[Jack Harvey Novels 02] Bleeding Hearts by Ian Rankin

Author:Ian Rankin [Rankin, Ian]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
ISBN: 9781409118381
Publisher: Orion
Published: 2010-09-30T23:00:00+00:00

SIXTEEN

The first thing I saw after breakfast was Leo Hoffer.

That may sound crazy, but it’s true. When I got back to my room to do some final packing, I must have left the TV on. I’d been watching the early-morning news. Now there was a chat show on, and one of the guests was Hoffer. Not that he stole much airtime, a few minutes, but he was omnipresent, coughing offscreen, twitching and interrupting when other guests were speaking. I told Bel to come and see. They’d got round to the question-and-answer segment. The host was moving around the audience, his mike at the ready.

“That’s Jimmy Bridger,” said Bel. “I watch this sometimes.”

A middle-aged lady was standing up to ask her question. “Is Mr. Hoffer married?” The camera cut to Hoffer, who was wearing an expensive suit but wearing it cheaply. The cloth shone but he didn’t.

“No, ma’am,” he said. Then, creasing his face: “Was that an offer?” Everyone thought this very funny. Someone else asked him if he found his weight a problem. He agreed that it was.

“I’ve got to put on a few more pounds before I can sumo wrestle, and you know those last few pounds are the toughest.”

This had them practically rolling in the aisles.

“A question for another of our guests,” said the host, making it plain that he wasn’t going to let Hoffer hog proceedings. It looked to me like they must have had a disagreement along the way.

“And this is the man who’s chasing you?” Bel commented.

“That’s him. My shadow. I sometimes think the only reason he hunts me is so he can appear on shows like this.”

“Why would he do that?”

“His ego for one thing. But also, he’s in business, and I’m a good advert for him. As far as I can see, I’m the only advert he’s got.”

“He doesn’t look like he could catch a cold.”

“That,” I said quietly, “is why he’s so good.”

I sent Bel off to do her packing, and then finished my own.

We’d take the car back to Glasgow, I’d buy us train tickets south and let Bel make the connections to take her home. As for me, I’d go back to London. What else could I do? I’d wait it out till Shattuck crept out of the woodwork. I’d waited for victims before.

Bel wasn’t happy.

“Does this mean the engagement’s off ?”

“It’s the way it was always going to be.”

She couldn’t help but notice a change of tone. “What’s up, Michael?”

“Nothing. Just phone Max and tell him with any luck you’ll be back tonight. Tell him you’ll call from Glasgow with train times.”

So she made the call. It took Max a few moments to answer.

Listening, Bel rolled her eyes, meaning it was the answering machine.

“Hi, Dad, it’s me. Stick by the phone when you get in. I’m headed home, probably tonight. I’ll call again when I know my arrival time. ’Bye.”

We checked out of the hotel, but Bel wanted to go back into town.

“What for?”

“A few souvenirs. Come on, Michael, this is the last day of my holiday.

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