Carte Blanche - Jeffery Deaver [98]
Felicity stepped off the platform to circulate as the guests continued their silent bidding.
Bond said to Hydt, ‘I don’t know if you have plans but I was thinking we could go for some dinner. On me?’
‘I’m sorry, Theron, but I have to meet an associate who’s just arrived in town for that project I mentioned.’
Gehenna . . . Bond certainly wanted to meet whoever this man was. ‘I’d be happy to take everyone out, your associate too.’
‘Tonight’s no good, I’m afraid,’ Hydt said absently, pulling his iPhone out and scrolling through messages or missed calls. He glanced up and spotted Jessica standing by herself awkwardly in front of a table on which items were being offered for auction. When she looked at him he beckoned her over impatiently.
Bond tried to think of some other way to conjure an invitation but decided to back off before Hydt became suspicious. Seduction in tradecraft is like seduction in love; it works best if you make the object of your desire come to you. Nothing ruins your efforts faster than desperate pursuit.
‘Tomorrow then,’ Bond said, seemingly distracted and glancing at his own phone.
‘Yes – good.’ Hydt looked up. ‘Felicity!’
With a smile, the charity’s managing director detached herself from a fat, balding man in a dusty dinner jacket. He’d been gripping her hand for far longer than courtesy dictated. She joined Hydt, Jessica and Bond.
‘Severan. Jessica.’ They brushed cheeks.
‘And an associate, Gene Theron. He’s from Durban, in town for a few days.’
Felicity gripped Bond’s hand. He asked obvious questions about her organisation and the shipments of food arriving soon, hoping Hydt would change his mind about dinner.
But the man looked once more at his iPhone and said, ‘I’m afraid we have to be going.’
‘Severan,’ Felicity said, ‘I don’t think my remarks really conveyed our gratitude. You’ve introduced some important donors to us. I really can’t thank you enough.’
Bond took note of this. So she knew the names of some of Hydt’sassociates. He wondered how best to exploit this connection.
Hydt said, ‘I’m delighted to help. I’ve been lucky in life. I want to share that good fortune.’ He turned to Bond. ‘See you tomorrow, Theron. Around noon, if that’s convenient. Wear old clothes and shoes.’ He brushed his curly beard with an index finger whose nail reflected a streak of jaundiced light. ‘You’ll be taking a tour of hell.’
After Hydt and Jessica had left, Bond turned to Felicity Willing. ‘Those statistics were disturbing. I might be interested in helping.’ Standing close, he was aware of her perfume, a musky scent.
‘Might be interested?’ she asked.
He nodded.
Felicity kept a smile on her face but it didn’t reach her eyes. ‘Well, Mr Theron, for every donor who actually writes a cheque, two others say they’re “interested” but I never see a rand. I’d rather somebody told me up front they don’t want to give anything. Then I can get on with my business. Forgive me if I’m blunt, but I’m fighting a war here.’
‘And you don’t take prisoners.’
‘No,’ she said, smiling sincerely now. ‘I don’t.’
Felicity Wilful . . .
‘Then I’ll most certainly help,’ Bond said, wondering what A Branch would say when they encountered a donation on his expense account back in London. ‘I’m not sure I’m able to rise to Severan’s level of generosity.’
‘One rand donated is one rand closer to solving the problem,’ she said.
He paused a judicious moment, then said, ‘Just had a thought: Severan and Jessica couldn’t make it for dinner and I’m alone in town. Would you care to join me after the auction?’
Felicity considered this. ‘I don’t see why not. You look reasonably fit.’ And turned away, a lioness preparing to descend on a herd of gazelles.
43
At the conclusion of the event, which raised the equivalent of £30,000 – including a modest donation on the credit card of Gene Theron – Bond and Felicity Willing walked to the car park behind the Lodge Club.
They approached a large van, beside which were dozens of