Chapter 10
The girl drove the car deftly through the London traffic, but made no conversational overtures. Matt fumed over the events in Carey's apartment for a time, but soon his thoughts became more local. Who was this gorgeous young girl? What did she want of him?
He glanced at her intermittently, until she finally caught him looking. She smiled, showing a deep dimple in her right cheek. "Shall we have music?" she asked rhetorically.
She was already dialing the dashboard radio and stopped at the raucous sound of rock music. She returned her attention to the traffic, but her naked knee swayed to the upbeat music. She was truly a lovely girl, and voluptuous.
Matt gave his head a weary nod and settled back in the bucket seat. She seemed to be headed for the section of the city where their paths had crossed before, but this was no surprise. Matt had no illusion that their meeting had been coincidental. Not this time, nor before. The challenge now was to outwait her.
When they reached the proper street, she made no pretenses.
She made a U-turn and pulled to a stop at the curb in front of the flat.
"Got a drink in there?" she said, switching off the engine and dropping her keys into her purse.
Matt studied her a moment, and his mood was solemn. But she didn't falter under his gaze. She sat brightly in the driver's seat to await his response. A momentary impulse would take him out of the car and into the flat without comment. But this was impossible. He didn't feel up to playing word games, and didn't give a particular damn if the girl was a friend or enemy. As long as she was content to evade the issue, he could, too. "Yeah-I got a drink," he said. "Let's go."
Matt got out and led the way while she scurried around the car to catch him. When they were inside the rooms, Matt went to the kitchen. He returned to the living room with a half-full bottle of Beefeaters and two tumblers. His guest sat on the couch with her legs gracefully crossed. Her thighs, shapely, well-developed, were nicely exposed below her white and gold miniskirt. He could see the edge of white panties along the hem of the skirt. He placed the drinking equipment on the wobbly coffee table and poured two half glasses of the gin. He took one of the drinks and sat down beside her. She had to lean over to gain possession of her own drink, but she didn't seem insulted. "No mix?" she asked sweetly.
He shook his head. "Nope-take it or leave it."
She took a reinforcing breath that made her breasts rise and fall under the knitted dress, and brought the glass to her lips. With a premature grimace she took a sizable gulp. The liquid went down and she seemed surprised. "Hey-that isn't bad. I thought it would gag me."
"It's good gin," he replied, clutching his tumbler with both hands. He was staring at the gin. His flame of curiosity was fanned to the point of ditching his pledge of silence, but he couldn't be too obvious about it. Then he devised a means of drawing her out. "When I bring a bird to my rooms, I never fail to score. How does that grab you?"
She giggled slightly and took a second sip. As it went down, she said, "with your looks, I bet you score with inordinate frequency."
No-this girl was not from this end of town. She spoke with a cultured accent, and was damn bright. "Can't complain," he said. "You're quite a woman, know that? Mini-clothes make sense with what you've got."
Her smile was disarming, and as suspicious as Matt had learned to be, he could sense no danger from this source. She accepted this comment with a happy nod and finished her drink. She immediately poured another one and looked at his glass.
"Am I drinking alone?" she asked.
Matt gulped down the gin and let her pour another long shot before lifting his hand to halt the flow. "Do you have to get stoned to go to bed with a man?" Matt inquired.
"Lord, no. I don't need pot either. All I need is a strong inclination. The rest comes naturally."
The stupid words were boring Matt. His mind leafed back to Carey's apartment and his fever rose. "All right, kid-I'll bite. What the hell inclines you toward me? I've seen you poking around all week, and I want to know why."
She lifted her brows and gave her head a nod. "You've seen me before?"
"A half dozen times, and you damn well know it."
"And I thought I was being so ruddy cool about it."
"What's your name?"
"Uh-Penny. My friends call me Penny. Uh- what's your name?"
Matt grinned. "As if you didn't know."
She faced him more seriously. "Yes-I do know your name, Matt Pyne, and I've known it for some time. But when I saw the features that went with the name, it became much more important to me. I know I seem brazen, but I could think of no passive way to get to know you. I admit I've been very much on the make. After a time these things become obsessive, I suppose."
Matt extended his grin. "I'm afraid you're counting on more ego than I've got, baby. I won't buy any of that."
"It's true," she said brightly. Her eyes were very large. Their color was a bluish gray. Her complexion was creamy; she had a small, straight nose, and full, kissable lips. The honey-colored hair was abundant and curled out at her shoulders. On this occasion a white ribbon was drawn through the hair above her forehead. "I'll explain how it all came about," she continued. "A girl friend of mine-Shirley Maro- spoke of you as being one of the most charming men she had ever met. That was a couple of years ago. At that time you had suddenly dropped out of sight-closed your photo studio. Well, as luck would have it, I was having lunch with Shirley last week, and she halted in the middle of a bite of her tuna fish sandwich. She saw you passing the tea room window. Everything she had said before was true. You were all man, and most attractive. I-followed you to your present studio."
Matt was listening, but had long since detected a lie. "I have one studio at the present time, dear."
"Well, you did last week, because I saw your name on the directory in the doorway."
"And you've been following me ever since?"
"Yes-well, many times I did. I happened along when you were moving here. That's how I knew where you were. That's why you saw me so many times."
"You're attractive, Penny. Otherwise I'd probably flatten that pug nose of yours. I'm sick of people making a fool of me."
Her face lost its passivity. Her lips parted in astonishment. "I don't understand."
"Every Goddamn word you've told me is a lie, and you know it."
"No-it's true."
"I don't know any Shirley Maro, and never did."
"Of course not. She's an aspiring model. She tried to get some work out of you, and appeared for an interview. You never called her back, and she was heartbroken."
"So you know my background, but I can't accept your yarn. When I was in the advertising rat race, you were still dreaming about your first bra. No, baby, you're a good liar, but that isn't much of a qualification."
"I have-other qualifications," she said. As she spoke, she switched her legs. In crossing them this time, she made sure that even more could be seen. "After all, I'm not trying to sell you a lifetime subscription. I'm not selling a thing in the world. It's all free, dear-absolutely free."
Matt could identify a lie, but he could also identify a sure piece of tail, and this particular tail was most inviting. With the recurrent picture of Carey and Rollo plaguing his mind, this could be exactly what he needed. "You would bed down with me-just like that?" he asked. "No strings-no conditions?"
She managed a nervous giggle. "I'll remove every string of clothing on my back-and my condition is ready. And if we do it at all, let's do it now. I don't want my senses dulled by alcohol."
Matt rose and extended his hand. Penny took it, and without further comment, Matt led her out of the living room and along the hall to his private bedroom. When they were inside, he bolted the door behind him. He didn't usually bother with such precautions, but all sorts of possibilities came to mind. Even the old badger game could result from this alliance. Either the girl had one hell of a hot fanny-or she was out to royally ream Matthew Pyne. He would play her game, but safety was a necessary factor.
She immediately wriggled out of her dress, pushing her pumps aside. Matt was careful to secure his gun beneath his sport coat draped over the top of the bureau, and faced her again as he got out of his shoes and trousers.
She made no ritual of undressing. Her femme fatale act wasn't necessary now. She simply stripped away her panty-hose, tossed them on the night stand, and then undid her bra. Without fanfare her marvelous breasts bobbled forth, and they were lovely. She was probably twice as big as Carey was there, but her size was no detriment. The twin globes were strong and uplifted. The nipples were as tiny as a twelve-year-old's, and had pink, dime-sized aureole.
Penny had a slim waist, with only the slightest protrusion of tummy. Her hips had a moderate flare and were joined with her torso gracefully. Her legs were extremely long and appeared to be products of ballet, without the advanced muscles of the professional ballerina. Her pubic fuzz was scant and the exact color of the hair on her head.
Matt did away with his final garment, and his readiness was obvious as he moved across the room toward her. Her face showed a subtle tinge of embarrassment now, and she had to straighten her shoulders to overcome it. Matt appreciated this. It showed she wasn't totally crude. Obviously her moment of truth carried with it at least a modicum of guilt. But then why shouldn't it? They hadn't known each other's names five minutes ago. At least he hadn't known hers. He met her, and permitted a minimal smile as he took her arms in his hands. "Sure you want to go through with this?" he asked gently.
She moistened her lips, and he pressed her closer and she seemed to retreat momentarily from the hard touch of his lower body. "Uh- of course. Did you expect me to change my mind?"
"I don't know what the hell I expect," said Matt, grinding his body against her soft warmth.
His mouth met her lips, and she relaxed. Her embarrassment melted from the devouring kiss. Her hands clasped him closer, her groin meeting his with growing demand. He introduced a subtle tongue tip, and she all but stole it from him. She sucked it, nipped at it, and sent her own flitting tongue deep into his mouth. She made a deep, growling noise as her passions lifted. Matt eased her down on the bed without disturbing their frantic embrace.
"Want me to use anything?" he whispered into her ear with a kiss.
She gave her head a violent negative shake and clutched his body boldly. She squeezed and stroked him and settled into readiness on her back. Again moans and gurgles emitted from her throat, and she thrashed her head from side to side. Matt hadn't believed her fantastic story, but he did know she was one hell of a sex package. In his mental file of past lovers very few came to life this strongly, this fast. Carey was ever-ready, but foreplay was often required to bring her to top speed. Even Rachel-but that was where he stopped. This was no time for reminiscing. His guts were aching, and things had to be done. His mind dismissed all thought, negative or positive, as he introduced himself to his fantastic new friend in the most intimate possible way.
When she felt him take her, she gnashed her teeth and pounded his back. Her body went into a seizure of movement and twice he was required to start again. During those brief absences her body tremored in electric spasms, as though she were going through extreme shock. But soon a cadence was established-fast, but even-and Matt assumed control.
Periodically the tempo was disturbed by her undisciplined body, but that only heightened the joys of the subsequent rhythm. When their peak was approaching she made the strongest animal sounds Matt had ever heard. Her legs were high around him, her knees almost drawn even with her shoulders. She wanted every millimeter of his offering, and demanded it. Then climax!
"Ah, ah, ah, ah!" she cried, her nails digging deeply into his buttock flesh. With each frenzied cry her body jutted against him, taking greedily every measure of his life. They held that way for extended moments, until she finally let herself relax and slump into exhaustion. "Ohhhh," she sighed. "Oh, my Lord."
They lay still-letting their pleasure steep. Matt couldn't believe the rapidity of her heartbeat. He felt it pounding through her breasts and into his chest. His heartbeat was just as rapid, but hers outdid his. Several days of sexual fasting had passed for Matt, but this more than made up for it.
When all the pleasure was wracked from their spent bodies, Matt fell aside. She shifted with him, holding the merger possessively intact. She kissed him warmly on the mouth.
"Oh, Lord," she sighed. "You are the ultimate-out of sight. Thank God I seduced you."
"That's right," said Matt happily. "You did seduce me, didn't you?"
"You consider me a tramp, I suppose."
"I consider you one hell of a woman. Let's let it go at that."
"If my school pals could only see me now," she said with a groaning sigh, trying to hold him even closer.
"School pals?" Matt murmured, kissing her cheek.
"Uh huh. They think it's hot ticket to get kissed by an Oxford freshman. If he gets his hand inside her panties, the dreary darling giggles about it for months. What surprises they have in store."
"You're talking like a virgin, but I know you're not."
"No-but it was nothing like this." She was animated again and lifted to an elbow. Her behavior was strictly ingenuous now, and Matt was becoming concerned. "I let this American soldier make out with me last Christmas vacation. He taught me American slang, gave me some good records, and showed me how to screw. But now I can see what a child he really was. I thought it was as daring as could be, and maybe it was, but the sex part of it was positively mediocre. Thank you, Matthew Pyne." She kissed his eyes one by one. "Thanks for making a woman out o'f me."
"Hold it, hold it." He lifted to look into her eyes on common level. "What's all this anyway? Just how old are you, dear?"
"Don't worry," she reassured. "I'm over eighteen-by two months now. Everything we did was nice and legal."
"I'd never have guessed," he said. "I'd have sworn you were at least twenty."
"I try to act older," she confessed. "Try to look older too."
Now, in the light from the bed lamp, she showed her age. Her hair was disheveled, her lips were devoid of rouge, and her cheeks were rosy from his whiskers. She looked like a lovely child. Matt didn't quite know how to react. Who the hell was he to suddenly turn moral.
"You look troubled," she said with obvious concern. "Wasn't I any good?"
Matt sighed and looked about for a cigarette. There was none in sight. "You were good all right-too damn good." He lay back down and took her arms to hold her image above him. Her hair fell over the sides of her face, casting her features in soft shadows. She was a glowing beauty-a real sex bunny. "I'm not sure the corruption session is over either."
"That's simply delightful," she said, plopping down and hugging him. "I have all night. As long as you want me. I've taken my pills with regularity, and I'm ready for anything."
"How about your parents?" he said, running a palm over her incredibly smooth backside. "Won't they wonder where you are?"
"No," she said, toying with his slowly rejuvenating manhood. "They think I'm at school. I attend a boarding school, you see."
"Out of the city?"
"Mm hmm. I should be in college, but I missed a year of school when we lived in Russia."
"You lived in Russia? How come?"
"Daddy was with the diplomatic office there. I was only ten at the time."
Matt's hand was hung up on the soft glories of Penny's buttocks, but he forced his attention to the conversation. "Tell me the truth, Penny," he said, removing her hand from his body. He wasn't quite ready for where she was leading. "Why have you been tailing me? No lies now-the truth."
She rested her head on his chest, and for another moment she remained there, very still. Then she lifted again to her elbow to face Matt. "I-can't tell you," she said sadly. "But I pose no threat in any way. I swear it."
"That stuff about Whoosis Maro-that was all rubbish, wasn't it?"
She laughed. "Shirley's my roommate at school. I drew her name out of the air. Yes, Matt, I lied about that. But I didn't lie about my attraction to you. If that was a lie, I wouldn't be here now. This was a very foolish thing for me to do, but I simply couldn't resist."
Matt was staving off his anger. He wanted more goddamn answers. "You say you can't tell me any more than that?"
"I wish I could, but it's-impossible. I only want to warn you that you are in extreme danger. If what I suspect is true, you. . . ." She said no more. She turned away biting her lip.
Matt liked her too well to slap her around, and that could be difficult to explain if anyone heard the commotion. If he was in danger, it would be damn nice to know what to watch out for, but it was obvious the kid wouldn't tell him. "Okay," he said, "if this danger erupts, and if I get blasted, I'll write you a nice letter. Now maybe we better cut this thing short. Let's get dressed."
"Oh, I've spoiled things, haven't I?" she said as Matt got out of bed on the other side. "I didn't want to do that. I wish I had kept my mouth shut."
"Get your things on, and blow," he said, starting to get into his clothes. "I've got things to do tonight."
She was seated on the edge of the bed as Matt dressed. She brushed the hair out of her eyes. "Can I see you-again?" she asked sadly.
"Just keep out of my way," he said angrily. "A ricocheting bullet might glance back and nail you. I'm doomed, baby-you practically told me so."
She started to speak, but sounds coming from the outside hall halted her. They both paused to listen. "Matt!" said a voice outside the door. A loud pounding accompanied the shout. "Matt, are you in there, old boy?"
Matt let out a gush of air and scratched his head. It was Guthrie. He glanced at Penny, and was held by her reaction to the intrusion. She seemed frightened to death. "Please," she whispered, gesturing. "Don't let him see me."
When Guthrie knocked a second time, Matt called out at the door. "What the hell do you want? Get yourself lost somewhere."
"Look, I've got to speak to you. It's important."
"I don't feel like it, Guthrie," Matt yelled back. "I still feel too much like breaking your goddamn neck."
"Let's not let this interfere with our plans," Guthrie pleaded from outside. "It was stupid of me, but some things are too important to be swayed by personal feelings. We have a big job to do."
"I'm not going to discuss it tonight," Matt said with finality. "And if you're wise, you'll get the hell out of here. I want to do some thinking tonight."
"Well all right, Matt-all right, he said after a pause. "By the way, old boy, the girl really loves you, you know. She begged me to tell her where you were."
"Well, don't!" Matt yelled.
Guthrie lingered outside a minute, and then could be heard walking away from the door along the uncarpeted hallway. The outside door opened, and closed. Matt was once more alone with Penny, who was now busy dressing.
"Why did you panic?" Matt asked her suspiciously.
"He's in Parliament, isn't he? I think he might know my family. It seemed terribly risky."
"What's your last name?" Matt insisted, buttoning his shirt. "Just who is your father anyway?"
Penny wriggled into her skirt, and paused to look at Matt. "I'm sorry," she said in abject apology. "Really I am. But I simply can't tell you."
"Okay," he said quietly. "Get that hot ass of yours the hell out of here then. And baby-don't come back."
Penny was sniffling as she finished dressing, and excused herself to go down the hall to the bathroom. She was out in no more than a minute, with her hair combed and lipstick applied. She joined Matt momentarily in the living room. "Please, don't hate me," she said forlornly. "One day you'll understand." With that she was gone.
Matt poured a quick drink with her departure and gulped it down. He unconsciously paced to the front window and looked outside. His eyes focused on the red sports car, and in a moment saw Penny get into it and slide behind the wheel. She pulled into the traffic, but just as she started out of the range of his vision, the car squealed to a stop. Matt craned around the corner in time to see a male figure jump into the car beside her. After a brief animated verbal exchange, Penny shifted gears and drove away. The passenger remained in the car. As hard as Matt tried, he couldn't include the man in his view. A lamp post impaired his direct vision. Something was damn well up, and he'd better move fast.
It was time for Fritz Heintz to make his nocturnal visit to the pub, but Matt wouldn't be joining him. He was going to the German's apartment to assume control. This was the night.
Matt drew his coat high around his neck and stood in a neutral doorway until he saw Fritz start down the street from his apartment. When all was clear, Matt let himself into the German's apartment. He went into the closet and started going over every paper in sight. He found a hidden book with names, then found the listing of addresses with encircled numbers in front of them. He guessed the numbers identified various cities. If Fritz were smart he would reveal all such details, but that would remain to be seen.
When Fritz finally returned, Matt was there to greet him, with his luger drawn and ready. Fritz's smile of recognition soon faded.
"I'm with British Intelligence," Matt lied. "This is an arrest."
Then things happened fast. Fritz reached into his pocket and flashed a tiny automatic. When it came out, Matt fired point blank. His aim was deadly, and the noise was piercing. The tall German fell forward in a heap, and Matt knew he was dead.
In anger at his own stupidity, Matt ran to the door to listen. He held his pose for several minutes, but the shot seemed to have passed without detection. At least that was a break. But what about the corpse that was bleeding all over the damned rug. He had really bungled things this time.