The Devil To Pay (Hennessey.)

by Marnie Perry

  She laughed too then grabbed her purse and shawl, he opened the door for her and she preceded him out, he took her key from her and locked the door then gave her back the key which she put in a very small blue bag. He wondered what she could fit into it besides her key; she would certainly never fit all that cash she had lying around in that tiny thing.

  They walked to the town where his car was parked; he had had to walk three miles to collect it after he had left her in the town. He had put the bag he had had with him on their walk in the trunk he might need it at a later date.

  He had called Glissando and told him the plan had changed yet again. He was none too pleased, but Hennessey had assured him he knew what he was doing and this way was better than Glissando’s other more extreme idea. He told him that as soon as he had the information he required from her he would deal with her in such a way that the police nor anyone else would ever find her. Glissando had liked the sound of that and had given Hennessey his blessing, not that Hennessey would have given a flying fuck if he hadn’t.

  Hennessey had analysed why he had not done what he had set out to do today, but what it really came down to was that he was having fun, and it had been a long time since he had had any fun. Fun was in short supply in his line of work, certainly for the people he killed anyway.

  Yes, he was enjoying himself, she was good company, and she incited the natural curiosity in him. He wanted to know about this mother of hers and what it was she had done to her daughter that made her so uncertain and unsure of herself. That caused her to see every compliment as either a means to an end on the part of the compliment giver, or a lie. She had no confidence in herself, in her looks or her ability to attract a man. That was where he came in; he would get her to trust him, to take his compliments at face value. He would seduce her into submission, then she would either confide in him or trust him enough to go with him wherever he wanted.

  Like the gentleman he was he opened the car door for her, she thanked him and got in. Once he himself was seated she said, ‘is the restaurant far?’

  ‘No, not far, we’re going to Gulfport, have you been there yet?’ He knew she hadn’t of course.

  ‘No I haven’t, but you obviously have, since you know a posh restaurant with candles on the tables and waiters carrying trays aloft etcetera.

  He grinned, ‘what a good memory you have. But yes, I’ve been to Gulfport several times. You must visit there during the day; see the harbour, stroll on the beach that kind of thing. There are woods there, lots of panthers too.’

  She laughed, ‘you’re not going to let me forget about that are you?’

  ‘It’s not something you’re going to forget, whether I remind you or not.’

  ‘That’s true.’ It was of course the panther incident which would be forever etched in her memory. As would Sterling Hennessey.

  ‘Okay, I was making fun, but seriously I thought you conducted yourself very well, most people would have panicked, but not only did you not panic but considered the experience one you would not have missed for anything. You’re a brave woman, Adela Faraday.’

  She turned in her seat and looked fully at him wondering no doubt whether he was patronising her, but his face was very serious. She said, ‘since we’ve only just met, how do you know that wasn’t me in full panic mode?’

  He laughed, 'well, unless English people lose control in a totally different way,

  I think I know panic when I see it, and you were very calm and controlled.’

  ‘Thank you, but I didn’t feel very calm or brave, I was scared witless.’

  ‘That’s what I mean, you were scared yet you remained cool under pressure, people who aren’t scared can’t be considered brave, just stupid.’

  ‘Then brave it is.’

  He joined in her laughter and they chatted amiably for a while. Suddenly a definite whiff of the ocean came to her so she knew they weren’t far from Gulfport. They arrived ten minutes later. Hennessey got out of the car and before she could open her door he was there opening it for her. She didn’t know why she was surprised, manners here were certainly not in short supply and Hennessey seemed to have more than his fair share of them. She alighted from the car thanked him and looked around her; it was a busy place with lots of people about. There were a lot of bars and restaurants and casinos, but it seemed clean and well cared for as though the residents were proud of their city.

  Hennessey parked the car and they got out. He said, ‘the restaurant isn’t far, a few blocks no more.’

  As they walked Adela looked around her interested as usual in everything that she saw. She asked, ‘is the sea far from this point?’

  ‘Not far no, just a mile or so that way,’ he pointed west, ‘are you thinking of coming here during the daylight hours?'

  ‘You’ve piqued my interest, I thought I would explore tomorrow.’

  He nodded, ‘you’ll enjoy the sights, and people are on the whole friendly enough, of course they certainly would be to you, Miss. Easy To Get On With.’

  She said, ‘don’t be silly.’

  He laughed, ‘I mean it, you are easy to talk too, I’ve only known you a few days but I feel as though I’ve known you for years.’

  Adela thanked him and hoped he wouldn’t notice that she hadn’t returned the compliment. She couldn’t, because she didn’t feel as though she knew him, she had the sense that she could be acquainted with him for years and years and still know nothing about him. This lead her to think about what Annie Bloom had said about him being dangerous. Se knew Annie hadn’t meant that he was a mass murderer or serial rapist, just dangerous as she had said, in a good way, if there was such a thing. She had read enough crime books to know what Annie meant, some of her favourite heroes were dangerous people, they killed yet still had a deep sense of morality. But they were fictional characters and probably nothing like people would act and think in real life. No, she knew nothing about Sterling Hennessey, but she did feel a definite rapport with him.

  Hennessey’s voice brought her out of her reverie. We’re here.’

  She looked up at him then at the restaurant. He hadn’t been kidding; it did look like a very posh place, the kind of place the rich and the famous would frequent. She felt suddenly nervous and it must have shown because he asked ‘something wrong?’

  She pulled herself together, ‘oh no, nothing.’ She smiled at him and he returned it.

  He opened the door for her and they went inside where they were met by a smartly dressed maitre’d with a very stiff posture. He said, ‘welcome, sir, madam.’

  Adela said hello and Hennessey told him they had a reservation and gave his name. The man went to a desk a few feet away and checked the guest list then looked up and smiled at them both. He snapped his fingers and a waiter came forward as if he had been standing there waiting for them particularly. The maitre’d told him to take them to their table. The waiter said, ‘certainly, this way, sir, madam.’

  They followed him down the restaurant to a table at the back which would give them some privacy. Some people looked up from their meal as they walked by the women looking appreciatively at them. Of course Adela knew the looks of envy cast her way were because she was with Hennessey, he would attract any female’s attention and that was partly true, but most of the women staring were also envying Adela her hair.

  The waiter pulled out the chair for her and Hennessey sat opposite her. The waiter asked, ‘would sir like to see the wine list?’

  Hennessey answered in the affirmative and the waiter took a wine list...which looked to Adela as thick as a bible...from a nearby rack and handed it to Hennessey.

  The waiter said, ‘I’ll return in a few minutes to take your wine order and bring your food menus.’

  Hennessey nodded and Adela thanked him, he turned to her and did the eyebrow lift she was getting so used to then he left them alone.

  Adela said, ‘I never knew there were so many wines.’

  Hennessey laughed, ‘I thought that too, but I alre
ady know what to choose.’

  ‘I’m glad one of us does.’

  ‘I take you know as much about wine as you do about other alcoholic drinks.’

  ‘As a matter of fact, Mr-Know- It- All, I know a bit more than that; I know that there’s red and there’s white, so there.’

  He laughed, ‘and rose of course, and champagne.’

  She smirked, he smiled and carried on, ‘and don’t forget, there are different kinds of red wine, for instance, Sangiouese, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay…

  She cut him off, ‘all right, all right, Mr. Really Does Know It All.'

  He chuckled. He couldn’t help but notice that she was very fidgety, she played with her purse that she had put on the table. He noticed what nice hands she had, long and slender and smooth and unlined, which was surprising for an ex cleaner.

  He said, ‘you seem a little edgy, is something the matter?’

  ‘Oh no, honestly, this is very nice, it’s just that…’ She broke off obviously reluctant to continue.

  ‘Please, it’s just what?’

  She let out a long sigh, ‘all right, it’s just that I’ve never been in a really posh restaurant before. In fact I’ve never been in any restaurant before, posh or not.’

  He was astounded, ‘really? Never?’

  She shook her head then under her breath said, ‘there are a lot of things I haven’t yet done.’

  He leaned forward across the table, ‘well I’m honoured that your first time in a restaurant is with me. And I hope that I can be the first to introduce you to some of the other things you have yet to experience.’

  She looked sharply at him and saw the glint of mischief in his eyes, but there was also an earnest sincerity there too. She felt her face redden, she hadn’t realised that he would hear her last statement, she wasn’t even sure why she had said it. He continued to look into her eyes for what seemed an eternity, then very slowly leaned back in his seat and said, ‘like introducing you to wine for instance.’

  He was smiling now but she knew he had not meant wine when he had said “other things.”

  She averted her gaze and picked up her bag from the table to hang on the back of the chair. He watched her as she took some time over straightening the strap buying time to pull herself together. He smiled to himself, she was so easy to embarrass. She was a rarity in this day and age, a demure woman, who became discomforted and shy when anything remotely connected to sex was mentioned. Because he had known in the instant she had whispered that there was lot of things she had never done that she had also subconsciously included sex. That was something else he liked about her and would maybe find very useful sometime, she said things she never intended to say, he could and would use that against her. He had almost laughed out loud and had not been able to resist teasing her, a twenty something virgin, this just got better and better. Just then, and to Adela’s relief, the waiter came over and asked if sir had made his choice.

  Hennessey said he had and told the waiter what they would like. The waiter replied that sir had made a very fine choice. Adela had the impression that he said the same thing to everyone. The waiter then gave them their food menus and Adela buried her face in it still embarrassed by Hennessey’s suggestive comment.

  After a few minutes he came back with the wine and poured some into Hennessey’s glass. He drank some of it then told the waiter that it was fine and the waiter poured some more into his glass then into Adela’s then left them.

  Adela looked at Hennessey over the top of the menu and asked what a certain dish was made up of, he told her and she pulled her face. He grinned and said, ‘look, would you like me to choose for you? I promise I won’t make you eat crawfish or anything remotely like it.’

  She smiled, ‘I will trust you to pick something at least edible. Thank you.’

  He laughed and signed for the waiter to come over, he did and Hennessey told him what they wanted for a starter and for their main course, the waiter again said, ‘excellent choice, sir, I’m sure you and madam will enjoy it.’

  When he’d gone Hennessey said, ‘so back to what we were talking about before.’

  Adela looked down at the table cloth thinking he was referring to his comment about being the first to introduce her to some new experiences. She whispered, ‘earlier?’

  He knew what she was thinking and fought to suppress the humour in his voice as he said, ‘you know, about visiting Gulfport.’

  She looked up relieved, ‘oh, oh yes, right.’

  He said, ‘what do you know, if anything, about Gulfport?’

  ‘No much I’m afraid, I know that it’s as far south as you can go, it being close to the Mexican Gulf. There’s about 72,000 residents and probably twice as many casinos. That it’s the second largest city in Mississippi after Jackson which is the capital of Mississippi, and both are in Harrison County. Gulfport is the home of the Seabees, and it was particularly badly hit by hurricane Katrina.’

  ‘That’s all huh,’ he said ironically.

  She smiled, ‘I’m sure there’s a lot more to learn, maybe you could fill in some blanks for me, if you know the area at all that is.’

  ‘I’ve been here before of course.’ He then proceeded to tell her some significant facts about Gulfport and places she might find of interest. She was enthralled as she always was by information on the places she visited and just about anything American.

  He noticed this and said, ‘you’re either a very good listener, or you have a particular affinity with this part of the world.

  She laughed, ‘I hope I’m a good listener. But yes, I am fascinated by your country I have to admit, it probably stems from reading so many crime novels set here. There are so many things I love about this country, but some things I hate too.’

  ‘Oh? Such as?’

  ‘Well, your prison system for one thing and the way prisoners are treated. I know that some, if not most, deserve to be there and probably deserve no better treatment. But some of the things I see and read about make my blood run cold. I’ve seen programme’s on the T.V where six or more guards go into a cell to retrieve inmates that won’t obey the rules, and the poor man or woman ends up injured, sometimes pretty badly. Talk about overkill. And keeping prisoners locked up for days in a small room with the light constantly on with no distractions of any kind, it’s cruel, then they wonder why inmates rebel. And all that handcuffing and leg irons and stuff it’s like something from the 19th century when prisoners were transported to penal colonies, or sold into slavery, it’s barbaric, it’s…’

  She stopped speaking at the look of amusement on Hennessey’s face. She let out a breath which came out ragged after her small outburst; she said, ‘sorry, I get carried away sometimes.’

  His smile widened, ‘no, really, it’s all right. But it sounds to me as though you’re an advocate for prison reform.’

  ‘Oh no, well, yes. I think if I lived in this country I might be. I always recall what Winston Churchill said, “A country is judged on how it treats its prisoners.”’

  ‘And we would be judged harshly no doubt?’

  ‘Well in all fairness I think most countries would. The U.K is probably guilty of many infractions of human rights to their prisoners, but not half way near as guilty as this country is. I mean in U.S prisons it’s nothing to hear about how other prisoners treat one another, things like…’ Again she broke off embarrassed.

  ‘Like rape do you mean?’ He asked.

  She avoided eye contact with him and her face reddened as she nodded. ‘If those people were out on the streets and did that kind of thing they would go to jail for it, but because they are in jail it’s accepted as part of prison life, par for the course, it makes no sense.’

  ‘Maybe most people believe that if someone is in prison he’s getting what he…or she… deserves.’

  ‘I know that some people are evil, child abusers or murderers for instance, and they do belong behind bars. But what about those that never harmed anyone, or those in for white collar c
rimes, non violent offenders, bad things happen to them too.’

  He had prevented himself from flinching when she had referred to murderers as being evil. He smiled, ‘you’ll have to write a long letter to the President, get him to review how prisons are run. Perhaps he could put you in charge, the inmates would all be on their best behaviour with you around.’

  She gave him a pained expression, ‘you enjoy making fun of me, Mr. Hennessey.’

  ‘I’m sorry if you think I was making fun of you, but I do actually mean it.’

  Although still sceptical she smiled, ‘it would be rude of me to call you a liar since you’ve brought me to this lovely posh restaurant.’

  ‘I hope you’d believe what I told you even if we were eating Chinese takeaway on trays in front of the television.’

  She laughed, ‘no, trust has its price.’

  He laughed too but was taken aback by her words; he would have put it down to a guilty conscience except he didn’t think he had a conscience.

  Just then there starter arrived and brought a halt to their conversation. It was little button mushrooms in a delicious garlic sauce with salad. Hennessey said, ‘don’t worry about the garlic making your breath smell, they take out the little green shoot which is what causes the odious smell later. Adela said she did not know that. She took her first bite watched closely by Hennessey. She closed her eyes as she swallowed then licked her lips and Hennessey got that same feeling in his lower regions he’d had when she had done the same thing after tasting the snowball. She opened her eyes and said, ‘hmmm, that’s delicious, you’re a good chooser of food, Sterling Hennessey.’

  He laughed and they continued eating, interspersed with light conversation until he asked, ‘so what else apart from our prisons don’t you like about this fair country of mine?’

  ‘Oh, guns.’

  He wished now he had not asked that last question. He said, ‘ah, those.’

  ‘Yes, maybe if I’d lived here all my life I would treat them the same way everyone else seems to, just as much a part of life as carrying a driver’s licence or a credit card. But not having them at home…not even our police are armed…I’m just not comfortable around them.’