Читать книгу Angel - Barbara Taylor Bradford - Страница 15

Out on the sidewalk, the two detectives stood talking for a moment or two, and then Neil took hold of Kevin’s arm. ‘Come on, kid, I’ll walk you down the block to Houston. You can grab a cab there. Your uptown girl won’t be mad at you, will she?’

Kevin shook his head as he fell into step with Neil. ‘No, she’s used to me showing up hours late. She doesn’t like it, but she doesn’t take it out on me. Anyway, she’ll be pleased, no relieved, when I tell her I’m moving to the Crime Intelligence Division.’

Neil threw him an odd look. ‘But it’s still dangerous work.’

‘You know that, Neil. I know it. But she doesn’t. And neither does my sister Rosie. Lately, they’ve both been on my back, wanting me to make a change, so I’m damn sure they’ll be happy to hear that I have. Crime Intelligence Division does sound like a desk job, doesn’t it?’

‘It could mean anything…I guess.’

Shivering, Kevin shrugged deeper into his overcoat, pushed his hands into his pockets. ‘Shit, it’s freezing tonight, and there’s never a cab around when you need one.’

That’s what they usually say about cops,’ Neil remarked, and let out a hollow laugh.

‘Why the hell did you have to pick a crummy bar all the way downtown? On the Bowery, for God’s sake!’

‘Because it’s as far removed from Little Colombia as I could get without goin’ to New Jersey,’ Neil explained, making reference to the Elmhurst section of Queens, where Kevin operated most of the time.

‘I can’t say I’m sorry to be saying goodbye to that neighbourhood,’ Kevin confided as they strode on down the street. ‘And thank God I’ll never have to darken the doors of Mesón Asturias again. I’ve grown to detest the place. And to think, thirty years ago that little cantina was a typical Irish neighbourhood bar, full of cheerful Micks downing boilermakers and telling tall tales about the ould sod. But the Irish fled long ago, moved over to Woodside like we did a few years before Mom died, and Roosevelt Avenue has become a little Colombia, and then some, when you really think about it. A jazzy strip where hundred-dollar bills are the normal currency and flashy suits and salsa clubs flourish.’

‘And where shootings are as common as they are in Cali, Medellín and Bogotá,’ Neil remarked, ‘as if you didn’t know that.’ He sighed under his breath. ‘It boggles the mind, Kev, New York is a city gone mad on guns and made even crazier by crack.’

‘You and me, Neil, we’re living in the belly of the beast. We see it all, and every day of the week…the homeless, the hungry, the desperate, as well as the demented, the junkies, the crazies, the criminals. And we know the score. The majority of folk don’t see it, or don’t want to see it, or turn a blind eye if they do. Tragic, but that’s the way it is, I’m afraid.’

Neil stopped in his tracks, swung to Kevin, grabbed his arm. In the lamplight, the older cop’s face was suddenly stark. ‘A fifteen-minute drive from Manhattan over the Queensborough Bridge and you’re in South America, to all intents and purposes. And you’re taking your life in your hands, mingling with drug barons, pushers, users and every kind of sleaze ball there is. I’m sure as hell glad you’re moving over to my unit, kid, real glad.’

‘So am I…Let’s face it, I’ve probably just added a few extra years to my life.’

Neil nodded, went on, ‘And then there’s Bushwick, a hellhole of the damned, if ever I’ve seen one…a shanty town filled with coke and crack heads, and heroin addicts pumping shit into their veins. Broken-down specimens of humanity who’ll mug, rob and kill you just to get a fix. It’s sickening.’

‘Only too true, compadre, only too true,’ Kevin said quietly, taking Neil by the elbow, forcing him to walk on towards Houston Street.

‘And this is America,’ Neil said in a bereft voice, ‘the richest and most powerful country in the world. It’s more than sickening, it’s horrific. Diabolical. Whatever happened to America the beautiful? And the American dream?’

Kevin did not respond. There was nothing he could add. Neil had just said it all.

Kevin let himself into her apartment with his own key.

He stood in the hallway, waiting for her to make an appearance, the way she usually did when he came in. But tonight she did not.

He hung his overcoat in the hall closet, slipped out of his shoulder holster and gun and carefully draped them over a coat hanger in the closet. It was bad enough that she knew he lived in a world of violence, without her seeing blatant evidence of it. Anyway, he preferred to keep his two worlds separate. Then, still puzzled, he cocked his ear, listening, wondering if something was wrong.

It was quiet. Nothing stirred. But as he crossed the small entrance hall, walking through into the apartment, he heard the faint sound of the radio playing in the kitchen, and he knew she was home.

He poked his head into the living room; the lights blazed, but the fire was dying in the grate. It looked to him as if it had been neglected for some time.

Kevin went down the corridor, making for the bedroom. The door stood ajar. Pushing it open, he went inside. The bedside lamps had been dimmed and in the soft, muted light he saw that she was curled up on the bed, dozing; or perhaps she was sleeping soundly, he wasn’t sure.

Reaching the bed, he noticed the pile of manila folders fanned out next to her on the eiderdown, some of them spilling their contents. Obviously she had been working, had grown drowsy, and had fallen asleep waiting for him to arrive.

Bending over her, he whispered her name, not wanting to startle or frighten her, and touched her face lightly with one hand.

Instantly, her eyes flew open. Relief and happiness flooded her face at the sight of him. ‘Kevin,’ she breathed softly. ‘Oh, God, I’m sorry, I must have dozed off.’

‘No problem, honey,’ he said, kneeling down next to the bed in order to bring his face closer, and to the same level as hers. Tm the one who should apologize for being late. I got caught up with Neil O’Connor longer than I’d planned. You remember Neil, you met him last year. Anyway, he needed to talk to me, and tonight was the only time he could make it. It was urgent.’

‘It’s all right, Kevin, really.’

He gave her a direct look, and explained, ‘Neil has asked me to transfer over to his division. I’ve agreed.’

Startled by this announcement, she blinked several times, half frowned. ‘Which division is that?’

The Crime Intelligence Division.’

‘Is it a desk job?’

‘Part of the time,’ he lied, wanting to make her feel better, more secure about his safety.

‘And the rest of the time?’ she probed, her vividly intelligent eyes now focusing on him with sudden intensity.

‘I will have to be out on the street, of course. But this new job is much less dangerous than the one I’ve been doing. Honestly it is.’ Kevin paused, flashed a winning smile, then improvised quickly, ‘And listen, I’ll have more time off, much more.’

‘I’m glad it’s a safer job,’she said. Reaching out she touched his cheek, a smile striking her mouth as she did.

He loved her smile. It was sweet, innocent, like a small child’s smile, and it illuminated her face, filled it with radiance. Taking hold of her shoulders, he drew her closer to him, brought his lips to hers and kissed her gently.

Immediately, her arms went around his neck, and she returned his gentle kiss with such ardour it inflamed him. He put both his arms around her, held her closer to him, kissing her more passionately, letting his tongue linger against hers. They kissed this way for a long time, devouring each other’s mouths until they were breathless.

It was Kevin who finally drew away. He loosened the top of her peach-satin robe and brought his face down to her breasts. She was wearing a matching peach-satin nightgown with thin shoelace straps, and he had no problem slipping his hand into the lace-trimmed bodice. When a breast sprang free from the nightgown, he took the small magenta-coloured nipple in his mouth and kissed it until she began to moan softly.

Kevin paused in order to untie the robe completely, then he ran his hands down the length of her body, bent over her again and continued to caress and kiss each breast in turn. Eventually he raised his head and looked down at her. Her eyes were closed; her lips slightly parted, she was breathing rapidly. He saw how excited she was becoming.

The expression on her face, one of abandonment mingled with ecstasy, turned him on, as did the feel of the satin nightgown under his hands. Lifting this, he smoothed one hand along her thigh until his fingers came to rest on the silky mound between her legs. As he moved his fingers against the hidden flesh, she parted her legs slightly, and he felt the sudden moistness, the heat flowing out of her.

‘Oh Kevin,’ she murmured, and opened her eyes.

He raised a dark brow. ‘What is it?’

‘Don’t stop.’

‘I won’t,’ he promised, and bending his head again, he sought the core of her with his mouth, lavishing her with kisses as he slid his fingers inside her. He knew her body well after a year of making love with her, knew she was on the verge, ready to climax, and he wanted her to do so. But exactly when he thought this was going to happen, when he expected her to erupt with pleasure, she unexpectedly sat up.

Grasping hold of his shoulders, she whispered hoarsely, ‘Please, Kevin, get undressed and come to bed. I want to feel you inside me.’

‘But I want to give you pleasure this way first.’

‘I know, and I want you to, and I want to do the same for you, but please, get undressed. Please.’

Pushing himself to his feet and tossing his jacket onto a chair, he stepped out of his shoes, unzipped his trousers and stripped.

Meanwhile, she gathered the bunch of manila folders, threw them off the bed and removed her satin robe.

Kevin was across the room in two strides.

Stretching out on the bed next to her, he took her in his arms, murmuring her name, nuzzling her neck. But after a moment or two he rolled over to his side, groped in the drawer of the bedside table for a condom. Damn things. He hated them. On the other hand, he was well aware of AIDS and what was going on out there. After Sunny had left his life, there had been other women from time to time, although no serious involvement. He was absolutely positive he was all right, but it was best to be careful, to take precautions for her sake. Kevin swallowed a sigh. This was a dangerous age they lived in. Sex and death walked side by side these days.

She stroked his back as he fumbled with the packet, then began to kiss him between his shoulder blades, whispering his name over and over, telling him how excited she was, how much she wanted him. Her words were erotic, tantalizing, and his erection grew harder, and suddenly he had no problem dealing with the rubber sheath.

Turning to her, he kissed her on the mouth. Once again, after a few passionate kisses, he let his lips trail down over her exposed breasts. Her nipples were erect, growing tauter under his mouth, sending a thrill through him. He ran his hands down over her lithe, satin-clad body. The fabric was sensual, just as she was, her body heat increasing as he lowered his head to kiss her stomach and thighs through the thin material.

Impatiently, he pulled at the nightgown, and she sat up, helped him to take it off. Her eyes, impaling his, were full of emotion, her desire naked on her face. She lay down again, and he savoured her beautiful body with his eyes, admiring the tautness of the pale ivory skin, smooth and sleek like the satin nightgown he had just taken off.

He knew she wanted his hands on her, and so he let his fingers explore that tender and secret part of her, at first moving them gently on the fleshy core, gradually increasing the pressure until she was trembling under his touch. Crouching over her, Kevin brought his mouth down to her thighs, began to kiss her, slipped his fingers into her. Within seconds she stiffened; a deep spasm ran through her and she climaxed, a moan trickling out of her throat, her body throbbing with intense pleasure.

‘Kevin,’ she said at last, her voice so low he could hardly hear it. ‘Oh, Kevin, darling.’

Kevin threw himself up along the bed, in order to rest his head against hers on the pillow. He murmured, ‘Did I please you?’

‘You always do. And you always have, from the very first time. There’s never been anyone like you.’ She sat up, adopted a kneeling position, stared down into his dark eyes, smoothing one finger over his black eyebrows, and then his lips, and with a small smile of pleasure she lowered her mouth to his, kissing him tenderly.

Wanting her so much he could hardly stand it, Kevin pulled her on top of him almost roughly, continuing to kiss her and fondle her breasts. As always, she met his kisses with equal fervour, but suddenly she leaned back on her haunches, bent over him, began to kiss his chest and his belly, running the tip of her tongue over his body until he thought he was going to explode.

Swiftly he drew her up to rest beside him, lay on top of her and, bracing his hands on either side of her, he entered her with some force, moving against her, wanting to satisfy her. Wrapping her legs around his back, she clung to him, moving in rhythm with him, but he was aware she was holding back.

‘Come to me,’ he breathed against her face.

‘No,’ she whispered back, ‘I’m waiting for you.’ Yet as she was speaking a deep trembling seized her, the heat flowed out of her, enveloping him, and she cried, ‘Kevin!’

Her reaction to him never failed to excite him, and as she continued to move against him he could no longer control himself. ‘Oh God, Nell, I’m coming,’ he gasped. ‘Oh, Nell! Oh, Nell!’

She lay within the circle of his arms, her head resting on his chest, her eyes closed, her breathing light and even.

Kevin glanced down at her, half smiling to himself. With her he enjoyed the aftermath of lovemaking as much as the sexual act itself. He was as relaxed as she was, and at ease with her, and with himself, was always comfortable in her presence. Perhaps this was because he had known her since she was seventeen. Like his sister Rosie, her best friend, she was thirty-one now, but at this particular moment she looked much younger, more like a woman in her early twenties, her figure girlish, her skin youthful, her face without a line.

Nell Jeffrey had become very special to him, and whenever he was with her he felt renewed. Every day the city claimed a little bit more of him, but when he was with Nell she somehow managed to claim part of him back, or so it seemed to him, and without even knowing she was doing so. She was restoring him to himself, in a way.

To a certain extent, Kevin was able to lose himself in Nell, and when he did some of the pain went away, and his heartache and sadness about Sunny dimmed. In any case, it was as if Sunny was dead, considering her terrible condition, and life was for the living, wasn’t it? Certainly he had come to understand this very well during the past year, especially since Nell had become such an essential part of his life.

These days he found himself thinking less and less about Sunny; six years was a long time, after all. And anyway, about nine months ago he had started to cut back on his visits, although this was her sister Elena’s idea, not his. It would be easier on Sunny if he didn’t come quite so frequently, Elena had said to him one Sunday afternoon at the mental home, since she appeared to grow more agitated whenever he was present. It was as if vaguely, somewhere in her demented and damaged brain, Sunny recalled that they had had something together once, and that this knowledge disturbed her. At least, so Elena had said to him that day.

Finally, three months ago, he had stopped going to New Haven altogether. Her family seemed to be relieved that he had made this decision; he discovered that he was, too.

But occasionally he wondered if he was being a moral coward, shirking his duty. When he had voiced this thought to Nell she had been vociferous in her insistence that he was not only doing the right thing, but the only thing he could do.

‘You can’t help her,’ Nell had said. ‘All you’re doing is rubbing salt into your wounds. Not only that, she’s an albatross around your neck, weighing you down. You’ve got to let Sunny go – for your own sake. You’ve got a life to live, for God’s sake.’ Her strong words had helped him, and lately he had come to realize that a burden had been lifted. Nell was right, Sunny was a part of his past, and he had to let go of certain parts of his past in order to move forward.

Now his memories of Sunny were of the early years when they were kids. He supposed it was easier to remember her before she had become a junkie craving dope, willing to do anything to get it. And he had begun to admit to himself that he felt better than he had in years. Thanks again, in no small measure, to his friend Nell.

Kevin buried his face in her hair. It was soft and silky, fragrant with the scent of lemon verbena, just as every part of her was sweet-smelling and fresh. Deeply, he breathed in the perfume of her; it helped to kill the stench of the city that forever filled his nostrils.

Nell was such a part of his life now he couldn’t imagine what it would be like without her. But it was odd how they had become lovers so suddenly, a year ago, and after knowing each other for fourteen years.

Gavin had come to New York last October to see Nell on business. He was en route to London for meetings about Kingmaker, which at last he had managed to get under way. His old friend had phoned him, had invited him to join the two of them for dinner, and since he was taking a few days of R&R he was able to accept. He had not seen either of them for well over a year, and it had been a marvellous evening, full of good humour and laughter, shared reminiscences and lots of genuine affection.

They had eaten in Gavin’s suite at the Carlyle Hotel, and when he and Nell left, long after midnight, he had insisted on taking her home. Even though it had been a cold night, they had walked to her apartment, and when they reached the building on Park Avenue where she lived she had invited him in for a nightcap.

While she had filled two brandy balloons with Remy Martin, he had set a match to the logs and paper in the grate, and then they had sat on the sofa together, savouring the aged cognac, chatting about their present lives as well as old times.

As long as he lived, he would never know how it had happened. All of a sudden, she was in his arms and he was kissing her, and she was responding ardently. And they ended up making passionate love on the rug in front of the blazing fire.

It had been a Friday night, and because he was off duty he had been able to spend the weekend with her. Cosseted in the warmth and comfort of her beautiful apartment, and smitten with each other, they had forgotten the everyday world they lived in, their pain and their worries for the next forty-eight hours.

At one point, during the weekend, they had talked about Mikey, who had vanished the year before. Everyone was troubled by his mysterious disappearance, and most especially Nell. After their youthful romance had ended, they had remained good friends, drawing even closer over the ensuing years, sharing confidences as old pals so frequently do.

That night when she and Kevin had first made love, Nell had told him that this was one of the reasons she was so concerned about Mikey; it was simply inconceivable to her that he had chosen to leave New York without telling her he was going away. Or where he was heading.

What Kevin had thought but not said that night was that perhaps Mikey hadn’t had a chance to tell her. No one really knew what had happened to him, not even his room mate. He had simply vanished.

Kevin had often thought that Mikey might easily have been the victim of foul play. Being a cop, he was only too well aware of the frightening statistics – every year hundreds of thousands of Americans disappeared without a trace. Few were ever found, or showed up again to pick up their lives. The Missing Persons List at his own precinct was dismaying, miles long.

Nell stirred in his arms.

Kevin glanced down at her.

She opened her eyes and looked up at him, returning his steady gaze. ‘That’s a mighty serious face you’re wearing, Kevin mine. Is something troubling you?’

Although there was no subterfuge between them, only honesty and straightforwardness, he chose not to mention Mikey at this moment. It was inappropriate. And so he said, ‘I was thinking about us, Nell, how we’ve been seeing each other for a year now. Yet nobody knows about us.’

‘Neil O’Connor certainly does,’ she said, and laughed.

‘I was talking about our nearest and dearest.’

‘You mean you haven’t mentioned it to Gavin?’

‘I’ve not seen him this year, except for those few days when I came to London during filming. Besides, you should know I’m not the sort of guy to kiss and tell. And I know you haven’t confided in Rosie, or she would have mentioned it.’

‘I don’t know why I’ve never told her, Kev, or why we’ve kept it a secret, and we have done that, you know.’ Nell moved closer to him, put her arms around him, held him tightly. After a moment, she added, ‘I suppose I should say something to her. We are best friends.’

‘It’ll please her…that we’re seeing each other, I mean.’

‘Oh, yes, she’ll be approving!’ Nell exclaimed, leaning her head back, looking up at him, eyeing him a bit coquettishly. ‘Of that I can assure you, my darling. Oh yes, she’ll give us her blessing all right.’

‘When is she coming back from LA?’

‘Good God, Kevin, she only left last night. But I expect she’ll return with me.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘I’m going to the West Coast myself –’

‘When?’ he cut in somewhat sharply, staring down at her in surprise.

‘On Tuesday or Wednesday.’

‘And I was just about to take a week off, before transferring over to the Crime Intelligence Division. I was hoping to spend a bit of time with you, honey.’

Nell bit her lip, looking chagrined. ‘I wish I’d known, Kevin, it would have been great. But I’ve made all the arrangements now, and it’d be really difficult to change my plans. I have a meeting scheduled with Gavin, who’s flying in to LA from London on Monday for a week. And I also have meetings set with other clients.’

‘I see.’

‘I’m sorry, really sorry. Look, I’ve got a great idea! Why don’t you come out to the coast? That’d be fabulous, like old home week, me and you and Rosie and Gavin.’ Her face lit up at the thought of this, and she exclaimed excitedly, ‘Oh come on, say yes, Kev! Please say yes.’

He hesitated. ‘I just don’t know…’ He let his sentence trail off, not sure what to do, wondering whether to commit himself or not.

Nell sat up, kissed him playfully on the nose and slipped off the bed, heading in the direction of the bathroom. From the doorway she said, ‘Well, at least think about it.’

‘I have. It’s better I don’t come.’

‘But why?’

‘I’d be at a loose end, since you’d all be busy during the day. And I’ve got a lot of things to attend to here, Nelly. You know, personal stuff that always gets neglected because of my job.’

She nodded, and went into the bathroom.

When she came out a moment later she was wrapped in a terry robe and carrying another one. ‘Here, put this on, and let’s go and eat something. Dinner’s cooking in the kitchen.’

‘I was planning on taking you out, lady.’

She grinned at him. ‘Allow me to have my moment of domesticity, please. I made a chicken casserole earlier. Mind you, it’s been in the oven for ages, and I just hope it’s not ruined. Otherwise, you may well be taking me to the local hamburger joint, or eating scrambled eggs here.’

He followed her out of the bedroom, pulling on the robe as he did, and laughing with her. ‘I’m not all that hungry, Nelly,’ he said. ‘But I wouldn’t mind a glass of wine.’

The casserole was delicious, and they ate it at the kitchen table, sipping a good Beaujolais Villages, which Kevin had opened earlier.

At one moment he touched his glass of red wine to hers. ‘Who’d have thought that our Little Nell would become such a high-powered businesswoman with a brilliant career…travelling the world and running her own international company.’

‘Me,’ she answered, and winked at him, her eyes twinkling with amusement.

He gave her the benefit of an admiring smile. ‘I’m proud of you, you know, and of Rosie, too.’

‘You should be proud of your sister,’ Nell murmured, her voice growing serious. ‘Her costumes for Kingmaker are quite extraordinary. They’ll knock your socks off – wait until you see the film. She’ll be winning another Oscar in the not too distant future.’

‘No kidding! That’s great! She said something to me about Gavin’s next movie. Is she going to do it?’

‘I don’t know.’ Nell lifted her shoulders in a small shrug, shook her head. ‘He hasn’t told her, or me, what it is. Perhaps he doesn’t know himself yet. Mind you, whatever he decides to make, it’s bound to be a humdinger.’

‘I must’ve misunderstood her. I thought that was why she went to Los Angeles.’

‘Not really. She went to see Garry Marshall. To discuss his next picture. It’s a contemporary romantic comedy. He’s a big fan of hers.’

‘I don’t blame him,’ Kevin said. ‘And listen, a guy who directs such great pictures as Beaches and Pretty Woman is certainly worth being associated with, so I hope Rosie takes it. She’d be a fool not to, ‘I think.’ He took a sip of the wine, and asked, ‘And how long are you both planning to stay out there?’

‘A few days, a week at the most. It depends on Johnny Fortune.’

‘Oh.’ Kevin threw her a quizzical look.

‘He and I have meetings about his New York concert for next spring or summer. It’s going to be at Madison Square Garden again. We’ve a lot of ground to cover.’

‘You’ve made him into a big star, Nelly.’

She shook her head. ‘Not true, Kev. He did that himself. With his voice. And his looks and his charm and the way he makes women swoon.’

Kevin looked amused, and after a moment he remarked, ‘You and Rosie are so alike. Neither of you ever want to take credit for anything great that you do. Believe me, you certainly helped to make him a star.’

‘You’re just prejudiced, my darling.’

‘He’s a bit of a mystery man, isn’t he?’

‘Who? Johnny? Not at all.’ She frowned. ‘What do you mean by mystery?’

‘He comes out of nowhere, makes a couple of records, takes women by storm, and boom, he’s on his way. Then you come along, take over his public relations, and almost overnight turn him into this giant superstar. No, megastar.’

‘If only it were so easy. It’s a bit more complicated than that. Johnny worked the small rooms in Vegas and Atlantic City for years, not to mention the nightclub circuit. Until he was blue in the face. He did Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, New Jersey, Philadelphia, New York, year after year…you name the club, however obscure, and I’ll bet you Johnny’s sung there.’

‘Whatever you say, you have made him into America’s answer to Julio.’

Nell burst out laughing and shook her head again. ‘No way. There will only ever be one Julio Iglesias. Now there’s a real megastar. He’s also one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met. As for Johnny Fortune, I think there’s a little bit of everybody in him…Perry Como, Vic Damone, Little Ole Blue Eyes himself, and Julio. That’s why everybody loves Johnny – he reminds them all of their favourite crooner.’

Kevin chuckled. ‘There’s nobody like you, Nell. You call it exactly the way it is every time, but I’m not too sure that Johnny would like to hear those words…you’re suggesting he’s derivative.’

‘Well, he is. But he’s special in his own way, of course, and he is the bel canto balladeer of the nineties.’

‘To coin a phrase.’

‘Which I did,’ she shot back, leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek. ‘At least I’ll admit to that, Kev.’