He wondered how all this would affect the Foreign Office and their attitude to Cordova. Micky had so far evaded the police. But whether Micky was caught or not, Hugh could exploit the fact that he had witnessed the killing. Newspapers would love to publish his moment-by-moment account. The public would be outraged by a foreign diplomat committing murder in broad daylight, and members of Parliament would probably demand some kind of rebuke. The fact that Micky was the murderer might well spoil Papa Miranda's chances of getting recognized by the British government. The Foreign Office might be persuaded to support the Silva family to punish the Mirandas--and to get compensation for British investors in the Santamaria Harbor Corporation.
The more he thought about it, the more optimistic he felt.
He hoped Nora would be asleep when he got home. He did not want to hear what a miserable day she had had, stuck in this remote village with no one to help her take care of three rowdy boys. He just wanted to slip between the sheets and close his eyes. Tomorrow he would think over the events of today and figure out where they left him and his bank.
He was disappointed to see a light on behind the curtains as he walked up the garden path. That meant she was still up. He let himself in with his key and went into the front room.
He was surprised to see the three boys, all in their pajamas, sitting in a row on the sofa looking at an illustrated book.
And he was astonished to see Maisie in the middle, reading to them.
All three boys jumped up and ran to him. He hugged and kissed them one by one: Sol, the youngest; then Samuel; then eleven-year-old Toby. The younger two were simply overjoyed to see him, but there was something else in Toby's face. "What is it, old man?" Hugh asked him. "Something happened? Where's your mama?"
"She went shopping," he said, and burst into tears.
Hugh put his arm around the boy and looked at Maisie.
"I got here around four o'clock," she said. "Nora must have gone out shortly after you."
"She left them alone?"
Maisie nodded.
Hugh felt hot anger rise up inside him. The children had been alone here most of the day. Anything could have happened. "How could she do that?" he said bitterly.
"There's a note." Maisie handed him an envelope.
He opened it and read the one-word message: GOOD-BYE.
Maisie said: "It wasn't sealed. Toby read it and showed it to me."
