Denied to all but Ghosts Read Online Free PDF Page B

danced
and shimmered on the lake’s tranquil surface.
    “The truth is I don’t hate England. I have
many happy memories as a boy visiting my Grandparents. It was
always like going home, despite what my mother said. But you grow
up; I went to school and University in Germany and been here ever
since. When you are not born German, you have to work twice as hard
to prove that you are. Yes?”
    “I really couldn’t say, Marchy. You seem very
much German to me.”
    Cavendish eagerly swallowed his wine and
poured them both another generous measure. Already he could feel
the effects of the alcohol blurring his mind.
    “Okay, if you once liked England, why don’t
you try you embrace it again? Remember those good days. Don’t go
there with your ‘Germanic superiority’,” Tina rolled her head
sarcastically, “become one of them, they’ll like you for it. You
must know someone over there, you were only there last year, so who
do you know?”
    “Well, I’ve to meet Simeon Goldstein and his
brother Miles; they are old family friends on my mother’s
side.”
    “Well there you go, who else?”
    “There’s Josh Houghton, he’s a police officer
and official liaison between the firm and the authorities in the
UK. I’ve met him many times at various conferences. Trouble is,
after the last case we worked together, he was suspended. He was
reinstated eventually. There was also a photographer guy, Thomas
Beckett. Trouble is, he ended up in hospital at the end of the
case.”
    “Jeez, Marchel, do all your cases end up with
suspensions and hospitalisation?” asked Tina with alarm.
    “Of course not!” replied Cavendish a little
too loudly, “well some of them, admittedly. But it’s never my
fault,” he added unconvincingly.
    “Well, ‘mister’ Cavendish, I suggest you
contact this Houghton bloke and Beckett. I’m sure they will be
pleased to see you.” Cavendish gave Tina a hard, quizzical stare.
“Come on Marchel, it’s a good job I know you. Anybody would think
you were an ogre, one thing I do know about you is that you like
putting yourself down. God knows why with a scar like that but
women like you well enough,” she grabbed his hand and held it
tightly before continuing.
    “Only joking, bruv. I also don’t know why you
think men dislike you so much.” Cavendish could offer no sagacious
reply and so ordered another bottle of wine before disappearing to
the toilet.
    Inconsequential small talk accompanied their
meal before they retired to the lakeside terrace to smoke.
Cavendish swooned as his inebriated legs failed to coordinate with
his dysfunctional mind. Tina stood beside him with her cardigan
around her shoulders and trembled with the chill of the
evening.
    Alert to her shivering, he removed his blue
jacket and wrapped it tenderly around her shoulders. Placing his
left arm around her, he drew her in against his body as they
watched the moored boats on the lake sway in the gentle evening
breeze.
    “Thank you, Tina,” he said quietly, slurring
his words.
    “For what?” she asked, stirring from her
private musings.
    “For this, you didn’t have to come.”
    “And leave my big brother all alone on his
last night?”
    Cavendish unhurriedly turned to face her,
tilted her head with his right hand, and looked down at her dimly
lit features as he leant forward. Tina anticipated his intention
but remained motionless as he gently kissed her for a few
exquisite, tantalising seconds before she pulled herself away.
    His palpable passion disturbed her yet was
undeniably exciting. Somehow, she skilfully concealed her
astonishment from Cavendish’s imploring eyes. She rationalised that
he had been drinking for the first time in many months and that
explained his inappropriate ardour.
    “I think I’ll turn in, Marchel,” she said as
impassively as her inflamed emotions would allow, her mind a
whirlwind of confusion and guilt.
    Cavendish continued to gaze at Tina with
unblinking eyes and whispered