Above Suspicion
Page 29
“Goes well with the writing on the wall,” he suggested, and pointed towards the house they were passing. The lights from the car pointed the lettering on its wall. “‘Who touches the Duce touches death.’ Dear me!”
“One up on the Victorians,” said Richard. “They only hung banalities round the house. Now we get totalitarian mottoes in two-feet-high letters all over the gable ends.”
Van Cortlandt, keeping his eyes away from Frances, tried to think of something to add to that but he could only think of the silent way in which she wept. He peered out into the darkness.
“Houses are getting closer now,” he said at last. “Better waste no time.”
Frances had regained her control. She made a pretence of powdering her face.
“I’m ready,” she said, “any time. We’ll see you in Paris.” She managed a smile. “I’m sorry. It was all my fault. I’ve ruined all your plans.”
The American shook his head. “My plans were going to be ruined anyway, although I kept persuading myself that they wouldn’t be. We all have our wishful thinking but it’s just as well to come out of it.”
Thornley switched off the motor carefully, and turned to face Frances.
“I have no plans either, Frances. Don’t worry about that. I had a letter from Tony this morning.”
“Tony?”
“Yes. He’s on his way home to enlist.”
“And the girl in Czechoslovakia?” Frances could have bitten her tongue. Thornley examined the back of his hand.
“Suicide,” he said, too coldly.
Frances saw the three men exchange glances. So they knew. Bob must have told them as she had slept. It must have been something which they thought would have sickened her, unnerved her. As if the man Kurt, when he had tried to break her silence, had not described in detail her possible future. As if she couldn’t guess… But knowing evil could be worse than guessing. When you guessed you could always hope that evil things might not be so bad as your worst fears. But when you knew, then there was no hope left. Then you knew this and this, and the evil of it drove away all hope.
She said nothing, only remembering the look on Thornley’s face when he had looked down at the man Kurt. He had spoken as if to himself, and the words had made no sense then. Now they took shape. One for Maria…the first one for Maria. Frances leaned forward and touched Thornley’s shoulder with her right hand, and then van Cortlandt’s.
Richard helped her to step out of the car. The savageness of his voice did not startle them.
“Yes. I’m all for international understanding: real understanding.” He looked at the other two men and voiced their thoughts. “This isn’t the end for any of us. It’s just the beginning.”
They were all silent for some moments, and then Thornley switched on the engine and the car moved into the night.
Richard picked up the suitcase and gripped Frances’ right arm. They walked softly through dark streets, guided by scattered lights. At last they saw the station. Frances pressed his hand to her breast, and held it there.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Helen MacInnes, whom the Sunday Express called “the Queen of spy writers”, was the author of many distinguished suspense novels.
Born in Scotland, she studied at the University of Glasgow and University College, London, then went to Oxford after her marriage to Gilbert Highet, the eminent critic and educator. In 1937 the Highets went to New York, and except during her husband’s war service, Helen MacInnes lived there ever since.
Since her first novel Above Suspicion was published in 1941 to immediate success, all her novels have been bestsellers; The Salzburg Connection was also a major film.
Helen MacInnes died in September 1985.
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