They had their names in the newspapers and on hoardings. I wonder if you can understand why I pretended to be someone quite different from what I really am? It was foolish, but I wanted so badly to be someone . . . to impress people.'
The woman nodded, understanding. She thought sadly of her son, Crispin. He also had wanted to impress people. 'Go on,' she said, 'I understand that part of it.'
'When I told Sydney about the gun he changed towards me. I know why now. I was just the fool he was looking for, but I didn't know then. It wasn't until after I shot Crispin that I knew.'
They all stiffened when he said that. Nick reached forward and seized him by the back of his neck, but Max struck his hand away.
'Wait,' he said.
'So you did shoot him' Emily said, her eyes snapping.
'Oh yes,' George returned, 'it was an accident, but I shot him all right. It's something I'll never forgive myself for.'
He told them about Cora.
'I don't understand women,' he explained. 'I've never had anything to do with them. It all happened so quickly. She rather swept me off my feet. I've been very stupid, I'm afraid.'
He went on, explaining every detail, showing them the gun. He explained how Sydney had fixed the trigger and had stolen the cartridge. He pulled out the magazine and demonstrated how easily the gun fired. He told them how careful he had always been never to put a cartridge into the breech.
'I was afraid of accidents,' he said, 'but they loaded the gun without telling me. You see, they were determined to make me a murderer.'
The woman and the Hebrew sat listening, their faces intent. The two Greeks wanted to have done with it. George could feel their restlessness. He knew they were not interested in what he had to say. He sensed that they were planning how to get rid of his body when they had finished him.
He told them about the whip and the visit to the cottage.
'I don't really know how it happened. She gave me the gun. I heard her slip hack the safety catch, but it all happened so quickly that I had no chance to do anything As soon as I touched the trigger, the gun went off.'
Max blew his nose.
'I don't think there's anything else to tell you,' George went on, leaning back in his chair, suddenly tired. 'A lot has happened to me since then, but I won't bother you with that. I don't know what you want to do with me, but I know what I want you to do with her.'
They looked at him 'What do you want us to do with her?' Emily asked softly. 'I want justice,' George said simply.
'Sydney's gone,' Max said, looking down at his veined hands. 'No one can touch one of us without paying the price. Crispin was one of us, you know.'
Emily touched his arm. Her eyes reached George's face. 'Where is she?'
George told her.
She got to her feet. 'We'll go and see her.'
'What about him?' Nick said, speaking for the first time.
'He'll come with us.'
'It would be better . . .' Nick began, but Emily shook her head.
'He'll come with us,' she repeated.
She went over to the desk and put on a light coat.
'Get a taxi,' she said.
Max changed his white coat for a black one, put on his bowler hat and picked up an umbrella.
'It's raining,' he said gloomily
While Poncho went for a taxi, Nick stood over George, threatening him with the razor. Somehow George felt no fear. He was hollow, without feeling, disinterested.
They waited, while the rain fell outside, and the sound of distant traffic vibrated the big windows.
A taxi drew up outside.
'All right,' Emily said, picking up the Luger and putting it into her bag.
George stood up. 'If you please . . .' he began and stopped.
They looked at him
'It's my cat,' he said. 'Could he be buried?'
Max nodded. 'We'll bury him,' he said, almost kindly.
George touched the bundle. He didn't want to leave Leo like this, wrapped in a soiled bath-towel on a bar counter. Leo deserved something better than this, but there were other things to do. Besides, George was tired. He had no idea where to bury Leo. Cora must have felt the same way about Sydney. It was better, perhaps, to leave the cat in the hands of strangers.
A clock was striking eleven as they got into the taxi. Max and Emily sat on the turn-up seats. George, between the two Greeks, sat opposite them.
