by Tim Parks
Feeling better this evening, sir? the policeman at the back entrance asked. Judge Savage half smiled. Thank you, he said. He found his car where he had left it the previous morning, drove to the centre of town in a thick drizzle, stopped briefly at a pharmacy, then drove down into the underground car park beneath the Cambridge. He had always appreciated the fact that with the card that opened one’s room one could also enter the Cambridge from the elevator in the underground car park and thus go straight up to bed without being seen in reception. I have always liked not to be seen, he thought.
The elevator stopped on the third floor. He hurried down a crooked corridor past white doors in beige paint-work. The narrow carpet was beige too and there was a faint buzz of televisions from within the rooms. Behind him, as he approached the end of the corridor, he heard a door open and close, a mother fussing with her child. Then he saw that the Do Not Disturb notice had been removed from the handle. He stared. Alarmed, he put the card in the lock and pushed open the door. The room was dark and fresh. The curtains must be drawn, but he knew from the roar of the traffic that the window behind them had been opened; the town in the early evening was busy.
He swallowed and prepared himself. A small green light in polished brass showed him where the card-key must be inserted to turn on the lights. They all went on at once. And the TV too. There was a flicker and hum. The room was clean and empty. The bed was made and turned down. There was a chocolate on the pillow. Aghast, he looked around. Mr Savage, Welcome to the Cambridge Hotel. You have one message. The words glowed from the TV screen. The remote was on the bedside table. He pressed Messages. From Inspector Mattheson. Message taken, 12.38 p.m. Nothing to worry about, Dan. All sorted.
He sat down on the clean bed and began to shake. She had been taken away. Likewise the decision he must make. He knew at once it was a loss. She was gone. Only now did he appreciate how intensely he craved some consequence, however dire. I need to be punished, he told himself. He was shaking his head. The whole thing has been removed from me. He repeated the words over and over. Removed from me. I didn’t act. Then his eyes found the screen again. Nothing to worry about. The words had a quiet blue glow.
Abruptly, Judge Savage stood up and snatched the TV cable from the wall. The plug dangled from his hand. How stupid. Removing his jacket, he became aware of the weight of the mobile in his pocket. It had been off all day. He turned it on. You have four recorded messages. He took off his tie, locked the door, pressed the appropriate buttons. How you doing, you old bastard? Frank’s voice. Kathleen Connolly said she had had a lovely evening with him and she wished circumstances had been less traumatic. Dan, listen, Hilary said, if you feel up to it, do come round. You must be in a state. Then came a voice he didn’t recognise. Mr Dan, the phone crackled. I’m Sue. Mr Dan, my friend say you are looking for me. If you want, I work tonight. Goodbye Mr Dan.
Daniel Savage stared at the phone. How had she got his number? Had he called her mobile from his? Thinking hard, the judge undressed. My hands are shaking. They had taken Minnie away. He checked again that the door was locked. For a moment, he stood with his forehead against the polished wood. Everything has been removed from me. Turn off the phones. Turn everything off. Quick, quick. Tearing open the bag they had given him at the pharmacy, Judge Savage measured out a powerful dose and lay down on her side of the bed to sleep.
This book does not pretend to offer an exact representation of English law, but where there is verisimilitude, thanks must go to Nick Syfret for his invaluable explanations and suggestions.
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Epub ISBN: 9781409040668
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Published by Vintage 2004
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Copyright © Tim Parks 2003
Tim Parks has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988 to be identified as the author of this work
First published in Great Britain in 2003 by
Secker & Warburg
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A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN 9780099445043