Sirens, p.28
Sirens, page 28
bluffing.' 242 243 Rubens jerked his thumb over his shoulder. ',
buddy.' Crawford clucked his tongue.
"Now, now, Rubens. You're good. Quite good, actually. ABC tried to do
the same thing to us after our first season, when we demanded more
money. After all, it was our right. They were making a mint off us. I
think you'll agree we were entitled to commensurate compensation.' He
cocked his head again. '? Well, no matter. In the end they caved in.
Of course they did. They had no choice. They had everything to lose.' He
smiled that rabbity smile again. ' as you do. Ten million dollars of
everything.' ' is the last time I will say it.' Rubens spoke as if
Crawford had not uttered a word. ' you sit down with me and rebudget
Over the Rainbow?' ', you're making a very large mistake." Crawford's
tone had gone cold. His mouth was grim and Daina thought he shook a
little. ''re going to leave. But when you want to speak to us again -
and you and I both know you will - we'll have to negotiate a whole new
deal. More money; more points. I don't know how much. You'll have to
speak to our attorney about that. You're going to pay for treating us
this way.' He stopped speaking as he saw Rubens walking towards the
table near the fireplace. He watched while Rubens picked up the top can
from the nearest pile. ' what this is?" Rubens said.
Podell snorted. ' o' shit, man. Film, film, film. We see lem every day.'
Rubens. flipped the can over to its front side. ',' Podell said. ''s our
fucking film you've got there! Gimme that, you bastard 1' But Crawford
held him back. ' are you going to do with that, Rubens?' He could not
keep the contempt out of his voice. Rubens took the top off, freed the
reel. It was filled to the rim with film. He shrugged. ' else can I do?
It's going in the fire.' Crawford's tone was derisive. ', come on,
Rubens. You don't really expect us to believe you'd destroy the film.
That's nothing but exposed negative -" But Podell, in an agony of
suspense, had already made the leap forward.
His blunt fingers scrabbled at the outer edge of 244 He spun off the
film, looked at it. A harsh cry shot : like a bullet from a pistol.
"Jesus, Joseph and Mary! ' the real goodsp Word rushed to his side,
lunging at the reel. ' me see The half smile left his face and his skin
seemed to turn beneath the reddish hue. He looked up, as if into space.
God it's the baby 1 ' ens took the film out of his hand. 0 don'tp
Crawford cried. it was too late. The reel, spinning from Rubens' toss,
squarely atop the well-stacked logs. Fire licked at it. other of Godv
Crawford put his hands over his face but enraged, dropped to his knees
in front of the fireplace. flames licked orange off his sweating face as
he reached -with trembling fingers for the burning film. He screamed
wincing as the flames caught his fingertips, went on, -out again before
Daina dragged him away. The heat was ous, and harsh, choking smoke
billowed up blackly into -I'recesses of the chimney. He was sobbing. s."
Crawford cried in anguish, ' something, for the of s took two steps to
the fireplace, reaching in very yand retrieving the reel. He looked at
it almost une edly but only Daina noticed that. ' don't know if it be
salvaged, Michael, really I don't.' here must be a way.' t'll take a lot
of hard work, a lot of paring down, a lot of gs. That set designer will
have to go.' rawford lifted his head, aware at last of what Rubens was g
about. ',' he said, quietly. The incident had ed him of anything more.
'.' t's only your egos that get in the way,' Rubens said gently. ire a
pair of very talented boys, really.' fterwards, late in the night, after
they had left, when and Rubens lay side by side in bed and she felt
delicious seeping through her body, she turned on her side, said him, '
you've let the negatives bum., Rubens?' ,@,`Of course," he said. ''m as
good as my word.' Then he an to laugh. It began as a stream does with
perhaps just a e, building as it flows into a thin line then widening
245 until, rushing, it pours into the sea. ' you see, it wouldn't've
mattered. Only the first two hundred feet was their film.
The rest was precisely what Crawford said it was: exposed negative.
junk.' She felt his breathing slow. It seemed to encompass her universe.
El-Kalaam called for Davidson and Mackinnon to be brought in. They stood
stock still when they saw the scene confronting them: Bock curled on the
floor, Susan on her knees, her head bowed. He was covered with blood and
there was blood all around him. ' is reprehensible,' Mackinnon said,
shaking his silverhaired head. ' unconscionable.' ' political
expediency,' El-Kalaam. said, slowly lighting a cheroot. ' two of you
understand what this is very well.' ' understand that you're no better
than a common thug,' Davidson said. ' had thought my sympathies lay with
the Palestinian people in this inatter.' He shivered. ' I'm not so
certain. You may have convinced Emouleur. But he is young and naive."
"We are at war,' El-Kalaam said'angrily. ' are forced into this. Our
very lives are at stake.' ' cannot be the way -@ ' kill innocent people
-2 Mackinnon began. ' war no one is innocent ... everyone is
expendable.' El-Kalaam made a gesture at Bock's body. ' him out. Put him
near the front door. Malaguez will direct you. He will be thrown to the
Israelis now. He will be of some help to us, despite himself." Malaguez,
who had accompanied them into the hot box, raised his machine pistol,
and they bent, slinging Bock between them, manoeuvred him out through
the doorway. Heather, released from El-Kalaam's grip, went to see how
Susan was. She bent, put her hands gently on either side of Susan's
head. She lifted up the brunette's face, gave a quick gasp.
There was no recognition in those eyes. They were blank,
uncomprehending. ',' she whispered. And then more urgently: "Susan!' 246
was silent, her eyes vacant, unfocused. God P Heather cried. ' what
you've done to her. broken herv i reached out languidly, encircled her
wrist. ''s no of yours,'he said. eather looked up. ''re a beast. A
monster. Get your off mep Rage drove colour to her cheeks and neck. essi
giggled, put one palm over her breast, squeezed. ''ll tter than she was
anyway.' ve her alone, Fessi,' El-Kalaam said. He reached out, Heather
from the smaller man's grip. He grunted, g her away from Susan. ' her
alone. She is 9.
es,' Heather said, staring into his face. ' see now. Shes her purpose.
That's it, isn't it? She's just so much dead t to you., -",She was dead
meat the moment she stepped into this room,' @',Kalaam said. He took the
cheroot from between his lips, his face close to hers. ' dead meat can
still serve a ose, uh ? It can be eaten.' She's a human being.' Heather
was weeping. ' deserves o tend your husband,' he said softly. ' must be
starved -'now. ' let go her wrist, made a motion towards Rita. Heather
-ed and, with Rita just behind her, went out of the room..1 have to go
to the bathroom,' she said when they were in hallway. Rita nodded. There
was no door, no privacy. Heather turned, surprised en Rita followed her
in. ''t you wait outsidef Rita looked at her. ', I couldn't,' she said
coldly. made a motion with her chin. ''d better get on with it. have two
minutes before I take you out of here.' .1-For a moment, Heather stood
there undecided. Then she t over to the toilet. Rita did not take her
eyes off her and, ly, Heather's face flushed pink. : Heather returned to
the living room, she saw Rachel ddled over Bock's crumpled form. Her
shoulders were ving.
Heather went to her, put her arms around the child's ders. 247 'He was
like an uncle to me,' Rachel said. She tried to wipe away her tears. '
was so good to me.' She turned to look at Heather. ' did they do to him
in theref ''ve got to forget him, Rachel. He's gone.' ' me!" Rachel's
voice was fierce. ''ve got to know!' ',' Heather said, ' don't.' She
took Rachel up, walked her away from Bock's body.' ' him in life,'
Heather said. ' in death.' Rachel put her head on Heather's shoulder. '
won't cry now,' she whispered. ' in front of them.' Malaguez appeared,
came over to where they stood. He took Rachel by the arm. '-Kalaarn
wants you,' he said. ' is calling your father.' He pushed Rachel before
him. They disappeared down the hall.
Heather went to where James sat. He had not moved. The blood had ceased
to flow from his wounds but his face was very white and Heather saw that
he had difficulty in breathing. ', Jamie,' she said, kneeling beside
him, ' only there was something I could do. I feel so helpless.' He
opened his eyes, smiled at her. ' is something you can do.' ' is it?'
Her face was lined- with worry and anxiety. '.' ' me you won't give in
... even after I die.' Her fingers stroked his cheek. ' do you mean?'
She gave a laugh that ended in a stifled sob.
"You're not going to die.' ''s no time for this foolishness.' He watched
her eyes. ' me, Heather. You must.' She began to cry. His hand came up,
gripped her arm. ' me, damnit Her eyes flew open; tears dropped into his
lap. ' promise.' A long hissing sigh escaped from his half-open lips. He
relaxed back against the bookcase. His eyes closed for a moment. ',' he
whispered. ' good.' His fingers dug into her flesh. ' you must listen to
me -' ' me get you some food.
I made you soup. You need to ' mind that now!' His eyes blazed and his
voice, though low, was fierce enough to check her. She looked around.
them, Mackinnon and Davidson were standing behind :. Their wrists had
been retied. They sat down on the- . Ren6 Louch sat by the fireplace
staring stonily at his ch6 who was animatedly talking to Rudd.
He was atteraptto talk to the secretary of state, too, but Thomas sat ed
in a chair with his forehead against his knees. ou've got to understand
some things, Heather,' James ' can't ignore these bastards and you can't
believe rd they say. If El-Kalaam tells you it's day outside, know t
it's night. If he tells you everything will be all right, are yourself
for a bullet through the head. He'll tell you thing if it suits his
purpose. Men like him know only one g: to kill or be killed.' Across the
room, Emouleur got up, t over to speak to the English MPs. James looked
at her. ' have to kill him in order to save yourself.' ', Jamie -?
"There is no other alternative, Heather!' His face was very e to hers.
She could see tears glistening in the comers of eyes. '@t you
understand? El-Kalaam is wrong. You st have courage. You must do what
you know deep down have to do.' .'Jamie, I won't know how to ' dominance
lies in his absolute control over his environt. Once that's disrupted
his power diminishes.' El-Kalaam and Fessi came into the living room.
Fessi went the front door, opened it a crack. He whistled low in his t.
In a moment one of the cadre appeared from ide. Fessi spoke to him in
low tones before returning to Kalaam. ' is ready,' he said. ' knows just
where to ce it.' El-Kalaam nodded, threw the last of his cheroot into
the d fireplace. Two of the cadre bent and picked up Bock's y. Fessi
opened the door just enough to let them through. "Hassan will show you
thp way,' he told them. Malaguez brought Rachel back into the room. She
was ite-faced, her mouth pinched. She would not look at El- am. ' her
over there,' he said to Malaguez, pointing to where ther knelt. ''m sick
of her. Let the women take care of 248 249
way, she found herself on the verge of being frightened. She put her
hand out, touched his wrist just above the place he wore his gold Rolex
watch. His head swung around, his eyes contemplating her as if it were
the first time he was seeing her. ' is it, Bobby?' she said. ' it be so
terrible?' ',' he said, almost as a somnambulist might speak, toneless
and sad. ''s quite terrible.' He waited for the filled glasses to be
placed before them. Then he leaned forward, said, "Everything's changed.
We know now that Modred was not responsible for Maggie's murder.' Daina
felt a small chill race through her as if he had thrown ice-water in her
face. ' that mean you know who killed her?" For what seemed a long time
he said nothing, staring at the speckled drops of sunlight where they
fell along his arm. They moved minutely, faded as the sun sank lower in
the west. Then they W"e-gone- Daina could imagine the swollen disc
settling its bulk into the calm Pacific. At last Bonesteel looked at her
again. She wondered what he was thinking; those slate-grey eyes revealed
nothing. ' event occurred last night that made us re-evaluate our
thinking. We found a young woman's body over in Highland Park.' '
Modred's mark on her?' '.' ''s very close to when Maggie was ... died! '
close.' He took a drink. ' shrinks tell us that Modred could not have
been responsible for both murders. Given his makeup, it would be
impossible. Not enough time has gone by.' 11 thought you didn't put much
stock in what they said.' He shrugged. ' don't - when they don't have
much to go on and they're talking just to hear the sound of their own
voices. It's different now.
They've got a hclluva lot of information.' Daina waited for him to
continue and when he did not, said, ' you going to tell me the rest of
it?' His eyes stared at her very directly. ' sure you want to hear it?
You may not like it.' ' don't have to like it. I want to know." "Yeah,'
he said. ' know you do.' She thought she heard a trace of grudging
respect in his tone. ' they told me led 252 to compare the emblems. The
one we found near Maggie't match up with the one on the woman we found
in land Park.' He fingered the stem of his glass. ' only lem that's
different is the one on the side of the speaker M watching her carefully
as if by what he saw She felt him he would decide whether or not to go
on. ' planation's simple,' he said. ' retrospect. Someone quite ver
killed Maggie for his own reason and made it look like odred's work.' He
pushed the glass away from him by its .
"And the really nasty thing is, if the real Modred hadn't e to work
again at just this time, wed never have picked it Daina felt her heart
beating very fast. She knew instinctively t he was on the verge of
telling her something that she very c wanted to know. She leaned forward
and, instead of . the obvious question, said, ' told me you wanted
help.' '' - now his hand was over hers -'my captain would t my behind
out the door if he ever heard me talking to a ian like this but ... I
believe your help is essential now if ever going to catch Maggies
murderer.' Something in t he said nagged at the comer of her mind. She
let it go, centrating on what he was about to say next. An odd kind of
calmness washed over him and at last he ed to relax. ' is very little
doubt,' he said, ' oever killed your friend is part of the band.' At
first she was certain she had misheard him. '?' she id.
"What band?' ' Heartbeats.' The wildness of her pulse had invaded her
head and she felt y with the release of adrenalin. She felt she could no
er sit here quietly and absorb this information. ''s get t of here," she
said thickly, standing up. Without a word, Bonesteel dug into his
pocket, threw some Is on to the table. He did not wait for a receipt.
The Pacific was dark, the long gunmetal swells humpbacked, : deformed as
they were sluggish. Where were the race of waves in towards the rocky
shore, the high white spurning, e echoing boom and thunder? Three
thousand miles away, 253 Daina thought, in the bosom of the Atlantic.
She wished now that she could go with Rubens to New York. But it was a
business trip and she understood why he could not take her. Still,'they
were not filming over the coming weekend; there were other places to go.
When Bonesteel spoke again, it was not about Maggiels murder. Daina
tried to return to the subject several times, but he would not be
budged. ' was born in San Francisco,' Bonesteel said as he took them
along the Pacific Palisades. ' of that I never forget the sea." They
went down to the beach at Santa Monica, to a spot past the roller
skaters and sidewalk surfers on their tiny iridescent boards. ' think I
became the family's instant black sheep when I moved down here. They're
