Chapter 31
Roads & Transportation Department, County Hall, Kingsbourne, Wealdshire. Saturday 23 May 1998
'Mr Starling. I have a call for you from a Mr Shadow.'
Shadow? I don't know anyone of that name. 'Who is he? What does he want?'
Miss Thackaberry gave one of her little coughs. 'He says he lives at . . . um . . . Puck's Dell.'
'Puck's Dell! I don't want to talk to anyone from there. Tell him to get lost, Miss Thackaberry — politely, of course.'
'Ahem. He . . . uh . . . said something about your daughter, Mr Starling.'
'Put him through!'
'Yes, Mr Starling. Is . . . is it all right if I go home now? My mother—'
'Yes! Go. Just put that person through now!'
'Mr Starling? My name is—'
'What have you done with her! If you've harmed her I'll—'
'Hey! Chill out! Let me finish.'
What's going on? What does he know about Jaine-Marie? Take a deep breath. Calm down. 'I'm listening.'
'Your daughter is here at Puck's Dell.'
'What's she doing there?'
'We rescued her. She'd been kidnapped.'
'Is she all right? Let me talk to her.'
'She's fine. Why don't you come and pick her up?'
Go to Puck's Dell! I can't go there! If anyone finds out that I've visited the protesters—
'Mr Starling? Are you still there?'
'Yes. I'm just looking at my appointments book.'
Appointments book, thought Shadow. Is this guy for real? His daughter's been missing for several days and he has to see if he can spare the time to collect her.
'All right. I'll be with you in fifteen minutes.'
Andrew Starling replaced the receiver and put his head in his hands. Thank God his daughter was safe. But what a place she'd chosen in which to be safe. How could he walk into the protesters' camp and hold his head high. He would be indebted to them for rescuing his daughter (assuming that they were telling the truth). No man should ever be in a position where he owes his enemy a favour.
Should he collect his wife and take her with him? No. Firstly, there wasn't time to drive all the way to Upper Crompton and then back to Stumblefrith. It would take him ages to push his way through the traffic- congested streets of Kingsbourne. Secondly, and more importantly, it was highly doubtful that Penelope would be in a fit state to travel. She hadn't left the house once during the last three days. She stayed in bed all morning, drank all afternoon, and lay in a drunken stupor all evening. He'd been home to check on her a couple of times and couldn't believe the state she'd been in. Her hair was a mess, her face was devoid of make-up, and when she had managed to dress herself, her buttons were fastened in the wrong holes. He couldn't resist a wry grin when he considered that, at the moment, she probably looked worse than those scruffy devils he was on his way to meet.
Puck's Dell, Stumblefrith Forest, Wealdshire.
Shadow had arranged for Falcon to meet Andrew Starling and escort him to the camp fire. He liked the idea of the 'suit' being greeted by Mr Dreadlocks. He had asked everyone else to stay away as he thought that Starling would already be squirming with enough embarrassment to keep everyone happy.
'Shadow, this is Mr Starling,' announced Falcon.
Shadow held his hand out and was both pleased and surprised when Starling took it. Shadow was also impressed by the way that he was hiding his distress — although how far it was caused by the torment of being in the enemy camp and how far by anxiety about the condition of his daughter — he could not tell.
'I'll take you to your daughter. You won't be disturbed. We can chat later.' Seeing a flicker of suspicion in Starling's eyes, Shadow sought to reassure him. 'Don't worry. We have no intention of trying to take unfair advantage of this situation.' Starling's expression didn't give much away, but Shadow thought he saw a hint of relief.
A communal bender had been completed during the last few days, and it was there that Shadow led Starling. It was large enough to hold two dozen people, as long as they didn't mind being squashed together. 'Here she is,' Shadow said. 'Stay as long as you like.' He didn't want to intrude on the reunion so turned away and went to see if there was anything to eat in the kitchen.
Jaine-Marie looked up when she saw her father but made no attempt to go to him. Starling had expected her to rush into her arms and make his shirt soggy with her tears. He wasn't sure what to do. None of the reunions which he had visualised on his way to Puck's Dell had included this scenario. 'How are you?' he asked awkwardly.
'What do you care?'
'Jaine-Marie. Of course I care. Your mother and I have been out of our minds with worry.'
'Did you call the police?' Jaine-Marie demanded.
Her father played with his wedding ring and tried to think what to say. 'No,' he said, letting his head drop.
'Why not!' she screeched. 'I could have been killed. They could have done all sorts of things to me. I . . .'
She burst into tears and flung her arms around her father. He held her close and surprised himself by shedding his own tears.
'I . . . I . . . I couldn't call the police. They . . . the ones who took you . . . I was scared that they would harm you if I went to the police.' He felt his daughter's head nodding against his chest.
'Okay,' she sobbed.
Andrew Starling winced at the thought that he was not being entirely honest with his daughter. Certainly he had been worried about her welfare, but his main reason that he hadn't contacted the police was that he was concerned about his own skin. If it ever came to light that he had taken a backhander and influenced the decision about which route should be chosen for the Kingsbourne Bypass — his career would be over, his name would be splashed all over the newspapers, and a prison cell would be his home for the next few years.
By the time Starling had heard his daughter's story, he had formed an opinion of Jaine-Marie quite different from the one he had held previously. Maybe all kids ought to get kidnapped, he found himself thinking. She had been brave. She had been resourceful. And she had kicked a huge hole in Zicchi's plans. The villain wouldn't be happy about that. From the little he knew of Mr Zicchi, Starling was quite sure that he didn't take kindly to being thwarted. He would not only want to repair the damage — but probably seek revenge.
Andrew gently released his daughter. 'I need to talk to that Shadow chap. Will you be all right here for a few minutes?' She nodded, her eyes red from crying, and sat down. Her father left the bender to look for Shadow.
'I won't ask why these men have got it in for you,' Shadow said when he had listened to Starling, 'but it sounds to me as if you've got a major problem. What do you think they'll do now?'
'I only wish I knew,' Starling replied, 'but they'll have something up their sleeves — and it won't be pleasant.'
'You have to go to the police,' Shadow insisted. 'They're the only ones who can help you.'
Starling looked at him blankly. 'I can't,' he whispered.
Shadow almost felt sorrow for the man. It was obvious that he was in conflict with himself. 'I don't want to know details — and anything you tell me will go no further — but am I right in thinking that you've got yourself into something deep?'
Starling sighed. 'Something like that,' he grudgingly admitted.
'They snatched your daughter — and she managed to escape. Are they likely to scale down their efforts as a result of that — or step them up?'
Starling took out a handkerchief and blew his nose. 'They won't stop. They'll keep going till they get what they want.'
'I won't ask what that is. So you think the rest of your family are in danger?' Shadow said with genuine concern.
'I . . . I think that's a distinct possibility. In fact, now that one of the men is dead, they might do something at any time.'
'Is there somewhere safe that you can take your family?' Shadow asked. He watched Starling shake his head. A crazy idea suddenly occurred to him. It was obvious, but he didn't think Starling would like it. On the other hand — he had no option. 'I've a suggestion. You'll probably think I'm mad but, as far as I can see, it's the only choice you have — other than let your family wait for the bad guys to come knocking.'
Starling gaped at Shadow. Not only had his enemy rescued his daughter — but now he was saying that he'd come up with an idea to protect his family. Would it be a mad idea? There would be no harm in hearing what it was. He managed a half smile. 'Go on,' he said, 'I'm listening.'
Shadow tried to keep the smirk off his face. He was about to experience one of the sweetest moments of his life. He wasn't completely sure what his motives were, but he hoped that he was doing it out of compassion more than anything else. 'Where's the last place that anyone would look for your family?' Seeing Starling's puzzlement, he gave him a hint by slowly turning round and looking at the camp.
Starling also looked round him, taking in the benders, the primitive kitchen, the tree houses, the washing hanging on a line between two trees and the bizarre dress of the inhabitants of this centre of rebellion. He imagined his wife, dressed as a hippy, washing her hair in a bowl of cold water fetched from a stream. He saw himself, in his grey suit, making daily visits behind enemy lines to visit his family and hear their pleas to be taken home. It just wasn't on. Penelope wouldn't hear of it. The kids would go berserk at the suggestion. He couldn't possibly come to an arrangement with these agitators who were making his life a misery. 'Okay,' he said. 'It's worth considering. You'd be willing to let my family stay here for a while — is that what you're saying?'
'That was the general idea,' Shadow acknowledged. He watched, through the windows of Starling's eyes, the conflict that was going on inside his head.
'I don't know . . . you and I are at opposite ends of the spectrum. I want to build a road — you want to stop me. It's a ludicrous thought — my family living here.'
'Like I said, it's mad. But ask yourself this — would your family be safer here than at home?' He saw Starling look around him, and guessed the slightly curled upper lip indicated that he had serious doubts about his family's health and moral welfare if they stayed here for more than an hour or two. Shadow couldn't resist rubbing salt into the wounds of his adversary. 'No running water. No fridge or freezer. Vegetarian food only. Anti-Starling placard-making on Mondays. Pagan ceremonies every Tuesday and Thursday. Naked frolicking on Saturday nights. Marijuana-smoking obligatory. What's yours is mine.' He stopped when he saw Starling's face registering a mixture of horror, contempt and a suspicion that his leg was being pulled. 'Well,' Shadow chortled, 'maybe it's not quite that bad — but I bet most of your crowd think it is.'
Starling had the grace to look shamefaced. He knew that he was as guilty as anyone of painting a distorted picture of the lifestyle of the protesters. But that was his job. If he was going to get the road built he needed the protesters out, and if the public could be persuaded that these people were drug-taking anarchists who wanted to crush law and order — well, he was entitled to use any weapon in his armoury if it would help him to achieve his goals. What could he say now? Should he admit that Shadow was right or, knowing that he wouldn't be believed, say that it had never entered his head to consider that the alternative lifestyle of the protesters might be less than satisfactory. There was also the likelihood of the protesters wanting to take advantage of the situation — to demand favours in return for keeping his family safe. He certainly would if he was in their position.
'All right,' he said, 'but before I agree — I need to know what you want in return.'
'I ought to say that I want you to put a stop to the road-building. In fact, I'd love to say that — but I'm not going to. You are a human being in deep bother who needs a helping hand. We are human beings who are in a position to offer you that helping hand. We won't want anything in return — other than a bit of assistance with our finances.'
Starling had begun to look hopeful — almost cheerful — but now his face fell. 'A big cheque, you mean?'
'No, a small cheque — or a handful of cash. All I'm talking about is a contribution towards our food fund — not a huge sum that will allow us to pay for advertisements in all the newspapers.'
Starling looked ashamed for the second time in five minutes. He wasn't used to dealing with people like this. Most of the people he came across in his line of work would rip the shirt from your back given half a chance. He held out his hand and Shadow took it.
'I appreciate that this is difficult for you, Mr Starling. It puts you in rather an uncomfortable position. But think of it this way — you're just about to pull off an amazing coup.' He savoured the look of disbelief and puzzlement on Starling's face. 'You will have managed to infiltrate the enemy camp and place three spies in our midst.'
Andrew laughed. 'Damn and blast. I was hoping you wouldn't have realised that.'
'Enough of this frivolity. Do you want to go and fetch the rest of your family now?'
Andrew looked at his watch. 'Yes. I'll go now. I don't know how long it will take me. You know how bad the traffic can be. Of course, once we get the bypass built . . .'
'Yeah, once you get the bypass built, we'll have persuaded everyone that you ought to dig it up and plant trees in its place.'
As Andrew was about to make his way to the communal bender to break the news to Jaine-Marie, he suddenly thought of something. 'What about your colleagues? Will they agree to your proposal?'
'No worries,' Shadow assured him. 'They'll be perfectly happy with it.'
If only my wife would be, mused Andrew as he entered the bender.