The Perfect Kill by A. J. Quinnell

Author:A. J. Quinnell
Language: eng
Format: mobi
ISBN: 9780752806358
Publisher: Orion
Published: 1992-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 29

The row erupted the morning after Michael returned from hospital. It was short but very bitter. Leonie had served the two men breakfast. When they finished, Creasy looked at Michael and said, "Go and put your swimsuit on and get in the pool."

Leonie was washing the dishes. She turned in astonishment. "What!"

Creasy was still looking at Michael. He said evenly, "Don't dive in, go down the steps. Just do four lengths slowly, but then stay in the water for half an hour. Sit on the steps with the water up to your neck."

Leonie was walking to the table, her hands dripping wet.

"Are you mad?"

"Go ahead," Creasy said to Michael. "I'll join you in a minute."

The young man stood up and left the kitchen.

Leonie stood in front of Creasy, her wet hands on her hips and her eyes radiating a mixture of disbelief and anger.

"Are you mad?" she repeated.

Creasy sighed and looked up at her face.

"Are you a doctor?" he asked.

"No."

"A trained nurse?"

"No."

"Ever had any experience of gunshot wounds?"

"No, I have not," she snapped. "But I spoke to Dr Grech on the phone yesterday, after you left the hospital. He said that Michael was to have complete rest and not to exert himself."

Creasy shrugged. "He's a very good doctor, but he's had almost no experience of gunshot wounds."

"Oh," she said scornfully. "So you know better than a doctor?"

"In this case, maybe I do," he answered calmly.

Her voice was emphatic. "Well I'm not going to let it happen." She turned and walked to the kitchen door.

Later she was to remember how fast he had been. She had not taken two strides before his hand gripped her arm above the elbow tight enough to hurt.

"You will not interfere." He turned her to face him, his voice still quiet. "If you interfere, you will leave this house and the island immediately and not come back. You know what that means? You will carry no letter with you from the Notary...you know the terms of our contract?"

For a long time she looked up into his face, her eyes full of hatred. Then she spat the words out.

"You're a bloody bastard, an inhuman bastard. Why are you doing this to him?"

Without any sign of emotion, he answered, "It's for his own good. In everyway." He gestured with his free hand. "That pool is filled with sea-water and sea-water is good for wounds, makes them heal faster. The exercise is very gentle. I'll make sure he swims very slowly. Each day, he'll do just a little more and within a month he'll be fully fit. Believe me, I know these things."

"Why the hurry?" she snapped. "Why not let him take his time?"

He sighed. "Because a gunshot wound is not like any other wound. It's mental as well as physical. If he lies around doing nothing, it will prey on his mind."

"Why are you doing all this anyway?" she asked bitterly. "Why are you training him with guns and things? He's only a boy after all."

His voice rose in anger.

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