfoundthekidnappers.
Theyallaskedwh.o.r.escuedhisson.
Thepolice,JohnNerritysaid.Nopraisewastoohigh.
Mostpeopleintheoffice,havingseenthecoverage,readTony'sandmyreport withinterest,andwebothansweredquestionsattheMondaysession.Gerry Clayton'seyebrowsroseacoupleoftimes,butonthewholenooneseemedto wanttoinquiretoocloselyintowhatwehaddonebesidesadvise.Thechairman concludedthatevenifNerritystucktohisgunsandrefusedtopayafeeit shouldn'tworryus.ThedeliveranceofDominic,hesaidcontentedly,hadbeen tidilyandrapidlycarriedoutatlittlecosttothefirm.Liaisonwiththe policehadbeenexcellent.Welldone,youtwochaps.Anymorebusiness?Ifnot, we'lladjourn.
TonyadjournedtothenearestpubandItoLambourn,arrivinglaterthanIwould haveliked.
"Thankgoodness,"Alessiasaid,comingoutofthehousetomeetme."Wethought you'dgotlost."
"Heldupintheoffice."Ihuggedherwithaffection.
"Noexcuse."
Therewasanewlightnessabouther:mostencouraging.Sheledmethroughthe kitchentothemoreformaldrawingroomwhereDominicsat.w.a.tchfullyon Miranda'slapandPopsywaspouringwine.
"h.e.l.lo,"Popsysaid,givingmeawelcomingkiss,bottleinonehand,gla.s.sin theother."Outwiththewand,it'sbadlyneeded."
Ismiledathergreeneyesandtookthefilledgla.s.s."PityI'mnottwentyyears younger,"shesaid.Igaveheran"oh,yeah"glanceandturnedtoMiranda.
"h.e.l.lo,"Isaid.
"h.e.l.lo."Shewasquietandshaky,asifill.
"h.e.l.lo,Dominic."
Thechildstaredatmegravelywiththebigwideeyes.Blueeyes,Isawby daylight.Deepblueeyes.
"Youlookedterrificonthebox,"IsaidtoMiranda."Justright."
"Alessiatoldme...whattodo."
"Alessiatoldhertodresswell,tolookcalm,andtopretendeverythingwas normal,"Popsysaid."Iheardher.Shesaiditwasagoodlessonshe'dlearned fromyou,andMirandamightaswellbenefit."
Popsyhadmadeaninformallunchinthekitchen,ofwhichMirandaatelittleand Dominicnothing,andafterwardsshedroveusalluptotheDownsinherLand Rover,thinkinginstinctively,Ireckoned,thatasitwastherethatAlessia feltmostreleased,sowouldDominicalso.
"HasDominiceatenanythingatallsincewebroughthimback?"Iaskedonthe way.
"Onlymilk,"Mirandasaid."Hewouldn'ttoucheventhatuntilItriedhimwith oneofhisoldbottles."Shekissedhimgently."Healwaysusedtohavehis bedtimemilkinabottle,didn'tyou,poppet?Heonlygaveitupsixmonths ago."
WeallinsilencecontemplatedDominic'sregressiontobabyhood,andPopsyput thebrakesonupbytheschoolingfences.
"Ibroughtarug,"shesaid."Let'ssitonthegra.s.s."
Thethreesat,withDominicstillclingingtohismother,andIleanedagainst theLandRoverandthoughtthatPopsywasprobablyright:thepeaceofthe rollinghillswa.s.sopotent.i.talmoststretchedoutandtouchedyou.
Mirandahadbroughtatoycar,andAlessiaplayedwithit,wheelingitacross therug,upMiranda'slegandontoDominic's.Hewatchedhergravelyforawhile withoutsmilingandfinallyhidhisfaceinhismother'sneck.
Mirandasaid,hermouthtrembling,"Didthey...didtheyhurthim?Hehasn'tany badbruises,justlittleones...but...whatdidtheydo,whatdidtheydotomake himlikethis?"
Isquattedbesideherandputanarmroundhershoulder,embracingDominicalso.
Helookedatmewithoneeyefromunderhismother'sear,butdidn'ttryto squirmaway.
"Theyapparentlykepthimfastenedtoabedwiththesortofharnessyougetin prams.Ididn'tseeit,butIwastold.Idon'tthinktheharnessitselfwould havehurthim.Hewouldhavebeenabletomovealittle-situp,kneel,liedown.
Herefusedtoeatanyfoodandhecriedsometimesbecausehewaslonely."I paused."It'spossibletheydeliberatelyfrightenedhimmorethantheyhadto, tokeephimquiet."Ipausedagain."Therewasaholeinthefloorboards.Abig hole,bigenoughforachildtofallthrough."Ipausedagain."Theymighthave toldDominicthatifhemadealotofnoisethey'dputhimdownthathole."
Miranda'swholebodyshudderedandDominicletoutawailandclungtohis motherwithfrenzy.ItwasthefirstsoundI'dheardhimutter,andIwasn't goingtowasteit.
"Dominic,"Isaidfirmly."Somenicepolicemenhavefilledupthatholesothat nolittleboyscanfalldownit.Thethreemenwhotookyouawayinaboatare notcomingback.Thepolicemenhavelockedthemupinprison.Nooneisgoingto takeyoutotheseaside."Ipaused."Nooneisgoingtostickanymoretapeon yourmouth.Nooneisgoingtobeangrywithyouandcallyouhorridnames."
"Oh,darling,"Mirandasaidindistress,hugginghim.
"Thatholeisallfilledin,"Isaid."Thereisnoholeanymoreinthefloor.
n.o.bodycanfalldownit."
Thepoorlittlewretchwouldhavenightmaresabout.i.tperhapsallhislife.Any personwhocouldfindapreventionfornightmares,Ioftenthought,would deservean.o.belprize.
IstoodupandsaidtoAlessiaandPopsy,"Let'sgoforastroll,"andwhenthey stoodupIsaidtoDominic,"Giveyourmummylotsofkisses.Shecriedallthe time,whenthosehorridmentookyou.Sheneedsalotofkisses."
Sheneededthekissesherhusbandhadn'tgivenher,Ithought.Sheneededthe comfortofstrongadultarms.Shewashavingtogeneratestrengthenoughtosee herselfandDominicthroughalone,anditstillseemedtomeatossupwhether she'dsurvivetriumphantlyorendinbreakdown.
Popsy,Alessia,andIwalkedslowlyovertooneoftheschoolingfencesand stoodtheretalking.
"Doyouthinkyoudidright,remindinghimoftheholeinthefloor?"Popsy asked.
"Splintershavetocomeout,"Isaid.
"Orthewoundfesters?"
"Yes."
"Howdidyouknowwhattheythreatened?"
"Ididn'tknow.Ijustguessed.Itwa.s.solikely,wasn't.i.t?Theholewasthere.
Hewascrying.Shutupyoulittlebleederorwe'llputyoudownit."
Popsyblinked.Alessiaswallowed."TellMiranda,"Isaidtoher,"that.i.ttakes alongtimetogetoversomethingasawfulasbeingkidnapped.Don'tlether worryifDominicwetsthebedandclingstoher.Tellherhowit'sbeenwith you.Howinsecureitmadeyoufeel.Thenshe'llbepatientwithDominiconcethe firstjoyofhavinghimbackhascooleddown."
"Yes,I'lltellher."
PopsylookedfromAlessiatomeandbackagain,butsaidnothing,anditwas AlessiaherselfwhohalfsmiledandgavevoicetoPopsy'sthought.
"I'veclungtoyouallright,"shesaidtome,lookingbrieflyovertoMiranda andthenback."Whenyouaren'there,andIfeelpanicky,Ithinkofyou,and it'sasupport.I'lltellMirandathattoo.Sheneedssomeonetoclingto, herself,poorgirl."
"YoumakeAndrewsoundlikeasortoftrellisforclimbingplants,"Popsysaid.
Wewalkedagain,asfarasthenextschoolingfence,andstopped,lookingout acrossthehills.Highcirruscloudscurledinfeatheryfrondsnearthesun, omenofbadweathertocome.We'dneverhavefoundDominic,Ithought,ifithad rainedthedayafterhewastakenandtherehadbeennoca.n.a.ldiggerwithhis grandmotheronthebeach.
"Youknow,"Alessiasaid,suddenlystirring,"it'stimeformetogobackto racing."Thewordscameoutasifunpremeditatedandseemedtosurpriseher.
"Mydarling!"Popsyexclaimed."Doyoumeanit?"
"IthinkImeanitatthismoment,"Alessiasaidhesitantly,smilingnervously.
"WhetherImeanittomorrowmorningisanyone'sguess."
Weallsaw,however,that.i.twasthefirsttricklethroughthedike.Iputmy armsroundAlessiaandkissedher:andinaninstant.i.twasn'tjustagestureof congratulationbutsomethingmuchfiercer,somethingwhollydifferent.Ifelt thefirerunthroughherinreturnandthendrainaway,andIletgoofher thinkingthatthebas.e.m.e.nthadtakenchargeofmerightandproper.
Ismiled.Shruggedmyshoulders,Madenocomment.
"Didyoumeanthat?"Alessiademanded.
"Notexactly,"Isaid."Itwasasurprise."
"Itsurewas."Shelookedatmea.s.sessinglyandthenwanderedawayonherown, notlookingback.
"You'veprunedheroffthetrellis,"Popsysaid,amused."Thedoctorkissedthe patient;mostunprofessional."
"I'llkissDominictooifitwillmakeyoufeelbetter."
Shetookmyarmandwestrolledincomradelyfas.h.i.+onbacktotheLandRoverand therug.Mirandawaslyingonherback,dozing,withDominiclooselysprawled overherstomach.Hiseyes,too,wereshut,hissmallfacerelaxed,thecontours roundedandappealing.
"Poorlittlesweetheart,"Popsymurmured."Pitytowakethem.
MirandawokenaturallywhenAlessiareturned,andwithDominiestillasleepwe setoffontheshortdrivehome.Oneoftheb.u.mpsintheruttedDownstrackmust haverousedhim,though,becauseIsawhimhalfsitupinMiranda'sarmsand thenlieback,withMiranda'sheadbentoverhimasiftolisten.
Alessiagavemeawildlookandshetoobentherheadtolisten,butIcould hearnothingabovethesoundoftheengine,andanywayitdidn'tseemtomethat Dominic'slipsweremoving.
"Stopthecar,"AlessiasaidtoPopsy,andPopsy,hearingtheurgency,obeyed.
Dominicwashumming.
Forafewsecondsthelownoisewenton:randomly,Ithoughtatfirst,though certainlynotononenote.
"Doyouknowwhatthatis?"Alessiasaidincredulously,whenthechildstopped.
"Isimplydon'tbelieveit."
"What,then?"Isaid.
Foranswershehummedthephraseagain,exactlyasDominichaddone.Hesatup inMiranda'sarmsandlookedather,clearlyresponding.
"Heknowsit!"Alessiaexclaimed."Dominicknowsit."
"Yes,darling,"Popsysaidpatiently."Wecanseehedoes.Canwedriveonnow?"
"Youdon'tunderstand,"Alessiasaidbreathlessly."That'soutofIlTrovatore.
TheSoldiers'Chorus.'"
Mygazesharpenedonherface."Doyoumean..."Ibegan.
Shenodded."Ihearditfivetimesadayforsixweeks."
"Whatareyoutalkingabout?"Mirandaasked."Dominicdoesn'tknowanyopera.
NeitherJohnnorIlikeit.Dominiconlyknowsnurseryrhymes.Hepicksthoseup likelightning.Iplaythemtohimonca.s.settes."
"Holyh.e.l.l,"Isaidinawe."Popsy,drivehome.Allisfine."
WithgoodhumorPopsyrestartedthecarandtookusbacktothehouse,andonce thereIwentovertomycartofetchmybriefcaseandcarryitintothekitchen.
"Miranda,"Isaid,"I'dlikeDominictolookatapicture."
Shewasapprehensivebutdidn'tobject.Shesatatthekitchentablewith Dominiconherlap,andItookoutoneofthephotostatsofGiuseppeandlaidit faceuponthetable.MirandawatchedDominicanxiouslyforafrightened reaction,butnonecame.Dominiclookedatthefacecalmlyforawhileandthen turnedawayandleanedagainstMiranda,hisfacetoherneck.
WithasmallsighIputthepicturebackinthecaseandacceptedPopsy'soffer ofauniversalcupoftea.
"Ciaobambino,"Dominicsaid.
