‘You never know.’
‘But . . . such a guarantee would give you licence to commit murder.’
‘It gives me the licence to defend myself. Now, really, Billy . . .’ She got up and bent over him; her still wet hair drooped on to his head and her nipple brushed his arm as she kissed him. ‘Do I look like a murderess to you? Think about it, and we’ll talk later.’
CRITICAL MATTERS
Anna went up to her bedroom, where Clive was just surfacing. ‘That was a night I shall never forget. But . . . don’t tell me you’ve been swimming already?’
‘I always go swimming first thing in the morning, and it happens to be a quarter to eight. I am going to have a shower to wash my hair properly. Then we’ll breakfast.’ She paused in the bathroom doorway. ‘You’re welcome to join me.’
‘I never wished you many happy returns.’
‘Why, thank you.’
‘Don’t you want to know what I’m giving you as a present?’
‘You’ve already given me my present; your company for a week.’
‘How would you like it permanently?’
She gazed at him in consternation.
‘Don’t you like the idea?’
‘It’s my favourite idea.’
‘Embedded in that statement, there’s a but.’
‘Well . . . you mean you’d be prepared to come and live here, with me?’
‘That is what I would rather do than anything else in the world.’
‘When did you make the decision?’
‘Its been growing on me for a long time.’
‘Like ten years.’
‘Anna . . .’
She sat beside him, kissed him. ‘I’m not being bitchy. I know what a big decision you’re taking. You’ll be giving up your life, for me. And I can’t give up mine, for you. At least, not right now. Right now, least of all. But if you’re prepared to take me on, on that basis, I’ll be the happiest woman in the world.’
He frowned at her choice of words, got out of bed, paused by the window to look down. ‘He been there long?’
‘About half an hour.’
‘With you . . .?’
‘It took him a few minutes to get used to the idea. But what he really wanted was that chat.’
‘That chat. About Mexico City?’
‘There were a few other things.’ She stepped beneath the shower, soaked her hair, felt him against her. His arms went round her to hold her close. ‘What other things?’ he said into her ear.
‘You were planning to shave?’ she countered as his cheek rubbed against hers.
‘Yes. What other things?’
She turned in his arms, water bouncing off her head and running down between their bodies. ‘You’ll have to ask Billy. He’s sworn me to secrecy.’
She stepped away from him and used the shampoo.
‘I ought to wring his neck,’ Clive growled.
She kissed him. ‘Perhaps afterwards.’
‘After what?’
She gave a wicked smile. ‘You’ll have to ask him that too. But Clive, the answer to your question is yes. Yes, yes, yes.’
*
She stepped from the stall, dried herself, and gathered her hair to wrap in a bandanna before putting on her shirt and shorts and going downstairs. She felt absurdly exhilarated. It was not merely the fact that after all this time Clive had formally made up his mind to share her life, warts and all. That needed digesting, savouring, relishing over the next few days.
There was also the London bus syndrome, that after having been called upon only twice in the past three years she was now being required twice in as many months . . . and by the British, too. There was no reason why that should exhilarate her; she did not have a drop of English blood in her veins, and after using her to their maximum advantage for six years they had thrown her aside like a worn-out glove. Yet, mainly because of Clive, she supposed, she still regarded them as the principal source of good in the world.
But the exhilaration arose from a more important source, to her. If Billy was to be trusted, and she believed he could be, then once she completed this job she was inviolate, at least, here on Fair Cay, or perhaps anywhere in the Bahamas. That guarantee was worth its weight in gold.
And the assignment? Apprehension, even concern, were irrelevant until she had received all possible information, and had seen the ground for herself. She had gone to Mexico City with no idea of how her mission was going to be accomplished, but a week’s reconnaissance had been sufficient both to suggest a way in and a way out, and that had been all she had needed. Of course, Argentina was a little farther away; it would not be simply a matter of getting across the border, unless that had been arranged in advance. That would have to be done, but she remembered that she had escaped from Brazil in 1946, just one step ahead of the police.
There were delicious aromas of frying bacon coming from the dining room, but she went to the radio room first; there were noises.
‘Fair Cay, Fair Cay. Come in, Fair Cay. Do you read?’
Anna sat down and thumbed the switch. ‘Good morning, Joe.’
‘I’ve been calling you for the past half-hour.’
‘I was washing my hair.’
He digested this, no doubt using his imagination . . . and his memory. If they had only ever spent one afternoon in bed together, it had been a very long afternoon, and one even she, at that so crowded period of her life, could remember as if it were yesterday. ‘You said you had an urgent problem. Anything to do with Mexico?’
‘I don’t know, which is part of the problem. I don’t think we should discuss it on the air. I need to see you, ASAP.’
‘Um. I’m kind of tied up . . . I’ll send Jerry.’
‘Who?’
‘You remember Jerry Smitten? He certainly remembers you.’
‘Shit!’
‘You do know that it’s illegal to swear on the radio? You must remember Jerry Smitten? You saved his life.’
‘I saved his life, Joe, because you sent him to me as a back-up, and when we had our first real problem, and he was facing two armed men, he froze.’
‘I know. He’s loved you ever since.’
‘He loved me before then,’ Anna said, absently, remembering the first, and so far only, time they had been in bed together.
‘Eh?’
‘Nothing important. Joe, this time I need a back-up who is capable of doing the job. Even if I’m not around.’
‘That Brazil business was three years ago. We reckoned he was pretty good then, even if we knew he wasn’t in your class. Who is? But I guess he was overawed by your presence.’
Anna blew a raspberry.
Which Andrews ignored. ‘He’s come a long way since then. Now he’s really good. But when you say you need a back-up even if you’re not around . . . you talking about the cay?’
‘That’s right.’
There was a brief pause. ‘Anna, you do realize that our people cannot get involved in any overt activities in the Bahamas. We have no jurisdiction there, and the Brits are pretty jealous of their prerogatives.’
‘Joe, you have my word that if Jerry gets involved in anything here on the cay, the Bahamian police will not interfere.’
‘You have that kind of clout?’
‘I’m about to accumulate it.’
Another brief pause. ‘Would you like to tell me what the fuck is going on?’
‘Uh-uh! Obscenity on the air! You could be prosecuted. I would love to tell you what is going on, Joe. But I can’t do it on the air, and you don’t want to come to me.’
‘Anna . . .’
‘So I will have to tell Jerry when I see him. Now, it is possible that he may be able to put my mind at rest, but if he can’t, I will require his presence on the cay for a few days. The exact dates have not been fixed yet, and before we reach them, he will be able to return to you and put you in the picture. OK?’
‘And you may not be there. On the cay.’
‘I may have
to go away for a few days, yes.’
‘And you feel that something, or someone, may be threatening the cay? You’re not supposed to have secrets from us, you know.’
‘As I have been trying to tell you, this is a secret I am very anxious to share. When will Jerry get here?’
‘Don’t tell me the Mexican police have traced you? It’s that goddamned stupid telephone call you made, isn’t it?’
‘Just tell me when Jerry will be here.’
‘I can have him on a flight this morning. Will you meet him in Miami?’
‘That will mean a two-day absence from the cay, and I can’t risk that. I’ll meet him in Nassau tomorrow. Tell him to check in to the Royal Victoria Hotel.’
‘For how many nights?’
‘That’s up to him. I intend to be back here by tomorrow evening.’
‘You know, you’d drive any sane man crazy.’
‘So who wants to be sane? I love you, Joe. Fair Cay out.’
*
The other four were sitting down to the usual sumptuous breakfast, as Anna now did. Everyone was clearly curious, with various degrees of anxiety, as to why and with whom she had spent so long in the radio room, but equally no one wished to ask any questions in front of the others.
Anna ate her bacon and eggs and smiled at them brightly. ‘I don’t know if Clive has told you,’ she said, ‘but we’re engaged to be married.’
There was a moment’s silence, then Jane cried, ‘Oh, you darlings! Clive!’ She was seated next to him, and threw both arms round him for a hug and a kiss.
‘Welcome aboard,’ Johann said.
‘Well,’ Billy said, ‘Congratulations.’
‘Thank you.’
‘Why, Billy, you almost smiled,’ Anna commented.
‘I wonder if we could have a word.’
‘I thought we’d already done that. Billy almost came swimming with me, this morning,’ she announced at large.
‘Well . . .’ he said, blushing.
‘Tell you what,’ Anna said, ‘after breakfast, and before it gets too hot, I’ll show you the island.’
‘I say, I’d like that.’
‘And Clive can come too.’
‘Ah . . .’
‘He is my fiance, Billy.’
‘Well . . .’
‘Now, Mama. I shall be going into Nassau tomorrow morning.’
‘But . . . you were in Nassau yesterday. And tomorrow is Sunday.’
‘I know. This is just a little matter that I have to attend to. I’ll be back tomorrow afternoon.’
Everyone stared at her, and Clive asked, ‘Shall I come with you?’
‘I wouldn’t bother. It’s just to do with the cay.’ Which, she reflected, was absolutely true. She finished her coffee. ‘Well, gentlemen, whenever you’re ready.’
*
‘Some place,’ Billy commented. ‘Did you create it all yourself?’
‘Would you say,’ Anna asked. ‘That creation is one of my fortes? The creation was by the previous owner. I have merely added to it, and I like to think, embellished it.’
They had walked the length of the island, and stood by the reservoir. As Anna had been pointing things out throughout the stroll, introducing them to Elias and the gardeners, neither Clive nor Billy had been able to ask any of the questions that had obviously been bubbling in their brains, even of each other.
Billy was still appreciating his surroundings, as he looked out over the beach at the sea. ‘And there’s nothing out there?’
‘Of course there is. Abaco is only just over forty miles away. Only you can’t see it.’
‘And there’s a big ship.’ Clive pointed to the north-east.
‘She’s bound for Fort Lauderdale,’ Anna said. ‘This is the north-west Bahama Passage; it’s wide and deep and much used by ocean-going traffic.’
‘There’s something in the water,’ Billy said, also pointing.
Anna squinted. ‘That’s a shark’s fin.’
‘What? You mean there’s a shark under that?’
‘There usually is.’
‘But . . . it’s inside the reef.’
‘There’s a passage.’ She pointed. ‘You can see the break in the surf. Big fish sometimes come through, but it’s nearly always inadvertent, and they’re usually in a hurry to get back out.’ She squinted. ‘Anyway, that’s a ground shark. It’s not very big.’
‘Is it dangerous?’
‘Not as dangerous as some. But there is no shark that you want to swim up to and pat on the head.’
‘My word. Even paradise has its dangers, eh? What about hurricanes?’
‘They do have them. But not very often. And we’re sheltered here. The worst of the weather comes from the north-east, and the most dangerous aspect of a hurricane is the storm surge. But on our east side, as you can see, there are several miles of relatively shallow water, and then that arc of islands.’
‘But have you actually experienced one?’
‘Not yet.’ Anna decided that the time had come to talk business. ‘So tell me, Billy,’ she asked. ‘Do you agree to my terms?’
‘I don’t actually have that authority,’ he reminded her. ‘I will have to take advice.’
‘Then I will look forward to hearing from you.’
‘Supposing the answer is affirmative, and I believe it will be, in the present circumstances . . .’
‘You mean now that I have accumulated one of your own people as a minder? Just to make sure I don’t start shooting people on sight?’
‘Well . . .’
‘Now look here,’ Clive said.
Anna squeezed his hand. ‘Let’s finish this part of the business first.’
‘That will be an important consideration, yes,’ Billy said. ‘Supposing that I can obtain clearance, how soon can you undertake the mission?’
‘I am not undertaking any mission while Clive is here. We see each other too seldom as it is.’
‘Ah. I was wondering if he was about to resign, and become a permanent resident.’
Anna looked at Clive, who flushed. ‘Well, obviously I can’t just do that. You do understand that, Anna. I have things to tie up, certain obligations . . .’
‘I do understand that, my darling. Having waited ten years for this moment to arrive, I am quite prepared to wait a while longer, until we can get it quite right. Certainly until this present situation is cleared up. So Billy, I will be ready any time after Clive goes back, providing I receive the guarantee, my fee, and all the necessary information as regards locale and contacts.’
‘That sounds satisfactory. I have most of what you want right here.’
‘You mean there is something important in that attaché case?’
‘I think I am entitled to know what this “present situation” is,’ Clive remarked.
‘I think so too. Surely you can trust Clive, Billy?’
‘I’m sure of it. But—’
‘Tell him first. We can worry about the buts after.’
Billy sighed, and outlined what he had proposed to Anna that morning.
Clive listened in growing consternation. Then he said, ‘That is absolutely out of the question.’
‘You see?’ Billy asked Anna. ‘There is the but.’
‘It’s a job, Clive,’ Anna said. ‘My very last job, right, Billy?’
‘For us, yes. I can’t speak for anyone else.’
‘It is an act of complete lunacy,’ Clive declared. ‘And the cheek of it. After Anna has spent six years risking her life for us, we kicked her out without even a thank you much less a pension . . .’
‘Do you need a pension, Anna?’ Billy asked.
‘That’s not the point,’ Clive insisted. ‘Everyone who retires should have a pension. That is Socialist philosophy. But we not only dropped her as if she was a rotten egg, we told her to get out of England, and stay out. But when we realize that we can’t do without her, suddenly all is forgiven. That is the lowest form of hypocrisy of which I have ever hea
rd.’
‘All right, you’ve made your point, and I agree with just about everything you’ve said. That doesn’t alter the fact that we do need her, and that she has agreed to help us.’
‘I haven’t finished,’ Clive said coldly. ‘You’re sending her to Argentina. Under this dictatorship they’ve accumulated that is just about the most unpleasant country in the Americas, right now. Have you any idea what their secret police would do to her if they had cause to arrest her?’
Billy looked at Anna.
‘I think I have rubbed shoulders with some policemen who have got to be the most unpleasant creatures ever to have walked the face of this earth. But I’m still here, and they are not.’
‘My God! Talk about hubris! Don’t you realize that when you worked for Himmler, you had the entire resources of the SD behind you? When you worked for us, you had MI6 behind you. And when you work for the Yanks I assume you have the CIA behind you.’
‘Not when I am on the job,’ Anna said quietly. ‘Once I’m out, they protect me, so long as they don’t have to get politically involved, which is exactly the terms Billy is offering now. And I am only going to undertake this job, if he can guarantee that whatever I may have to do to protect myself, here on the cay MI6 will stand between me and any prosecution. Right, Billy?’
He nodded.
‘That doesn’t alter the fact that one day you are going to make a mistake.’
‘When I do,’ Anna said, ‘If I have the Brigade of Guards standing by it won’t make a damned bit of difference.’
‘But why?’ he almost wailed. ‘Why take a risk you don’t have to?’
‘Clive, darling, don’t you see how important such a guarantee is to me, to us? You and Billy have both suggested that I need to remember that if I break any British laws, even when defending myself or my cay, I could be for the high jump. Now, call it hubris if you like, but I am confident that I can get in, and then out, of just about every situation, and get back here, too. But what I can’t prevent is the probability that one day some enterprising villain is going to be able to trace me here. I have to have the right to defend myself and my island and everyone on it. You must understand that because hopefully, one day soon you’ll be one of the residents. Don’t you want to be able to defend yourself, and me, without being arrested by the local police?’
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