The Venom Business: A Novel by Michael Crichton (Writing as John Lange)

Author:Michael Crichton (Writing as John Lange) [Crichton, Michael]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Thrillers, Crime, Fiction
ISBN: 9781453299302
Publisher: Open Road Media
Published: 2013-07-23T04:00:00+00:00

9. A FURTHER ADVANCE

“IT’S A BAD IDEA,” Raynaud said.

“Bloody hell,” Pierce said.

“Too many people. Too hard to keep track of you.”

“Bloody hell,” Pierce said.

“Anyone would have a dozen opportunities. I would be powerless to stop them.”

“Listen,” Pierce said. “You were hired to protect me, not ruin my life.”

“I’m just telling you, is all. It’s a bad idea.”

“And I’m paying you five hundred a day to look after me. Anywhere I go.”

Raynaud sighed. “How many will be there?”

“Fifty. A hundred. I don’t know.”

“Many people know you’re going?”

“Some.”

“No,” Raynaud said.

“Now look, lad, you can carry this thing too far. I intend to go to the party. Susan Locke is a dear friend.”

Susan Locke was the owner of a new boutique, The Chastity Belt, which was opening on King’s Road in Chelsea. Pierce had been fiddling with the invitation all day, playing with it, staring at it.

“No,” Raynaud said.

“Not only that,” Pierce said, “but I intend that you should have some fun. I want you to take a girl yourself.”

“No. Impossible.”

“It will improve your spirits.”

“It will decrease your chances of survival.”

“Charles, for Christ’s sake, be human.”

“You’ve paid me to do a job.”

“And you’ll do it my way.”

Raynaud said, “I’d feel terrible if something happened to you.”

“Bloody hell. Only because I wouldn’t pay you the rest of the—”

He broke off, snapped his fingers, and wrote a check quickly.

“One thousand pounds,” he said. “A further advance. Now will you go to the party?”

Raynaud took the check. “Yes.”

“And take Pet?”

“Pet?”

“Yes. I think she’s the logical one for you. You’ll adore her. Such a firm pair.”

He grinned and dialed her number.

“Pet? Hello, love, how are you? Yes, I know…Did it go all right? Good…Listen, you free tonight? No, not me. Charles. You remember him? Yes, that’s the one…Right…No, no, he’s not that way at all …Yes, he has one. A Sunbeam, I think. Yes, super. All right….”

He cupped his hand over the phone.

“Listen, Charles. She’s not free for dinner. Can you pick her up at nine?”

“Sure, I suppose so.”

“Good.” He returned to the phone. “It’s all set, love. Nine. Right? See you there.”

He hung up and began to laugh. “You’d better watch yourself, lad. She thought you were a fag.”

“Maybe I am.”

Pierce just laughed, and went into the other room to dress. It was only five in the afternoon; Raynaud said, “Changing already?”

“Yes. I have to go out early.”

“Why?”

“Dominique’s coming in at six-thirty.”

“Dominique? Listen, you’re not thinking of—”

“Of course, lad. She’s come all this way to see swinging London. It’s my duty to show her around. Besides, she needs the money.”

“What about Sandra?”

“What about her?” Pierce said, and laughed. “By the way, it won’t bother you if Dominique stays here, will it? She’ll be in my bedroom.”

“You’re going to keep her here?”

“Sure. Cheaper than a hotel, and more convenient”

“How will you explain that to—”

“I won’t. She won’t ask, and I won’t tell her. She need never know, eh, lad? I’ve got to be at the airport at seven. I’d better change.”

At nine, when he arrived at Pet’s flat in South Ken, she was not ready.

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