Part 59 (1/2)
”Suffered?” Frank stared at her and she realized her mistake. By that one remark-that one false comparison-she had made up his mind. ”He hasn't begun to.”
”We must tell the police everything. We must let them handle it from now on. It's the only-”
”Do as you d.a.m.n well please!” Violence bubbled beneath his voice, just as it simmered behind his eyes. ”I'll go anyway. It's time Delgado answered for his actions, then and now. I mean to make sure he does. And nothing you can say or do will stop me.”
CHAPTER.
TWELVE.
It took Derek fully ten minutes to pacify Sylvester Kilmainham.
In the end, only the surrender of his address and telephone number made an unhara.s.sed withdrawal possible. When he reached the street, he was dismayed to find Charlotte waiting beside his car while Frank sat stony-faced in the Land Rover two parking s.p.a.ces behind.
”What's going on?” he asked.
”Frank's agreed to stay at Ockham House tonight,” Charlotte replied. ”I suggest we start back for Tunbridge Wells right away.
Frank will follow.”
”Aren't we going to the police?”
”I'll explain on the way.”
For what Derek promised himself would be the last time, he sti - fled his objections and climbed into the car. He headed towards the Finchley Road and made sure Frank was keeping up before risking another question. ”Is there some problem?”
”Yes.”
”What is it?”
”Frank's the problem. I don't know what to do about him.”
H A N D I N G L O V E.
363.
Derek glanced across at her. ”You're going to have to explain, Charlotte. I don't understand.”
”Yes. Of course. I'm sorry. Frank intends to see Delgado. To go out there and confront him. Ostensibly to demand Sam's release. But I'm not sure that's the real reason.”
”Why, then?”
”To avenge Vicente Ortiz. Didn't you see how he looked when he read the entry on his card?”
”Yes, I did, but surely he wouldn't . . . I mean, it would be madness.”
”Revenge is a form of madness. Beatrix feared Frank might be susceptible to it. And I'm very much afraid she was right.”
”Good G.o.d.” Derek looked in the rear-view mirror and saw the Land Rover trailing behind them, with Frank hunched expressionlessly over the wheel. ”Hasn't he considered your niece's safety?”
”He says a direct approach to Delgado is the best way of saving her. It may be true, though I know you disagree. But, even if it is . . .”
”Yes?”
”I'm worried about what will happen when they meet. Delgado has Vicente Ortiz's blood on his hands-and the blood of G.o.d knows how many other men Frank fought alongside fifty years ago. Will Frank negotiate calmly for Sam's release? I don't think so. He's never even met her. But he has met some of Delgado's victims. They were his friends. And he'll remember them when he looks their executioner in the face.”
”Then he mustn't be allowed to. He mustn't go at all.”
”How can we stop him?”
Derek drew up behind a queue of cars waiting to turn on to the Finchley Road and once more studied Frank Griffith's sphinx-like demeanour in the mirror. ”Go to the police. Warn them he may impede their investigations.”
”I can't. He intends to set off tomorrow. If I contact the police, he'll simply bring his departure forward. I'm not even sure they'd take such a warning seriously.”
”We'd have to persuade them to. We can't let Frank and the police go after Delgado. They'd be bound to get in each other's way. The result could be-”
”Fatal to Sam. Exactly.”
”What are you suggesting, then?”
364.
R O B E R T G O D D A R D.
”That I go with him.”
”You can't mean it.”
”I am. There has to be somebody with him, Derek, somebody to keep him on the rails. I actually think his approach might work. But only if all the bad blood can be stopped from spilling over.”
Derek looked at her. ”I won't let you go, Charlotte.” He was surprised by the vehemence with which he had spoken, the certainty he could command on this point if on no other.
”Neither will Frank.” She stared ahead. ”He pointed out something I'd overlooked. Whatever happens, we may need to contact the kidnappers using the procedure they stipulated. If we do, I have to be in a position to take their call.”
”I'm glad he sees reason about something.” Derek edged forward to the junction and waited for a gap in the traffic.
”Unless you agree to take the call,” Charlotte said hesitantly. ”If it became necessary, I mean.” She looked round at him, uncertain, it seemed, whether to make her appeal overt.
”Me?”
”Who else can I ask?”
”But . . . They'd be expecting to talk to you. How would they react to a stranger?”
”I don't know. It's a risk, I agree, but it's one we'd have to take if I'm to accompany Frank.”