You’re asking me for a revenge killing.’
‘Killing isn’t anything new to you.’
Ben had to agree with that. ‘But this is different, Harry. It’s ugly.’
Paxton’s eyes blazed for an instant. ‘Who are they, Benedict? The worst kind of shit. You’d be doing the world a favour. And me.’
Favour. The word hit Ben hard. There was a lot of history behind it.
He looked down at his feet, his mind racing back in time. Half-repressed memories drifted in his imagination.
He looked up. ‘May 14th, 1997.I haven’t forgotten.’
‘That isn’t why I contacted you,’ Paxton said. ‘I don’t want you to think I’m calling in old favours. I don’t feel that you owe me anything, Benedict. Understood? I need you to believe that.’
Ben said nothing.
‘I called you because I know you’re the only person in the world I can trust,’ Paxton said. ‘And someone I know can see this through. I can’t do it myself. I’m too close to it. It would kill me.’
Ben was silent.
‘I would pay you, of course,’ Paxton said. ‘I’m a wealthy man. You can name your price.’
Ben hesitated a long moment before he replied. ‘I need some time to think it over.’
‘I can appreciate that, and I’m sorry for having sprung this on you.’
‘One thing I can tell you right now. I don’t want your money.’
‘I appreciate that too,’ Paxton said. ‘But remember, the offer is there. You’d want expenses, at least.’
Ben looked at his watch. It was almost two in the afternoon. ‘I know you want a quick answer. Give me until this evening. I’ll call you and let you know my decision.’
Paxton smiled. ‘Thank you. And whatever you decide, I’d like you to be my guest here on board tonight, for dinner. If your answer is no, then no hard feelings. If it’s a yes, I’d like you to check out of your hotel and bring your luggage here. I already have a luxury cabin prepared for you. Stay here the night, and I’ll brief you more fully before you leave for Cairo.’
Ben didn’t reply. He was already working it over in his mind.
‘Thank you again for coming all this way,’ Paxton said. ‘It was good to see you again, whatever happens.’ He stood up.
At that moment, there was a knock at the door.
‘Excuse me.’ Paxton strode over and opened it. Marla was standing there. She was holding a phone in her hand. In the other was a neatly folded navy blue cotton jacket. Ben recognised it as his.
‘I’m sorry to interrupt,’ she said. ‘It’s Kazamoto,’ she added quietly.
Paxton tutted under his breath. He took the phone from her. ‘This might take a minute,’ he said to Ben.
‘I’ll see you on deck,’ Ben replied.
He left the study with Marla. ‘How’s Kerry?’ he asked her out in the passage.
‘Resting,’ Marla replied. ‘She had quite a shock, didn’t she?’ She handed him his jacket. ‘She won’t be needing this any more. I gave her something to wear.’
‘That was kind of you.’
‘Kind nothing. You’re the one who saved her. A lot of people would have looked the other way.’ She smiled. ‘Anyway, I’ll go and check on her again, now that your meeting’s over.’
He thanked her, and headed towards the deck, jacket in hand. His legs felt heavy as he made his way back up the companionway. He stepped outside into the sunshine. The sea was shimmering blue, a gentle swell rocking the deck under his feet. He walked to the rail and looked out to the horizon. Reached into his jacket pocket for his Gauloises and Zippo. He slipped out one of the untipped cigarettes and lit up.
‘Hello again,’ a voice said.
He turned.
Zara Paxton was standing there. She’d let her hair down to her shoulders. It was waving in the breeze, catching the sunlight. She reached up with a slender hand to flick a curl of it away from her face and smiled, showing perfect white teeth. A twinkle of fun in her blue eyes.
He caught himself staring and glanced down at his feet, suddenly self-conscious.
‘We weren’t introduced,’ she said with a soft laugh. He could just about detect the Australian accent in her warm voice.
‘Mrs Paxton.’ He held out his hand, and she shook it. Her hand was warm and tender, but strong.
‘Please, call me Zara.’
‘Ben Hope,’ he said.
‘Harry calls you Benedict.’
‘Just Ben is fine.’
‘Well, it’s good to meet you, Just Ben.’ Her gaze flicked down to the cigarette in his hand. ‘Can I have a puff?’
Her familiarity took him aback. ‘You can have a whole one, if you like.’
She grinned. ‘No, just a quick puff. Harry can’t stand me smoking on board. Or anyone.’
‘I’ll bear that in mind.’ He offered her the cigarette, and their fingers brushed as she took it from his hand. She put it to her lips and took a drag on it, then passed it back to him. ‘Thanks.’
For a few moments he couldn’t think of anything more to say to her. There was a light in her eyes that he just wanted to stare at. Seconds went by, silence between them.
He finally broke it. ‘I watched you shoot earlier. Hope you don’t mind. You’re very good.’
She smiled. ‘I try.’
‘Australian Open champion.’
‘Missed out on the Olympics,’ she said. ‘Need to do better.’
Another awkward moment of silence passed. ‘So you were in the SAS with Harry?’ she asked. ‘You’re the first of his regimental comrades I’ve met.’
He shrugged. Didn’t say anything.
‘You don’t like to talk about the army, do you?’
Her insight, her sudden serious look, took him aback. ‘Not really.’
‘You didn’t like it?’
‘I didn’t like what it stood for,’ he replied truthfully. ‘That’s why I left, in the end. But I didn’t always feel that way. I loved it once. It meant everything.’ Ben surprised himself with the way he was so open with her. He didn’t generally discuss such things.
