Read Online Man on Fire by A. J. Quinnell - Free Book Online Page A

silence and when he had finished he looked at the man in front of him for a long time. Creasy gazed back impassively.
    "What's the catch?"
    "I drink," came the flat reply.
    Ettore digested this for a moment and glanced again at the file, then asked, "In what way does it affect you?"
    Creasy's eyes narrowed in thought and Ettore sensed that he would get the absolute truth. "As it relates to this kind of job, it affects my coordination and reaction time. My ability to shoot fast and accurately is impaired. If I was a rich man, convinced that I or my family were going to be attacked, I wouldn't employ a man in my condition."
    Ettore asked, "Do you get so drunk that you are incapable or a nuisance?"
    Creasy shook his head.
    "You wouldn't notice anything. I only drink at night. In the morning I might feel bad but I look alright."
    Ettore studied the papers again. As long as Rika didn't know about the drinking, there should be no problem.
    "The pay is not good."
    Creasy shrugged. "If top professionals try to kidnap your daughter, the service will be on a par with the pay."
    "And what if amateurs try it?"
    "If they're truly amateurs, I'd probably frighten them off, or even kill them-Is it likely?"
    Ettore shook his head.
    "I doubt it. Frankly, it's my wife who is mostly concerned. She's overreacting about all the recent kidnappings. Incidentally, part of your duties will involve transporting her about. She has her own car." He glanced down at the file again-at the lists of wars and battles and weapons.
    "You would have to become a little domesticated."
    "That's alright," said Creasy, "but I'm not good at social chitchat. I'll do my job, best I can, that's all."
    Ettore smiled for the first time.
    "That's fine. Can you start immediately?" A thought struck him. "Do you have a gun?"
    Creasy nodded. "The agency provides one. You will have to give them a letter. They will arrange the police permit. It will be on your bill." He stood up. "I can start anytime."
    They had walked to the door, Ettore saying, "I go up to Como tomorrow evening for the weekend. Please be here at six with your things. No one is to know about your drinking problem, and that includes my wife."
    The two men had shaken hands. Ettore said, "I can't be sure how long the job will last. It depends on circumstances, but my contract with the agency will be for a three-month trial period. After that we can both review the situation. After all, you might not like the job."
    When they entered the lounge, Rika was by the French windows. She wore a plain black dress. Her face was a white oval in a framework of ebony hair.
    Ettore made the introductions and she asked, "Would you like a drink?"
    "Thank you-Scotch and a little water."
    She crossed to the bar and the two men moved to the French windows and looked out over the lake. Creasy could sense Ettore's unease and wondered at it. Rika brought over the whisky and a martini for her husband. "I didn't catch the name exactly," she said.
    "Creasy."
    "You are not Italian?"
    "American."
    She looked at Ettore with a slight frown.
    "But his Italian is excellent," he said hastily.
    She was disconcerted.
    "You have done much of this work before?"
    Creasy shook his head. "Never."
    Her frown deepened and again Ettore quickly interjected, "Mr. Creasy has a lot of experience in related work. A great deal of experience."
    Creasy studied the woman with interest. He had needed time to get over the first impact of her beauty. He was indifferent to her reaction on hearing he was an American, but he was curious about her relationship with her husband.
    Ettore had appeared positive and self-assured, but his weakness was now apparent. The woman, either through her beauty or personality or both, dominated him. Her confusion showed. Naturally she'd had a preconceived idea of the kind of man Ettore would hire.
    He would obviously be Italian, polite and deferential, young and athletic, and experienced in the work. The man in front of her was first of