Part One Hundred And Fifty Four
In the few weeks that Kay had been back in America, her thoughts had drifted several times to George and how she was getting on. She, Marino, Benton and Lucy had been caught up trying to drag the latest serial killer out into the open, finally succeeding in what was for her, a terrifying battle of wills with someone who resented her very existence and who was prepared to do anything to see her off this planet for good. But she was finally under lock and key, awaiting her trial, and the world was now just a little safer than it had been. But all this hadn't prevented Kay from intermittently worrying about her new friend. She had ordered some flowers to be sent to George whilst she was in hospital, and they had exchanged the occasional e-mail since George had returned home, but Kay couldn't help feeling a little guilty that she hadn't actually phoned her. Was this a little protection tactic, designed to keep her emotionally safe from becoming too entangled with someone who may soon leave this world for good? If it was, it was pathetic, she told herself sternly. She counted George as a friend, and friends did not under any circumstances treat each other like this, no matter how big an ocean might be between them.
Only two more days, she thought as she sat in her office in downtown Richmond, and it would be the beginning of April. Just where had the first three months of this year gone? She had hardly seen anything of Benton, but then what else was new, Marino being her companion on far more of a regular basis than her actual lover. It was around six on the Wednesday evening, and she was mindlessly collecting together all the forensic reports and evidence ready for her meeting with the commonwealth's attorney tomorrow morning, not an interview she was in any way looking forward to. When she heard the familiar, heavy-booted tread down the carpeted passage to her office, she couldn't help but smile. He always did this, she thought, Marino always turned up to drag her away from work when she was finding it less than enthralling to say the least. He didn't bother to knock on her open door, but strolled right in, dropping into one of her visitors' chairs without a by your leave. "Can't you leave this joint for just one night?" He asked tiredly, running a hand over his rumpled face. "I'm open to persuasion," She replied, not looking up as she sorted through autopsy photographs and body diagrams before placing them in order in the ever thickening case file. "I figured you could probably do with a break," he said, being a lot more tactful than usual, because only he had really taken notice of just how much the recent case had gotten to her. "I'm not about to disagree with you," She said, finally closing the file and locking it away in her desk. "One shot of Black bush and I could sleep for a week." "Yeah, and with the kind of dreams that could make you one of Benton's patients for a month," Marino replied knowingly. "You're being particularly intuitive this evening," She said with a slight smile. "What's wrong with you?" "I don't always act like a red neck, Doc," He said, sounding a little hurt. "I know," She replied, now apologetic. "Come on," He said, getting to his feet and holding out her jacket for her to put on. "All the stiffs you got downstairs, they ain't going anywhere, and will all still be here tomorrow." "Now that's something I certainly don't need," She said, getting up from her desk and slipping her arms into her cream suit jacket. "for one of the bodies in the fridge to get up and walk out of here without my consent." "As if they'd dare even try," Marino said with a grin. "I suppose you'd like me to cook," She said as she locked her office and they began walking towards the outside. "I could always treat you to a pizza," he suggested, knowing that this was the precise way to persuade her to cook something from scratch. "Absolutely not," She said in total disgust. "I refuse to have one of those things anywhere near my kitchen. Anyway, cooking might just help me to relax."
When they reached Kay's beautifully proportioned house in the gated neighbourhood where she had lived for the past ten years, Marino pulled his car up behind hers and followed her inside. "I'm afraid I'm going to have to bore you to death by playing some classical music," She said, walking into the lounge and towards her stereo that she didn't get to listen to half as much as she would have liked. "So what else is new?" He quipped mildly, having long ago gotten used to her slightly eclectic tastes. "Actually, there's something I would like you to listen to," She said, getting an idea that she simply couldn't resist. "You know the barrister I stayed with when I was over in England? She and several others took part in a performance of Haydn's 'Creation.' George made me a copy of the recording of it while I was there." "Are you trying to educate me again?" Marino asked suspiciously. "I would prefer you to regard it as an enlightening experience, rather than one of my rather persistent efforts to improve your appreciation of various forms of culture," She replied with a smile, removing the CD from the rack and placing it in the CD-player. "Doc, you know that classical is far more Benton's thing than it is mine," He said, her continued efforts notwithstanding. "I'm just trying to broaden your horizons, that's all," She tried to persuade him. "Yeah?" He replied disbelievingly. "Just like the time you took me to see that play, what was it called?" "Hamlet," She said, a little disgusted that he had forgotten such a renowned piece of Shakespeare so easily.
As the introductory chords began, she poured them both a Scotch on the rocks, automatically making his drink just the way he liked it, after many years of experience. They sat at the kitchen table, with the music playing in the lounge, and for the first time in weeks, Kay finally began to relax. They had both lit up cigarettes, and Marino couldn't help noticing that she absent-mindedly flicked her ash in time to the music. "Come on then," Marino said, finally breaking the silence between them as she stood up to begin preparing their dinner. "Just who took part in this?" "Barristers, judges, a prison governor, anyone from the legal profession who could be persuaded. George took the part of the female soloist, and she has a voice to die for. Why, are you perhaps the slightest bit curious?" "Just showing a polite interest," He replied, avoiding her eyes. Kay laughed, the thought of Marino showing a polite anything wholly alien to her. Removing some rich, Italian sausage from the refrigerator, she began slicing it very thinly and evenly, Marino watching the movement of her graceful hands in appreciation. "You know something," Marino said speculatively. "Whether you're holding a carving knife or a scalpel, you make it look like an art, not just a skill." Turning to look over at him, Kay just stared. She was incredibly touched by what he'd just said, and her eyes briefly misted over. "Thank you," She said quietly. "I think that's one of the most beautiful things I've ever heard you say." "It's true," He insisted. "I wonder sometimes why you didn't take up an instrument." "I never really had the time," she said, putting the pieces of Italian sausage in to slowly fry as she wiped the board clean, and began chopping onions, mushrooms and other vegetables to go into the pan. "They might not do this for a day job," Marino said after a while. "But they're fucking good. I wouldn't know the difference between this and the real thing." "Marino, they are the real thing," Kay insisted, retrieving some egg noodles from the cupboard and putting them onto boil. "The only difference is that they chose not to make money from their talents. It doesn't mean that they're any less skilled at what they do. It's something they all did partly for pleasure, and partly as the bar council's idea of a team building exercise." "Kinda like me playing my guitar on the very rare occasions I get the chance," Marino said with a self-deprecating smile. "Yes, something I wish you would let me hear," Kay replied with a smile of her own. Marino had always refused to showcase his talent to her, turning instantly bashful if she ever suggested it. "I will persuade you to let me hear you one day, you know," She promised him. "In your dreams," Marino said firmly.
When 'The Lord is Great' began in all it's glory, Kay picked up the nearest knife that lay on the chopping board, and began conducting with it, the blade whistling through the air with all the precision of one who did such a thing for a profession. "Now that really does make you look dangerous," Marino said as he watched her, seeing the love for what she was hearing shining out of her eyes. Kay didn't answer him, simply continuing to conduct to the very end of the chorus. "That's almost better than a treble Scotch on the rocks," She said into the resulting silence. "George," Marino said thoughtfully, having just listened to her reaching the top B-flat. "I bet she doesn't smoke." "Oh, yes she does," Kay said with a laugh. "Almost as much as you do. God, I really wish I'd been able to see this live. The next thing they do, I'm definitely going over for it, I don't care what it takes." "You know, you never did tell me much about what happened while you were over there." Marino's comment was innocuous enough, but as Kay changed the CD for the second one, she wondered what she should tell him. "Well, one thing that will surprise you," She said, trying to avoid the feelings of worry over George that threatened to swamp her. "I wore my gun to court, and got, well, caught." "No shit," Marino said in astonishment. "Doc, no offence, but that sounds like something I would do." "Yes, yes, I know, very, very stupid," She replied with a shrug. "But I just forgot. I'm used to having my gun somewhere on me all the time in court over here, and seeing as I had permission to have my gun in the UK, I didn't see any problem with taking it into court like I always do." "And how did the judge react to that?" "I was summoned to his chambers after the adjournment, to explain myself." "What a bastard," Marino said disgustedly. "Actually, he was very nice about it once I'd explained the situation," Kay told him fairly. "For a judge, he was a pretty nice guy really." "Don't let Benton hear you say that," Marino said with a shrug. "If Benton can get so jealous over such a trifle," Kay said a little waspishly. "Then perhaps he ought to spend more time with me than he currently does." "Doc, I don't want to hear it," Marino warned her. "You know what I think of you and Benton, so leave me out of it."
They didn't talk for a little while, simply allowing the music to wash over them. Marino would never tell her this, but he was forced to admit to himself that it was beautiful. It certainly wasn't something he would ordinarily listen to out of choice, but he couldn't deny their clear, unadulterated talent. "So, how was sharing a house with someone for two weeks?" He asked after some time had passed. "Let's face it, you like your solitude." "It was somewhat enlightening," She said, spooning the noodles, meat and vegetables onto two heated up plates. "I made a new friend in George, something I certainly didn't expect to do." Taking note of the sad expression that crossed her face at George's name, Marino said, "There's something you're not telling me. You've been very maudlin since you got back from England." "Are you surprised, what with the case we've been dealing with?" She replied caustically, though knowing that he was right. "No," He said mildly. "You're just usually better at hiding it, that's all." "George has breast cancer," Kay told him simply. "And I suppose it's just getting to me that I might be about to lose a friend whom I've only just begun to get to know, and I feel a little guilty that I haven't actually spoken to her since I came back." "Can I make a suggestion?" Marino asked carefully. "When you go over to Ireland in a few weeks' time, take a little detour through London and go and see her." Kay's face instantly brightened. "You know something, Marino, that's the best idea you've had in a long time. With everything that's been going on recently, that simply hadn't occurred to me." As they ate their meal and took comfort from each other's friendship, Kay found herself briefly wondering just what she would ever do without him. Marino for all his faults, usually managed to keep her on the straight and narrow, never allowing her to work too hard when he could persuade her out of the office, and always providing her with a certain amount of much needed perspective. She would go and see George, come hell or high water she would do it.