‘Where else is there?’
‘Well there’s a river view near the golf-course that isn’t bad. At least it’s quiet.’
‘All right. We’ll go there.’ She moved along the bench seat. Perhaps you’ll drive.’
I got in under the steering wheel, switched on and trod on the starter. As I manoeuvred the car out of the lot into the drive-way, I gave her a quick glance. She was looking away from me, remote and thoughtful, her face as expressionless and as smooth as an ivory mask.
I drove through the entrance gates, turned right, continued up the brilliantly lit avenue to the bridge, then swung the car on to the bridle path that led along the river. A few minutes’ more driving brought me to the spot I had in mind. I slowed down, turned the nose of the car to face the glittering moonlit river and parked. Except for the occasional croak of bullfrogs in the reeds farther up the river and the lap-lap-lap of water against the bank, there was no sound to disturb us.
‘Do you want to get out?’ I asked, breaking the silence that had brooded over us since we had driven from the club.
She roused herself, as if her thoughts had been miles away, tossed her cigarette end into the river and shook her head.
‘No; we can talk here. It was you who found Souki, wasn’t it?’
‘Yes. Have you any news of your husband?’
‘They ‘phoned tonight. They want five hundred thousand. They told me he was well and was looking forward to seeing me again.’ She spoke in a cold, flat voice that didn’t quite conceal a frightened anxiety. ‘The money is to be paid the night after next, and he will be released as soon as they have it.’