The Devil To Pay (Hennessey.) (47 page)

She laughed, ‘I hope I’m a good listener. But yes, I
am
fascinated by your country I have to admit, it probably stems from reading so many crime novels set here. There are so many things I love about this country, but some things I hate too.’

‘Oh? Such as?’

‘Well, your prison system for one thing and the way prisoners are treated. I know that some, if not most, deserve to be there and probably deserve no better treatment. But some of the things I see and read about make my blood run cold. I’ve seen programme’s on the T.V where six or more guards go into a cell to retrieve inmates that won’t obey the rules, and the poor man or woman ends up injured, sometimes pretty badly. Talk about overkill. And keeping prisoners locked up for days in a small room with the light constantly on with no distractions of any kind, it’s cruel, then they wonder why inmates rebel. And all that handcuffing and leg irons and stuff it’s like something from the 19
th
century when prisoners were transported to penal colonies, or sold into slavery, it’s barbaric, it’s…’

She stopped speaking at the look of amusement on Hennessey’s face. She let out a breath which came out ragged after her small outburst; she said, ‘sorry, I get carried away sometimes.’

His smile widened, ‘no, really, it’s all right. But it sounds to me as though you’re an advocate for prison reform.’

‘Oh no, well, yes. I think if I lived in this country I might be. I always recall what Winston Churchill said, “A country is judged on how it treats its prisoners.”’

‘And we would be judged harshly no doubt?’

‘Well in all fairness I think most countries would. The U.K is probably guilty of many infractions of human rights to their prisoners, but not half way near as guilty as this country is. I mean in U.S prisons it’s nothing to hear about how other prisoners treat one another, things like…’ Again she broke off embarrassed.

‘Like rape do you mean?’ He asked.

She avoided eye contact with him and her face reddened as she nodded. ‘If those people were out on the streets and did that kind of thing they would go to jail for it, but because they
are
in jail it’s accepted as part of prison life, par for the course, it makes no sense.’

‘Maybe most people believe that if someone is in prison he’s getting what he…or she… deserves.’

‘I know that some people are evil, child abusers or murderers for instance, and they
do
belong behind bars. But what about those that never harmed anyone, or those in for white collar crimes, non violent offenders, bad things happen to them too.’

He had prevented himself from flinching when she had referred to murderers as being evil. He smiled, ‘you’ll have to write a long letter to the President, get him to review how prisons are run. Perhaps he could put
you
in charge, the inmates would all be on their best behaviour with you around.’

She gave him a pained expression, ‘you enjoy making fun of me, Mr. Hennessey.’

‘I’m sorry if you think I was making fun of you, but I do actually mean it.’

Although still sceptical she smiled, ‘it would be rude of me to call you a liar since you’ve brought me to this lovely posh restaurant.’

‘I hope you’d believe what I told you even if we were eating Chinese takeaway on trays in front of the television.’

She laughed, ‘no, trust has its price.’

He laughed too but was taken aback by her words; he would have put it down to a guilty conscience except he didn’t think he
had
a conscience.

Just then there starter arrived and brought a halt to their conversation. It was little button mushrooms in a delicious garlic sauce with salad. Hennessey said, ‘don’t worry about the garlic making your breath smell, they take out the little green shoot which is what causes the odious smell later. Adela said she did not know that. She took her first bite watched closely by Hennessey. She closed her eyes as she swallowed then licked her lips and Hennessey got that same feeling in his lower regions he’d had when she had done the same thing after tasting the snowball. She opened her eyes and said, ‘hmmm, that’s delicious, you’re a good chooser of food, Sterling Hennessey.’

He laughed and they continued eating, interspersed with light conversation until he asked, ‘so what else apart from our prisons don’t you like about this fair country of mine?’

‘Oh, guns.’

He wished now he had not asked that last question. He said, ‘ah, those.’

‘Yes, maybe if I’d lived here all my life I would treat them the same way everyone else seems to, just as much a part of life as carrying a driver’s licence or a credit card. But not having them at home…not even our police are armed…I’m just not comfortable around them.’

He nodded, ‘I can understand that. There are a lot of Americans uncomfortable around them too.’

Then she asked the question he didn’t want her to ask, ‘speaking of guns, can I ask you something?’

He pre-empted the question, ‘I always carry one, where I was born and raised guns were as much a part of everyday life as walking and talking, we hunted and shot targets and yes, even small animals, although I grew out of that later.’ He wondered what she would say if he added, “I found I preferred killing human beings instead.” He went on, ‘but we don’t take them lightly, we treat them as the dangerous weapons they are, with respect. I lived near woods as I’ve told you and know what dangers lurk there; I would never go walking in a potentially dangerous place without being armed. I’m as comfortable carrying a gun as you are uncomfortable being around one.’

She nodded in understanding then her eyes became fearful as she asked, ‘you said you always carry a weapon, does that mean
everywhere
.’

His face was very serious as he said, ‘are you asking if I’m carrying now?’

‘Are you?’

He looked around to see if anyone was listening then leaned forward as if what he had to say was for her ears only. She turned her head to the side and he whispered in her ear. ‘No.’

She withdrew from him and gave him a deeply exasperated look. He laughed out loud causing those near by to look over at them and smile. He said, ‘although if the meal is not up to the standard expected of this very fine and very expensive establishment I shall feel it necessary to go and fetch it.’ He had been lying of course, he was armed.

She giggled then said, ‘well, as much as I don’t like guns, I am very happy that you had yours with you today.’

‘Me too, picking up bits of my walking companion isn’t my idea of a pleasant day out.’

This time it was her turn to laugh out loud.

Just then the waiter came back with their main course which was Cajun chicken in a rich beetroot sauce, new potatoes, which had been fried in oil, as had the vegetables. Adela said it was wonderful and Hennessey grinned, well pleased. After they had finished and their plates had been removed the waiter asked if they would like desert and she said she should be a good girl and say no but she didn’t feel like being good tonight. He laughed and she suddenly seemed to realise what she’d said because she lowered her gaze and blushed, saying, ‘er, I’ll have the lemon cheesecake please.’ Hennessey told the waiter they would have two lemon cheesecakes.

He noticed that she had not had any of her wine and said, ‘you should try it you know, it’s really rather good.’ She looked askance at him and he could see that her mind had immediately gone back to his remarks from earlier, ‘the wine, it’s a good year and should be to your taste.’

She followed his gaze, ‘oh, I hadn’t realised I hadn’t had any, it must have been all the talking I’ve been doing.’

She obediently picked up her glass but paused with it to her lips as he said, ‘wait,’ then raised his glass and tipped it towards hers, she frowned then realised what he meant and shyly clinked her glass against his.

She said, ‘although I’ve seen that done on T.V. I’ve never actually done it myself.

He smiled, ‘see I told you’d do things you’d never done before. She lowered her eyes and sipped her wine then looked pleasantly surprised, ‘oh, that
is
nice, fruity.’

He laughed, ‘now don’t go getting a taste for it; we don’t want you going back home an alcoholic.’

The smile slid from her face and he said with concern, ‘have I said something I shouldn’t.’ He knew he had of course but this was as good a way as any of getting her to talk about herself.

‘No, of course not.’

She wasn’t about to elaborate so he urged, ‘yes I did, if I’ve spoken out of turn I’d like to know, I don’t want anything to spoil this evening.’

She looked at him and spoke earnestly, ‘You haven’t spoiled anything I assure you. It’s just that…’

He cocked his head to one side in an enquiring gesture.

‘Well, my mother was an alcoholic; I suppose that’s why I’m so averse to drinking. I have a fear that I may one day end up like her.’

‘Oh God, I’m so sorry. Is that what she died of, alcoholism?’

‘Yes and no, I suppose she did. She had a bad heart anyway and I think that’s what started her off drinking in the first place, the stress of her condition. And then of course the drinking made her heart worse, it was a vicious circle really.’

‘It must have been very hard for you growing up. What about your father, did he help?’

She shook her head, ‘he left when I was about five, I think she drove him away with her drinking and erratic behaviour.’

‘So you and your brothers were left alone with her?’

‘For a time, yes, they are a lot older than me and they went away, David to college and Daniel to share a flat with his friends.’

‘So that left just you with your alcoholic mother?’

She nodded and her eyes betrayed the pain she still felt as she recalled those days.

He said softly, ‘was it very bad?’

‘It was bad, yes.’

‘Tell me about it.’

She looked at him in surprise and said with an uneasy laugh, ‘oh, you don’t want to hear about my wasted youth.’

‘I’m very certain that is was not wasted by any means. And anyway, telling me about yourself was a condition of my bringing you to this very nice
posh
restaurant.’

She smiled but it was uncertain. He took her hand, ‘I can tell it causes you pain still, and they do say a trouble shared is a trouble halved. If you don’t talk to me about things that concern you I’ll think that we aren’t really friends, and I
do
want to think of us as such…don’t you?’ He finished pointedly. Oh well done Sterling he thought, next thing you know you’ll be counselling the kids of alcoholic parents.

She took a deep breath and proceeded to tell him about her mother much as she had done with Olivia. She told him about the beatings and the times she had had to drag her mother up the stairs to her room when she had been too drink to even stand upright. The times when she had had to fetch her from a bar when she had fallen down and hurt herself or been thrown out onto the street. Of the neighbours who either ignored them or called them awful names.

When she had finished Hennessey said, ’I’m so sorry, it must have been hell for you. But what about your friends and your brothers, didn’t they help?’

She shook her head, ‘I had no friends, and David said that he had children to consider, not to mention his job, he couldn’t afford to get embroiled in her shenanigans.

‘That’s what he called it, shenanigans?’

‘Yes.’

‘And the younger brother?’

‘Daniel? He was too wrapped up in his friends as well as trying to figure out new ways of avoiding work.’

Hennessey frowned, ‘so you alone took care of your mother since you were, how old?’

‘When she became really bad I was about eleven or twelve.’

‘Fu…damn.’ She smiled and he asked ‘why are you smiling?’

‘It’s just that you almost said a naughty word and I was thinking that in all our meetings I have never heard you swear, it’s just unusual for a man not to curse, that’s all.’

He smiled too, ‘I don’t want you thinking that I’m some kind of saint, or have some moral opposition to bad language. I’ve just always felt that the English language is colourful enough without adding unnecessary words to enhance it.’

She stared at him in surprise, ‘you know you never cease to amaze me, Sterling Hennessey.’

‘Well thank you, Adela Faraday.’

‘You’re welcome. But just
so you know, I don’t think you’re saintly in the least.’

They both laughed and Hennessey thought, you’re a very discerning woman, Miss. Faraday. He was thinking about what she’d said about having no friends, and her brothers not really caring one way or the other about her. That would help of course, no one to come over here and plague the authorities to look deeper into her disappearance. As far as the police would be concerned she had been just another poor unfortunate victim of the swamp, or been in the wrong place at the wrong time. That was just too bad.

It was an added bonus that most people she’d met here could testify that she loved to wander around by herself. But he also pondered on what she had told him about her drunken mother. That was rough he had to admit, it was also something they had in common. Useless mothers.