"A World to Believe In" by Judith Nolan
Second Part
‘I took her hand in mine,
And we went out of the ruined place.
And, as the morning mists had risen long ago
When I first left the forge,
So the evening mists were
rising now,
And in all the broad
expanse of tranquil light they showed to me,
I saw no shadow of another
parting from her.’
Charles Dickens
“I
haven’t lost the use of my legs, you know,” Catherine observed with a
loving smile, as Vincent carried her through the candlelit quiet. “I
will not break if you put me down.” Despite her protests, she fully
enjoyed the sensation of being carried in her husband’s strong arms. It
made her feel safe and very secure.
They
had shared a simple evening meal in
“I do
know that.” Vincent shifted her higher in his arms, bending to place a
soft kiss on her parted lips. “But Father ordered you to rest as much as
possible. And I am here to see that his orders are carried out to the
letter.”
“Poor
Father, I feel so sorry for him. Olivia told me about his trip up to see
May.” Catherine shook her head, before resting her cheek gratefully
against the solid warmth of her husband’s neck. “He’s only trying to
reassert his authority down here because he found he had none up there.
May is one very stubborn old lady.”
“Perhaps…” Vincent laughed softly. “But it is good advice. He wishes to
invite May to our babies’ naming ceremony. And the idea seems to have
grown organically into a combination with Summerfest and Mouse’s garden
celebration. Everyone is invited.”
“Now
that is a wonderful idea…” Catherine murmured sleepily. “We shall have
to arrange it. We owe so much to May and her care of the girls from our
world.”
“Yes…”
Vincent nodded as they entered their chamber stealthily, and he lowered
his voice to a whisper. “I doubt we could keep her away now. She is
looking forward to revisiting her youth, and Father didn’t have the
heart to dissuade her. He is going to fix it so she can come this time.”
Immediately Samantha rose from the homework Vincent had set her on
American history. She had been seated at the table, taking her role of
chief babysitter very seriously. She smiled, pressing a silencing finger
to her lips, as she gathered her things and left the chamber on stealthy
feet.
Vincent placed Catherine down on the bed, turning to pull off his boots
and then stretching out beside her. “I would judge we have a few hours
of sleep, before the twins awaken again,” he whispered against her ear,
drawing up a comforter to cover them both. “I think we must make the
most of it. Jacob asked if he could stay the night with Mary. I felt you
could do with the extra rest.”
“Have
I told you lately how much I love you, Mr. Wells?” Turning to settle her
cheek on the broad expanse of his chest, Catherine flung one arm across
his body drawing him against her. “At least we have the reassurance that
we know when the twins are about to wake.”
She
settled closer, finding his hand and threading her fingers through his.
“You know, you are the best thing that ever happened to me…” she
murmured drowsily, closing her eyes. “The very best thing. I just wish
my father could be here to see us all now. I know he would be very
pleased. He only ever wanted me to find love and be happy. Sometimes I
feel he is hovering quite near to us, just watching and smiling…”
She
raised her head to gaze regretfully at the silver-framed photograph of
her father on the night-stand beside the bed before settling back again.
“I miss him so much…” In the photo her father was younger and smiling in
happier times.
“Then
know he is close by. I have sensed him as well. With love anything is
possible…” Vincent kissed her forehead, listening to her breathing as it
deepened and lengthened. “I love you, Mrs. Wells. Sleep now.” He drew
her closer still, carrying her hand to his lips, pressing a kiss to each
finger in turn. Wrapping his arms around her, he, too, closed his eyes
and drifted away...
It
seemed only moments later the sudden staccato chatter of the pipes
jerked him awake again. An intruder alert was being sounded, followed by
a question from the nearest sentry, asking for identification. The
answering code and password used was at least six months old. After
listening for several more minutes, Vincent finally allowed his body to
slowly relax again. Whoever the intruder was, they obviously belonged
Below because they knew the language of the pipes, even if their
password was outdated. The sentry on duty in that area could handle the
rest.
He
settled back again. Catherine rolled over in her sleep, murmuring
softly. Vincent brought her close against him once more, her back now
curved into his chest and abdomen. He rested his chin on the top of her
head and breathed in her subtle perfume. Her warmth and beauty wrapped
themselves around his senses, lulling him back to sleep on a deep sigh
of contentment.
He
knew if he were needed, he would be summoned. But for now there was only
Catherine and their children, the intertwined strands of their ever
deepening bond speaking only of much-needed rest and a deep sense of
peace…
Tony
Gilbert turned to look back the way he’d come. Nothing about this part
of the tunnel system was as he remembered it. Even though it had been
barely more than half a year since he’d last been home. He was well
aware of Father’s driving need to constantly change the layout, close up
the old and open new ways to the world Below. Keep it all as safe as he
could from harm and unwanted discovery. He respected that, but it could
be confusing to the uninitiated and the tardy visitor.
Tony
also knew he was being watched. He could feel the unseen eyes studying
his progress. “Or lack of it,” he remarked dryly, scratching his closely
shaven head as he turned to look back the way he’d come.
Any
moment now he expected to be confronted. He wondered if they would send
Vincent, or was his good friend away far down below, exploring all the
hidden places and secrets of the deepest caverns. It had been a long
time since the two younger boys had gone with Devin to discover the
A
search party had been put together by the time they had worked their way
back up to the tunnels again. Devin had taken a real tongue lashing over
that escapade from Father for endangering the lives of the other two
boys. Vincent had tried to stand up to the old man, tried to say it had
all been his idea to go exploring, but Father hadn’t listened. He hadn’t
spoken to Devin for days after that incident. It was another of the many
emotional wedges that had been driven between them, finally forcing
Devin to leave the tunnels for good.
“And
now it looks like I’m lost again. I bet Father will have something to
say about that when I finally get to see him…” Tony turned full circle
once more, hands raised in defeat. “Okay, where are you guys?”
He’d
stopped to tap his reply to the question posed about his identity after
the intruder alert had been sounded. He’d kept the code simple and used
the only password he could remember. He knew Father would have changed
that as well by now. But he was unconcerned as he rounded the next bend.
He knew he would have company soon enough and the guide he needed to
find his way to the home tunnels. It felt good to be finally going home
again after so many months away.
“Who…?” A familiar voice questioned as a tousled head suddenly popped
out from a hidden sentry station. “Got password wrong. You know today’s
one?”
“Sorry, Mouse. You’ve got me there.” Tony shrugged. “The last one I
remember is Chili Dog. Guess that’s not much use to me now.”
“Very
old one. Last year’s.” Mouse scowled. “Moved on now. So, who?”
“Mouse, it’s Tony. You do remember me surely?”
“Tony…? Okay, wait there.” Mouse withdrew his head, and there was a
furiously whispered conversation. Mouse shrugged as he reappeared. “Tony
who went away to
“That
Tony.” Tony shook his head on a short laugh. “You can’t gave forgotten
me that quickly, Mouse. I showed you all sorts of neat stuff Up Top.”
“Maybe
yes, maybe no. Look different somehow. Lost weight. A lot. Too skinny
now.” Mouse edged out of his hiding place followed closely by Jamie,
crossbow at the ready, her eyes assessing and distrustful. “But I
remember the singing.” Mouse clapped his hands over his ears. “Too much
noise. Day and night, always making noise. Worse than Father’s talking
at Mouse.”
“Sorry
about that, Mouse. But a man’s gotta practice his art.” Tony grinned.
“It is good to see you again, too. So, are we cool?”
“Could
be, could be not.” Mouse shrugged. “Don’t know the password. Have to
take you to Father. He decides if you stay or go.”
“Fair
enough.” Tony tried hard to keep his voice neutral, his amusement in
check. He watched Jamie with the crossbow. He figured she knew her way
around the weapon by the way she was holding it. Now was not the time to
make any wrong moves. “Lead the way, Mouse.”
“Okay
good, okay fine. Jamie stay.” He waved a dismissing hand at the girl who
scowled furiously at him before retreating slowly back into the hidden
lookout.
“So,
how are you, Mouse? Have you asked Jamie to be your girl yet?” Tony
inquired, as Mouse led the way towards the home tunnels. “You do like
her, I can see that. I think she’s sweet on you too.”
“Me…?”
Mouse jumped and frowned. “Jamie is…Jamie.” His shoulders hunched and
his chin sinking to his chest, he waved his hands in the air before they
settled back into the large pockets of his coat. “Jamie is my friend.
Good friend. The best.”
“Okay,
Mouse.” Tony grasped his shoulder. “I get the picture. It’s cool.”
“Well,
anyway, today’s password. Dutch Courage.” Mouse brightened. “But no need
to remember it. Tomorrow’s will be different. Better ask Father. It’s
his turn to pick.”
“And
Vincent…?” Tony asked. “How is he? Still the same?”
“Vincent is Vincent.” Mouse bobbed his head. “Vincent and Catherine got
more babies now, two of them. Girls. More noise.” He sighed. “Too much
noise.”
“Good
Lord…” Tony whistled through his teeth. “Well, well, things have
certainly gone ahead around here. It seems I’ve been away too long. Last
time I was here they only had Jacob. Seems like it’s way past time for a
long family catch-up.”
Father
looked up from his evening meal as Mouse clattered down the short flight
of steps into his chamber. The tinker turned, beckoning at someone
behind him. “Brought you the intruder. Says he’s Tony. Tony who went
away to
Tony
entered, his mouth curved in a wry smile. Mouse pointed at him. “Father
know?”
“Oh,
for heaven’s sake,
Mouse…” Father put aside the medical journal he was reading and rose
from his chair. “Sometimes I wonder where your head is.” He held out his
hands. “It’s good to see you home again, Tony. Though I must admit, you
do look somewhat different. You’ve lost a great deal of weight for a
start.”
“Sorry
about that and the hair.” Tony laughed, running an apologetic hand over
his head. “There were a lot of sacrifices I had to make for my latest
role in a major movie. It called for me to be bald and half-starved
looking since I was playing a stow-away on a dead ship lost in space. I
figured Mouse wasn’t too sure about me. In the dark I could’ve been
anyone.”
“Oh,
yes, remember Tony now.” Mouse clapped his hands. “Took me Up Top. Went
to see all his stuff at the Phantom theatre. Good stuff, all radio
controlled and computers. Gave Mouse lots of ideas. Like this Tony.”
“Thank
you, Mouse.” Father shook his head on a short laugh. “Perhaps you had
better get back to your duties. I think Tony will be safe enough with
me.”
“Oh,
okay good, okay fine.”
As
Mouse clattered out, Father indicated a chair at his table. “Please, sit
down, Tony. Have you eaten? Can I get you anything?”
Tony
held up his hand. “Thanks, but I’m fine. I grabbed something at Shuman’s
before I came down. But please go on with yours before it gets cold.”
“None
of us have forgotten the magic of our night at the Phantom,” Father
remarked as he resumed eating. “It was a truly wonderful evening. The
music, the atmosphere — everything was incredible. We can never thank
you enough for sharing it all with us.”
“I am
truly glad Elliot and I could organise it for you.” Tony smiled. “And
that Vincent and Catherine got a romantic night out together. We should
do more of it now that I’m back in town. I’m sure something could be
arranged.”
“A
good idea.” Father frowned. “But perhaps only for the young ones. It was
too much excitement for me to do it all again at my age. So tell me,
what of you?” He looked up from cutting his food. “Are you back in
“They’ve asked me back to Broadway this time to portray Raoul in
Phantom. It’ll make for an interesting change of pace.” Tony put a hand
to his shaven head. “I’ve been granted a month off to grow this back and
put the weight back on. I figured William would like to help with that.
So I thought, what better way to spend it than at home with the folks.”
He shrugged. “I’m just sorry I couldn’t be here for Vincent and
Catherine’s wedding. That must have been a very special night. But after
Les Mis, the offer of a movie role in the
“Well,
I know Angelo will be very happy to see you.” Father smiled. “He has not
stopped talking about you ever since you gave us your brilliant
performance at the last Summerfest in the Great Hall. He was so sure you
could magic Mr. Lloyd-Webber out of thin air. He’s been waiting
impatiently for you to return.”
“Oh,
I’ve already told Andrew all about him,” Tony replied. “He’s keen to see
what Angelo can do when he’s ready for the world Above. Just need to
fine-tune a few arrangements and make sure the lad is ready for the
outside world.”
“Excellent. Then you must tell him so. But leave that until the morning.
You should go and rest. I know everyone will want to talk to you
tomorrow. Summerfest is going to be an event this year. I am glad you
have come home in time for it.”
“Well,
I’m not that tired. I think I could find the time for a little chess…”
Tony watched Father speculatively. “Or are you out of practice?”
“I’m
sure I still know enough to beat you.” Father pushed his plate aside
eagerly. “Care to make it the best of five? The night is still young…”
Securely settled on his father’s hip, Jacob clung to Vincent’s vest as
he ducked through the cavern’s small opening into the echoing darkness
beyond. Complete trust in his father’s excellent abilities to find new
treats and exciting adventures made the boy wriggle with anticipation,
but he had been told to be silent, so silent he would be. He leaned his
cheek against Vincent’s, his blue eyes shining with excitement as the
pair peered into the darkness, both blessed with enhanced eyesight well
beyond the normal range. Still Jacob could see nothing of interest.
Frustrated anticipation got the better of his limited self-control.
He
turned to place his lips against Vincent’s ear. “Where are they…?” he
whispered.
“Wait,
you will see…” Vincent breathed, laying a cautioning finger across his
son’s lips. “We have disturbed them. They just need time to settle
again.”
“Oh,
okay…” Jacob mumbled against the silencing finger.
He
settled back as Vincent eased silently away to the right, leaving the
narrow entrance to the chamber and its faint light for the deepest
shadows. His father crouched down onto his haunches, cuddling his son’s
small body into his lap. Again Jacob placed his cheek against Vincent’s,
a long-familiar habit that made his father’s heart swell with love.
Jacob called this action
wanting to see what his daddy sees...
The
boy’s quicker heartbeat pattered along beneath Vincent’s. His father’s
inner awareness of the twins and Catherine added their own rhythms to a
calming sense of time and place. It felt good to relax and allow the
quiet to seep in. Far below them the tunnel world went about its
business, most dwellers taking their evening meals or doing necessary
chores. Jacob and his father had slipped away for some precious time of
their own. Soon it would be bedtime for a young boy.
But not just yet…
“There, do you see?” Vincent pointed into the gloom.
“I
see…” Jacob wriggled in his excitement. “Ohhh, pretty…”
In the
cavern’s inky blackness tiny lights began to wink on, one by one. Then
thousands of miniature illuminations began to appear, glow-worms angling
for their supper, complete with a sticky lure and a light to fish by.
Soon the whole cavern was filled with a soft, unearthly white glow,
illuminating its craggy walls, high ceiling and the still, black surface
of a small seep-water pool against the far wall.
“Now
watch…” Vincent clasped his son’s small hands between his own and
clapped them together once. The sharp sound echoed around the cavern and
immediately every one of the tiny fishing lights winked out again.
“Oh,
where’d they go?” Jacob frowned in his disappointment.
“Just
wait,” Vincent whispered.
The
little boy froze, barely seeming to breathe as he waited. After a few
moments of darkness a few lights winked on again. Then they were
followed by more until the cavern was fully illuminated again. Jacob
looked at his father for approval and Vincent nodded. Grinning with
excitement Jacob clapped his hands together and everything went dark
again. Giggling, he tumbled back into the warm security of his father’s
welcoming embrace.
“Neat
adventure.” He giggled. “Thanks, Dad.”
“You
are most welcome. Uncle Devin used to bring me here when I was about
your age.” Vincent kissed the top of his shaggy head. “Is it time for
bed yet?”
“No,
not just yet…” Jacob settled back into the familiar position with his
cheek pressed against his father’s. “Just a couple more, please. Mummy
won’t mind.”
“Just
a couple more it is, then,” Vincent agreed as the pair settled in to
wait for their unwitting quarry to light up once again.
“Cathy
Chandler, I’m so tired of being kept in the dark…” Edie sat staring at
her computer screen. “You can’t go on treating me like a mushroom. She
doesn’t call, she doesn’t write, anyone would think she’s ignoring me.”
Edie pulled a discontented face as she began to tap the keyboard.
“Catherine Chandler, let’s check you out…again.”
An hour later she whistled softy. “A baby boy and a man who
didn’t hang around after the birth. But I like what you’ve done with the
trust fund. Wish I had a rich old daddy.” She blew a discontented sigh.
“Geeze, girlfriend, I thought I taught you how to pick ‘em.
Did you finally go all out for one of those deep, mysterious types who’d
rather hold your hand and gaze soulfully into your eyes? Tell you all
the things you wanted to hear instead of taking good care of you and
your baby? Where’d ya go wrong this time? I tried to warn you about that
sort. Now let’s see what else I can find…”
She
scrolled quickly through the rest of her files. But no matter how deep
she dug, she could uncover no current address or even a phone number.
Nothing that could give her any sort of clue as to her friend’s
immediate whereabouts. It was a frustrating puzzle. Edie detested
puzzles of any kind.
“And
it looks like you’re still hanging out somewhere secret, some place you
don’t want to tell me about. You just up and disappeared on me again…”
She shook her head regretfully as she carefully erased all she had found
from her computer. “One day soon you’re going to get in touch with your
Auntie Edie again, and boy am I gonna give you a piece of my mind. You
Up-Town girls think you’ve got it all figured out. Big mistake. You can
trust me, you know. With whatever it is you got to hide. I can keep
secrets.”
Then
her own sense of guilt attacked her. She realised it had been too long
since she’d visited her grandmother, an old lady who ran a small
convenience store on the edge of
It
was well past time she went home again anyway. Maybe on the way she’d
drop in at Joe’s office, dig around some and see what she could find
out. Grill the man a little.
What could it hurt, right?
Joe
slumped behind his desk. It was the end of the day at the finish of an
impossible week and he was beyond dog-tired. He hurled a dart at the
board, missing it completely, and burying the projectile deep in the
door frame. He grimaced sourly, thinking that about summed up his entire
life.
Wide of the mark in all areas…
Diana’s ongoing refusal to cease her investigations into Catherine’s new
life was disturbing his ability to rest and even sleep these last few
days since he’d discovered what she was up to in her apartment. The
weekend loomed with no hope of his being able to make the woman see
reason.
“I
guess it’s time to call in the heavy troops.” Joe glared at his
telephone. “Maybe Elliot can make the woman see sense. Heaven knows I’ve
tried…”
He
figured if he couldn’t warn her off, maybe Elliot could buy her off. Or
come up with some new plan to divert Diana from her chosen course before
she sunk them all.
Kidnapping her and transporting her somewhere far away out of the
country was such an attractive plan, Joe dwelled for several entranced
seconds on the idea. He only abandoned the daydream after deciding
whoever was unlucky enough to end up with Diana would soon be sending
her right back again. Besides, Azrael might object to having his
girlfriend transported to places unknown. It was no use. They were in a
bind, and they would just have to make the best of it. He lifted the
receiver and began to dial…
Diana
sat and stared at the thick folder in her hand. It had been in a small
box hidden among a larger pile of file containers hand-delivered to her
from the local FBI office. Using every means at her disposal she’d cast
her net as wide as she dared, hoping to pull in some new information
about Gabriel’s dealings she had not previously uncovered. Her powerful
clients were getting increasingly restless, and she needed to find a way
to close the case and soon. Time was a luxury she didn’t have.
It was
well past midnight before she finally reached the smaller box. Lifting
it onto her desk, she could see immediately it was different from all
the others. She did a quick check and found it wasn’t even on the list
she’d signed for. She could only assume it had been added to the
collection by mistake. Probably by some over-zealous file clerk keen to
escape early for the weekend and deciding that sending over one more box
than she requested would keep her quiet until Monday.
Scanning the box again she suddenly felt an odd prickling of
anticipation. She shivered as something stirred — whispering — in the
back of her mind.
Was someone trying to tell her something…?
Given
the lateness of the hour and her tired state of mind Diana had already
half-decided not to bother with it, but the rising sense of premonition
prompted her to lift the lid and look inside. What she saw made her
heart race and her blood run cold.
“Gabriel
King…”
Diana opened the folder on top of the pile within the box and then stood
staring at it with disbelieving eyes. “Well, the man certainly thought
highly of himself…” She lifted the file out carefully, handling it as if
it would explode at any moment. “Some people just won’t lie down and
admit they’re already dead and buried. This should be interesting...”
She
placed the file in the middle of her desk and sat down to read it
carefully. The more she read the wider her eyes became, and when she
finally reached the end, her mouth was wide open with disbelief. If what
the file said was true she had finally uncovered the mother of all
mother-lodes. This could settle the Gabriel case once and for all.
If only she could find a way to bring it all to a head. Get access to
the unbelievable source mentioned in the file…
“But
how?” she murmured, considering her options, which were few and far
between right now. She’d ruffled too many official feathers recently.
Even the mayor was backing away from any further involvement. “Maybe I
could ask Joe… If he’s still talking to me, that is.” She blew a
discontented sigh.
She’d
just turned back to the beginning, searching for any clues she might
have missed, when the sudden sound of impatient knocking on the door of
her apartment made her start badly. She closed the file with a snap,
getting to her feet, muttering her impatience.
“This
had better be good…” She unlocked the door and kept the chain on as she
opened it a crack to glare out into the hall. What met her frowning gaze
made her want to smile with a sense of deep satisfaction, but she
managed to keep her expression neutral.
So she was finally getting somewhere…Joe’s impressive back-up had
arrived on her doorstep looking decidedly put out and furiously angry…
“Good evening…” She undid the chain and stepped back, opening the door wider. “Well, well, Elliot Burch…how very convenient. Just the man I wanted to see.” She looked past Elliot’s shoulder to the looming shapes of his two large bodyguards. “This time you can leave your pit-bulls on the doorstep. I want to talk to you in private. Come on in. I have something here I know you’re really going to want to see…”
Vincent paused, lifting his eyes from the book of Rilke poetry he had
been reading. He thought he could hear music, someone playing the piano
with effortless skill. He paused to listen, but the passing of a
chattering subway train quickly drowned out the elusive sound. Perhaps
it had only been someone’s radio.
He
shrugged, turning his attention back to the book. He had left Catherine
and their children sleeping in the sheltering dark of the early morning.
Jacob had been tired but happy when they returned from their most recent
adventure. He had chatted about it long into the night, until sleep
finally claimed him.
Vincent smiled. He had risen early, sensing a pull — a need to walk the
tunnels and corridors of his world, making sure everything was safe and
secure. It was the time of day he most enjoyed, when few were about and
he could walk alone.
Earlier he had discovered Father and Tony playing chess by the light of
Father’s treasured, battery-powered tiffany lamp, neither man willing to
admit defeat. Father looked up as Vincent entered. “It’s taken me all
night, but I finally have him on the ropes. It’s five games all, and I’m
winning this one.”
“Who
says I’m not letting you win, old man.” Tony stretched languidly as he
grinned at him, before rising from his chair to embrace Vincent. “I had
one or two lessons from an old Russian chess master back in
“Well,
I hope he gave you your money’s worth.” Father scowled at him. “Because
I don’t intend to be beaten this time. Not now…” He returned his
frowning gaze to the board, chewing on his bottom lip as he considered
his next move, extended his hand, paused, then changed his mind. He
hunched his shoulders in concentration.
“Perhaps I’ll return in time to challenge the winner. If, finally, there
is one.” Vincent smiled as he left them to their friendly feud.
The
quiet chatter of the pipes, the greetings of the few tunnel dwellers who
were already up and about attending to their chores, underscored the
deep sense of peace that moved through Vincent’s entire being. He had
rarely felt so restful. Even the memory of his recent unspoken promise
to the moon’s serene white face could not disturb his present sense of
calm and wellbeing.
He was
passing through a poorly lit area of the tunnels, where few dared to
venture, the open book his sole companion as he ambled along, having no
particular destination in mind. He quoted softly the lines of the poem
he had just read.
‘For whenever the hero stormed through the stations of love, each
heartbeat intended for him lifted him up, beyond it; and, turning away,
he stood there, at the end of all smiles, -- transfigured.’
“Transfigured…” He shook his head, repeating the rest of the lines
softly once more before his attention was distracted again by the sound
of a piano being played, somewhere beyond the wall beside him. He turned
to frown at the thick barrier of old brick and crumbling mortar,
reaching to press one hand against the wall’s rough surface. He leaned
closer – Chopin, if he was not mistaken. He stood listening to the pure
notes being skilfully played by an unknown hand. It didn’t sound like it
was coming from a radio…
Voices
from the tunnel behind him made him turn to look back. Kipper, Eric and
Angelo, along with a group of their friends were coming towards him with
skate boards tucked under their arms, obviously looking for some place
to make their fun away from adult supervision before they were summoned
back for their morning chores.
As the
children greeted and surrounded Vincent, the music beyond the wall
swelled and flowed seamlessly. Angelo leaned closer to press his ear to
the brickwork, his attention also caught by the music. He smiled,
reaching to tug at Vincent’s sleeve.
“Chopin?” Vincent
questioned. “Someone is playing it?”
“Yes…”
Angelo nodded with delight, his hands dancing through the air. “Much
better than the radio. Piano Concerto Number One in E minor,” his
fingers spelled out the words. “The playing is brilliant, a true
artist. Beautiful…” He
sighed, closing his eyes.
“We’ve
actually seen a man,” Kipper said, pointing at the wall. “Up on the
street and once in the upper subway tunnels. He looked like he was
searching for something, like a door, maybe. Or some way down to the
lower levels. But when he heard us coming, he went away again. Like he
didn’t want us to see him. He was wearing a big black hat, and he had a
scarf covering his face.”
Kipper
looked away along the tunnel. “Mr. Rossini up at the grocery store says
the guy bought an old brownstone on
“Better than good.”
Angelo’s hands flashed his scorn as he scowled at his friend.
“A maestro. I wish I could
play like that…”
He
shrugged.
“Would love to meet him some day…”
“Well,
if any of you see this man in the tunnels again, come and find me,”
Vincent told the boys. “We must be sure he does not find his way into
our world without our knowledge. We have no idea what he could want.”
“Okay,
Vincent.” Kipper shrugged. “I’ll make sure we send a message.”
Vincent watched the children running onwards down the tunnel, laughing
and chattering as they went. He leaned one shoulder against the wall and
closed his eyes as Angelo had done. Beside him the haunting music flowed
and crested for several more glorious minutes before finally dying away
into silence and then there was only the clattering of a passing subway
train to fill the void. Vincent sighed and straightened, placing one
hand flat against the brickwork and wishing the unseen artist well. He
would come here again to listen. He would also bring Catherine when she
was stronger.
Then
the dreaming silence was suddenly filled with a summons on the pipes,
signalling a message for Vincent.
Could he go immediately to the drainage tunnel entrance? He had a
visitor who needed to speak with him urgently.
Abandoning his wanderings, Vincent tucked the book of poetry into one of
the deep pockets in his great mantle. He turned and hurried back towards
the surface, wondering who the visitor could be.
“I’m not sure I even know
where to begin…” Elliot passed a distracted hand around the back of his
neck as he stood in the early morning shadows of the
Vincent placed a hand on
the other man’s shoulder, stilling his agitation. “You sent the message
Below, asking me to meet you urgently. You also said it was something
you wished to discuss privately with me, without Catherine’s presence or
knowledge. Tell me, then. What is it?”
“Yes…” Elliot released his
breath in a rushing sigh. He reached to grip Vincent’s hand with his
own. “I wanted to tell you first.”
“Then do so, Elliot,”
Vincent encouraged. “Tell me what you find so difficult to say.”
“Joe. It was Joe who sent
me down this new road.” Elliot stepped away to take a short turn around
the entrance before walking back again. “He was getting nowhere with
trying to divert Diana’s attention from the mysteries she cannot solve.
She wants to know what we know. Joe thought I might be able to buy her
off if I offered her enough money. I went to see her tonight.”
“A novel approach that
smacks of desperation,” Vincent commented drily. “If I know Ms. Bennett,
I doubt it worked.”
“Yes, the whole idea was a
total bust. She laughed at me.” Elliot shook his head. “She’s convinced
Azrael, Joe, and I know more than we are willing to impart; which, of
course, is the truth. But when Joe went to see her last week he
discovered she’d begun another investigation — had new boards set up and
everything. Joe tried to reason with her and got nowhere. So he thought
if I went to see her, I might persuade her she’s wasting her time. She’s
looking into everything, including what happened that night here at the
carousel and you. You, most of all. She is aware that you saved her life
that night.”
He frowned. “But last
night…suddenly she’s all pleased to see me and invites me in. Then,
right out of the blue, she offered up a sweetener. She said I must be
sure and tell you. Didn’t believe me when I said I had no idea who she
was talking about. She said from this moment on, we’re to stop treating
her like a fool. The deal is, if Joe and I get you to tell her
everything she wants to know, she’ll give you access to some new and
incredible information that she’s just uncovered in her investigations.
I’m not sure I even believe it myself.”
“What new information
could she possibly have to offer?” Vincent spread his hands wide with
frustration. “What does she think she knows that would encourage us to
allow her access to our world before we are ready to admit her? Allow
her into all our secrets. Does she imagine we are that gullible?”
“That’s what I said, and
then she came right out with it. And that’s the incredible part of all
this.” Elliot spread closed fists with impotent frustration. “If I
hadn’t seen the information for myself I would never have believed her.
But she swears it’s all true. And she can prove it. Said she found it by
accident a few hours ago.”
“What, Elliot? What is
it?” Vincent seized his shoulder as the other man was about to swing
away for another agitated turn around the space before them.
“If you can believe what
she says, it’s about Cathy’s dad, Charles Chandler.” Elliot’s grey eyes
looked deep into his friend’s frowning gaze. “I don’t know. It seems
utterly…incredible. But it appears he’s not dead after all. It was all a
government cover-up…”
“Not dead…?” Vincent
echoed in stunned confusion. “How can he be
not dead? What does that
statement even mean? If he is not dead then where has he been all this
time? It doesn’t seem credible.” He forced down his sense of disbelief
so he would not disturb Catherine through their shared connection. He
knew he must discover the whole truth first.
“That’s all Diana would
tell me.” Elliot’s mouth thinned with disgust. “She said she knows she
owes you big time for that night at the carousel, but she wouldn’t
divulge anything more about the case until she gets some answers. She
was watching us all talking at the new gallery opening a couple of weeks
ago and I swear she looked like she wanted to shoot us one at a time.
I’ve never seen her look so angry. Not even down in the tunnels when
Mouse brought her back up lumbered with all those paintings. And when
she demanded to interview
“She is an excellent chess
player,” Vincent commented drily. “She is bringing our queen into play
earlier than we expected and now the next move must be ours. She has
called our bluff, knowing that we are most vulnerable where Catherine is
concerned.”
“Yes, and now she’s got us
right where she wants us.” Elliot shook his head. “I managed to get hold
of Azrael and left him manning the fort for as long as he can hold out.
But I know he’s almost at the point of running for cover again down here
in that garden of his. We need to do something and soon.”
“I don’t understand any of
this.” Vincent’s brows pulled together. “But if Diana has that kind of
information, I don’t think there is anything we can do but agree to her
terms. To give Catherine back her father, I would risk everything
possible. But only if you are satisfied her information is genuine. This
is about Catherine after all.”
“Well, what she showed me
was official looking enough. A whole stack of FBI files pertaining to
witness protection, she said. Someone must have slipped up when they
gave it to her. Or maybe there’s someone with a conscience who knows the
truth and finally wanted to share. But it seems our late and unlamented
Gabriel had a hand in this somewhere. Something about Charles getting
caught up in some nasty corporate dealings with Gabriel’s dummy
corporations and shell companies. And
then he had to go into hiding for his own safety when he tried to blow
the whistle on it all. And I thought what that man did to me was bad
enough.”
Elliot’s lips thinned with
disgust. “The authorities had to make his death totally believable or
Charles would’ve been hunted down and killed. Apparently the FBI
smuggled him out of the hospital in the coffin we saw buried later, and
put him on a private jet bound for
“Gabriel…” Vincent
breathed the name on a note of intense disgust. “First Paracelsus rears
his head again in our world, and now the spectre of Gabriel must haunt
us once more. I have no idea what to do with the information. What am I
to tell Catherine that will not cause her tremendous worry and concern?
Especially if Diana is mistaken in any of this. I will not allow my wife
to be upset by some nebulous information and speculation. I will need to
see this definitive proof.”
“Diana seemed very sure of
herself.” Elliot shrugged. “She was quite determined she was correct in
all she’s saying. And I will admit I have never known her to be wrong.
She did allow that if I was going to be any help at all, it would be to
arrange a meeting between the two of you. Then she would divulge more of
her source and give everything she has to Joe and the D.A.’s office.
She’s sure he can make it possible for Cathy to be eventually reunited
with her father. Those are her terms, take them or leave them.”
“She knows full well we
will take them.” Vincent walked slowly to the tunnel entrance to stare
out into the new dawn. “We have trusted her with the knowledge of
Azrael’s world deep beyond ours and she has not betrayed that trust. And
she has not tried to force her way back into our world and she does know
the way. She is patient and methodical.” He looked back, shaking his
head. “As I said, she’s an excellent chess player.”
His shoulders lifted and
he sighed. “If it were only for me, I would say we should wait for more
proof, but for Catherine’s sake there can be no question of that. It
would mean everything to her to see her father again. To have him back
in her life and meet his grandchildren. She’s believed he’s been dead
these last few years. I have no idea what to say now.” His broad
shoulders rose and fell.
“Then I will see Joe, and
together we will arrange everything for you.” Elliot came to stand
beside him, taking hold of Vincent’s arm. “We will organise this meeting
far away from the tunnels, somewhere neutral. I have a few abandoned
buildings to choose from. And we will all be there, Joe and Azrael and
I. I’ve already put through a phone call telling Manning to pull his
operatives out of the field. They cannot be involved in any of this now.
We must trust Diana will not do anything stupid. If it is only a meeting
with you that she wants, then that’s what she’ll get. Beyond that I will
not allow her to intrude any further into your world until we’ve gained
access to everything she knows about Cathy’s dad. Don’t worry, Vincent.”
“Thank you, Elliot.”
Vincent gripped his hand. “But how can I not worry? I cannot tell
Catherine any of this and any meeting with Diana will cause Father to
worry. We knew this day must come, but not so soon. And until we have
settled this matter and seen all the evidence, we cannot decide what to
do for the best. Everything Charles Chandler knew about his daughter and
her life has completely changed. And that night Catherine took me to see
a man she had been told was dying. Even if it has been nothing but a
cruel charade we still told him everything about us. If he was aware of
us on any level beyond whatever state they had placed him in medically,
he knows the truth. What can we tell him now if he is alive?”
“That Catherine is truly
happy and doing fine. I’d tell him she’s loved and cared for. I think
that is all he ever wanted for her. I guess the whole truth is all we
have now.” Elliot shook his head. “So we must make the best of it with
what we have. It will be all right, Vincent. I won’t let anything happen
to you and those you love when I am there to prevent it. I will put
Cleon onto finding out the truth. He’s the best at what he does.”
“Then go and tell Diana we
agree to her terms. Inform me of the time and the place and I will be
there. And she is to come unarmed. You must make that a stipulation. For
Catherine’s sake, I pray this new information is correct. But it does
seem impossible. And now I must go and tell Father…”
“Alive…?” Father dragged
down his reading glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose between thumb
and forefinger in agitation. Tony had finally retired to bed, triumphant
after taking out the last chess game to beat his erstwhile opponent.
Father’s previously jubilant mood had consequently soured.
“Alive…” He stared at
Vincent seated across from him and dropped his hand. “How can he be
alive? Catherine was told he had a stroke that he did not survive.
Surely this new information is nothing more than a fishing expedition to
force our hand. Make us tell that woman the truth she has worked so hard
to uncover.”
“Elliot assured me it is
not,” Vincent replied quietly, pressing his fingertips together before
his lips. He spread his hands and shook his head. “He says he has seen
the proof and it all appears to be authentic. I think Diana’s terms are
quite reasonable, given the circumstances. A meeting is all she asks
for.”
“Reasonable!”
Father slammed the flat of his hand down on the table, making the chess
pieces jump. “Sweet heaven, if this is some sort of trap… Vincent, are
you so sure we can trust her? We are allowing her to set the rules
here.”
“We must, for Catherine’s
sake.” Vincent leaned forward. “There can be no greater reason than
that. But we will choose the meeting place.”
“Yes…” Father sighed
gustily. “You are right, of course. But Vincent, you must be very
careful. Do not trust her any more than you need to. She is forcing us
into a corner for her own ends. She could have handed over the
information to Elliot in good faith in return for your having saved her
life from Gabriel’s killers. I would have thought better of her then.
But you have no obligation to reveal yourself to her. Just answer her
questions and get out of there as soon as you can. Let Azrael and the
others take care of the rest.”
“So far she has shown no
inclination to act on the knowledge she does have,” Vincent repeated
what he had said to Elliot. “She has kept all our secrets, every one of
them. I think it is time we trusted her, a little more. She has earned
that right, at least.”
“Trusted who?” a soft
voice questioned from the chamber entrance.
Vincent knew his wife was
standing there even before she spoke. He glanced up at Catherine. He
felt Father stiffen beside him and heard him clear his throat in
warning.
“It seems Diana Bennett is
once more coming far too close to us and our secrets.” Vincent stood,
inviting Catherine down into the chamber with his hand outstretched.
“She is giving Joe and Elliot no peace and driving Azrael to
distraction. We were discussing the timing of finally introducing her to
our world before she finally digs her way down to us.”
“About time, I say.”
Catherine nodded, sliding her arm around Vincent’s waist and reaching up
to kiss his cheek. “We have trusted her so far with everything she has
discovered by herself and she has not betrayed us, even though she has
had the opportunity to do so. I say it is time we allowed her to know
the truth. She has been down to Azrael’s world after all. She is almost
halfway here.”
“Very well.” Vincent put
both his arms around her, drawing her close against him and kissing the
top of her head. “Have I told you lately how wise you are?”
“Not in so many words.”
Catherine returned his embrace before drawing back to look up at him
quizzically. “What is it, Vincent? What has made you look so worried? I
can sense your unease. You can trust Diana, I’m sure of it. But there is
something more, I can feel it. Something you’re not telling me.”
“I am only concerned about
the depth of that trust we must explore now.” Vincent shook his head. He
would not lie to Catherine, but nor would he share the knowledge that
could potentially be nothing more than a clever ruse. He would not upset
her at this time and give her the slimmest cause to hope where there
very well could be none. It was his burden to bear alone for now.
“Joe, Azrael, and Elliot
are all going to be at this meeting,” Father put in, his eyes filled
with concern. “Vincent will not be alone. And Ms. Bennett will not be
armed; that is a stipulation we must insist on.”
“And when is this
meeting?” Catherine took Vincent’s arm.
“Elliot will set the time
and place as soon as possible and then inform me. It will be somewhere
safe and secluded far from here.” Vincent cupped her face. “Please do
not worry. I will not let anyone harm what we have now.”
“I know that, Vincent.”
Catherine leaned into his palm. “And Father and I will wait until you
get back. I’m sure Diana has guessed most of what you have to tell her
anyway. She is a very astute woman.”
“I’m afraid that idea
gives me little comfort,” Father remarked morosely, staring into the
middle distance and fiddling with the chess pieces before him. “But it
seems now we have been left with no choice.”
“What is this place?”
Diana looked around her with deep suspicion, probing the darkness with
her flashlight. “I thought you
were rich. So how come haven’t you paid the electricity bill?”
“This is a safe place.”
Elliot stood watching her with narrowed eyes. “Far away from prying eyes
and nosy neighbours. And we have all the light we need. We have no wish
to draw attention to ourselves.”
“Well, it looks like a
fire trap to me.” Diana frowned into the shadowed depths of the
cluttered old warehouse. “I can’t believe anyone would want to meet up
in a mouldy old place like this in the middle of the night. So…since
you’ve decided to call off Manning’s men, am I finally going to see
Catherine Chandler’s mysterious lover? Or have you brought me here under
false pretences?”
“You’ll meet him,” Joe
growled from behind Elliot. “But first there are some rules that you
will agree to, or the meeting’s off.”
“Then Cathy will not get
to see her father again.” Diana frowned at him. “I have copies of
everything right here. Joe gets it the moment I get what I want.” She
tapped the large hold-all she carried slung over her shoulder. “I know
you think I’m running my own agenda here, but I just want to know, guys.
Let me in. Tell me all the things you keep whispering about. You must
know I can be trusted by now, surely. I haven’t told anyone of what I
know already.”
“If only it were that
easy.” Azrael moved to her side, taking her free hand and holding it
tightly. “There is so much to learn. So much that you might not believe
even the half of it. We must be sure you understand the scope of the
secret you are asking us to share. This is only the first step.”
“Aw, come on, guys…” Diana
threw up her hands in disgust. “I saw where you lived, Azrael, and I
coped with that just fine. I don’t scare easy.” She jerked a thumb at
Elliot and Joe. “I met up with these two halfway to the centre of the
earth, and they looked like they were coping just fine, too. Like they’d
done it before. I get it that there are other places, other worlds, down
there. I just want to know what you know. Share and share alike —
quid pro quo and all that.
Now where is he?”
“I am right here. Good
evening, Ms. Bennett.”
Diana swung around sharply
to look behind her. She did not know what she was expecting, but the man
who stood in the deepest shadows of the warehouse’s cluttered recesses
she had not imagined. For a start he was far bigger than she had ever
visualised, mysteriously hooded, and dressed in an odd assortment of
clothing that surely belonged in another century far removed from this
one. He’s dressed just like the
Mouse boy. More fairy tales…
But his voice…
An odd tremor passed right
through Diana, leaving her confused and on edge, a disconcerting feeling
she didn’t like. She frowned, taking a halting step towards him, trying
to see him better in the gloom beyond the flashlight. “I want to see
you…”
“That’s far enough.”
Azrael’s hand settled warningly on her arm — when she would have raised
the flashlight to see her quarry better — and he did not release her.
“You can ask what you need to know from here.”
“That wasn’t part of the
deal.” Diana frowned up at him, as Joe and Elliot moved up on either
side, virtually surrounding her. “I want to know everything. Why can’t I
see him properly? What do you have to hide that you won’t step into the
light?”
“You demanded to meet me,
Diana,” Vincent replied quietly. “For Catherine’s sake, I agreed to that
only. You will come no closer.”
“Oh, you’re good,” Diana
acknowledged drily. “Yes, a fine legal point. Fair enough, I guess I
have no choice for now. I do owe you one concession for saving Joe and
me that night back at the carousel. But you will answer all my questions
or the deal’s off.”
Vincent nodded. “I will
answer your questions as far as I am able to do so. But some of our
secrets are not mine alone. You must understand that.”
“Fine, I can live with
that. Relax, boys.” Diana glanced at each of her watchful guardians in
turn. “Take a load off and chill. Vincent and I are just going to talk.”
“How do you…?” Joe gasped.
“And you thought I didn’t
know his name.” Diana grinned at Joe as she indicated Vincent with a
sweep of her hand. “I heard you, that day back in your office when we
were on the Snapper case. I walked in and you were talking to yourself.
Bad habit, Maxwell.”
“Well, we’re here if you
need us, Vincent.” Elliot eased back slowly, taking the other two men
with him. They didn’t move very far away.
Diana cast them a
disgusted look. She reached to pull an old packing crate forward and sat
down. “I don’t know about you, Vincent, but I’m beyond tired of all this
cloak and dagger stuff. I’ve come here tonight, ready to deal.”
“I must agree with you on
that point.” In the shadows of his hood Vincent smiled. He had his
doubts about this meeting, but he sensed it was going to be all right
after all. He glanced at Diana’s frowning jailors and nodded. It was
time to get down to the real business of the night.