Free The Road Between Us by Nigel Farndale Page B

his memory the loud crackle as she pulls out a strip of duct tape and cuts it with scissors before sealing her lips.
    Edward turns the page and sees a photograph of himself, the one taken in the cave with him holding up a copy of the Daily Telegraph . ‘So the ransom demand came after this was taken?’
    Niall hesitates again. ‘Yes.’
    ‘And was it paid?’
    ‘The British government cannot pay ransoms.’
    ‘Was it paid?’
    A beat. ‘Yes.’
    ‘Who paid it?’
    Another beat. ‘I did.’
    Edward’s eyes widen. ‘ You did?’ He rubs his brow. ‘Why didn’t you say? How much was it?’
    ‘Three million dollars.’
    Edward stands up. Begins pacing. ‘Where did you get …?’
    ‘I found a way to channel it from our overseas development fund … There’s nothing on paper about it, but if it comes out I’ll take full responsibility.’
    Edward shakes his head. Cups the back of his neck with his hand. ‘Fuck!’ He shakes his head again. ‘I mean, I don’t know what to say, Niall. Thank you. You saved my life.’
    Niall gets to his feet. The two embrace.
    ‘Thank you,’ Edward repeats in a whisper, kissing Niall’s neck.‘Thank you so much.’ When he sits down again he adds: ‘And thank you for levelling with me. It puts my mind at rest.’ He folds his arms and looks up at the ceiling. Hannah has turned the music off and is practising her guitar again, her bass this time. ‘She showed me a clip of herself playing in her band. They were pretty good. She holds her bass low, like Sid Vicious.’
    ‘Did you tell her you thought they were good?’
    ‘I don’t recall.’
    ‘Well, you should. She needs your approval.’ Niall looks away, his lower lip drawing back. He is thinking about how much he had enjoyed being a surrogate father to Hannah when Frejya was busy campaigning. She had become the child he and his wife Sally had been unable to have. ‘She’s grown up to be beautiful, hasn’t she? Smart too. And confident. You must be very proud.’
    ‘It didn’t exactly have a lot to do with me.’ Edward draws his fingers down his face until they are resting against his chin. ‘She reminds me too much of Frejya … And I can’t deal with it.’
    ‘Can’t or won’t?’
    ‘What do you mean?’
    ‘I mean …’ Niall isn’t sure what he means. He has seen the way Edward sometimes looks at Hannah and it worries him in ways he can’t quite articulate, as if even to give a shape to his thoughts would be taboo.
    Edward sighs. His hands are shaking slightly. ‘I think I know what you mean. She’s like … like Frejya’s ghost haunting the house, this stranger impersonating my wife. It’s unbearable.’
    The tips of Niall’s fingers grow cold as he realizes what it is that bothers him about the way Edward’s eyes sometimes fix on his daughter: he used to look at his wife in the same way. The same fervent stare. He is sure Edward hasn’t realized this himself. Not yet. But now he finds himself wondering whether, when he does, it will be too late. ‘Actually, I don’t think they are all that similar,’ he lies.
    ‘Really?’
    ‘And even if she does look a bit like Frejya, it’s not her fault.’
    ‘Fault? What are you talking about?’
    ‘Perhaps being cooped up in the house together all day doesn’t help. Too many memories. Why don’t you get away somewhere? A long holiday.’
    ‘Now you mention it, I had a letter from someone offering me the use of his holiday home in Alsace. Acres of garden. Very private.’
    ‘Who?’
    ‘Some investment banker. His driver delivered the invitation by hand.’
    Niall shifts in his seat. ‘I’d say no to that one, if I were you. Too risky.’
    ‘Risky?’
    ‘He hasn’t been vetted. Besides, the FCO has lots of quiet retreats dotted around the world. Just tell me where you want to go and I’ll arrange something. Somewhere hot with palm trees and a pool.’
    ‘Thanks, I’ll think about it.’
    ‘You OK?’
    Edward is staring at his thumb as