“No, I didn’t mean anything like that. But when he said what he did about us I could see you were ready to.”
“Was it so obvious?”
“It was to me.”
77
“I blew up at him in the car.”
“I thought you would. What did he say?”
“Just laughed it off.”
“Charming. I could have killed him when he said that about my shirt being undone.”
“It was, though.”
“I dressed in a hurry. I wanted to know what was going on.”
“I know. I’m not trying to make out you did it on purpose or anything. It’s just that, well, with a bloke like him around you’ve got to be extra careful.”
“Now I know. Though I hope I won’t have the pleasure again.”
“He doesn’t give up easily,” Banks said gloomily.
“Nor do I. Where are you? What are you doing?”
“At home. Relaxing.”
“Me, too. Is Sandra back?”
“No.” The silence crackled again. Banks cleared his throat. “Look,” he said, “when I mentioned dinner the other day, before all this, I meant it. How about tomorrow?”
“Can’t tomorrow. I’ve got an evening class to teach.”
“Tuesday?”
Jenny paused. “I suppose I can break my date,” she said. “It had better be worth it, though.”
“The Royal Oak is always worth it. My treat. I need to talk to you.”
“Business?”
“I’m hoping you can help me get a handle on some of those Maggie’s Farm people.
Seth and Mara are about my age. It’s funny how we all grew up in the sixties and turned out so different.”
“Not really. Everybody’s different.”
“I liked the music. I just never felt I fit in with the longhaired crowd. Mind you, I did try pot once or twice.”
“Alan! You didn’t?”
“I did.”
“And here’s me thinking you’re so strait-laced. What happened?”
78
“Nothing, the first time.”
“And the second?”
“I fell asleep.”
Jenny laughed.
“Still,” Banks mused, “Burgess is about my age, too.”
“He was probably sitting around in jackboots and a leather overcoat pulling the wings off flies.”
“Probably. Anyway, dinner. Eight o’clock all right?”
“Fine.”
“I’ll pick you up.”
Jenny said good night and hung up. Still friends. Banks breathed a sigh of relief.
He went back to his armchair and his drink, but he suddenly felt the need to call Sandra.
“How’s your father?” he asked.
Sandra laughed. “Cantankerous as ever. But mother’s coping better than I’d hoped.” The line was poor and her voice sounded faraway.
“How much longer will you be down there?”
“A few more days should do it. Why? Are you missing us?”
“More than you know.”
“Hang on a minute. We had a day in London yesterday and Tracy wants to tell you about it.”
