Читать книгу A Tricky Game - Seraphima Nickolaevna Bogomolova - Страница 27

A piercing wind drives clouds of swirling snow along the street. An endless procession of cars crawls along it.

A snow-grimed taxi pulls over and stops by the curb.

MacBride gets out and, struggling through the snow, walks down the street.

His mobile BUZZES.

MacBride takes the phone out and glances at the screen.

INSERT —

a local number.

BACK TO SCENE

MacBride answers the call, his breath fogging the night air.

MACBRIDE

(into the phone)

Yes?

THE GENTLEMAN (V.O.)

Monsieur MacBride, this is Jacques Moreaux.

MACBRIDE

(into the phone)

Ah, Monsieur Moreaux. Bonjour, or what do you say up there?

THE GENTLEMAN (V.O.)

Bonsoir. How is Mademoiselle Angela?

MacBride shields his eyes from the swirling snow.

MACBRIDE (CONT’D)

(into the phone)

Mademoiselle Angela is very well as far as I can see.

THE GENTLEMAN (V.O.)

I’m glad to hear that.

MACBRIDE

(into the phone)

Except that there seems to be a little misunderstanding.

THE GENTLEMAN (V.O.)

Which one, Monsieur MacBride?

MACBRIDE

(into the phone)

Apparently, the note you gave me wasn’t from her.

THE GENTLEMAN (V.O.)

That’s right, Monsieur MacBride.

MACBRIDE

(into the phone)

But why did you say it was?

THE GENTLEMAN (V.O.)

How else do you think I’d persuade you to go to her flat?

MACBRIDE

(into the phone)

Is this some sort of freaking game?

THE GENTLEMAN (V.O.)

I think you can call it life, Monsieur MacBride.

MACBRIDE

(into the phone)

Yeah, maybe, but what’s in this game for you, Monsieur Moreaux?

THE GENTLEMAN (V.O.)

The security of Mademoiselle Angela.

MACBRIDE

(into the phone)

Well, then why haven’t you protected her?

THE GENTLEMAN (V.O.)

What makes you think I haven’t?

MACBRIDE

(into the phone)

If you had, she wouldn’t have ended up in hospital.

THE GENTLEMAN (V.O.)

Perhaps, she might have ended up in a much worse place than that.

MACBRIDE

(into the phone)

I see, though it doesn’t make sense to me.