to
deny.
‘But you aren’t with someone or apart from them because of the
way they smell.’
‘Why not?’ asks Stephen sharply. ‘Why ever not? It’s as good a
criterion as most.’
‘That’s not such a ridiculous observation,’ she says, smiling. ‘But other things come into play, you know. And I must make the odd
compromise if I’m to see my way into the future.’
‘But is it worth it? With him, I mean? You know enough about
him already.’
‘I’m quite prepared to talk about it. But I’m afraid you won’t
budge me,’ she says with an implacable gentleness.
‘My main concern is for you. Is this really what you want? How
can you be sure you’re safe? He does have a quick temper and he’s
still strong for his age.’
‘Oh, he has and he is. But I can manage him. As you know, I have
a shrewd idea what he wants from this relationship and his needs
will act as a brake on his angry impulses. He’s very much in control of those impulses, I think. And to answer your question: this is very much what I want. I need this.’
‘I’m sorry. I just care for you so much.’
‘I know you do,’ she says fondly. ‘So the best thing is to fall in line with my intentions and to be pleasant to Roy. Not over- fawning;
pleasant will do just fine. You should be able to do that, as you’re such a nice boy.’
‘I’ll try,’ he says.
‘It’s Gerald, isn’t it?’
‘What do you mean?’
50
1ST_9780241206935_TheGoodLiar.indd 50
05/05/15 5:32 PM
‘Gerald’s being difficult, isn’t he? Putting the pressure on.’
‘No more than usual. You know what Gerald’s like. And we do
need to make headway.’
‘Can I help at all?’
‘I shouldn’t think so. But thanks.’
‘I’m not decrepit yet, Stephen. I do know how Gerald’s mind
works, after all.’
‘No. I have every regard for your academic expertise. And I know
Gerald does too. Your views are critically important, of course. But you’ve no need to worry about Gerald. I don’t think weighing in
would do much good.’
‘I’m assuming it’s his normal refrain on accuracy, attention to
detail and verification?’
‘More or less.’
‘Well, he’s right in a way. But he does bore on the subject. Exactly the same when he was preparing his thesis. I think the most important thing in a researcher is a good heart. That’s what I used to tell my students, including Gerald. Objectivity is critical of course. But if one sets about with malign intent to mankind, or even indifference or entirely selfish motives, then that way madness lies. Gerald believes this too, beneath the verbiage. He stresses dispassion precisely because he’s so passionate himself. He has a good heart and
so do you.’
3
‘What’s the matter?’ asks Roy as Stephen peers through the wind-
screen and the car makes its glacial progress towards the bypass.
Though not exactly genial, Roy is not aggressively scornful. Maybe
he too has had a pep talk from Betty. ‘You look as if you’ve had a
hard day. Your face could turn milk sour.’
Prompted by Betty, Stephen has embarked on an excursion with
Roy, who needs to go to the garden centre. In the sketchy curricu-
lum vitae that Roy has delivered verbally there is an obscure
reference to a former role managing a nursery. He professes, at
51
1ST_9780241206935_TheGoodLiar.indd 51
05/05/15 5:32 PM
least, a knowledge of plants and Betty is looking to revitalize the small patch of walled garden she has at the back of the mews cottage. Roy has taken on the project quite happily, but insists that
Betty does not accompany him on his purchasing mission. Instead,
while he does the job professionally, she may remain at home with
the cleaning and ironing. But he requires a driver and this is where Stephen comes in useful.
‘Not really,’ says Stephen in as placatory a tone as he can muster
while concentrating on the journey. ‘Just normal stuff. Work.’
‘You take it all too seriously if you