A Darker God (40 page)

“Have you spoken of this to anyone?”

“I’m alarming you, aren’t I? I’m sorry! A blurted confession to a passing acquaintance in a prison cell—it’s not exactly the right way of going about things these days, is it? I should be reclining on a tapestried chaise longue whispering my thoughts to a cigar-smoking, bewhiskered old gent who’ll say, ‘There, there … You’re suffering from a touch of hysteria, my dear.’” Thetis gave a snort of derision. “Who would understand? No one would be prepared even to listen, Letty.
You
clearly don’t want to hear this but at least you’re not hurrying away in disgust.”

“I hope you’ll think of me as a friend, Thetis, and allow me to say: Wouldn’t it be a good idea to distance yourself from daily reminders of what you long for?”

“No!” The exclamation was shocking in its intensity. “I won’t give up my hospital work … It’s what I’m good at. I do believe I’m achieving something. I’m not just meddling—do-gooding—standing by with the jug of hot water, you know, Letty! I observe, I reason, I record. I’m going to write a book to challenge the whole ethos of the so-called experts. You can’t understand! The ignorance! The unconcern! The waste of life!”

Uneasy and not perfectly comprehending such violent emotions, Letty asked calmly: “So, you chose Andrew to complete your schemes?”

“It didn’t feel like scheming, if that’s what you’re suggesting. But, yes—Andrew, I’m sure I don’t need to spell it out for you, would have been the most enchanting of fathers. And, I had thought, a wonderful husband.” Thetis looked away, hiding any glimpse of a sudden self-awareness from Letty, but Letty’s sharp ears picked up the slight overemphasis in her tone as she struggled on: “I was very fond of him. Truly. But how can I begin to tell that Puritan out there that my sinning was not the result of overwhelming temptation—it was committed with malice aforethought? And then the fruits of it lied about? He’ll assume I fabricated the whole thing to avoid a murder charge. He’d be counting the Commandments I’ve broken on the fingers of two hands! I’d be consumed in an outpouring of fire and brimstone.”

“His reaction was certainly beyond reasonable,” agreed Letty thoughtfully. “Didn’t you think? The man’s a volcano. And they go off, not because of any outside trigger, but because of an internal pressure. I think that little outburst tells us more about
him
than you, Thetis.”

“Well, I was jolly glad you were there to put a bag over him.” Thetis sniffed. “Do you think I have grounds for an official complaint?”

Letty studied her, wondering whether the girl could possibly be as unaware as she appeared. “You owe that man an
apology and an explanation,” she said coldly. “He’s a good man. I don’t like to watch you making a monkey of him. At the very least, you’ve been wasting his time. I’ll tell him myself if you don’t.”

Thetis sighed. “Oh, very well. I’ll do it. Tomorrow.” “And this time I refuse to stand by in your corner holding the towel. When he turns up in the morning I shall make an excuse to leave the two of you alone to slug it out together toe-to-toe. I’ll give you ten minutes. That should be long enough.”

Chapter 34

T
hetis had a charming way with her, Letty decided, hearing her embarking on the twentieth telephone call after breakfast. Low and full of controlled emotion, she responded warmly, she was grateful and understanding, she cut seamlessly from the pleasantries to the important part of her delivery: the rescheduling of the play and a repetition of the invitation to attend, warmly given.

Taking a breather, she replaced the receiver and consulted her list. “We’re doing well, Letty. Halfway through those with telephones and no one’s backed out. It’s a case of: Oh, by the way, could I possibly bring along my colleague … my sister … my dentist … a party of ten …?’ Ghouls! It’s going to be the social event of the year and for all the wrong reasons! They’ve all heard the stories! Just wait to hear the hissing intake of breath that greets the appearance of the body in the bathtub when it trundles onstage! How are you doing?”

Letty put her pen down. She’d brought a folding desk into the library to join Thetis, who’d assumed command of the telephone. “Oh, getting through it! I’m fighting on two fronts. There’s the funeral front and the first night. Funeral’s no problem. Small and discreet ceremony on Wednesday and the
undertaker does just what his name suggests. Good man. Flowers … church … all arranged. I’m engaging that Greek priest with the wonderful voice—Andrew would have loved that—I’ve sent William off to the Cathedral with a note.” She looked at her watch. “I’m guessing he’s stayed on for the service. All that incense and the thunderous baritone—it ensnares him every time!”

“What about the play?”

“Hardly much of a problem. I have Maud’s notes and address book.” Letty laughed. “The woman could have been a field marshal, you know. Her army would have been always in step and well victualled.”

“But marching in the wrong direction.”

“Well, I’m appreciating her attention to detail. We’re promised cushions by the hundred … Geoffrey may be reassured that his pig-sticking can go ahead; if he’s got the heart for it, he’ll have his carcase.”

“Knife?” Thetis asked. “Are they going to let him have that knife back?”

“Not much use without it, I’d have thought. I’d better check with Montacute … No refreshments, I decided, for the crowds. Just champagne and canapés for the Prime Ministerial party staying on afterwards for the libation ceremony. Maud knew how to delegate, which makes things a bit easier … She notes that Hugh Lattimore has this in hand. The ancient and holy ceremony comes under ‘Stage Effects,’ apparently! I suppose that’s right. He’s down here as ‘plaiting the ivy wreath for the god’s head’ and unblocking the drainage channel. Lucky old Hugh! I’ll go over it with him, just in case … his last effort with the body in the bath rather misfired. It would have made better sense historically, I suppose, to have arranged for the ceremony to happen
before
the play … you know, an offering up … Hope you like what you’re about to receive, Lord Dionysus … More authentic? What do you think?”

“Oh, don’t let’s even consider it!” Thetis spoke sharply. “Keep it simple! We can’t contemplate a single change at this stage. It would be disastrous!”

“Just a thought. A rambling, silly thought. I agree—we probably want to avoid having the possibility of P.M. of Greece parading about before a full audience, playing High Priest, lit by arc lamps, the target of all eyes, and Lord knows what else. He must stay discreetly within the protection of his thick marble seat, flanked by bodyguards, until the arena’s been cleared, and then stroll across the orchestra to pour the wine and trickle the honey. I think we’ll leave out the honey, don’t you?”

“Good idea. As I say—keep it simple. But the wine, Letty … have you
…?”

“It’s done. Almost. I’ve asked the merchant to offer us some dramatically bloodred stuff. His darkest. He thinks I’m a bit mad and insists on bringing round a few samples to make sure he’s got exactly what I want. I thought I’d order a whole case so the party can join in. Always such a disappointment, I’d have thought, to watch good wine being poured away into the earth, even if it is going to the god. Might at least enjoy a drop ourselves!”

Thetis paused and then, in an offhand voice: “Oh … Letty … thinking of personal security … the gun you so kindly took from my bag—do you think …?”

“Of course. Hang on, I’ve got it right here.”

Letty fetched her satchel and took out the gun and the toffee tin full of ammunition. She found she was surprisingly reluctant to hand it back to Thetis and watched her slip it into her pocket with regret.

“Do be careful, Thetis! It’s loaded. I fired off two bullets, but then I cleaned it and reloaded. Safety’s on but be aware that you’ve got a full complement in there. Didn’t you notice the added weight?”

“Glory be! You actually
fired
this thing? At
someone?”
Thetis said. “I’d better put it away in the drawer.”

“It was a kindly act you had no idea you were committing, Thetis, putting that gun in my hands! I owe my life and that of Sergeant Perkins to it…. Have you ever been to Eleusis?”

Before she could finish her story the telephone rang.

“But of course,” purred Thetis into the receiver. “Please put her on …” She turned and pulled an excited face at Letty. “Helena! How good it is to hear you …”

Letty grinned and went to answer a light tap on the door. Demetrios stood there looking anxious. “There’s a wine merchant down below wanting to see the mistress about a case of Mavro … Mavro …? He’s got the samples you asked for.”

“Ah! The Mavrodaphne,” said Letty. “That’s what I ordered. Go and tell him I’ll come straight down.”

“He’s at the tradesman’s entrance, miss,” said Demetrios, and hurried off ahead of her.

Thetis put down the telephone, smiling and pleased with herself. She was still smiling when Montacute thumped up the stairs and came into the library.

“Excellent news, Inspector!” she said. “I’m about to make your day! Where’s Letty got to? You must both hear this.”

She went to the door and shouted down the corridor for Letty. “Letty! Come on back! Great news!” Seeing Maria whisking by, she called to her. “Maria! Find Miss Letty, will you? She’s probably gone to her room.”

“No, miss, she’s downstairs with the wine man.”

“Oh, Lord, yes. Tell her to come straight back up to the library when she’s finished.”

“Whatever’s going on?” The inspector was mystified.

“Percy! I can’t keep it to myself a moment longer! Oh, where
is
Letty? I need to share a triumphal hug!” Thetis eagerly took the inspector’s hands in hers. “I shall have to make do with you!”

Montacute leapt backwards in alarm and remarked that he was quite prepared to wait to share the news, whatever it was, with Letty. Disappointed, Thetis restricted her chatter to an outline of their morning’s work. Finally, sensing they were running out of acceptable conversation, Montacute remarked that it was odd that Letty had not arrived. Where had Thetis said she’d gone? She’d not left the house, surely, against all instructions?

Thetis shuffled her feet anxiously. “Well, no, Percy. She wouldn’t do that. I know what she’s up to. She’s hiding somewhere about the place.”

“Hiding? What do you mean? Who’s she hiding from?”

“From you and from me. She read the riot act to me at the jail yesterday and told me I’d better get on with a confession I have to make to you … or else. We agreed that as soon as you appeared this morning she’d discreetly make herself scarce and leave us together for ten minutes.”

“Confession?” Montacute leapt on the word. “You’re confessing to something more? Something that’s going to take ten minutes to express?”

“Oh, Percy! Ten hours wouldn’t be long enough!”

Montacute looked at his watch. “I have observed Miss Letty to be a punctual young lady with a keen sense of timing. We may count on a further eight minutes. You’d best get started.”

Chapter 35

S
o … Tell me: how long have you lived in Athens, Mr., er …?”

“Gunay,” the man sitting beside her in the taxicab replied. “Soulios Gunay.”

The youth driving the cab flicked a glance behind him and grinned unpleasantly. Lacking a roll on the drums, he underlined the announcement with a sharp tug on the steering wheel. Letty bit back a yelp of pain as she was jerked sideways against the gun barrel sticking into her ribs. Large old service pistol. Six-inch barrel. Probably a Smith & Wesson. She’d heard him click the safety off. How firm was the trigger? One more maniacal swerve like that, a moment’s inattention, and she’d be a late entrant on her own funeral list. In a momentary hysteria, she clearly heard the priestly baritone sounding out the Hymn for the Dead. Surely they wouldn’t bury her alongside Andrew and Maud? Letty shuddered. Her mind was racing but her body was restricted in its movements, unable to take action—an uncomfortable struggle which resolved itself in a futile attempt to chatter. She had decided that she might be being kidnapped but that was no excuse for bad manners. “How do you do, Mr. Gunay? Laetitia Talbot. How nice to meet you at last. Why don’t you tell me how I may help you? If
you wanted to speak to me confidentially, you only had to ask. We could have gone to a café. There’s a—”