Gregory Roberts - The Mountain Shadow

‘The Bombay post?’ Gemini scoffed. ‘Good luck.’

‘They’re probably planning the kidnapping right now,’ Scorpio whined.

‘Christ, Scorpio!’ Gemini protested, dancing a little with delight. ‘Five minutes ago you were freakin’ out about bein’ mind-controlled by the friggin’ CIA. Now, you’re blubberin’ on about bein’ kidnapped. Can’t you just sit back for once and smell the good karma?’

‘I rather think that Mr Bradley has a point, however,’ Wilson remarked.

‘Mr Bradley?’ Gemini scoffed. ‘Mr Fuckin’ Bradley ! That’s worth a million, right there, just to hear that! Scorpio, give Wilson a million dollars.’

‘One thing is certain, Mr Bradley,’ Wilson continued. ‘You cannot stay in this hotel. Not when such a significant change in your financial circumstances has shifted you into a, shall we say, more significant income bracket?’

‘He means a more vulnerable income bracket,’ Scorpio mumbled. ‘He’s already talking kidnapping, Gemini. D’you hear that?’

‘Calm down, Scorpio,’ I said.

‘He’s right, actually,’ Divya chipped in.

‘You see?’ Scorpio hissed.

‘My dad, he’s an expert in kidnapping security,’ Divya said. ‘I’ve been trained in it since I was five years old. All rich people are. Now that you’re rich, you’ll have to learn counter-kidnapping techniques, and have all your friends carefully vetted by the police. You’ll need to stay in a safe place, too, and have an armoured limousine. No doubt about it. Bodyguards and money go together like handbags and shoes.’

‘Oh, no,’ Scorpio moaned.

‘And you’re right about the fingers and ears,’ Divya added. ‘But kidnappers use couriers, not the post.’

‘Oh, no.’

‘One case I know, they cut all the fingers but one, before the family paid the ransom.’

‘Oh… ’

‘Divya, please,’ Naveen sighed.

‘In another case, they cut off both ears. Tragic. Had to give away his collection of designer sunglasses.’

‘Oh… ’

‘Divya.’

‘And hats never looked quite the same,’ Divya mused, ‘but at least they got him back. And he’s still rich.’

‘ Divya, you’re not helping! ’ Naveen snapped.

‘ Excuse me?’ she retorted. ‘Far as I can see, there are only two millionaires involved in this conversation, Mr Bradley and Miss Me. Hello? So, I’m the only one qualified to talk about rich kidnapping victims, na ?’

‘Oh, no,’ Scorpio moaned.

‘Where’s the party ?’ Gemini laughed, still dancing.

‘I have taken the liberty of reserving suites at the Mahesh hotel, on my floor,’ Wilson announced. ‘I was hoping that sooner or later I would be successful in locating you, and that I would be able to extend a measure of hospitality. My firm has also arranged for a line of credit to be opened for you immediately, Mr Bradley, for you to use until the legal matters are all resolved and you can receive your full inheritance.’

‘That’s… that’s amazing,’ Scorpio stammered uncertainly. ‘A line of credit?’

‘How much credit?’ Gemini asked.

‘I lodged a hundred thousand dollars in your discretionary account. You have immediate access to it.’

‘I like this guy,’ Gemini said softly. ‘Give him another million dollars, Scorpio.’

‘We are hoping that you will retain our services, Mr Bradley,’ Wilson said. ‘Just as your departed great-uncle Josiah Bradley did for so many years. We’re fully prepared to offer you the best possible professional advice, on the management of your legacy. We are at your complete service.’

‘What are we waitin’ for?’ Gemini George cried. ‘Let’s go!’

‘What about our stuff?’ Scorpio George asked, glancing back at the Frantic hotel.

‘Trust me,’ Divya said, taking Scorpio’s arm, and leading him toward the waiting taxis. ‘You’ll send a servant to do that. From now on, your servants will do everything that isn’t fun.’

‘Whiskey!’ Gemini said, falling into step behind them, and leaning over Divya’s shoulder.

‘And a long shower,’ Divya said.

‘And champagne!’

‘And a second shower.’

‘And cocaine! Hey, I know! Let’s mix the cocaine in the champagne!’

‘I’m beginning to like you,’ Divya said.

‘And I already like you,’ Gemini said. ‘Let’s get that party started!’

‘You’ll join us, of course, Mr Wilson?’ Divya asked, taking his arm as well.

‘If you’ll pardon the indiscretion, Miss…?’

‘Devnani. Divya Devnani. Call me Diva. Everyone does.’

‘If you’ll pardon the indiscretion, Miss Devnani,’ Wilson said, smiling and making no move to disengage his arm from hers, ‘didn’t you advise your friends, not half an hour ago, to kick the shit out of me ?’

‘Silly boy,’ she chided. ‘That was before I knew you were administering thirty-five million dollar estates. And it’s Diva , remember?’

‘Very well, Miss Diva. I’d be delighted to share a glass in celebration.’

After the short ride back to the Mahesh hotel, Wilson collected the room keys and arranged to have the desk manager visit Scorpio George’s suite in an hour, to sign in the new guests.

As he was about to leave the reception area, I put a hand on his arm.

‘Are you planning to make a complaint?’ I asked him quietly.

‘A complaint?’

‘About Manav.’

‘Manav?’

‘Your security guard.’

‘Oh, him,’ he smiled. ‘He was rather derelict in his duty. But… I think that was because he knew I was in safe hands, with you and young Mr Naveen, even if he did expose me to the risk of Miss Diva.’

‘Is that a no ?’

‘It is indeed a no , sir. I will not make a complaint against him.’

‘Thanks,’ I said, shaking hands with him.

I liked Evan Wilson. He was calm, discreet and resolute. He’d shown courage when we’d confronted him. He had a sense of humour, was professional but pragmatic, and seemed to be a good judge of flawed characters, in life’s tight corners.

‘Don’t mention it,’ he said. ‘Shall we join the others?’

‘No, I’ve got somewhere I already had to be,’ I replied, looking at the laughing group, Naveen, Divya, and the Zodiac Georges, waiting by the doors to the elevators.

I looked back to the silver-haired Canadian lawyer.

‘Good luck, Mr Wilson.’

I watched him walk away, and then made my way back to the ground-floor restaurant. Ranjit’s table was empty, and had been cleared and prepared for a new setting.

I signalled the manager.

‘When did they leave?’

‘Some time ago, Mr Lin. Miss Lisa left a note for you.’

He fished the note from his vest pocket and handed it to me. It was written in the red ink she preferred.

Gone to a party with Ranjit , the note said. Don’t wait up.

I gave the manager a tip, and took a few steps, before a thought made me turn and call back.

‘Did they have dessert?’ I asked.

‘Ah… no, sir. No. They left immediately after the first course.’

I pushed through the main doors of the hotel. Outside in the warm night air I saw Manav, the hotel bodyguard, standing on duty with another security officer. He noticed me, and searched my eyes expectantly.

He was a good kid, with a nice combination: big, strong and kind. He was worried that Mr Wilson would make a complaint for abandoning a guest of the hotel. It would cost him his job, and end any hope of a better career in the hospitality industry. I signalled him to come over.

‘ Kya hal hain, Manav? ’ I asked, shaking hands. How are you doing?