The Dazzle by Robert Hudson

Author:Robert Hudson [Robert Hudson]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Random House
Published: 2013-02-07T00:00:00+00:00

Monday 3rd September

John Fastolf, Earl of Caister – Scarborough

JOHNNY LANDS SOFTLY on the jetty, rope in hand, and makes fast the Harlequin. He feels light.

What is he doing? Why did he tell Henny that he might be there for her after all this? He shouldn’t be giving her hope, if she’s the one he’s giving hope to. As for protecting her, it would be a good deed, something of his own, but what if she sees the wrong thing? What if she gets into trouble when he isn’t there? If she is harmed, what then? He can’t guarantee her safety.

The plan is too close to fruition. It’s not just his own life he’s playing with.

They weigh the fish and pose for photos. The girls glow and the local worthies cheer them. The Scarbies are in Grey’s camp against the fractious Mitchell-Henry, but they have hardly warmed to the American, and they’re increasingly jolly at the prospect that neither champion will make a catch. Hardy, indeed, shouts, ‘No marlin, Mr Grey?’ and everybody laughs.

While this palaver is going on, Johnny deals with business. The first piece is unexpected. A squat slab of a man in a butcher’s apron approaches him defiantly. ‘My lord,’ he says.

‘Yes.’

‘I’m a republican, my lord.’

‘Quite right,’ says Johnny. ‘Quite right.’

‘Indeed aye, my lord. I’m Mattock. I’ve been sending your meat, if you don’t know.’

‘I didn’t know. It’s been very good meat.’

‘Aye. I just thought you should know, there’s been a policeman.’

‘Oh, has there, indeed?’ says Johnny. ‘In a uniform?’

‘No,’ says Mattock. ‘Red hair.’

‘Tall?’ asks Johnny.

‘Tall and thin. Asking questions about your boat, sir. Who’s on it? How much food? He asked all of us. Seemed sneaky. You’re not sneaky, my lord.’

‘No, no I’m not,’ says Johnny. ‘Thank you, Mattock.’ He considers a tip, and decides Mattock would be offended. He says, ‘It’s very good meat.’ They nod to each other. Mattock leaves.

Damn it. Johnny will deal with Raskell in the end, but not until after this part of the story. He makes a phone call and plays the card he has held against this eventuality. The police will learn the location of one of the Sphinx’s two main bases, a shabby warehouse behind the Queen’s Club in Kensington, and Raskell will have to take a train back to London.

And then it’s time for his assignation with Molly Parker. He hardly has the belly for it. They meet in a tearoom behind the covered market and she cranes her glossy lips up to his, but he pushes her away. She looks furious.

‘Sorry,’ he says. ‘Not here. It’s not safe.’

‘The Sphinx is a hundred miles away!’

‘You don’t know who he is.’

Molly sits back, pouting. ‘You’re just using me!’

‘No,’ he says. ‘Are you here with the girls?’

‘No. I’ve been given a holiday. I was told to enjoy myself. You don’t think he suspects anything, do you?’

‘No,’ says Johnny.

‘It’s got to be Kim,’ she says. ‘I don’t know why you think it isn’t!’

‘I need you to help me, Molly. I need you to get a message to the Sphinx.

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