“I’ve explained who you are,” she said.
Field crouched down and offered the boy his hand. “I’m Richard.” Alexei was shaking. Natasha took him in her arms again. “It’s all right now, my darling. It’s all going to be all right.”
“I think we should leave,” Field said quietly. He noticed that his own hand was shaking.
“They will not let him go.”
“They’ll do as they’re told.”
Natasha looked at him. He knew that she wanted desperately to believe him.
Field moved to the other side of the room and stepped out into the corridor. Father Brown and Sister Margaret were huddled by the doorway. Field tried to smile. “I’m sorry to have to do this without the appropriate paperwork, but we are going to have to take Alexei away now.”
Father Brown looked as if he would explode. “You can’t do that.”
Field stared at Father Brown’s bearded face and solemn eyes. “I’m not sure you clearly understand me.”
“That boy is not to leave this orphanage under any circumstances.”
“Is that Lu speaking, or you?”
Father Brown gathered himself to his full height. “If you think I’m going to apologize for the unpleasant rumors that surround one of our most generous—”
“Rumors?”
“I know your type, Mr. Field.”
“And I know yours, Father.”
Field turned on his heel and Father Brown lunged for him. Field easily shrugged him off, then slammed him up against the wall.
Sister Margaret flailed at Field’s back, screaming for him to stop, as if the sudden act of violence had finally pushed her over the edge. He picked Father Brown up and threw him onto the floor, then kicked him once, hard, in the stomach. The priest let out a groan and Sister Margaret a shriek. Another priest appeared in the corridor, a group of children behind him. Natasha was in the doorway.
Field took his revolver from its holster and walked as calmly as he could to the classroom. “Come on,” he said.
Fifty-two
They drove away in silence. Natasha was in the back, her arms wrapped tightly around Alexei. The little boy’s feet were draped over the edge of the seat, his eyes fixed uncertainly upon Field. Field concentrated on trying to project a confidence he did not feel.
They sped over Garden Bridge and onto the Bund. Field glanced briefly across at a steamer coming into dock. The sails of the sampans were like tiny pinpricks of light against its dirty steel hull.
Field checked the rearview mirror, then looked around to see if they were being followed. They passed the Hong Kong Shanghai Bank and the Fraser’s building and the Customs House, and then he took a right into Foochow Road and a left almost immediately. It was quiet here, and he pulled up in the shade of the sycamore trees.
Natasha came forward and kissed him on the neck, holding him so hard that her fingers dug into his chest.
She did not let go.
He closed his eyes. He reached around and stroked her hair, then gently released himself from her arms. “It’s all right,” he said. “It’s all right. Alexei, you’re safe now.”
Natasha slumped back and drew the boy to her. His body was limp.
Field glanced at his watch. It was much later than he’d thought. He tried to ease the tightness in his chest. “Tell me what Lu’s ledgers look like.”
She shook her head, not understanding.
“Describe the room.”
“Please, Richard . . .”
He turned and looked at her. “We have only a few hours.”
“Please.”
“If we wait until he leaves the house, then there is a chance.”
“I do not—”
“We have to have something to bargain with, Natasha. We have to buy your freedom. If we can get hold of the ledger and threaten to give it to a paper like the
She stared miserably at the floor.
“You have taken so many risks already, I know that, but this can buy your freedom. I’m getting you a passport and papers. We’ll begin a new life. We’ll go to Venice.”
She slowly raised her eyes to his. “I do not understand.”
“Yes you do. So did Lena. It was what she was trying to get.”
