Creatures of the Chase - Mikail. L. M. Ollie
and the child yet unborn. Unless any of you wish to voice any strong objection, I shall in future refer to this young lady as Mrs. Richard Mayfair Develin.’
‘And so say I,’ intoned Doctor Bryan.
Liam nodded. ‘And so say I.’
Father Donovan anointed Sarah’s forehead with holy oil. ‘And so shall it be recorded.’
*****
Richard had left Sarah a note and a ring; both would remain her most treasured possessions.
Better by far you should forget and smile
Than that you should remember and be sad.
I said that I would never apologize to you again but I was wrong and now I find that sorry is too inadequate a word. I can but trust that where I can never have your forgiveness, I can at least hope that ultimately you will understand. You have rendered me rich beyond measure in both a son and your love. I thank you for both.
Have a wonderful life, my dearest, darling Sarah. Richard
Inside the envelope was the ring engraved simply - SWC Despite Everything RMD
*****
‘So, is this a rental car or what?’ Carl asked as he nodded towards the Mercedes.
Jack smiled. ‘Found it in the ship’s forward hold on a specially designed platform tied down and covered up snug as a bug. Yusuf Sarquazi would never use a rental car.’
‘Following in his footsteps; that’s nice.’
‘Fuck you Emery.’ Jack looked around. ‘I haven’t come to see you anyhow or put up with your bullshit. Where is she?’
‘I assume by “she” you mean Mrs. Develin-Sarquazi. She’s saying goodbye.’ Carl nodded towards the mausoleum.
‘Is Alan with her?’
Carl shook his head. ‘Alan has gone back to Boston. As I said it’s Mrs. Develin-Sarquazi. They’re divorcing.’
‘Shit! What happened?’
‘I guess Seefan said it best. She has run with wolves. You have but to look into her eyes to see the wildness there. Alan to her was nothing more than a puppy by comparison and, quite frankly I don’t think he rated even that.’ He sighed. ‘Sarah’s lawyer, Patrick Turner received the divorce papers just a few days ago.’
‘So she knows.’
‘Yes, she knows as she also knows that he’s demanding a major financial settlement. I don’t know how much, but it will be in the millions I’m sure. When Turner told her she instructed him to pay Alan whatever he wanted and get rid of him.’
‘That’s sad.’
‘Yeah, well there it is. Seefan knew the marriage was in trouble but she didn’t know how to tell me until … I confronted Alan and well, he was pretty bitter.’
*****
Carl caught Alan coming out of the library. ‘Alan, you had better get that wife of yours under control.’
‘Why don’t you ask me to stop the tides? That would be a piece of cake by comparison.’
‘Are you telling me that you can’t or you won’t?’
‘Both I guess.’
‘She needs a firm hand Alan otherwise …’
‘Okay, what do you suggest I do?’
‘I don’t know. Knock her up for Christ’s sake. That will slow her down, at least for a while.’
‘She’s on the pill Carl and will remain so. No going there; I’ve already tried.’
‘So, there will be no real Roses amongst the adopted ones in our garden nursery?’
‘Didn’t Sarah tell you? She’s changed her mind regarding adoption thanks in part to Patrick Turner. Apparently as their adoptive father I would gain control over them and their inheritances and we can’t have that, can we?’ He smiled wickedly. ‘I nearly had it all Carl and now what am I? Christ, we should take our act on the road. Sarah can be the organ grinder and I can be her monkey.’ He did a little grotesque parody; face contorted and arms waving. ‘All I’ll need is a collar and a chain but hey, wait a minute maybe it’s already there and I haven’t noticed yet.’
‘Oh for Christ’s sake Alan, stop it. Maybe if you had sat at the head of the table and …’
‘Oh please Carl, give it a rest. I’ve been in that dining room since I was six years old and the head of the table was always filled to overflowing with Richard’s presence. It still is.’ He brightened suddenly. ‘I know what I’ll do. I’ll go through Cavendish Hall and piss in all the corners and, if I do a good job, a really good job then maybe Sarah will stop thinking of him, Sarquazi and, who knows Capritzo as well.’
*****
Jack frowned. ‘What do you think he meant by nearly having it all? Do you think he married her for her money?’
Carl shrugged. ‘If he did it’s all Richard’s fault. After Alan’s father died in a boating accident when he was six, Richard sort of took over the job of raising the boy. He was his godfather after all. Richard would send airplane tickets to Alan and sometimes his mother as well; all expense paid trips to exotic destinations. After Alan’s mother died of breast cancer when he was eighteen, Richard basically financed his education, accommodation - everything. Every month like clockwork, money would be deposited into his bank account and, if he needed more, he got it; no questions asked. Of course the trips continued. Fair to say I think that Alan grew up thinking of himself as someone special. Whatever salary he pulls down as Director of Develin Pharmaceuticals Research and Development in Boston, wouldn’t begin to satisfy his appetite for the high life.’
‘When did he arrive back in Boston?’
‘He left here two weeks ago and decided to have himself a little holiday in the U.K. Twice American Express called seeking expenditure authorization; isn’t that what it’s called when you spend up big? He got back to Boston three days ago. We know that for a fact because he promptly went out and bought a Mercedes 450SL just like Sarah’s. She was livid.’
‘Carl, Justine Benghazi is still at the Brownstone and she still has a major hate on for both you and Sarah. If she got it in her mind to … look, if I were you I’d give Alan a call and tell him to get the hell out of Boston as soon as possible. Send him down to Peru or somewhere, but get him out of Boston.’
Carl blanched. ‘Do you think that he’s … Christ almighty; I’ll give him a call right away.’
‘Good.’ Jack wasn’t quite sure how Carl was going to take this but there would never be a better time than right now. Besides, there are some things that are best said face to face.
‘The Benghazi will want her to marry again as soon as the divorce is finalized. Or Alan fetches up dead.’
Carl shook his head. ‘I very much doubt if she would be interested in ever marrying again.’
‘Carl, I hate to be the bearer of bad news but I don’t think she will have an awful lot to say about it. Muslims don’t like women of child-bearing age as divorcees or widows.’
‘They can’t force her.’
‘They’ll