The Geneva Trap

Chapter 59

On Friday evening Martin Seurat flew into Heathrow from Charles de Gaulle airport. Liz was there to pick him up. They were spending the weekend with her mother and Edward in Wiltshire.

‘It’s nice not to have to drive down in the dark,’ she said as they rejoined the M4. Even now at eight o’clock there was still over an hour until sunset. For the next half-hour her attention was focused on negotiating the heavy Friday evening traffic on the motorway, but as it thinned out after Reading, she noticed that Martin was quieter than usual.

Eventually he said, ‘You know, I’ve been thinking. I’m not sure how much longer I want to stay in this line of work.’

‘Really?’ Liz was surprised; Martin had never said anything like this before.

‘Yes. I’m thinking it might be a good time for a change.’

‘What would you do?’

‘I’m not sure. Something calm and normal, if that were possible. Something where I didn’t have to feel that people’s lives depended on what I did.’

‘Wouldn’t you miss it?’

He shrugged. ‘It’s not that I’m bored, and I’d certainly miss the challenge. Though even that seems less exciting. Last week I didn’t think about Milraud once.’

‘I’d call that progress.’

Martin smiled. ‘I’d still like to catch the bastard, but if I don’t, it no longer seems like the end of the world.’

This was a side to Martin Liz had not seen before but, listening to him talking, she thought she had a good idea what had brought it on. She said, ‘I’m glad they found Kubiak. Though what a horrid way to die. ‘

‘Yes, but remember what he did to you.’

‘I don’t think he’d planned it at all. I think he panicked when he saw me, and acted on the spur of the moment.’

‘Perhaps you’re right. But anyway, he’s gone now, thank God.’

She nodded. Then, after a pause, said, ‘And my nightmares have gone too.’

‘Nightmares?’ he asked innocently.

‘Yes. I know you knew I was having them. But thank you for not mentioning it. I saw the office psychiatrist this afternoon. DG wouldn’t let me take on any new cases till she’d signed me off.’

‘How did it go?’

‘Fine. She said I was clear. But I’ve got to go back to see her in three months, just to be sure. By the way, I was talking to Isobel this week,’ she added.

‘Oh, yes. What about?’

‘That man Antoine from the commune, the one who’s in prison here. They’re applying for extradition, but I think he’ll be tried here first for the attack on Edward and Cathy.’

‘I’m not surprised.’

Liz hesitated, then said, ‘And she told me what happened when you raided the commune.’

He said nothing. Liz went on, ‘You didn’t tell me about René and the gun. Isobel said it was a close-run thing.’

Martin sighed and said, ‘I didn’t want to worry you. You’ve had enough to deal with without bothering about me. Anyway, Isobel saved my bacon. Did she tell you that?’

‘Not in so many words, but I got the impression that she turned up just in time.’

He didn’t respond and she wondered if he was annoyed that she’d mentioned it. There was silence in the car for a few miles, then he said, ‘I don’t know if René would have killed me. Thanks to Isobel I didn’t have to find out. I feel lucky to be here. But my scare was short-lived, yours lasted hours.’ He paused then said, ‘I’m just tired of having to deal with people like René and Antoine and Kubiak. I can’t forget the sight of you tied up in that van. I keep seeing you in there and thinking what would have happened if we hadn’t found you.’

So he’s having nightmares too, thought Liz. But at least he’s talking about it, which must be a good thing.

And having started talking, he didn’t want to stop. ‘It’s funny. I’ve been in dangerous situations before – including twice in Marseilles, believe it or not. But I’ve never felt so close to death. I was afraid, I really was. And that makes me angry. Angry with myself; angry with the man who scared me. I’ve never felt that way before, which makes me think perhaps it’s time I got out of the business.’

Liz didn’t think there was anything she could say. A few more miles passed, then he said, ‘You know, it seems completely surreal to be sitting here next to you, going off for a nice weekend in the country. I can’t believe it’s true. ‘

‘It is true,’ she said. ‘This time the bad guys are safely locked away, or dead. We’re very fortunate.’

‘Yes. You’re right. We’re very fortunate,’ he said happily. Then he placed an affectionate hand on Liz’s shoulder. ‘Let’s stay that way – just drive a little slower, will you?’