Catherine was seeing Kirk Reynolds regularly, and she found herself drawn to him more and more. He was not handsome, but he was certainly attractive. / learned my lesson about handsome with Larry, Catherine thought wryly. The old expression is true: Handsome is as handsome does. Kirk Reynolds was thoughtful and reliable. He's someone I can count on, Catherine thought. / don't feel any great burning spark, but I probably never will again. Larry took care of that. I'm mature enough now to settle for a mah I respect, who respects me as a companion, someone with whom I can share a nice, sane life without being worried about being thrown off mountain tops, or being buried in dark caves They went to the theatre to see The Lady's Not For Burning by Christopher Fry, and, on another evening, September Tide, with Gertrude Lawrence. They went to nightclubs. The orchestras all seemed to be playing The Third Man theme and 'La Vie En Rose'.
'I'm going to St Moritz next week,' Kirk Reynolds told Catherine 'Have you thought about it?' Catherine had given it a great deal of thought. She was sure that Kirk Reynolds was in love with her. And I love him, Catherine thought. But loving and being in love are two different -+ things, aren't they? Or am I just being a dumb romantic? What *' am I looking for another Larry? someone who'll sweep me off my feet, fall in love with another woman, and try to kill me Kirk Reynolds would make a wonderful husband. Why am I hesitating?
That night Catherine and Kirk dined at the Mirabelle, and when they were having dessert, Kirk said, 'Catherine, in case you don't know, I'm in love with you. I want to marry you.' She felt a sudden panic. 'Kirk . . .' And she was not sure what she was going to say. My next words, Catherine thought, are going to change my life. It would be so simple to say yes. What's holding me back? Is it the fear of the past? Am I going to live my whole life being afraid? I can't let that happen 'Cathy . . .' 'Kirk Why don't we go to St Moritz together?' Kirk's face lit up. 'Does that mean . . . ?' 'We'll see. Once you see me ski you probably won't want to marry me.' Kirk laughed. 'Nothing in the world could keep me from wanting to marry you. You've made me one very happy fellow We'll go up on November fifth Guy Fawkes Day.' 'What is Guy Fawkes Day?' 'It's a fascinating story. King James had a strict anti-Catholic policy, so a group of prominent Roman Catholics plotted to overthrow the government. A soldier named Guy Fawkes was brought over from Spain to lead the plot. He arranged for a ton of gunpowder, in thirty-six barrels, to be hidden in the basement of the House of Lords. But on the morning that they were to blow up the House of Lords, one of the conspirators told on them and they were all caught. Guy Fawkes was tortured, but he wouldn't talk. All the men were executed. Now, every year in England, the day of the discovery of the plot is celebrated by bonfires and fireworks, and small boys make effigies of "Guys".' Catherine shook her head. 'That's a pretty grim holiday.' He smiled at her, and said quietly, 'I promise you that ours won't be grim.'
The night before they were to leave, Catherine washed her hair, packed and unpacked twice and felt sick with excitement She had only known two men carnally in her life, William Fraser and her husband. Do they still use words like 'carnally'? Catherine wondered. My God, I hope I remember how. They say it's like riding a bicycle; once you do it, you never forget. Maybe he's going to be disappointed in me in bed. Maybe I'm going to be disappointed in me in bed. Maybe I should just stop worrying about it and go to sleep.
'Mr Demiris?' 'Yes.' 'Catherine Alexander left this morning for St Moritz.' There was a silence. 'St Moritz?' 'Yes, sir.' 'Did she go alone?' 'No, sir. She went with Kirk Reynolds.' This time the silence was longer. 'Thank you, Evelyn.' Kirk Reynolds! It was impossible. What could she see in him / waited too long: I should have moved more quickly. I'll have to do something about this. I can't let her His secretary buzzed 'Mr Demiris, there's a Mr Anthony Rizzoli here to see you. He-does not have an appointment and . . .' 'Then why are you bothering me?' Demiris asked. He snapped down the intercom It buzzed again. 'I'm sorry to disturb you. Mr Rizzoli says he has a message for you from Mr Lambrou. He says it's very important.' A message? Strange. Why wouldn't his brother-in-law deliver his own message? 'Send him in.' 'Yes, sir.' Tony Rizzoli was ushered into Constantin Demiris' office. He looked around the office appreciatively. It was even more lavish than the offices of Spyros Lambrou. 'Nice of you to see me, Mr Demiris.' 'You have two minutes.' 'Spyros sent me. He thought you and I should have a talk.' 'Really? And what do we have to talk about?' 'Do you mind if I sit down?' 'I don't think you'll be staying that long.' Tony Rizzoli settled himself in a chair facing Demiris. 'I have a manufacturing plant, Mr Demiris. I ship things to various parts of the world.' 'I see. And you want to charter one of my ships.' 'Exactly.' 'Why did Spyros send you to me? Why don't you charter one of his ships? He happens to have two of them idle at the moment.' Tony Rizzoli shrugged. 'I guess he doesn't like what I ship.' 'I don't understand. What is it you ship?' 'Drugs,' Tony Rizzoli said delicately. 'Heroin.' Constantin Demiris was staring at him in disbelief. 'And you expect me to . . . ? Get out of here, before I call the police.' Rizzoli nodded toward the phone. 'Go right ahead.'
He watched Demiris reach for the phone. Td like to speak to them, too. I'd like to tell them all about that trial of Noelle Page and Larry Douglas.' Constantin Demiris froze. 'What are you talking about?' 'I'm talking about two people executed for the murder of a woman who's still alive.' Constantin Demiris' face had gone white 'Do you think maybe the police would be interested in that story, Mr Demiris? If they aren't, maybe the press would be, huh? I can see the headlines now, can't you? Can I call you Costa? Spyros told me all your friends call you Costa, and I think you and I are going to be good friends. Do you know why? Because good friends don't rat on each other. We'll keep that little stunt you pulled our secret, shall we?' Constantin Demiris was sitting rigid in his chair. When he spoke his voice was hoarse. 'What is it you want?' 'I told you. I want to charter one of your ships and, you and I being such good friends, I don't think you would want to charge me for the charter, would you? Let's say it's a favor traded for a favor.' Demiris took a deep breath. 'I can't let you do this. If it ever got out that I allowed drugs to be smuggled on one of my ships, I could lose my whole fleet.' 'But it's not going to get out, is it? In my business, I don't advertise. We're going to do this very quietly.' Constantin Demiris' expression hardened. 'You're making a big mistake. You can't blackmail me. Do you know who I am?' 'Yeah. You're my new partner. You and I are going to be doing business together for a long time, Costa baby, because, if you say no, I go right to the police and the newspapers and spill the whole story. And there goes your reputation and your fucking empire, right down the drain.' There was a long, painful silence 'How how did my brother-in-law find out?' Rizzoli grinned. 'That's not important. What's important is that I've got you by the balls. If I squeeze, you're a eunuch You'll be singing soprano for the rest of your life, and you'll be singing it in a prison cell.' Tony Rizzoli looked at his watch. 'My goodness, my two minutes are up.' He rose to his feet. Tm giving you sixty seconds to decide whether I walk out of here as your partner or I just walk out.' Constantin Demiris suddenly looked ten years older. His face was drained of "color. He had no illusions about what would happen if the true story of the trial came out. The press would eat him alive. He would be portrayed as a monster, a murderer They might even open an investigation into the deaths of Stavros and Chotas 'Your sixty seconds are up.' Constantin Demiris nodded slowly. 'All right,' he whispered, |< 'all right.' Tony Rizzoli beamed down at him. 'You're smart.' Constantin Demiris slowly rose to his feet. till let you get away with it this once,' he said. 'I don't want to know how you do it, or when. I'll put one of your men aboard one of my ships That's as far as I'll go.' 'It's a deal,' Tony Rizzoli said. He thought, Maybe you're not so smart. You smuggle one load of heroin and you're hooked, Costa baby. There's no way I will ever let you go. Aloud, he repeated, 'Sure, it's a deal.'
On the way back to the hotel, Tony Rizzoli was exultant. Jackpot The narcs would never dream of touching Constantin Demiris' fleet. Christ, from now on I can load up every ship of his that sails out of here. The money will roll in. Horse and antiques orry, Victor., he laughed aloud antiquities Rizzoli went to a public telephone booth on Stadiou Avenue and made two calls. The first was to Pete Lucca in Palermo 'You can get your two gorillas out of here, Pete, and put them back in the zoo where they belong. The stuffs ready to move It's going by ship.' 'Are you sure the package is safe?' Rizzoli laughed. 'It's safer than the Bank of England. I'll tell you about it when I see you. And I have more good news From now on we're going to be able to make a shipment every week.' "That's wonderful, Tony. I always knew I could count on you.' The hell you did, you bastard.
The second call was to Spyros Lambrou. 'It went fine. Your brother-in-law and I are going into business together.' 'Congratulations. I'm delighted to hear it, Mr Rizzoli.' When Spyros Lambrou replaced the receiver, he smiled. The narcotics squad will be, too.
Constantin Demiris stayed in his office past midnight, sitting at his desk, contemplating his new problem. He had avenged himself against Noelle Page, and now she was returning from the grave to haunt him. He reached inside a desk drawer and took out a framed photograph of Noelle. Hello, bitch. God, she was beautiful! So you think you're going to destroy me. Well, we'll see. We'll see.
Chapter
15 -1/2---+ I
St Moritz was an enchantment. There were miles of downhill ski runs, hiking trails, bobsled and sleigh rides, polo tournaments and a dozen other activities. Curled around a sparkling lake in the Engadine Valley 6000 feet high on the southern slope of the Alps, between Celerina and Piz Nair, the little village made Catherine gasp with delight Catherine and Kirk Reynolds checked into the fabled Palace Hotel. The lobby was filled with tourists from a dozen countries Kirk Reynolds said to the reception clerk, 'A reservation for Mr and Mrs Reynolds,' and Catherine looked away. / should have put on a wedding ring. She was sure everyone in the lobby was staring at her, knowing what she was doing 'Yes, Mr Reynolds. Suite two fifteen.' The clerk handed a bellboy the key, and the bellboy said, 'Right this way, please.' They were escorted to a lovely suite, simply furnished, with a spectacular view of the mountains from each window When the bellboy left, Kirk Reynolds took Catherine in his arms. 'I can't tell you how happy you've made me, darling.' 'I hope I will,' Catherine replied. 'I... It's been a long time, Kirk.' 'Don't worry. I won't rush you.' He's so dear, Catherine thought, but how would he feel about me if I told him about my past? She had never mentioned Larry to him, or the murder trial, or any of the terrible things that had happened to her. She wanted to feel close to him, to confide in him, but something held her back Td better unpack,' Catherine said She unpacked slowly too slowly and she suddenly realized that she was stalling, afraid to finish what she was doing because she was afraid of what was going to happen next From the other room she heard Kirk calling, 'Catherine .
.' Oh, my God, he's going to say let's get undressed and go to bed. Catherine swallowed and said in a small voice, 'Yes?' 'Why don't we go outside and look around?' Catherine went limp with relief. 'That's a wonderful idea,' she said enthusiastically. What's the matter with me? I'm in one of the most romantic places on earth, with an attractive man who loves me, and I'm panicky Reynolds was looking at her strangely. 'Are you all right?' 'Fine,' Catherine said brightly. 'Just fine.' 'You look worried.' 'No. I... I was thinking about about skiing. It's supposed to be dangerous.' Reynolds smiled. 'Don't worry. We'll start you on a gentle slope, tomorrow. Let's go.' They put on sweaters and lined jackets and walked outside into the crisp, clear air Catherine breathed deeply. 'Oh, it's wonderful, Kirk. I love it here.' 'You ain't seen nothin' yet,' he grinned. 'It's twice as beautiful in the summer.' Will he still want to see me in the summer? Catherine wondered. Or am I going to be a big disappointment to him? Why don't I stop worrying so much?
The village of St Moritz was charming, a medieval marvel, filled with quaint shops and restaurants and chalets set among the majestic Alps They wandered around the shops, and Catherine bought presents for Evelyn and Wim. They stopped at a little cafe and had a fondue In the afternoon, Kirk Reynolds hired a sleigh driven by a bay, and they rode along the snow-covered path up into the hills, the snow crunching beneath the metal runners 'Enjoying?' Reynolds asked 'Oh, yes.' Catherine looked at him and thought, I'm going to make you so happy. Tonight. Yes, tonight. I'm going to make you happy tonight.
That evening, they dined in the hotel at the Stiibli, a restaurant with the atmosphere of an old country inn 'This room dates back to fourteen eighty,' Kirk said 'Then we'd better not order the bread.' 'What?' 'Small joke. Sorry.' Larry used to understand my jokes; why am I thinking about him? Because I don't want to think about tonight. I feel like Marie Antoinette going to her execution. I won't have cake for dessert The meal was superb, but Catherine was too nervous to enjoy m, it. When they had finished, Reynolds said, 'Shall we go upstairs I've arranged an early ski lesson for you in the morning.' -o'Sure. Fine. Sure.' 'P,( They started upstairs, and Catherine found that her heart was j}| pounding. He's going to say, 'Let's go right to bed.' And why *|t, shouldn't he? That's what I came here for, isn't it? I can't pretend '-+!* / came for the skiing J,ft& They reached their suite, and Reynolds opened the door and || turned on the lights . They walked into the bedroom and Catherine stared at the large bed. It seemed to take up the whole room Kirk was watching her. 'Catherine ... are you worried about anything?' 'What?' A hollow little laugh. 'Of course not. I. . . 1 just . . .' 'Just what?' She gave him a bright smile. 'Nothing. I'm fine.' 'Good. Let's get undressed and go to bed.' Exactly what I knew he was going to say. But did he have to say it? We could have just gone ahead and done it. Putting it in words is so ... so ... crass. 'What did you say?' Catherine had not realized that she had spoken aloud 'Nothing.' Catherine had reached the bed. It was the largest she had ever seen. It was a bed that had been built for lovers, and lovers only It was not a bed to sleep in. It was a bed to ..