Gate Deadlock (30 page)

Alex had booked a room at Hilton Paddington. I
had offered to pick him up from the airport but he had strangely
insisted on meeting me later in the afternoon under the excuse that
airplanes gave him a migraine and he would prefer to rest for a
couple of hours before we met.

Before setting off for my date with Alex I gave
my e-mail a last check to find a strange message under the subject
GREEK CAVERS CLUB. It seemed that I had offered a considerable sum
of money to this club, as the person who had signed the message
thanked me for my donation. He also informed me that the cave I was
interested in had become private property and it would be hard to
get permission for exploring it. Nevertheless, if I thought it was
necessary for my research, he would try to set up a clandestine
expedition, but the risk of getting caught remained.

Nothing of these made sense. I was sure he had
confused me for someone else. But the message was addressed to me;
my name was on top. I had no time to deal with this, as my date
with Alex was in less than an hour. I shut down the computer,
thinking that I’d better reply to the message as soon as I came
back. One thousand euros was a lot of money, I should be able to
remember donating it to some club I’d never heard of. Or was I
losing my mind? Could I be suffering from a split personality
disorder? Whatever the case was, I was sure I smelled a rat and I
would have to deal with this as soon as possible.

It was raining hard that afternoon and I’ve
always hated driving in such weather. The best way to get to Alex’s
hotel would be by taxi. When I was just a few blocks away I called
his cell phone and asked him to wait for me in the lobby.

‘I think it will be better if we meet in my
room.’ he said playfully. I could picture him perfectly as he said
that, with his teasing, whimsical smile and his shifty eyes.

There was a moment of silence before I said
‘That sounds like an indecent suggestion.’ I tried to sound casual
but my mind was working fast for an excuse that would not hurt his
feelings.

I heard his laughter at the other end of the
line. ‘I wish it was.’ he said and there was an unaccounted strange
tone in his voice.

‘Trust me Emma. Come to my room. There is
someone here who is anxious to see you. Besides me, of course.’

‘Ok. I’m right outside.’ I was confused. Now I
was even more worried whether I was doing the right thing by
meeting him. I was wondering about who could be with Alex in that
room. Could I be in any kind of danger? Alex had asked me to trust
him and I had no other option. I breathed deeply before I knocked
on the door of room 504. My heart was bumping hard and I had
ridiculously my hand tight around my cell phone in case I would
have to use it as a weapon.

The door opened and I saw Susan’s smiling face.
‘Surpri-I-se!’ she shouted.

‘Unbelievable!’ I whispered, totally taken
aback. She was laughing as she pulled me inside, closing the door
behind me, finding my reaction amusing.

‘If you could just see your face!’ I’m sorry it
had to be this way.’ She lowered her voice. ‘I’m here undercover
you see.’

After the first shock, I looked around for Alex.
He was sitting on a red sofa across the room watching us as if we
were the most boring sight. I went to him smiling awkwardly.

‘Alex. Welcome to London.’ I stretched out my
hand self-consciously. Alex grinned broadly before he stood up and
put his arms around me, squeezing me on his chest.

‘I forget how demonstrative you Greeks are.’ I
said bashfully.

Alex giggled. ‘I’ve forgotten how beautiful you
are.’ he said before kissing my cheek. I was aware of my blushed
face but I was so startled, I couldn’t make a move.

‘It’s so good to see you again Emma.’ He looked
at my face. I was still petrified but I was also totally aware of
Susan’s curious eyes on us. Alex released me finally and I turned
to Susan again but I couldn’t read her face.

‘But how… I don’t understand.’ Then it struck
me. ‘ Is it …time?’

‘When did you last check you e-mail?’ Susan was
now sitting on the red sofa, crossing her legs gracefully.

Alex sighed as he lay on the bed and closed his
eyes, folding his arms behind his head. I wondered if he really was
suffering from migraine. I sat next to Susan.

‘Funny that you mention it. I got the strangest
message from… Oh!’

She shrugged. ‘We’ve prepared your return.’

‘That’s why I donated the money to…’

‘To the Cavers’ Club. Yes. You’ve been really
generous. I hope you like caving.’

‘I’ve never thought about it.’

‘It’s never too late. In the meantime, I have
been ordered to teach you a few useful strategies. Your friend
here, was kind enough to offer us an alibi for our meetings. We
thought his sister would be a better choice but…she was unavailable
this time.’

‘I see.’ I said, trying to put everything
together. I cast a furtive look at Alex but he still kept his eyes
closed.

‘Is there…any news?’ I asked, trying to keep my
voice down although I was sure Alex could still hear me.

‘He’s out. But he’s never alone. We haven’t been
able to contact him yet.’

I shook my head.

‘Emma, he’s fine. He can deal with it, don’t
worry. Christopher is a very strong man. Besides, we will bring him
back. Always keep this in mind. Plato has a very promising plan and
you, young lady, are the one who will have to carry it through. And
as for me, I have been assigned to get you ready for what is going
to happen. You’ll pick the details of the plan as we go through
it.’ She looked at Alex.

‘I will have to leave you with your friend now.
I have to go.’

‘So soon?’ I asked, obviously disappointed.

‘Meet me here tomorrow at six for about half an
hour. I’ll fill you in and we’ll start some… espionage
lessons.’

‘Espionage?’ I blinked.

Susan smiled and stood up. She opened the
wardrobe to take out a black leather coat and put it on. I always
hated to say goodbye to her. It felt like scratching an old wound.
I stood up to walk her out.

‘No.’ she stopped me. ‘ Stay in. I’ll see you
both tomorrow.’

When I turned to Alex, he wasn’t pretending to
be asleep any more. He sat up and smiled playfully.

‘The weird lady’s gone. It’s time for fun!’

I fell heavily on the sofa, already
exhausted.

We had dinner in a pub near the hotel. Alex
asked me about the meeting with Plato and I was more than eager to
finally talk to someone about it. When I finished, Alex gulped down
his Guinness and wiped his mouth with his napkin, revealing no sign
of reaction to what he had heard.

‘So, what do you think?’ I asked him, slightly
irritated by his impassiveness.

‘You know what I think.’ he said in the same
manner.

‘That’s not fair. I know you don’t agree with my
decision but you’re my friend. You’re supposed to support me in
this.’

‘Okay, okay. You don’t want to hear what I think
about it, but to me it’s obvious that they’re using you to get
their man back. You’re just a mere pawn in their hands. But you
have made up your mind and if there’s no way to…’

‘There is absolutely no way.’

‘…
of course I’ll stand by you in this. I’m
here anyway, aren’t I?’

‘I’m sorry. I should thank you for doing this. I
had no idea your trip was all about me.’

‘That’s what friends are for. By the way, am I
going to meet any of your friends?’

‘Of course. Mick and Tony are in Germany now but
you’re going to meet Kate and Sue. I’m afraid you’ll be stuck with
three women, not too bad, is it?’ I teased him.

‘Sounds good to me.’ he smiled irresistibly.
‘It’s not too far to walk to the center, is it?’ he asked as he
waved to waitress.

To most people, London is a vast, chaotic city.
But if you ride a Piaggio to move around like I do, during the
hottest months at least, you save time and you get anywhere you
want to. It would have been much funnier if Alex had come in spring
or summer. When we were at the Roma camp, I had promised to show
him around my London, my favorite places. Enjoying the early
morning sun as you walk on the moist lawn by Serpentine lake in
Hyde Park is something you can’t do in winter. Neither is walking
along the Thames at the South Bank or going on a boat ride to
Greenwich. We would do all these anyway, but it was a pity Alex
would only get a small portion of my London. Still, there were
always other things to do, the delight of which would not be
affected by the weather conditions, like strolling along the
marbled Portobello road, enjoying the delicious cupcakes in my
favorite bakery and having lunch in the best Italian restaurant in
Hammersmith that Colin and I had discovered when we were still
dating. Besides, I was certain Alex would also love to see one of
the historic cafés that in the 60s had been the hangout of famous
rock stars.

I gazed sorrowfully through the clouded pane of
the window next to me, thinking how wonderful it would be if
Christopher was there with me instead of Alex.

The rain had stopped and although it was pretty
cold outside, I found his idea of taking a walk quite convenient,
as it was easier for me to be with him in the open air. After a few
minutes of walking, I realized it was a mistake as it had started
dripping again and we had to be both under my umbrella, too close
to each other. Alex was obviously enjoying it, as he seemed to be
in the best mood ever since I’d met him. He had his arm around my
shoulders and every time he spoke to me he turned to whisper in my
ear, his breath too hot on my cheek, his lips too close to my face.
And that’s about how we spent our first date, until it was time to
get back. Alex let me take the first taxi that stopped and gave me
a quick kiss on my cheek before saying good night. I could imagine
his thoughts, undoubtedly full of contentment that night. I, on the
other hand, was more confused than ever. The developments of the
last few hours had been too much for me. I went to bed with the
most disjoint thoughts troubling me, until I was finally able to
fall asleep.

When Alex met Kate and Sue it wasn’t difficult
for him to charm them. He was in his best behavior, a real
gentleman and a child in the same person. I often stared at him
thinking it was this childlike vivacity that had attracted me in
the first place.

We took him to the National Gallery and to
Victoria and Albert’s Museum since he had expressed an interest in
art. We spent almost all day touring until it was time for Alex and
me to meet Susan. I fabricated an excuse about an appointment with
my doctor, implying that we should call it a day. To my surprise,
Sue suggested continuing their tour without me. Alex looked at me
with mellow eyes and for a moment I was terrified he was going to
expose me. Obviously, he wasn’t going to make it easy for me.
Nobody noticed me exhaling with relief when he finally said,

‘I’m sorry girls. I’ve promised Emma to
accompany her to the doctor. But there’s always tomorrow.’

‘Tomorrow night we’re definitely going
clubbing.’ Kate said. ‘Time for you to get a taste of London
nightlife.’

Hadn’t it been for my great anticipation to see
Susan, I would have given Alex a piece of my mind. But I didn’t say
a word to him until we got off the taxi.

‘Are you all right?’ he asked me when we were
walking towards the lift.

‘I’m fine.’ I said, still frowned. Threatened by
my expression, he gave up and was wise enough to be silent.

Susan was a refreshing interval in my dragging
day. She could only afford to stay for half an hour in my world, so
she spoke too quickly for me to understand. There were too many
things she intended to prepare me for and all possible alterations
from the original plan had to be taken into consideration. I asked
her to repeat to me the same things over and over again and it was
inevitable to feel embarrassed as I did so. Susan was very patient,
like she was used to training benighted people like me. When she
looked at her watch, which was exactly like Christopher’s, I knew
it was time for her to go.

The same pattern was repeated the next day. Only
this time Susan was frowned the whole time, because she could not
go clubbing with us.

She wasn’t the only one to be frowned that
night. A few hours later in Matter London Club, having drunk a lot
more than he should, Alex’s courting became bolder and I had to be
quite abrupt to him.

‘I thought I’d made myself clear on this Alex.
Why do you have to spoil our friendship with such nonsense?’ I
exploded, pushing him away when he came behind me to hug me and
whisper in my ear what a perfect ending of the day it would be if I
followed him to his hotel. When I had already started to feel sorry
about the way I had spoken to him, I found him making out with Sue.
I could not believe my eyes! What was he thinking? As for Sue, she
was way out of line. For more than eight months she had been Mick’s
girlfriend. That was right after Mick had given up his hopes on me,
to be honest. They double-dated with Kate and Tony and, now that
the boys were in Germany taking a student-exchange course, the
girls were hanging out together. Since Kate had been my closest
friend, my only old-life-friend in fact, I had to tolerate Sue’s
company as well. She wasn’t bad but she wasn’t the kind of person I
would choose to be friends with and, although I can’t really
justify this, I’ve always felt that this feeling was mutual. She
was tall and thin with dull gray eyes and freckles. She wasn’t
exactly the woman you would call pretty. Her strongest point was
her long, shiny blond hair that looked as if she had it done almost
every other day. But what I found most annoying on her, was the
high-pitched tone of her voice every time she was excited about
something, reminding me of the peacocks’ cries from the zoo where I
used to go so often when I was a little girl. It was exactly the
voice she spoke to me in that night, when she asked me about my
relationship with Alex.