The Devil Read Online Free PDF Page A

the suit?'
    He didn't rise to the bait, rarely d i d , said,
    'Jack, I have all sorts of interests and if you ever want to
    get your act together, I'd be delighted to have you along.'
    I looked at my watch, said,
    'We'd better get this over w i t h . '
    He got to his feet, his suit without a crease or crinkle, and
    added,
    ' Y o u might have fun.'
    As we headed out I said.
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    'Yeah, and I might get to America someday.'
    H i s car was the new sleek Datsun, grey. Accessorized his
    suit. He turned the key and pulled effortlessly into the traf-
    fic. He hit the tape deck or iPod or whatever and we were
    blasted by music. I listened in silence for five whole minutes
    - I know, I counted out the time - and finally asked,
    'What on earth is that?'
    He turned it up a notch, said,
    'Searching for the Wrong-Eyed Jesus.'
    There are some lines there is just no reply to.
    Ridge's new home was one of those huge sprawling
    monsters, so beloved by the Anglo-Irish when they ruled the
    land.
    Once impressive, no doubt, but badly in need of repair.
    A n d a bastard to heat.
    We drove up a tree-lined path to the main entrance. I
    asked,
    ' H o w many acres y o u figure he's got?'
    Without a beat he said,
    'One hundred and fifty-eight.'
    ' Y o u checked?'
    He gave that familiar half-smile, said,
    'I check everything.'
    Didn't add,
    'Reason I have the suit and the car.'
    The whole place was lit up, and a bevy of cars were
    already parked. Stewart reached into the back seat, grabbed
    flowers and bottles of wine. He looked at me, asked,
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    ' Y o u didn't bring anything?'
    I waited till I was out of the car, said,
    'Brought y o u . '
    A girl in a maid's uniform welcomed us and offered to
    take our jackets.
    N o .
    Led us into a large room, w i t h maybe fifty people already
    lashing into champagne, a huge chandelier overhead and the
    walls hned w i t h paintings.
    We were offered canapes and champagne. I took a glass
    and Stewart asked for some water.
    Ridge emerged from a throng of people, looking radiant.
    I've seen her look
    like shite,
    lost,
    angry,
    hurt,
    but radiant, never.
    A blue silk gown made her seem like a beauty.
    She hugged Stewart, thanked h i m for the lovely flowers,
    then turned to me, said,
    'Well, you tried.'
    I was a bit taken aback, asked,
    ' Y o u don't like the jacket?'
    She hugged me, a rare and rarer event, and said,
    'It's so . . . y o u . '
    The fuck was with that?
    There was Anthony Bradford-Hemple and a tall bald-
    headed man. She told us that her husband was deep
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    in conversation w i t h a very important prospective cHent.
    Something about h i m .
    The man feh my stare, turned, and I felt a chill. Bald or
    not, it was the guy from the airport, K u r t .
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    5
    'The Divil knows his own.'
    O l d Irish proverb
    Jesus wept.
    I was rooted to the floor.
    The blond locks had been shorn, but it was h i m .
    The fuck was going on?
    Champagne on top of X a n a x and the shots of Jay w o u l d
    screw w i t h anybody's head. Right?
    Ridge was pulling at my sleeve, going,
    'Jack, are y o u O K ? '
    I focused, shook my head and asked her,
    'The guy w i t h your, er . . . husband, w h o is he?'
    She threw a fast glance at Stewart. The one that
    asks,
    ' D o we need to get him out of here?'
    Stewart was no help and she finally said,
    'That's C a r l Franz. He's arranging for Anthony to turn
    our home into a tourist resort. He is so amazing.'
    K u r t . . . o r maybe Carl?
    C a r l with a K, Fd bet.
    M r K ?
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    KEN BRUEN
    Fuck, champagne really does meddle w i t h the brain
    sockets.
    Before I could arrange any of those fevered thoughts into
    cohesion, they were approaching. I braced meself, resolved
    to go with the flow.
    Anthony was all Anglo-Irish cordiality, warmth without
    conviction, went,
    'Jack, so delighted you could make it. M a y I introduce
    you to an esteemed prospective business partner, Mr Franz.'
    K u r t put out his hand, manners counting most. He said,
    'Jack, I've heard so