by Marnie Perry
She recalled when he had made love to her in her cabin and she had run her hands down his chest and stomach and felt the gnarled, rough skin. Not injuries received in the marines then but injuries inflicted by his uncle. She felt a wave of compassion for the poor tortured boy he had been.
He saw the sympathy in her eyes and went on abruptly, ‘anyways, he tried to get me in there and I stabbed him, I got lucky, just one blow is all it took, straight through the heart. Then I ran, to Carson. He was still recovering from his injuries but he helped me, hid me until I could get away. Later I went to Atlanta, Georgia, got in with the wrong crowd, or the right crowd, whichever way you prefer to look at it.’
‘How…how old were you when…’
He smiled, ‘when I did away with the evil uncle?’ She nodded, ‘fourteen.
I lied about being sixteen when Carson was injured I was fourteen then too. He still feels responsible for how I turned out, he thinks it’s all his fault, but it isn’t, I was always capable of it. I am what I am, always was, always will be.’
She said nothing, she was too shocked. Of course she could not help but see the comparison in his story and Olivia’s. They had both been locked in cages, both been treated vilely, they had both suffered at the hands of adults.
He continued, ‘when I was eleven I ran away to Ship Island, I camped there for a week before I was caught and returned to my uncle. She recalled his words when she’d asked him why he had camped out there all alone, “It was necessary.” ‘And F.Y.I one of those law enforcers you spoke so fondly of returned me to my uncle. He returned me to more punishment and no one will ever convince me that he was ignorant of what went on in that house.’
She looked at him appalled, thinking, that’s why he had looked at Sheriff Taylor with contempt and loathing.
She bowed her head and shook it before looking back at him and saying again, ‘I am very sorry.’
He did not want her pity, he had told her what he had because he wanted her to know how ruthless he was, how pitiless, how remorseless. He wanted her to know that he had killed four men by the time he was fourteen and now that is what he was, a killer, he wanted her to realise that it meant nothing to him to take a life. He said sarcastically, ‘and so I began my career as an assassin. I hope that satisfies your curiosity, Miss. Faraday.’
She said, ‘your story makes what you’re going to do even more reprehensible.’
When he raised his eyebrows questioningly she elaborated, ‘you share your experience with Desi, you of all people should have an affinity with her, you of all people should be sympathetic to her plight. You spoke about the sheriff who brought you back to more punishment, you carry your resentment to this day, yet you want to do exactly what that odious law official did, and bring back that young girl to more abuse and horror. You’re that sheriff, only worse, because you of all people should have compassion for someone like her, instead you’re using her for personal gain.’‘
He looked startled then frowned as she saw his eyes cloud with anger but then he shrugged. This time however, Adela was not fooled; she had seen something else besides anger in his eyes before the veil came down that convinced her that he was not quite as indifferent as he made out.
He said nothing for a moment but continued to stare at her. Eventually he said, ‘If I went around feeling sorry for everyone who had experienced the same “horror,” as you put it, I’d go mad. Besides, I can’t allow my feelings to interfere with my job.’
She remained silent but continued to look at him with what looked to him suspiciously like pity. He read her expression and snapped, ‘I think that’s enough about me, we have other things to discuss.’
She said, ‘I have just one more question.’
He sighed heavily then waved his hand as if to say, go ahead.
‘Were you ever a marine?’
He put his right foot up on his left thigh and said, ‘that wasn’t a lie either. I joined the marines under an assumed name and did what I liked doing best, killing people, only this time it was government sanctioned killing and I got paid for it. I liked the idea of getting paid for killing. I was an amateur before but the marines made a professional of me.’
She shook her head as though trying to understand something that was beyond her scope, which it was of course. She said quietly, ‘how much did Glissando promise you? How much am I worth to you dead?’
He raised his eyebrows in surprise but said, 'that's two questions.' He leaned back in his seat smiled a rather sad smile. 'But do you really want to know?' She nodded, ‘all right, I think you’ll be impressed.’ He paused for effect then said, ‘five million dollars.’
Her eyes opened wide in astonishment and she stammered, ‘fi…five m…million’
His smile widened at the expression on her face, ‘told you you’d be impressed.’
She closed her eyes as if that would enable her to accept that the price of a madman’s revenge was so high. He said, ‘in all fairness you share that with Desi, so you’re worth a mere two and a half mil each.’
‘There you go again with your belittling of so much money.’
He laughed, ‘so why did you want to know? Were you thinking of offering me more to spare you?’
She looked at him in amazement then her head came up and her neck straightened as she said rather haughtily, ‘I wouldn’t demean myself, it would put me on a par with you and that madman Glissando.’
It was his turn to be dumbfounded. He had wondered how long it would take her to offer him more money to renege on his promise to Glissando. But she had put him in his place with a few well chosen words. Good for her. He said, ‘so if I offer to cease my search for Desi for, say, three million you wouldn’t be interested in entering into a transaction with me?’
She stared at him and he could see her mind working, first thinking about his offer then wondering if he would keep his word once he had the money. She said, ‘perhaps I would if I thought you would keep your word, but what’s to stop you taking my three million then carrying on your "Quest" for Desi’s whereabouts and getting paid by Glissando as well?’
He shrugged, ‘I could give you my word.’
She actually laughed and shook her head, ‘anyway, I don’t believe you’ll find her; she’ll lose herself in Europe somewhere. I told you what name she had in her passport but she won’t be stupid enough to keep it. She’s smart and savvy, she must be to have got the passport in the first place and hide it right under Glissando’s nose. No, I’ll keep my money, but thanks for the offer though.’
He should be angry, he should be furious but he couldn’t help it, he laughed out loud.
He said, ‘see, right there, that’s why I couldn’t do it that first day, why I felt compelled to get to know you and I’m so happy I did. It’s been a treat, no, more than that, an honour to know you, Miss. Faraday.’
‘You’ll forgive me for not returning the compliment, Mr. Hennessey.’
Still smiling he contemplated her, his check resting on his fist in that casual and relaxed posture that frightened Adela more than any amount of anger. He said, ‘you didn’t always think that though. There was a time when you felt differently.’
She didn’t blush as he expected her too but said, ‘to my everlasting shame.’
He frowned then gave a grim smile, ‘well you won’t be shamed for too long now, Miss. Faraday.’
He thought he would feel a smug satisfaction at his own words and her reaction to them but he didn’t, instead he felt something of what she had said she was feeling...shame.
To quash this alien emotion he said, ‘so will you satisfy my curiosity and tell me how a cleaner came by so much money?’
‘No.’
He chuckled and in a childish voice said, ‘oh, please.’
‘No.’
‘All right, keep your secret…for now. But how about this, I give you what you wanted me to give you the other night? I show you the time of your life and you give me your bank account numbers. It seems
a shame to waste all that cash you so diligently saved. I mean, if you’ve gotta go at least go on a high.’
She stared at him as though he was a creature from another planet, a malevolent, sadistic, vile creature. She raised her head and putting as much pride and disdain in her tone as she could said, ‘maybe, but at this late stage I’d rather not risk the wrath of God, and coupling with you would be like selling my soul to the devil and for what? A quick tumble in the hay.’
He leaned back in his seat his eyes wide, he didn’t know whether to laugh or get really angry. She hadn’t gotten embarrassed as he thought she would but had once again made him feel cheap and dirty. As if her words had not bothered him he smirked and said, ‘as you wish. Now no more questions, no more distractions. She sighed resignedly and he said, ‘right, first, how did this Detective...Leyton? She nodded, ‘what made him connect me to Blakemore?’
She hadn’t expected this so didn’t answer immediately. He said, ‘well? I’m waiting.’
‘It…it was the raincoat?’
‘Raincoat?’
‘Yes, the one you lent to me that evening, it had Blakemore’s name in it.’
‘I see. And just how did Leyton get hold of it?’
She hesitated again then she looked him in the eyes and said, ‘I gave it to him. I thought at first Blakemore might be one of your pseudonyms.’
She waited for him to get mad and threaten her again but was surprised when he chuckled, ‘of course you did. I beat up your bookworm friend and you want to help the cops catch me, little knowing what a huge can of worms you were opening.’
‘I’m getting used to opening cans of worms and watching them crawl out.’
He arched his eyebrows then laughed, ‘you know I liked you when you were quiet and a little timid, bending over backwards to please people, to see the best in them, but I like you like this too, feisty and bold, ballsy.’
‘I neither want nor need your compliments, Mr. Hennessey; they sound like insults to me.’
He grinned, ‘so good old Detective Leyton is busy looking into a connection between me and Blakemore.’
‘Yes.’
Her voice broke into his thoughts, ‘and that’s why your plan to make it look as though I left with you willingly, that I'm your willing accomplice won’t work.’
‘Oh?’
‘Yes, Detective Leyton knows now you’re not who you claim to be, and he witnessed my reaction when he told me about you and what you were, although he only told me they suspected you were a conman, I knew the name Blakemore meant something far more important.'
Hennessey just about kept his neutral expression on hearing this. ‘And just what was your reaction on hearing that piece of news?’
She looked away wishing she had not said anything but his smug, self satisfied almost pleased expression angered her. This was like a game to him, a game in which everyone loses but him. He insisted, ‘Miss. Faraday, remember what I said about answering my questions.’
She looked back at him and snapped, ‘I threw up all right. Satisfied?’
He frowned and said rather softly, ‘I’m sorry about that. But I don’t know what could have possessed him to tell you about me. It’s not something a cop usually does with a witness, give away information relating to an ongoing investigation.’
She didn’t tell him that she had insisted Leyton tell her, but he seemed to know because he smiled, ‘of course you’re very good at getting information from people aren’t you, Miss. Faraday, causing them to be indiscreet. I mean just look at our previous conversation, I’m supposed to be the inquisitor yet I wind up telling you about my not so illustrious past….and present.’
In an imitation of him she shrugged, ‘but unlike you I’m genuinely interested in people, I want to get to know them as friends not as a means to an end.’
He nodded his head as if in understanding, ‘you know, Miss. Faraday for someone who has no confidence in themselves and not much self worth, for someone who is shy and nervous around men you certainly draw them to you. Old Maxwell, that fat sheriff, me, and now you’ve bewitched a cop no less.’
She looked stunned, ‘don’t be si…stupid; he’s not bewitched nor even interested in me except as a witness.’
‘If you say so.’
‘I do, I do say so, because it’s the truth. Anyway you can take yourself out of that equation, you were never bewitched or even interested in me except as an information conduit.’
He didn’t intend to but he laughed at her choice of words then said quickly, ‘sorry, I’m not laughing at you per say, it’s just that I would never have described you as a conduit.’
‘If the cap fits.’
He was serious now, ‘it doesn’t, it doesn’t fit. Believe me, Miss. Faraday you were a lot more than that to me.’
She turned away a look of disbelief and disgust on her face. He sighed, ‘I gave you a good time didn’t I?’ She looked back at him still wearing that same expression only now she added distaste. ‘I didn’t ask anything from you in return did I? Not sexually anyway.’
She was beginning to get uncomfortable despite her resolve not to let him get to her and her discomfort made her rash, ‘you think that makes me feel better? That you couldn’t even bring yourself to…’
She stopped realising what she was about to say but he finished for her, ‘have sexual intercourse with you?’ She looked away again her face red ashamed of herself for rising to his bait.
Surprisingly his voice was very gentle as he said, ‘if it makes you feel any better, it wasn’t easy for me, in fact it would have been a lot easier to stay that night at your cabin. If I had consider how much more you would be hating me now.’
Her head whipped round to look a him the scepticism plain on her face, he went on, ‘you know what kind of man I am, you said yourself I have no conscience, no human feelings, you called me heartless and you’re probably right. Don’t you think it would have been easy for me to have taken advantage of you, to have taken you up on your offer? But I couldn’t do it; it would have been like a double betrayal, like taking advantage of you twice over.’ He gave a self deprecating smile, ‘see, I do have some principles.’
When would this man cease to shock her? Probably when he put the bullet in her head. Before she could speak he continued, ‘you think it’s because I didn’t find you attractive or sexy don’t you when in fact I do, I just never expected too.’
She stared at him her eyes wide; there was still disbelief in them but also confusion.
He said, ‘I taught you something about yourself didn’t I? I taught you something about men.’
She shook her head, ‘about me, yes, but not about men, Mr. Hennessey, about you.’ He arched his eyebrows, ‘not that it matters what you taught me about myself, you or men in general, there aren’t too many eligible men in the cemetery are there?’ He stared at her in blank astonishment, ‘unless you’re just going to dump my body in the swamp of course, food for those alligators you mentioned.’
He thought he was past being surprised, amazed even shocked by her but he was wrong because she added, ‘that’s why you never called me by my first name isn’t it? Because that would have been too personal, you might have seen me as a human being instead of as a job, a hit, a cash cow.’
He stared at her speechless and before he could find his voice his phone rang making Adela jump. He cursed and she looked at him questioningly. He looked at the number and cursed again then pressed a button and put the phone to his ear. He didn’t say hello but listened rolling his eyes as if listening to a telephone sales rep's patter. Then he said, ‘didn’t you get what I sent through the usual channels?’
He smiled as he listened to the answer, ‘yeah, thought you might like that.’ He listened again, ‘well that’s up to you of course, but it seems a shame after I’ve gone to all this trouble, not to mention the danger I’ve put myself into on your behalf. But if you want me to let her go then…
He was obviously cut off by the person on
the other end of the line, he listened again smirking now. Then he raised his eyes and looked at Adela’s anxious face and spoke as casually as though he was telling a friend that his wife was present ‘yep, she’s right here. Would you like a word?’
Adela knew to whom he was speaking and her blood turned to ice in her veins and her body began to tremble. Hennessey stood up and holding the phone to her ear said with icy politeness, ‘Mr. Glissando would like proof that you really are here and still alive, please prove to him that I’m not lying and say hello to him.’
She turned her head away from the phone; he grasped her chin with his free hand and whipped her face round to the front again saying, ‘it’s not like you to be rude, Miss. Faraday, just a quick hello to Mr. Glissando, that’s all I’m asking.’
He wasn’t asking of course, he was demanding, but she refused to give in. She pursed her lips and tried to turn her head away but his grip on her chin tightened painfully as he squeezed down until her mouth opened. She fought not to let a moan escape her lips until he suddenly let go of her chin and gripped her hair in his fist and pulled until her head snapped back and she let out a cry of pain. Hennessey still gripping her hair put the phone back to his own ear and said, ‘will that suffice, Mr. Glissando or do you insist she actually speak.’
Adela gritted her teeth as she waited for Glissando’s reply, she didn’t know what she would do if Hennessey insisted she speak to that evil man, even the thought of him being on the other end of a phone sent a shiver of repulsion and fear through her.
Hennessey was looking down at her as he said sarcastically, ‘well it’s nice to be so trusted, Mr. Glissando.’ He let go of Adela’s hair and stroked it almost gently.
Hennessey sat down in his chair again and looking at Adela’s bent head said, ‘I do have some information for you though, Glissando, apparently your wayward slave girl has a passport under the name of Olivia Llewellyn.’