Oh! said Carey. Then, with grudging respect, Harding said you were competent; now I believe him. All right; whats your problem?
Meyricks daughter has just pitched up at the hotel.
The telephone blasted in his ear. What!
What the hell am I to do? said Denison desperately. I dont even know her bloody name.
Jesus H. Christ! said Carey. Wait a minute. There was a confused murmur and then Carey said, Her name is Lyn L-Y-N.
Do you know anything else about her?
How the devil would I? demanded Carey. Not off the top of my head.
Damn you! said Denison violently. I have to talk to this girl. I must know something about her. Shes my daughter.
Is she there now?
Denison looked sideways through the plastic hood. Shes standing within ten feet of me. Im in the hotel lobby and I dont know how soundproof this canopy is. She wants to come to my room.
Ill do what I can, said Carey. Hold on.
Make it quick. Out of the corner of his eye he saw the girl walking towards him. He put his head around the edge of the hood, and said, I wont be a minute, Lyn. Is there anything you want to take up to the room?
Oh, yes; my little travelling bag. Ill go and get it.
He watched her walk across the lobby with a bouncing stride, and felt the sweat break out on his forehead. Carey came back on the line. Margaret Lyn Meyrick but she prefers Lyn Meyricks daughter by his first wife.
Denison digested that, and said quickly, Is her mother still alive?
Yes divorced and remarried.
Name?
Patricia Joan Metford her husband is John Howard Metford; hes something in the City.
What about Meyricks present wife?
There isnt one. Also divorced three years ago. Her name was Janet Meyrick, née Austin.
About the girl what does she do? Her work? Her hobbies?
I dont know, said Carey. All this stuff is from Meyricks dossier. We didnt delve into the daughter.
Youd better get something fast, said Denison. Look, Carey; I dont know why Im doing this for you. My impulse right now is to blow the whole thing.
Dont do that, said Carey quickly. Ill get as much information on the Meyrick girl as I can and Ill let you have it as soon as possible.
How?
Ill send it in a sealed envelope by special messenger; she doesnt have to know whats on the sheet of paper youre reading. And if things get too tough Ill find a way of separating her from you. But, Denison dont blow your cover, whatever you do.
There was a pleading quality in Careys voice and Carey, in Denisons brief experience of him, was not a man who was used to pleading. Denison thought it a good opportunity to turn the screw. Ive been given the fast run around by you ever since this... this indecent thing was done to me. Now I want an explanation a full explanation and it had better be good. He was aware that his voice had risen and that he was in danger of becoming hysterical.
Youll get your explanation today, promised Carey. Now do your best to handle that girl.
I dont know if I can. Its one thing fooling a stranger and another to try it on a member of Meyricks family.
We may be lucky, said Carey. I dont think they were too close. I think she was brought up by her mother.
Denison turned to face the lobby. Ill have to go now the girls coming. He put down the telephone and heard a faint, squawking noise just before the connection was broken. It sounded as though Carey had said, Good luck!
He walked away from the telephone as she approached. All finished.
She fell into step with him. You looked as if you were having an argument.
Did I?
I know youre an argumentative type, but I wondered who youd found to argue with at five oclock in the morning in the middle of Oslo.
They stopped in front of the lifts and Denison pressed the button. Where have you just come from?
Bergen. I hired a car and drove over. Most of yesterday and all night. She sighed. I feel a bit pooped.
He kept his voice neutral. Travelling alone?
Yes. She smiled, and said, Wondering about a boyfriend?
He nodded towards the thinning group in the lobby. I just thought you were with that lot. The lift arrived and they stepped inside. No wonder youre tired if you did all that driving. What it is to be young.
Right now I feel as old as Methuselah, she said glumly. Its the hunger that does it. Ill feel better after breakfast, I dare say.
He risked a probe. How old are you, Lyn? I tend to lose track.
Yes, you do, dont you? You even forgot my twenty-first or did you forget? There was an unexpected bitterness in her voice. Any father who could do that... She stopped and bit her lip. Im sorry, Daddy. Its my birthday next week.
Thats all right. There was an undercurrent of antagonism Denison did not understand. He hesitated, and said, Anyway, youre old enough to stop calling me Daddy. Whats wrong with Harry?
She looked at him in surprise and then impulsively squeezed his hand.
They had arrived at the room door and he unlocked it. Bedroom straight ahead bathroom to the left.
She walked ahead of him into the bedroom and put down the travelling bag. The bathroom for me, she said. I want to wash off some of the grime. She opened the bag, picked out a couple of small articles, and disappeared into the bathroom.
He heard the sound of water as she turned on a tap and then he picked up the telephone. This is room three-sixty. If there are any messages for Meyrick or anything at all I want to know immediately. He put down the telephone and looked contemplatively at the travelling bag.
The bathroom noises continued so he crossed the room quickly and looked into the bag. It was more neatly packed than he had expected which made it easier to search. He saw the blue cover of a British passport and took it out and turned the pages. It was Lyn Meyricks birthday on July 21, and she would be twenty-two. Her occupation was given as teacher.
He put the passport back and took out a book of travellers cheques. As he flicked through them he whistled softly; the Meyrick family did not believe in stinting themselves. There was a wallet fitted with acetate envelopes which contained credit cards and photographs. He had no time to examine these in detail because he thought she might come out of the bathroom at any moment.
He thrust back the wallet and zipped open a small interior pocket in the bag. It contained the key for a rented car and a bunch of smaller keys. As he zipped it closed he heard all sound cease in the bathroom and, when she emerged, he was standing by the armchair taking off his jacket.
Thats much better, she said. She had taken off the motoring coat and, in lime green sweater and stretch pants, she looked very trim. When is the earliest I can order breakfast?
He checked his watch. Not much before half past six, I think. Perhaps the night porter can rustle up sandwiches and coffee.
She frowned and sat on the bed. No, Ill wait and have a proper breakfast. Blinking her eyes, she said, I still feel as though Im driving.
You shouldnt push so hard.
That isnt what you told me the last time we met.
Denison did not know what to make of that, so he said neutrally. No. The silence lengthened. Hows your mother? he asked.
Shes all right, said Lyn indifferently. But, my God, hes such a bore.
In what way?
Well, he just sits in an office and makes money. Oh, I know youre rich, but you made money by making things. He just makes money.
Denison presumed that he was John Howard Metford who was something in the City. Metford isnt such a bad chap, he said.
Hes a bore, she said definitely. And it isnt what you said about him last time.
Denison decided against making gratuitous judgements. How did you know I was here? he asked.
I got it out of Andrews, she said. When he told me you were in Scandinavia I knew youd be here or in Helsinki. She seemed suddenly nervous. Now Im not sure I should have come.
Denison realized he was standing over her. He sat in the armchair and, perhaps in response, she stretched out on the bed. Why not? he asked.
You cant be serious when you ask that. Her voice was bitter. I still remember the flaming row we had two years ago and when you didnt remember my twenty-first birthday I knew you hadnt forgotten. But, of course, you didnt forget my birthday you never forget anything.
He was getting into deep water. Two years is a long time, he said platitudinously. He would have to learn how to speak like a politician saying a lot and meaning nothing.
Youve changed, she said. Youre... youre milder.
That would never do. I can still be acid when I want to be. He smiled. Perhaps Im just becoming older and, maybe, wiser.
You always were wise, said Lyn. If only you werent so bloody right all the time. Anyway, I wanted to tell you something to your face. I was disappointed when I found you werent in England, so I rushed over here. She hesitated. Give me a cigarette.
Ive stopped smoking.
She stared at him. You have changed.
Temporarily, he said, and stretched out his hand to open a drawer in the dressing-table. He took out the gold cigarette case and the lighter and offered her a cigarette. Ive had a bad head cold.
She took a cigarette and he lit it. That never stopped you before. She drew on the cigarette nervously and blew a plume of smoke. I suppose youre surprised Im not smoking a joint.
Denison suspected that he was encountering something of which hitherto he had only heard the generation gap. He said, Stop talking nonsense, Lyn. Whats on your mind?
Direct and to the point as usual. All right Ive taken my degree.
She looked at him expectantly and he was aware that she had dropped a bombshell. How he was supposed to react to it he did not know, but the damned thing had better be defused carefully. However, taking a degree was usually a matter for congratulation, so he said, Thats good news, Lyn.
She regarded him warily. You mean it?
Its the best news Ive heard for a long time.
She seemed relieved. Mother thought it was silly. She said that with all the money Im going to have why should I worry about working especially with a lot of snottynosed East End kids. You know what shes like. And the Bore didnt care one way or another. For a moment she sounded pathetic. Do you really mean it?
Of course I do. He found he was really glad for her and that put sincerity into his voice.