Read Online Fitzrovia Twilight (Nick Valentine Book 1) by James White - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: James White
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up in?”
Nick reclined back into the armchair and twirled his brandy glass thoughtfully. “I wish I knew.” He briefly recounted the events so far and waited for Stephen to speak.
The old man took off his glasses and laid them down carefully. “Nick, I thought, after you left the service, you were done with this?”
“I was. I told you what happened.”
“Listen, you know better than anyone, not having the whole picture is dangerous. This Carruthers has steered you into incredible danger but not apprised you of the full facts.”
Nick nodded and waited for his friend to continue.
“Clearly he’s been alerted to some sort of espionage, but it seems likely from what you’ve told me that this Ramona was the key lead for him. She was either working for him or he suspected her of working for someone else – the latter I would think. I don’t think he knew much beyond that; that’s why he’s sent you over the top. You’re the bait to flush out the big fish.”
“Just like the old days; the ones with no clue are sent to their doom by those that know better.”
Stephen nodded and waved the paper angrily. “Just like the old days. We both saw plans for war that will leave men dying in their thousands…” He trailed off and seemed to gather himself. “Still that’s from another time. We have to move on.”
Nick nodded. “We do.”
“You haven’t, though, have you, Nick?” Stephen spoke softly but the words made Nick look up sharply.
“I’m fine.”
“Your face tells a different story. How are you sleeping?”
Nick snorted. “Upright, in a chair, if I’m lucky.”
“You still have the nightmares?”
“Yes. I don’t want to talk about it, Stephen,” Nick said firmly, knocking back his brandy.
The old man nodded. “No one does. All that sacrifice; it’s already a forgotten war. Were you and I so lucky to make it through I wonder?”
“Never say that. Every day I thank my stars that I did make it. We have to go on and live our lives for those that didn’t. You’re all that kept me going through the darkest times. You didn’t have to come. Why did you?”
“Your father asked me to keep an eye on you.”
Nick swallowed heavily, pushed the memories aside.
“When your parents were gone and you were alone but determined to avenge them with your romantic notions of war, I had to go with you.”
“You didn’t.”
Stephen smiled. “No, but I did. I wanted to go, too. I guess we both learned different quickly.”
“Day two on the line,” Nick said bitterly. “Let’s not talk about it.”
“Do you still think about…?” Stephen paused. “…the incident?”
Nick’s jaw clenched and he nodded. No word would come. Think about it? How could he ever forget about it?
“You shouldn’t,” Stephen said softly. “It was war. Bad things happen. You had your reasons.”
“No reason is good enough for what I did. Look where it led me.” He spat the words, bitterness filling his tone. “Got me noticed, away from the front, ultimately promoted, for carrying out even darker deeds in cold blood on quiet city streets and unremarkable rooms. Maybe you shouldn’t have saved me on day two.” He gave a harsh snort.
“Never say that.”
“No. I’m sorry. I owe you.” Nick gave a wan smile.
“You don’t owe my anything. I served your family for years.” He waved around the flat. “They provided well for me, and so have you. I owe you.”
“God, we sound like two old women.” Nick got to his feet and collected Stephen’s glass to pour them both another drink. He placed the older man’s glass down. “Look, can you do me a favour?”
“Of course.”
“Look after those for me.” Nick nodded at the papers. “I don’t think my place’s going to be safe anytime soon.”
“Never mind your place, Nick. What about you?”
“I’ll be all right.”
Nick could see Stephen wanted to say something else but he let it go.
“Okay, I’ll put them with your other things.
Nick reclined back into the armchair and twirled his brandy glass thoughtfully. “I wish I knew.” He briefly recounted the events so far and waited for Stephen to speak.
The old man took off his glasses and laid them down carefully. “Nick, I thought, after you left the service, you were done with this?”
“I was. I told you what happened.”
“Listen, you know better than anyone, not having the whole picture is dangerous. This Carruthers has steered you into incredible danger but not apprised you of the full facts.”
Nick nodded and waited for his friend to continue.
“Clearly he’s been alerted to some sort of espionage, but it seems likely from what you’ve told me that this Ramona was the key lead for him. She was either working for him or he suspected her of working for someone else – the latter I would think. I don’t think he knew much beyond that; that’s why he’s sent you over the top. You’re the bait to flush out the big fish.”
“Just like the old days; the ones with no clue are sent to their doom by those that know better.”
Stephen nodded and waved the paper angrily. “Just like the old days. We both saw plans for war that will leave men dying in their thousands…” He trailed off and seemed to gather himself. “Still that’s from another time. We have to move on.”
Nick nodded. “We do.”
“You haven’t, though, have you, Nick?” Stephen spoke softly but the words made Nick look up sharply.
“I’m fine.”
“Your face tells a different story. How are you sleeping?”
Nick snorted. “Upright, in a chair, if I’m lucky.”
“You still have the nightmares?”
“Yes. I don’t want to talk about it, Stephen,” Nick said firmly, knocking back his brandy.
The old man nodded. “No one does. All that sacrifice; it’s already a forgotten war. Were you and I so lucky to make it through I wonder?”
“Never say that. Every day I thank my stars that I did make it. We have to go on and live our lives for those that didn’t. You’re all that kept me going through the darkest times. You didn’t have to come. Why did you?”
“Your father asked me to keep an eye on you.”
Nick swallowed heavily, pushed the memories aside.
“When your parents were gone and you were alone but determined to avenge them with your romantic notions of war, I had to go with you.”
“You didn’t.”
Stephen smiled. “No, but I did. I wanted to go, too. I guess we both learned different quickly.”
“Day two on the line,” Nick said bitterly. “Let’s not talk about it.”
“Do you still think about…?” Stephen paused. “…the incident?”
Nick’s jaw clenched and he nodded. No word would come. Think about it? How could he ever forget about it?
“You shouldn’t,” Stephen said softly. “It was war. Bad things happen. You had your reasons.”
“No reason is good enough for what I did. Look where it led me.” He spat the words, bitterness filling his tone. “Got me noticed, away from the front, ultimately promoted, for carrying out even darker deeds in cold blood on quiet city streets and unremarkable rooms. Maybe you shouldn’t have saved me on day two.” He gave a harsh snort.
“Never say that.”
“No. I’m sorry. I owe you.” Nick gave a wan smile.
“You don’t owe my anything. I served your family for years.” He waved around the flat. “They provided well for me, and so have you. I owe you.”
“God, we sound like two old women.” Nick got to his feet and collected Stephen’s glass to pour them both another drink. He placed the older man’s glass down. “Look, can you do me a favour?”
“Of course.”
“Look after those for me.” Nick nodded at the papers. “I don’t think my place’s going to be safe anytime soon.”
“Never mind your place, Nick. What about you?”
“I’ll be all right.”
Nick could see Stephen wanted to say something else but he let it go.
“Okay, I’ll put them with your other things.
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