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lurking paparazzo for public consumption。
〃…He shuns publicity almost pletely； and since his wife's death he has little taste for the social arena…〃 Sharing the unwele attention Strauss remembered a woman whose beauty astonished； even by the unflattering light。 The wife of whom Toy spoke； perhaps。
〃…Instead he chooses to mastermind his corporation out of the spotlight； concerning himself in his leisure hours with social issues。 Among them； overcrowding in prisons； and the deterioration of the prison service generally。〃 The last remark was undoubtedly barbed； and found Somervale with deadly accuracy。 He ground out his half…smoked cigarette in the tinfoil ashtray； throwing the other man a sour glance。
〃When the time came to engage a new personal bodyguard…〃 Toy continued； 〃…it was Mr。 Whitehead's decision to seek a suitable candidate amongst men ing up for parole rather than going through the usual agencies。 〃 He can't mean me； Strauss thought。 The idea was too fine to tease himself with； and too ludicrous。 And yet if that wasn't it； why was Toy here； why all the palaver？
〃He's looking for a man who is nearing the end of his sentence。 One who deserves； in both his and my own estimation； to have an opportunity to be reintroduced into society with a job behind him； and some self…esteem to go with it。 Your case was drawn to my attention； Martin。 I may call you Martin？〃 〃Usually it's Marty。〃 〃Fine。 Marty it is。 Frankly； I don't want to raise your hopes。 I'm interviewing several other candidates in addition to yourself； and of course at the end of the day I may find that none are suitable。 At this juncture I simply want to ascertain whether you would be interested in such an option were it to be made available to you。〃 Marty began to smile。 Not outwardly； but inside； where Somervale couldn't get at it。
〃Do you understand what I'm asking？〃 〃Yes。 I understand。〃 〃Joe 。 。 。 Mr。 Whitehead 。 。 。 needs somebody who will be pletely devoted to his well…being； who would indeed be prepared to put his life at risk rather than have harm e to his employer。 Now I realize that's a lot to ask。〃 Marty's brow furrowed。 It was a lot； especially after the six…and…a…half year lesson in self…reliance he'd had at Wandsworth。 Toy was swift to sense Marty's hesitation。
〃That bothers you；〃 he said。
Marty shrugged gently。 〃Yes and no。 I mean； I've never been asked to do that before。 I don't want to give you some shit about me being really keen to get killed for somebody； because I'm not。 I'd be lying through my teeth if I said I was。〃 Toy's nods encouraged Marty to go on。
〃That's it really；〃 he said。
〃Are you married？〃 Toy asked。
〃Separated。〃 〃May I ask； are there divorce proceedings in the offing？〃 Marty grimaced。 He loathed talking about this。 It was his wound； his to tend and fret over。 No fellow prisoner had ever wrung the story out of him； even in those three…in…the…morning confessionals that he'd endured with his previous cellmate； before Feaver； who never talked of anything but food and paper women； had arrived。 But he would have to say something now。 They surely had the details filed away somehow anyway。 Toy probably knew more about what Charmaine was doing； and with whom； than he did。
〃Charmaine and me 。 。 。〃 He tried to summon words for this knot of feelings； but nothing emerged but a blunt statement。 〃I don't think there's much chance of us getting back together； if that's what you're after。〃 Toy sensed the raw edge in Marty's voice； so did Somervale。 For the first time since Toy had entered the arena the officer began to show some interest in the exchange。 He wants to watch me talk my way out of a job； Marty thought； he could see the anticipation written all over Somervale's face。 Well； damn him； he wasn't going to have the satisfaction。
〃It's not a problem…〃 Marty said flatly。 〃Or if it is； it's mine。 I'm still getting used to the fact that she won't be there when I get out。 That's all it is； really。〃 Toy was smiling now； an amiable smile。
〃Really； Marty…〃 he said； 〃…I don't want to pry。 I'm only concerned that we understand the full facts of the situation。 Were you to be employed by Mr。 Whitehead； you would be required to live on his estate with him； and it would be a necessary condition of your employment that you could not leave without the express permission of either Mr。 Whitehead or myself。 In other words you would not be stepping into unconditional freedom。 Far from it。 You might wish to consider the estate as a sort of open prison。 It's important for me to know of any ties you have that might make such constraints temptingly easy to break。〃 〃Yes； I see。〃 〃Furthermore； if for any reason your relationship with Mr。 Whitehead was not satisfactory； if you or he felt that the job was not suitable； then I'm afraid…〃
〃…I'd be back here to finish my sentence。〃 〃Yes。〃 There was an awkward pause； in which Toy sighed quietly。 It took him only a moment to recover his equilibrium； then he took off in a new direction。
〃There's just a few more questions I'd like to ask。 You've done some boxing； am I right？〃 〃Some。 A while back…〃 Toy looked disappointed。 〃You gave it up？〃 〃Yes；〃 Marty replied。 〃I kept on with the weight training for a while。〃 〃Do you have any self…defense training of any kind？ Judo？ Karate？〃 Marty contemplated lying； but what would be the use of that？ All Toy had to do was consult the screws at Wandsworth。 〃No；〃 he said。
〃Pity。〃 Marty's belly shrank。 〃I'm healthy though；〃 he said。 〃And strong。 I can learn。〃 He was aware that an unwele tremor had slipped into his voice from somewhere。
〃We don't want a learner； I'm afraid；〃 Somervale pointed out； barely able to suppress the triumph in his tone。
Marty leaned forward across the table； trying to blot out Somervale's leechlike presence。
〃I can do this job； Mr。 Toy；〃 he insisted； 〃I know I can do this job。 Just give me a chance…〃 The tremor was growing； his belly was an acrobat。 Better stop now； before he said or did something he regretted。 But the words and the feelings just kept on ing。
〃Give me an opportunity to prove I can do it。 That's not much to ask； is it？ And if I fuck it up it's my fault； see？ Just a chance； that's all I'm asking。〃 Toy looked up at him with something like condolence in his face。 Was it all over then？ Had he made up his mind already…one wrong answer and the whole thing goes sour…was he already mentally packing up his briefcase and returning the Strauss； M。 file into Somervale's clammy hands to be slotted back between one forgotten con and another？
Marty bit his tongue； and sat back in the unfortable chair； fixing his gaze on his trembling hands。 He couldn't bear to look at the bruised elegance of Toy's face； not now that he'd opened himself up so wide。 Toy would see in oh yes； to all the hurt and the wanting； and he couldn't bear that。
〃At your trial 。 。 。〃 Toy said。
What now？ Why was he prolonging the agony？ All Marty wanted was to go to his cell； where Feaver would be sitting on the bunk and playing with his dolls； where there was a familiar dullness that he could take refuge 〃n。 But Toy wasn't finished； he wanted the truth； the whole truth and nothing but。
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