Page 28 of Four of Hearts

‘Quiet!’

Harry’s deep, gravelly voice hit the room like a quarry detonation. Faces turned, eyes stared. He focused on Ben.

‘Come on, Ben,’ he said. ‘They’ve what? You need to tell me. And are you sure that whatever it is, it’s not just Liz and the rest of them having a laugh?’

Ben shook his head, and handed his phone to Harry.

Harry lifted the phone to his ear.

‘Hello, Harry ...’

The rage Harry felt right then had the power of stars collapsing, of universes being sucked into nothingness by a power so great nothing could stop it. He was rage incarnate, a beast baying for blood.

‘You ...’

‘How are things?’

The voice was a calm and full of menace as ever.

‘Why don’t you join us and find out for yourself?’ Harry asked. ‘I’ve been thinking all evening that what would really round this stag do off, would be a blood sacrifice.’

A laugh.

‘You’re a funny man, Harry. I like that.’

‘You’re not, and I don’t,’ Harry replied. ‘Get to the point, and fast, because right now, this isn’t striking me as that truce we discussed.’

‘All in good time.’

‘You ran out of that years ago.’

A pause.

‘This is just a social visit, Harry. More than that, in fact, as I have come bearing gifts.’

‘The best gift you could give would be to stop breathing. I’m happy to help with that, as I’m sure you’re aware.’

‘But you don’t know what the gift is.’

‘I don’t want to, either. Whatever it is, take it with you, we don’t want it.’

‘Flowers, Harry. I have brought flowers for your bride.’

The symbolism of such a gift was not lost on Harry. Flowers were good for weddings, just as good for funerals.

‘Quite the comedian, aren’t you?’

‘They’re really quite something, Harry. I’m sure you’ll appreciate them when you see them.’

‘So, am I to expect more unannounced visits, then, or is this it?’

‘This is it, for now,’ came the reply, each word poison. ‘The next time we meet, it will be anything but a surprise, I can promise you that.’

‘And that’s all this was, just you turning up to give some flowers? Really? You expect me to believe that?’

A breath.

‘No, Harry, I do not. You see, when we parted just those few hours ago, I wasn’t entirely sure that you understood. The truce, yes, and that I would be back, and that you would have things to consider.’