The Last Place God Made - Jack Higgins [58]
I steeled myself to wait as patiently as possible. I'd had no more than a sandwich all day so I went out on the private deck and ordered dinner and a bottle of Pouilly on Hannah's account which gave me a perverse pleasure.
Lola arrived rather earlier than expected. I was at the coffee stage of things when the sliding door opened then closed again behind me, fingers gently ruffled my hair and she moved round to the other side of the table.
She looked surprisingly respectable for once in a well-fitting black skirt and a white cotton blouse which buttoned down the front.
'Tomas says you were asking for me.' She pushed a glass towards me. 'Any special reason?'
I filled her glass. 'I was looking for a little fun, that's all. I'm in for the night.'
'And Sam?'
'What about Sam?'
'He is with this - this woman who was here the other night? The American?'
'Oh, she seems to have become something of a permanent fixture up at Landro,' I said.
The stem of the wineglass snapped in her hand. 'God damn him to hell,' she said bitterly.
'I know how you feel,' I said. 'I love him too.'
She frowned instantly. 'What do you mean?'
I stamped on the floor for the waiter. 'Oh, come on now,' I said. 'Maria of the Angels, you remember her? The one who was so good at dropping out of sight? Mean to say you and Hannah had never clapped eyes on her before?'
The waiter appeared with another bottle. She said carefully, 'And even if this were so, why should I tell you?'
'To get your own back on him. Much simpler from your point of view than sticking a knife in his back. Now that can be messy. That would get you at least ten years.'
She laughed out loud, spilling her wine on the table. 'You know, I like you, Englishman. I like you a lot.'
She leaned across the table, her mouth opening as she kissed me, tongue probing. After a reasonably lengthy interval, she eased away. Her smile had faded slightly and there was a look of surprise on her face. She seemed to come to some decision and patted my cheek.
'I'll make a bargain with you. You give me what I want and I'll tell you what you want. A deal?'
'All right,' I said automatically.
'Good. My place is just along the waterfront from here.' She walked out and I followed, wondering what in the hell I'd let myself in for now.
*
The room was surprisingly clean with a balcony overlooking the river, the image of the Virgin and Child on the wall above a flickering candle. Lola herself was a surprise to say the least. She left me on the balcony with a drink and disappeared for a good fifteen minutes. When she returned, she was wearing a housecoat in plain blue silk. Every trace of make-up had been scrubbed from her face and she had tied back her hair.
I got up and put down my glass. She stood looking at me for a while then took off the housecoat and threw it on the bed. Few women are seen at their best in the nude. She had a body to thank God for.
She stood there, hands on hips, and said calmly, 'I am beautiful, Senhor Mallory?'
'Few men would dispute that.'
'But I am a whore,' she said flatly. 'Beautiful perhaps, but still a whore. Available to any man who can raise the price.'
I thought of Joanna Martin who had never actually taken cash on the barrel which was the only difference between them.
'And I am tired of it all,' she said. 'Just for once I would like a man who can be honest with me as I am honest with him. Who will not simply use me. You understand?'
'I think so,' I said.
She blew out the light.
*
It was late when I awakened. Just after two a.m. according to the luminous dial of my watch. I was alone in the bed, but when I turned my head I saw the glow of her cigarette out there on the terrace.
I started to get dressed. She called softly, 'You are leaving?'
'I'll have to,' I said. 'I've things to do or had you forgotten?'
There was silence for a while and then, as I pulled