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The drive to the Hotel Excelsior was completed in almost total silence. Ben’s few attempts at conversation drew no response. Francesca was completely absorbed in her driving, which Ben found a little erratic to say the least. She narrowly avoided a collision when pulling out from a side road after he asked her how she felt and whether she had any problems. After that Ben decided to keep quiet.
They drove into the hotel forecourt and squealed to a halt. Ben got out with alacrity. “I shan’t keep you waiting long,” he promised as he slammed the door.
He asked at the desk for Donna Carter. There was a brief telephone call by the reception clerk and Ben was told to go up to her room. The door was opened to his knock and Donna stood there, wrapped in nothing but a large bath towel.
“Come in, honey.” She laughed. “You always seem to catch me when I’m in the shower.” She shepherded him into the room and closed the door behind him.
Ben laughed too. It was a relief to be back with someone cheerful and relaxed after the rather tense last couple of days. He walked a little way into the room. He felt big and clumsy. Donna was really quite small when she had no shoes on, despite her ample curves. He was surprised that he hadn’t noticed it before. Or perhaps it was the comparison with the tall, slender Francesca.
“I got your note at breakfast.” He was aware that he sounded stiff and formal.
She too seemed a little uncertain of what to say. “Come and sit by the window,” she suggested.
They sat in basket chairs on soft cushions facing each other. Donna crossed her legs and Ben couldn’t help noticing the pink, rounded thigh which protruded from under the snowy white towel. The window onto the balcony was open and the curtains waved in the soft morning breeze. The fine weather seemed to have returned after three dismal days. She shivered a little and Ben was on his feet in an instant.
“Can I get your dressing gown?”
“No. It’s all right.”
“Don’t be silly. You’ve only just come out of the shower. You’ll catch a chill.”
“OK then. My robe’s in the bathroom.”
Ben went to collect the light, diaphanous garment and draped it about her shoulders. “This thin thing isn’t much use anyway.”
“That’s fine, honey.” She stroked his hand.
Her brown curls smelled damp and fresh. Her swelling body under the towel seemed infinitely desirable. With a conscious effort Ben pulled his hand away and returned to his chair. She smiled at him, apparently unaware of the effect that her undressed condition was having on him.
“I wanted to thank you, Ben, for the few days we had together and for the help you gave me. I’m sorry if I wasn’t always as straight with you as I would like to have been. But I hope you understand that there were things which I wasn’t allowed to tell you.”
He smiled and relaxed a bit. “That’s all right. It’s been rather like living in a thriller for the last few days. Even now I can hardly believe everything that’s happened.” He shook his head. “I just don’t know how much of it was true.”
“Most of it was true, Ben. The job was the only thing that I invented. That’s our normal cover.”
“What about Joseph A. Carter – the creep?”
“Oh – he’s real all right. Everyone can make mistakes. And the alimony is true as well. Drug enforcement agents don’t earn enough to pay for a pad like this, even on expenses.”
Ben grinned. “I can believe that, any way.”
“Truly. I insist on being allowed a private life and everything I told you about that is gospel.”
He nodded. He didn’t know what to say next. He looked out at the splendid view beyond the balcony.
“How’s Francesca and the old boy?” Donna asked brightly.
“Well, Papa’s not very well. We’re a bit worried about him. But Francesca says he’s been in poor health for a long time. She seems to think he’ll be all right in a few days.”
“And Francesca?”
“She’s waiting for me down in the car. I told her I’d only be a few minutes because she seems to be worried about getting me to the airport in time to catch the twelve-thirty flight.”
“So – you’re off in a couple of hours. That reminds me – I’ve got something of yours. Donna rose and went into the bathroom.
When she came back she had shed the towel and had nothing on but the thin negligee which totally failed to obscure the splendid view he had of her voluptuous body. Ben felt his spirit rising.
She was carrying a razor and a bowl of shaving-soap which she gave to him.
Ben looked at it. “That’s not mine.”
“It sure as hell isn’t mine,” said Donna.
Then he remembered. “That’s what I found in Toni’s flat the other day. I don’t know what to do with it.”
“Well, I don’t want it. People will start to talk if they find things like that in my room.”
Ben roared with laughter. “Donna – you’re fantastic. I can’t believe you mind in the least if some man is found in your room – with or without his shaving-kit.” He smiled. “I’m sorry to be leaving before I get the chance to make good my offer to hold your hand on an aeroplane flight.”
She cocked an eyebrow. “And what about the little lady down there?”
“What about her?”
“You can’t kid me, Benjamin Cartwright. You’re nuts about her.”
He grimaced. “Unfortunately she doesn’t feel the same about me.”
“Rubbish. Of course she does. I’ve seen the way she looks at you.”
“Donna – you heard the way she was pitching into me about the climb. She despises me.”
“She does not! Every woman pitches in to her guy when he doesn’t seem to be doing what she wants. But you showed her who was right.”
Ben shook his head. “We’re just not made for each other. Our backgrounds are so different. Her family is almost aristocracy in Italy.”
“Oh,” said Donna, “Francesca won’t let that make any difference. I tell you – she’s crazy about you. I can’t believe she’s going to let you go that easily – unless she’s got all mixed up about me.”
“What do you mean?”
“She may think you’re sweet on me, just because you spent a bit of time in my bed. You’d better put her right on that score.”
Ben looked at her, puzzled.
Donna came close to him. “I tell you what, honey, I’d have been willing to throw away my alimony for you.” She shook her head. “But I know it wouldn’t be any good. I reckon I could persuade you to run off with me but you’d always be thinking of what you might have been doing with that skinny Italian girl.”
“Donna,” said Ben tenderly.
“Now, you get going before I change my mind.” She pecked his cheek and propelled him towards the door. “Remember,” she called after him as he went down the corridor, “you’ve only got a couple of hours left. Don’t louse it up.”
The door closed behind him with a soft click.
The Mafia Emblem Page 62