Read Online Man on Fire by A. J. Quinnell - Free Book Online
Authors: A. J. Quinnell
Tags: Fiction, General, Media Tie-In, Thrillers, Suspense fiction, Espionage, Motion pictures, Bodyguards, Kidnapping Victims, Motion picture plays, Motion Pictures Plays
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muttering incredulously, "Goddamn bodyguard!"
Guido fetched paper and a pen and wrote a letter to Elio. He knew that the agency would require information on Creasy's qualifications and that Creasy would be reluctant to provide anything but the barest details. He wrote for a long time, first sketching Creasy's career in the Legion and later in the various wars in Africa, the Middle East and Asia. Then he listed familiarity with different weapons. It was a long list. Finally he mentioned Creasy's decorations. Italians are impressed by medals.
He sealed the letter and left it on the table with a note asking Pietro to post it first thing in the morning. He went to bed feeling more encouraged than at any time since his friend's arrival.
Chapter 4
"Did they provide you with the gun?"
"Yes."
"Show me, please."
Creasy took his right hand off the steering wheel, reached under his jacket, and passed it over.
Ettore held it gingerly. He had never before held a pistol, and he was fascinated.
"What is it?"
"Beretta 84."
"Have you used this type before?"
"Yes, it's a good pistol."
"Is it loaded?"
Creasy took his eyes off the road and glanced at the Italian.
"It's loaded," he said dryly.
Ettore handed the weapon back and they drove on towards Como.
He had asked the American to drive the Lancia so that he could judge his capability. He was relieved that Creasy drove easily and smoothly.
It had been less simple finding a bodyguard than Vico had suggested. At least, a bodyguard to suit Rika's requirements.
She had been delighted with the result of his lunch with Vico and had immediately started making plans. She decided that the bodyguard would have a large room at the top of the house. She and Pinta busied themselves putting in extra furniture; a small table and a large easy chair, and several casual rugs. The room already had a big brass bedstead, a chest of drawers, and a wardrobe. He would eat with Maria, the housekeeper, and Bruno, the gardener, in the kitchen.
She drew up a list of his duties. Driving Pinta to school and picking her up in the afternoon were the most important. In between, he could chauffeur Rika herself to shopping and lunch engagements.
Naturally he would have to be presentable and of a polite and respectful disposition. She had also urged Ettore to hurry as the new school term started soon, and she wanted to join Ettore on his coming trip to Paris.
All this created problems. The first two applicants had been patently unacceptable, little more than street toughs whom Rika wouldn't have let through the door. The third had been an obvious homosexual, and Ettore had a thing against homosexuals. He had phoned the agency and complained about the quality of the applicants, but they had answered that bodyguards were scarce. They also implied, politely, that you got what you paid for. Nevertheless, they rang up the next day to arrange for an appointment for a fourth applicant; an American.
Ettore had not been encouraged. A foreigner was something unexpected, especially an American. He anticipated a gum-chewing, crew-cut gangster.
So he was pleasantly surprised when Creasy had been shown into his office. He looked hard enough, with the scars on his square face and the menacing eyes, but he was dressed smartly in a dark-blue suit and beige shirt. He stood at the door holding a large Manila envelope sealed with red wax, looking at Ettore without expression.
Ettore gestured and Creasy moved forward and took a seat in front of the desk. Then he handed over the envelope.
"The agency told me to give you this."
His Italian was almost perfect, with a slight Neapolitan accent.
Ettore took the envelope and asked, "Would you like coffee?" He was encouraged. He had not offered coffee to the others.
Creasy shook his head and Ettore broke the seal, pulled out the file, and began to read. It was a report on Creasy's qualifications and history provided by the agency from Guido's information.
Ettore read in
Guido fetched paper and a pen and wrote a letter to Elio. He knew that the agency would require information on Creasy's qualifications and that Creasy would be reluctant to provide anything but the barest details. He wrote for a long time, first sketching Creasy's career in the Legion and later in the various wars in Africa, the Middle East and Asia. Then he listed familiarity with different weapons. It was a long list. Finally he mentioned Creasy's decorations. Italians are impressed by medals.
He sealed the letter and left it on the table with a note asking Pietro to post it first thing in the morning. He went to bed feeling more encouraged than at any time since his friend's arrival.
Chapter 4
"Did they provide you with the gun?"
"Yes."
"Show me, please."
Creasy took his right hand off the steering wheel, reached under his jacket, and passed it over.
Ettore held it gingerly. He had never before held a pistol, and he was fascinated.
"What is it?"
"Beretta 84."
"Have you used this type before?"
"Yes, it's a good pistol."
"Is it loaded?"
Creasy took his eyes off the road and glanced at the Italian.
"It's loaded," he said dryly.
Ettore handed the weapon back and they drove on towards Como.
He had asked the American to drive the Lancia so that he could judge his capability. He was relieved that Creasy drove easily and smoothly.
It had been less simple finding a bodyguard than Vico had suggested. At least, a bodyguard to suit Rika's requirements.
She had been delighted with the result of his lunch with Vico and had immediately started making plans. She decided that the bodyguard would have a large room at the top of the house. She and Pinta busied themselves putting in extra furniture; a small table and a large easy chair, and several casual rugs. The room already had a big brass bedstead, a chest of drawers, and a wardrobe. He would eat with Maria, the housekeeper, and Bruno, the gardener, in the kitchen.
She drew up a list of his duties. Driving Pinta to school and picking her up in the afternoon were the most important. In between, he could chauffeur Rika herself to shopping and lunch engagements.
Naturally he would have to be presentable and of a polite and respectful disposition. She had also urged Ettore to hurry as the new school term started soon, and she wanted to join Ettore on his coming trip to Paris.
All this created problems. The first two applicants had been patently unacceptable, little more than street toughs whom Rika wouldn't have let through the door. The third had been an obvious homosexual, and Ettore had a thing against homosexuals. He had phoned the agency and complained about the quality of the applicants, but they had answered that bodyguards were scarce. They also implied, politely, that you got what you paid for. Nevertheless, they rang up the next day to arrange for an appointment for a fourth applicant; an American.
Ettore had not been encouraged. A foreigner was something unexpected, especially an American. He anticipated a gum-chewing, crew-cut gangster.
So he was pleasantly surprised when Creasy had been shown into his office. He looked hard enough, with the scars on his square face and the menacing eyes, but he was dressed smartly in a dark-blue suit and beige shirt. He stood at the door holding a large Manila envelope sealed with red wax, looking at Ettore without expression.
Ettore gestured and Creasy moved forward and took a seat in front of the desk. Then he handed over the envelope.
"The agency told me to give you this."
His Italian was almost perfect, with a slight Neapolitan accent.
Ettore took the envelope and asked, "Would you like coffee?" He was encouraged. He had not offered coffee to the others.
Creasy shook his head and Ettore broke the seal, pulled out the file, and began to read. It was a report on Creasy's qualifications and history provided by the agency from Guido's information.
Ettore read in
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