The Professionals Circuit Archive - Master Song	Master Song

 

by Fanny Adams

  
 *(A story in the Fox and Wolf universe)*

*I believe you heard your master sing
 When I was sick in bed
 I suppose that he told you everything
 That I keep locked away in my head
 Your master took you travelling
 Well, at least that's what you said
 And now do you come back to bring*
 -Leonard Cohen

******

*Spring 1980*

Eddie's good cheer disappeared like a light that had been switched off.
One moment he was laughing and talking and the next he was sullen,
withdrawn. Ray raised an eyebrow at Bodie who shrugged. "Something wrong?"
Ray asked cautiously.

"He's here again."

"Who is?" "The slimy bastard who's been after Sasha. He's here almost
every night." Eddie nodded toward the box directly opposite theirs and Ray
and Bodie both turned to look.

For Bodie it was like being ducked in cold water. Gareth. There was no
mistaking the tall, fair-haired man in the box to the left of the stage.
Bodie stared across the theatre, transfixed by the memories that came
flooding back to him at the sight of the silver-gilt hair and angular
figure. Gareth Stewart in London. He could hardly believe it. Since
Marikka's death Bodie had been looking for him.

"Now what?" Doyle nudged him.

"What?" he snapped, annoyed at being disturbed.

"I asked... never mind." Ray turned and began to talk to Eddie who was
hardly more receptive.

Bodie had called in every favour owed him, had contacted everyone he knew
all over the world, yet for two years he'd heard nothing. Now Gareth was
sitting in the box opposite his own, Jimmy at his side like always. It was
like some sort of cosmic joke. Perhaps there was a god.

"The son of a bitch sends flowers; rafts of them..."

"Someone's jealous," Ray remarked.

"I may be, but that's not all there is to it. Sasha's afraid of him."

"He has good reason to be," Bodie murmured. "I know him. He's...
unimaginable."

The effect on Eddie was immediate. "Dangerous?" he demanded. Without
waiting for an answer, he left the box.

"Excuse me, will you?" Bodie said to the startled Ray. He slipped out of
his seat and into the narrow corridor that ran behind the boxes. The
weight of the gun against his ribcage was reassuring; he was ready for
Gareth; could finish him that evening.

And yet... what was Gareth doing here? And why was he courting Sasha?
Bodie never believed in coincidence, particularly when it came to men like
Gareth. It never paid to underestimate the opposition. Hara had taught him
that.

If Gareth had come to the theatre hoping to find Bodie - and this seemed
the most likely reason for Gareth's presence - the prospect of killing him
that night was almost nil.

Bodie took a deep breath and walked on down the corridor - and the first
steps in a deadly dance. Challenge made and met; only the time and place
remained in question. He reached the end of the corridor and parted the
curtain..

Jimmy was the first to react, his arm dropping down, a slight movement.
Bodie guessed that the hand lost in shadows held a knife.

"Gareth."

He had a moment to study Gareth's face, and what he saw could well have
been genuine surprise. It was difficult to tell.

"Drew? My God, it's been years!" He stood up and shook Bodie's hand.
"Jimmy, you remember Drew?"

"Who could forget a pair of Irish eyes like his? Of course I remember.
Hello, lad." Jimmy relaxed slightly, only slightly. His smile was plastic.

"Hello, Jimmy. It's good to see you both. I was sitting across the way and
thought I recognised you both."

Gareth settled back into his chair. "I daresay we've only got older, while
you've grown up."

He was right. There was something ravaged-looking about the once smooth
and handsome face. Gareth had lived hard and it showed. Jimmy, on the
other hand, looked much the same as the first time Bodie had seen him;
blunt-featured and smug.

"Won't you join us? Such a wonderful company. The principal dancer is very
talented." The corners of his mouth quirked slightly. Counter challenge.
How smooth he was. Almost, Bodie could envy him.

"No thank you. I'm with some friends."

Gareth turned and glanced across the theatre and Bodie knew that he'd been
right - Gareth was there to find him.

He turned back to Bodie. "Another time then. Are you living in London?"

"Yes, you?"

"Just visiting. Why don't we have supper together sometime soon? We can
catch up."

"No. You give me yours. I'm going to be moving about. Friends," he
explained. "It'll be easier for me to contact you."

Bodie pulled a business card out of his wallet. It read "Aberdeen Security
Systems"; Cowley's joke. "This is my work number."

"How nice. You'll have to tell me all about it when next we see each
other." It was a dismissal.

"Lovely seeing you both again."

"Indeed. How fortunate we picked this night to see the ballet. We'll have
to compare notes."

"About?"

"About Nagorny. He's one of your favourites, isn't he?"

Bodie acknowledged the threat. "And about Hara," he said with a coolness
that took every ounce of his self-control. He nodded to Jimmy and backed
out of the box. His pulse was racing as he made his way back to his seat.
It was time to settle old accounts at last. He slipped back into his seat
just as the lights dimmed.

"What was that in aid of?" Ray hissed over the opening bars of a Bach
Partita.

"I'll tell you later. Watch the dance." The curtains parted and Ray stared
down at the stage, but Bodie watched the box opposite, wondering how it
would happen, how the end would come, how soon and for whom.

At the first interval Eddie returned.

"Where have you been?" Ray asked, clearly mystified by all the comings and
goings.

"I told Gordon to keep your friend away from Sasha."

"Not a friend, believe me. I don't think Gordon could stop him," Bodie
admitted.

Eddie gaped. "Are you joking?"

Bodie shook his head. "I don't think he'd hurt Sasha. It's me he wants."

"Oh? Do you guarantee it? And what if you're wrong?"

Bodie rubbed his forehead. "I won't let anything happen to Sasha, I
promise."

Eddie stared at him for a moment. "Get stuffed," he said, and left the box
again.

"That was succinct," Ray remarked. "Want to tell me what this is all
about?"

"A face from the past," Bodie murmured. There was a brief silence during
which Bodie heard a woman laugh. In the box opposite, Jimmy offered Gareth
a box of chocolates. "This is not entirely my fault," he said more to
reassure himself than Ray.

Ray sighed. "Eddie can be an implacable enemy," he warned.

"So can I."

Just before the last ballet ended, they went backstage. In the dressing
room, Sasha, still in his makeup and costume, was trying to calm Eddie.
"Oh it's you two. Bodie what have you been telling him? He's gone off the
deep end about this old mate of yours."

"He's not a mate, but he's been using you to find me."

"How flattering. You lot seem to do that all the time. Sit!" he snapped at
Eddie who looked unhinged.

"This one's a dangerous lunatic," Eddie said, "Bodie said so."

"I said he was dangerous. The lunatic part is Eddie's contribution," Bodie
assured Sasha. "All I want you to do is go about your business. Pretend
you know nothing..."

There was a sharp rap on the door and Sasha froze. "I don't like this," he
said. Then he took a deep breath, squeezed Eddie's hand and said, "Come
in."

Ray began to chatter about the ballet, drawing all the attention to
himself, giving the others something to grab. "I was hoping Fred would
decide to do the Faune again this season, but he said he had so many new
pieces."

Gareth entered the already crowded room, and smiled at Sasha.

"I'm tired of it," Sasha said, his voice steady. The force of his will was
tangible, and Bodie couldn't help but admire his poise. "I've done it so
often I could do it in my sleep. Hello." He nodded at Gareth in an offhand
way.

"Did you like the flowers?" Gareth asked.

Sasha looked around the dressing room until he caught sight of a large
bouquet of tulips, irises and daffs - ephemeral flowers - and nodded.
"They're beautiful, thank you." Clearly he had no intention of asking
Gareth to stay.

"I see we have a friend in common." "Oh?"

"Andrew and I have known each other for years." Gareth stared at Bodie,
ice cold and deliberate.

"Andrew? Oh, you mean Bodie. Lucky old you."

Bodie had the feeling that something unpleasant was about to happen, but a
moment later a new voice cut into the conversation.

"Ray, I thought I saw you come back here... "

For a moment, Bodie was unable to place the newcomer. The face was
familiar, but the name... And then it struck him; this was the infamous
Ridley Deans, old Cosgrove's best interrogator and the most notorious
sadist in Military Intelligence.

If the appearance of Ridley Deans was a surprise to Bodie, it was an
obvious, even a violent shock to Stewart. He went white at the sound of
the man's voice and jerked around to face him.

"Gareth!" Dean's smile seemed genuine. He laid a hand on Gareth's arm.

It took Gareth several moments to compose himself. Finally he managed to
respond. "What are you doing here?"

"Ray got me a ticket. What a stupid thing to say. I still live in London."
He smiled and nodded at the rest of the group as though this meeting was
nothing out of the ordinary. "Ray, thanks so much for the ticket. I hope
I'm not intruding?" he asked Sasha, who relaxed visibly.

"Not at all. Friends of... " he stopped short, his smile ironic. "You're
welcome," he told Deans. "Did you enjoy the programme?"

"Very much. You were wonderful."

"Many thanks."

Bodie began to breathe again. Gareth, utterly taken aback by the
appearance of Deans, had clearly forgotten the rest of the group. He was
staring at the small, dark haired Yank with an intensity that made Bodie
uneasy.

Once again Ray took charge. "I think we'd better clear out and let Sasha
take his shower." He swept Deans and Stewart into the hallway, dragging
Bodie after, and shutting the door behind them. "What a coincidence you
meeting each other like this," he said to Deans with thinly veiled irony.
Bodie wondered at Ray's part in the scene. "And you and Bodie have met,"
Ray said to Gareth. Jimmy appeared at Gareth's elbow, his round, youthful
face full of delighted malice. "How jolly. We can have a party. I'm Ray
Doyle." There was the tiniest edge to his voice that told Bodie that Ray's
nerves were raw.

"Well, unless you already have something planned," Deans began, "I'd love
to kidnap Gareth and talk over old times."

Ray was relieved, Bodie could see it in his eyes, but what he saw when he
glanced at Gareth surprised and fascinated him - there was something like
gratitude in the mismatched eyes... and love?

"I think we can spare him," Bodie said with a plastic smile.

He and Ray watched the three men leave the theatre, then Ray said, "I'd
better make sure Eddie is all right. You go find out what happened to
Gordon."

Bodie found Gordon locked in a practise room. "What happened?" he
demanded, once he'd freed the guard.

Gordon shook his head. "Damned if I know. Somebody coshed me and I woke up
here. Feel this!" He bent his head for Bodie's examination. There was a
respectable lump.

"You all right otherwise?"

"Bit of headache is all."

"Ray and I will take you to hospital. You should have that looked at."

Gordon didn't want to go, but Bodie insisted. They stayed with him at the
hospital, and drove home afterwards.

"It was overdone, don't you think? Coshing Gordon, I mean," Ray remarked.

Bodie said nothing.

"What's going on, Bodie?"

"Nothing that need concern you." It sounded cold, thoughtless; and Bodie,
preoccupied with his own plans didn't bother to soften it.

They drove the rest of the way in silence.

Once home, Bodie locked himself in the bath. He needed a quiet place to
think.

Aberdeen Security Systems - advantage Bodie. He had the agency's
considerable resources at his disposal. With or without George's approval.
Relative anonymity - advantage Stewart. Gareth had lived most of his life
outside England. He was unknown to many of the people who could have
helped Bodie locate him. Determination... Advantage Bodie. No doubt about
it.

He dried himself and wrapped the towel around his waist. Ray was pounding
at the door.

"I've never seen you like this," he said, blocking Bodie's exit. "It
bothers me."

"Ray... that man was Hara's friend. They were lovers once. I'm going to
kill him." It sounded easy.

Ray went white. "What?"

"He was the one who killed Hara." Bodie stepped past Doyle and went into
the bedroom. Ray followed him.

"How do you know?"

"Marikka told me."

"How did she know?"

"She used to live with Gareth. He told her." Bodie hung his pants over a
hanger and smoothed them carefully before he draped the jacket over it.
"That's one of the things she told me just before she died. She'd known
for years, even when she and I were together." It was one of the three
betrayals that Bodie had never been able to understand or forgive. That,
and Hara's death, and one other thing. He hung his suit in the closet.

Ray made a disapproving noise and Bodie realised that his lover still
wasn't convinced.

"Look, it makes sense. Only three people in the world could have got that
close to Joji to do him that night - me, Yoshi and Gareth. It wasn't me or
Yoshi."

"Maybe he was careless. Bodie, you don't know for sure."

"I saw the body, Ray! He was shot at close range; half his head was blown
away." He shivered slightly. "Maybe I should just ask Gareth," he
muttered. "Excuse me, Gareth, but did you kill Hara? Only, I want to kill
you if you did, so..."

Ray moved closer, taking a different tack. "Why won't you let it be over?"
he asked as he tried to hold Bodie. He held on for a moment, then pulled
away and stared at the dark man. "Can't you ever forget?" he whispered.

Bodie shook his head. "Not until Gareth is dead."

"Not even then," Ray said, bitterness palpable in his voice. "And now you
two have involved Eddie and Sasha." He picked up his pillow. "I think I'd
better stay in the guest room tonight. If I stay we'll fight about this. I
don't want that. G'night, Bodie."

He left the room. Bodie reached the doorway in three strides. "What is
there to fight about?" he shouted at the retreating figure. Receiving no
reply, he added, "your altruism is touching." Then he went on with his
preparations for bed in silence. When Ray decided he was right there was
no shifting him.

Ray was on the phone when Bodie came down for breakfast the next morning,
and by the expression on his face, Bodie could guess that Ray was
discussing him with whoever was on the other end of the line. Ray wound up
the conversation quickly with a "right, talk to you later," and rang off.

"Sleep well, Sunshine?" Bodie asked without rancour. He'd missed Ray's
familiar warmth and was feeling wistful.

"Fine. There's bacon in the oven." He went and sat down at the table and
began to study the morning paper.

Bodie fixed himself some toast and took the rest of the bacon. "No eggs?"

"They went off."

"Oh." He sat down beside Doyle. "Who were you talking to?"

"Eddie."

Bodie wondered, and not for the first time, why Ray and Eddie hadn't
stayed together. They always seemed to have more to talk about than Ray
and Bodie had. "He still upset?"

Doyle looked up. "Why don't you ask if I'm still upset?"

"Are you?"

"Yes. I've been trying to work out what you must be feeling..."

"I can tell you what I'm feeling if you'll just listen," Bodie protested,
and Doyle banged the table with his fist.

"You're the one who won't listen, Bodie. You won't even hear me out."

Bodie stared at him for a few moments. "Fine," he said. "Talk."

"I want to know why you feel you have to do this."

"He killed Hara!"

"That's not what I mean. You told me that you found the man who paid for
the hit and killed him. You said that you felt he was the man responsible
for Hara's death, not the triggerman. That's what you told me when you
finally began to talk about that time." Bodie began to protest, but Doyle
held up his hand for silence. " I know you told me that they were
friends... lovers, but you also told me that Hara taught you that there
was no room for sentiment in a job like that."

"Are you qualified to judge someone else for what you see as a failure in
that area?" Ray asked softly.

Bodie was startled. "Is that a loaded question, Ray? Am I supposed to
examine my own loyalties?" The question hurt. "Were you implying that I
come up short in that area?" he demanded. He did, but how could Ray know
that?

"No. That wasn't a 'let he who is without sin' question. I just wonder if
you need to judge this man at all. If what you say is true, he may already
have judged himself more harshly than you ever could."

"I doubt it."

"Is it your right to kill him for what he's done?"

"Yes!"

"Why?" Ray demanded. "Who are you to judge him? Were you any more to Hara
than he ever was?"

And in a moment the perceptions of a lifetime shifted like a fault-line in
the earth, and Bodie's memories began to tumble and shake.

"Bodie?" Ray reached out, but Bodie pulled away, caught up in a fearful
quake of emotion.

"No," he whispered. "Don't. Please." In a moment Ray had given him the
answer - Gareth killed Hara because he loved him too much, had always
loved him too much. Had Hara felt the same? Had he walked into the trap,
accepted his death at Gareth's hands because it was the only act of love
left to them?

Bodie felt queasy. He folded his arms on the table and rested his forehead
against them. "God," he breathed. "What do I know?" He shut his eyes. Was
he bumbling about in matters that didn't concern him? "Joji..."

There was a silence broken only by the ticking of the clock.

"You say that name in your sleep," Doyle told him in a thick voice. Then
he sighed and carried his plate to the sink.

Bodie took a deep breath. "What do you know about Deans?" he asked.

Ray looked up. "What makes you ask that?"

"Just curious. Strange that he knows Stewart, init?"

"I imagine he has the same sort of contacts you do. He's had a checkered
past."

"He asked you to get him a ticket to the ballet?"

Ray nodded. "Was very specific about the date and location. Seemed strange
to me, but Deans is a strange man. You finished?"

Bodie nodded and Ray swept his plate off the table. "I don't believe in
coincidence. So Deans knew..."

"Or suspected," Ray interjected.

"That Gareth was going to be there that night. He has a bad reputation,
doesn't he?"

Ray frowned. "What d'you mean?"

"I've never had much to do with him. But I've heard things... surely
you've heard them too."

Ray leaned against the sink. "I've known him casually for about ten years
- George tried to lure him away from old Cosgrove, but Deans likes the job
security, I reckon. He's said to one of the best in the business."

"He's said to be a sadist," Bodie said flatly. Ray's response wasn't what
he would have expected.

"Not as far as I know."

It took Bodie a moment to realise Doyle wasn't speaking in general terms.
"Are you speaking from personal experience?" he asked, just to make sure.

Ray nodded and began to scrub the plates.

Bodie was fascinated and repelled. "When?"

"About nine years ago. Just before I met Sasha." He turned around and
stared at Bodie. "Well, I've startled you. I don't get to do that very
often."

Bodie was more than startled. The news hurt him in an indefinable way.
"How could you?"

"You mean go to bed with a sadist? I told you, I never saw any evidence of
it. You shouldn't pay attention to idle gossip. And it's a long time ago.
Let's drop it, shall we?"

"Gareth is a sadist. Hara told me someone here started him. He never
mentioned the name, that I recall, but..."

"Ridley Deans is not a name you'd forget," Ray observed with a brusqueness
that always signalled annoyance. He rinsed the last of the breakfast
dishes and wiped his hands. "If you're determined to go through with this,
you'd better be aware of what Ridley is up to." Then he left the kitchen.

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