Page 116 of The Last Love Song
‘I bet you a fiver it parks behind us.’ Con slid the car to a halt in front of the restaurant.
Lulu looked at him in astonishment as the Rover drew up a few yards behind him. ‘How did you know?’
Con swung his long legs out of the car. ‘I’ll tell you over dinner.’
The maître d’ found them a table in an alcove. Con sat with his back to the window and his fellow diners in the hope he wouldn’t be recognised.
Over an excellent supper of escargots, a huge steak for Con and a cheese soufflé for Lulu, they drank a few of bottles of good red wine. Lulu chattered on about an audition she’d attended yesterday for a film.
‘They want me to appear topless. Of course, Todd doesn’t approve. But what’s wrong with nudity, for Christ’s sake? If they offer me the part, I’ll take it. The director’s wonderful, very young, very open-minded and bloody gorgeous actually. We got on like a house on fire.’
Con drained his wine glass and the waiter immediately refilled it. He stared at Lulu across the table as she talked about the Victorian novel that the film was based on.
‘Coffee formonsieurandmadame?’
‘Yes please,’ said Lulu. ‘So when is Sorcha back?’
‘As I said, I can’t say I know. Sometime over the weekend.’ Con reached for his cigarettes.
‘But she’s flying to New York with us on Tuesday, isn’t she?’
‘She’s meant to be. Anyway, let’s talk about something else.’
‘Okay. Tell me about that car sitting outside the restaurant. Are you being followed?’
‘As a matter of fact I am. I’m under the protection of your men at Scotland Yard. I’ve had several murder threats sent through the post. The police don’t know whether they’re from a crazed fan or a militant Loyalist group. Either way, it’s made me uncomfortable.’
‘Oh, Con, I’m sorry. How awful.’
‘I’ve been told to keep my head down and to behave myself. No more peace protests or rallies or marches for a bit. Sorry to let you down, Lulu, but there it is.’
‘It’s a shame, but you mustn’t put your life in danger.’
Con took a swig of wine. ‘So you don’t think I should say feck it and continue just the way I was? I thought you might.’
‘No, absolutely not. You being dead isn’t going to further any cause. And besides, I couldn’t bear the thought of losing you.’
‘Grand, because I have no intention of disappearing just yet.’
She stared at him. ‘Life without you would be awful.’
Con stubbed out his cigarette and looked into Lulu’s clear green eyes.
‘Shall we go home?’
She smiled at him. ‘Yes please.’
Con woke the following morning to the insistent buzzing of the front doorbell. Leaning across Lulu, he looked at the time. Five to nine.
‘Shit! Shit! Feck it!’
Lulu rolled over and opened her eyes. ‘What is it? What’s wrong?’
‘It’s Helen McCarthy. She called yesterday and said she wanted to see me this morning. I’d forgotten altogether.’
Con leapt out of bed and pulled on his jeans and a T-shirt. ‘Jesus, I feel rough. I was langers last night, wasn’t I?’
‘We both were.’ Lulu rubbed her temples.
