Read Online The Restoration of Otto Laird by Nigel Packer - Free Book Online Page B

on the fourth day, and the morning on the fifth. That will give you a little recovery time.’
    Good God, thought Otto. They think I might keel over halfway through.
    But the news that he would be given some time to himself was welcome.
    â€˜And would it be presumptuous of me to ask what sort of questions you might throw at me? I don’t wish to be awkward, but I was hoping for some time to prepare my answers. I’m not as good at speaking off the cuff as I once was.’
    â€˜I won’t ask anything especially challenging. But if it’s all the same to you, I’d rather not give too much away in advance. Better to keep things fresh, I think, for the cameras.’
    â€˜Of course. I understand.’
    â€˜In general terms, we’ll be looking at a number of issues. The condition of the building, the possibilities for a listing, the debate about the merits of post-war architecture. But we don’t want anything too heavy or technical. We want the film to be more personal in tone.’
    â€˜I see,’ said Otto.
    The tone of his voice caused Angelo to look up quickly.
    â€˜We want to explore your emotional journey – your feelings on seeing the building again. That will be the core theme of the documentary. I imagine it will be quite a nostalgic experience for you, and we’d like to capture that as best we can.’
    Angelo wondered what Otto might say. His expression looked oddly frozen. Was he about to ruin everything at the last?
    Otto’s face relaxed.
    â€˜I’m afraid I’m not terribly good at expressing emotion; rather difficult to prise from my shell. But you’re welcome to give it a try, of course, if you feel it might be of interest to your viewers.’
    He smiled pleasantly at Chloe, and she returned the gesture.
    â€˜Thank you for the opportunity,’ she said.
    Angelo breathed a silent sigh of relief.

Seven
    â€˜So you’re happy then?’ Angelo asked Otto, once they were ensconced in the taxi and crossing over Blackfriars Bridge once more. He was surprised at how straightforward it had all seemed.
    â€˜Yes, they seem very nice. I can’t say I’m exactly relishing the prospect, but I’m sure they’ll make it as painless as possible.’
    â€˜Good … good…’
    Angelo glanced over at Otto, but he was looking out of the window, his body turned slightly away. Now wasn’t the time for a post-mortem on the evening’s proceedings.
    A few minutes earlier, as they climbed into the back of the taxi, Angelo – buoyed by the evening’s success – had asked Otto if he would like to take a detour via Marlowe House.
    â€˜We needn’t get out, or even stop,’ he had told him. ‘Just take a peek before the filming begins.’
    But he had misjudged the mood.
    â€˜It’s late,’ Otto said, ‘and I’m feeling tired. I’d rather just get back to my hotel, if you don’t mind. I’ll see it again, soon enough.’
    Angelo sensed that something was wrong, but Otto’s seniority and the peculiar dynamics of their relationship – close in some ways, distant in others – meant that he couldn’t possibly ask him outright. So he spent much of the cab journey trying to work it out for himself.
    At first, he wondered whether Otto was unhappy about being in a taxi with him at all. Angelo had secretly promised Anika that he would see Otto safely back to his hotel. Perhaps Otto had guessed that some arrangement had been made. He certainly seemed a little put out when Angelo insisted on sharing a cab with him. Otto was fully aware that Angelo’s house in Dulwich was in the opposite direction to his Marylebone hotel.
    Or perhaps Otto still harboured secret doubts about the television programme.
    Have I pushed him into this? thought Angelo. Just a little?
    The problem with Otto was that he was such a powerful personality, so innately strong-willed, that it