Bloody Passage (v5) by Jack Higgins Read Free Book Online Page A

me out of the corner of her eye down there in the garden as I approached, but she certainly gave no sign.
    I lit a cigarette and flicked the match far out into the darkness. "Well?"
    "Well what?" she said. "If you think I'm going to apologize, you've come to the wrong shop."
    "No apologies needed," I said. "But a few facts would be appreciated."
    "Such as?"
    "Why you did it would do for starters."
    "All right, Oliver." She turned to face me. "It was a job, that's all. Just another assignment."
    "Well, you're a great little actress. I'll say that for you. You were particularly good at simulating orgasms, by the way. I'll be happy to give you a reference to that effect any time."
    She struck out at me furiously, but I got a hand up to block the blow. "Damn you!" she said. "And just how honest were you with me, anyway?"
    "A fair point," I said. "Strangely enough I can forgive you nearly all of it, but not Hannah. Never that. That was unforgivable and that was one side of me you did know about. One side of me I never hid from you."
    Which hit home rather satisfactorily. Her shoulders sagged a little and she turned away to look out to sea. "Why Stavrou, for God's sake?" I said.
    "Because I owe him," she replied. "Because he's been good to me. About three years ago I was in love with a man in Paris who trafficked in heroin. I didn't know it at the time, but when the police moved in, they were going to pull me down with him. I could have got ten years."
    "And Stavrou saved your hide?"
    "That's about it"
    "Oh, I see it now," I said. "We've all misjudged him. Presumably he's like the toad in the fairy story. One kiss from your delicious lips and he'll change into a handsome young prince. Now that I can't wait to see."
    She turned away angrily and we were suddenly hailed by Stavrou. "Over here, you two."
    He was on the high terrace and as we went up the steps, someone switched on floodlighting. The table was laid for three only and Stavrou sat at the far end, the waiter standing behind him.
    "Come and join me," he said jovially.
    I pulled out a chair, Simone hesitated briefly, then sat down. The waiter doled out a local soup made with goat's cheese and served ice-cold. There was champagne to help things along.
    "And where's friend Langley tonight?" I inquired.
    "Entertaining your sister, naturally," Stavrou shrugged. "After all, one must keep the pretense up." I stiffened, which is putting it mildly, and he added good humoredly, "No need to fret, I assure you, sir. The idea of any young woman being in danger where Justin is concerned is really quite amusing."
    Which was something, and I continued with the meal with as good a grace as possible under the circumstances. It was excellent and he obviously had a first rate local chef. We had narbe di San Paolo, which is ravioli filled with sugar and cheese and fried, and cannolo to follow and more champagne.
    During the entire meal he kept up a running conversation. Everything from politics to art and most things in between. I didn't say much and neither did Simone.
    It was only when I stood up to leave that he suddenly said, "You read the file? You've seen Zingari? What do you think?"
    I said, "It's possible. It could be done with the right organization and workforce."
    There was genuine astonishment on his face. "You mean you've found a way in?"
    "There's always a way in if you think hard enough." I helped myself to more champagne. "Even the Bank of England. In fact a long time ago someone did just that."
    He nodded slowly. "All right, how?"
    "That comes later. First I have to see a man called Aldo Barzini."
    "Why?"
    "Because for this kind of job he's the best there is."
    He reached for a cigar and the waiter lit it for him. "And what does he do when he isn't working, this Barzini?"
    "Runs a funeral business in Palermo among other things."
    He laughed helplessly, his whole body shaking. "By God, but you're a rogue, sir. I knew it the minute I clapped eyes on you." He wiped his face with a