Tom Bradby - The Master Of Rain

“It’s been all-consuming since I got here.”

“You’ve been training?”

“Yes.”

“With guns?”

“Amongst other things,” Field said.

“How very brave. I’m sure your mother told us you were a fighter. Didn’t she, Geoffrey?”

“Richard is an accomplished boxer.”

“And she said you have a temper…”

“Penelope,” Geoffrey said sternly.

“No, I like a bit of spirit,” she said.

“Better watch our step,” Charlie Lewis added.

“Have you learned Chinese?” Penelope went on.

“I wouldn’t claim to be fluent.”

“Neither would I, but then I don’t speak a word. Geoffrey and Charlie do, of course.”

“Ignorance,” Charles Lewis said languidly, “is the preserve of the taitai.”

Field was frowning.

“Consort of a taipan,” Geoffrey explained, “but in more general usage, expatriate lady.”

“So you’ve not sampled the exotic delights of the city?” Penelope asked again, raising her eyebrow but still not lifting the strap of her dress.

“Penelope.” Geoffrey was smiling benignly as he eased back in his chair, stretching out his false leg. “Do give the chap a break.”

“No, it’s a serious issue,” Lewis said. “A man, whatever his station, must live here.”

“Or a woman,” Penelope said. She took a sip of her cocktail, which was yellow in color, with a cut strawberry resting on top. “I think he should have a Russian.” She leaned forward again. “They’re so beautiful and sexy, don’t you think, Richard?”

Penelope smiled and touched his leg, the front of her dress dropping still further. “I’m sorry, we’re teasing you.” She sat back, taking a cigarette from the silver case on the table in front of her. “Everyone expects Shanghai to be decadent, so we like to give the impression of debauchery, but you’re too nice to be teased, and you’re family.”

Field had drunk both the first and now this gin and tonic quickly, and was beginning to feel the effects.

“Another one, Richard?” Geoffrey asked.

Field shook his head.

Geoffrey leaned forward and stubbed out his cigarette in the silver ashtray. “I think we should go through to dinner.”

To Field’s dismay, Penelope Donaldson put her arm through his and led him along the veranda to the French doors, leaning against him a little, so the smell of Parisian perfume caught in his nostrils.

“How is your mother, Richard?” she asked.

“She’s fine.”

“I keep telling Geoffrey he should send money.”

“She won’t accept it.”

“I’m sorry about your father.”

Field had been trying not to look at her, but he turned and found himself flushing. Her brown eyes were soft, her gaze solemn now; only the corner of her mouth betrayed her amusement. He shrugged, not certain what he should say.

They had reached the dining room, which was again huge, the walls covered in floor-to-ceiling mirrors, in between which hung dark paintings of English country landscapes.

There were only a few groups eating, and another Indian waiter led them to a table by the window. It looked out onto the veranda where they’d just been sitting and the lawns beyond.

As his chair was pulled back, Field glanced up at the giant chandelier and wondered if he should offer to pay for his own dinner. He suspected that it would be bad form, but did not want to be seen as another poor cousin intent on sponging off the wealthy branch of the family.

Geoffrey ordered a bottle of champagne and lit another cigarette, offering the case around the table, so that, as the waiters filled their glasses, they were all smoking.

Field had never had champagne and had often wondered whether he would like it. He took to it so quickly that it was hard not to gulp it down.

“So who do you think is your man?” Geoffrey said when the waiter had placed the bottle in the silver wine bucket next to him.

“For the murder?” Field said, beginning to feel quite drunk.

“Yes.”

“We’ve hardly begun-”

“Initial theories. A Jack the Ripper?” He turned to Lewis. “An Eastern Jack the Ripper?”

“The woman’s flat belongs to Lu Huang.”

Both the men opposite him frowned. “He’s your suspect?” Geoffrey asked.

“Difficult to say at this stage. It’s just that it was his apartment, and my colleagues think it was his men who bundled the doorman down to the Chinese city and presided over his execution.”

“Doesn’t seem Lu’s style, stabbing a woman,” Geoffrey said.

“I get the impression he’s more or less above the law.”

Geoffrey Donaldson shook his head vigorously. “No, no. We’d love to get him for something if we could, but… you know.” He sighed, leaning back in his chair. “He has the French in his pocket and he’s careful what he does and doesn’t do in our jurisdiction, but…”

“Isn’t the abduction of the doorman a crime in our jurisdiction?” Field had begun to sound truculent, so he took another large sip of champagne. “As well as the murder of the girl, of course.”

“Yes, absolutely,” Geoffrey said, nodding. “If you boys could get him on this, it would be marvelous, send a signal… you know. Don’t you think, Charlie?”

“Absolutely,” Lewis said without enthusiasm.

“The municipal authorities keep open contacts with Lu,” Geoffrey said, “for reasons I’m sure you appreciate, but that doesn’t mean he’s above the law.” He took another drag of his cigarette. “Anything you can do to teach everyone in this city a lesson on that score would earn you a lot of plaudits.”

“That’s enough politics, boys,” Penelope said. “It’s only a Russian girl, after all… Let’s order, and then I want to know everything about Dickie’s life here.”

She looked down at her menu and then stood to excuse herself. As she passed her husband, she draped her arm over his shoulder affectionately and he placed a hand over her own. They both smiled.

By the time they’d finished dessert, Field was drunk and had said considerably more than he’d intended to. He’d talked about the rivalry between Macleod and Granger and told them about Prokopieff and his habit of leaping out of bed in the middle of the night and beating on the walls all the way down the corridor outside, shouting something incomprehensible in Russian.

They had smiled while he told this story, but Field thought he’d talked too much. Lewis’s eyes had begun to glaze over.

“I propose,” Lewis said, “that I take our boy here on a tour of the city’s ‘exotica.’ ” He stood, then they all did.

“Excellent idea. I’ll take Mrs. Donaldson home,” Geoffrey said.

“Now hang on a minute…” Penelope interjected.

Geoffrey cleared his throat noisily.

“Well,” Penelope said petulantly, “a girl knows when she’s not wanted.” She leaned over and kissed Field on the cheek, her skin warm and her hair soft. As she did so, she touched his hip with her hand, leaving it there as she pulled her head back, before slipping it into the pocket of his jacket. “I hope you’ll be virtuous tonight.”

“Actually, I really ought to be getting home.”

“Nonsense,” Lewis said, adjusting his jacket and glancing at himself in the mirror.

Field’s face was reddening. “I’m not actually sure I can afford…”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Geoffrey said, looking at him with astonishment. “You’re a policeman. Fraser’s will pay.”

Penelope’s hand was still in his pocket and she scratched his side, then leaned forward to give him another kiss.

She picked up her shawl from the back of the chair and walked toward the door. Geoffrey edged around the table, smiling at him. “Good to see you, old chap.” He shook Field’s hand. “Let’s stay in touch.”