Gently with the Ladies (Inspector George Gently 13)

said. ‘If they really mean it they want to talk to you about the rough deal they’ve had. They want people to know about that. They want to take it out of someone in pity. And Merryn just stands there smiling a bit and lapping up what you say to her.’
    ‘But hell – look where she’s standing!’ Reynolds said.
    ‘That doesn’t mean very much, sir,’ Fairley said. ‘I know it would do for you or me, but some people have a head for heights. My boyfriend has. He’d go out there. And there are lots of window-cleaners who would.’
    ‘You’re saying she’s doing all this for a kick?’
    ‘I don’t know why she’s doing it, sir. I imagine she wants to impress someone. But I don’t know all the circumstances.’
    ‘She wants to impress someone,’ Reynolds echoed. ‘Well, she’s doing a nice job with me.’
    ‘And if she doesn’t succeed in impressing them?’ Gently said.
    Fairley looked aslant. ‘I don’t think she’ll jump.’
    They were silent. Albertine was telling Brenda Merryn that she, Albertine, alone was to blame. The crowd below was making less noise, perhaps intrigued by Albertine’s colourful oratory. Mademoiselle must come in, Albertine was saying. It was a big mistake. Monsieur knew. She would be sorry, that Mademoiselle, if anything happened she would be sorry.
    Reynolds gave a grunt of disgust. ‘So how’s it going to end?’ he demanded. ‘Is she just going to have her fling, then walk in here with a beautiful smile?’
    ‘Something like that, sir,’ Fairley said. ‘When she gets tired or hungry.’
    ‘And we still have to make it a big production.’
    ‘I’m afraid so, sir. In case she’s serious.’
    Gently raised his hand. ‘Listen.’
    Albertine had stopped talking and the crowd had gone quiet. All one could hear now was a scuffling sound and a series of frightened whines. Then there was a wail of terror from Albertine and suddenly Brenda Merryn’s voice was shouting and a shuddering sigh came from the crowd and Albertine was screaming.
    ‘You French imbecile,’ they heard Brenda Merryn shouting, ‘you haven’t the head for it. Get back on the veranda!’
     
    They ran out. Albertine was on the ledge and had already advanced some steps along it. But she was almost petrified by her situation and was screaming like a terrified animal. She was shrinking against the wall and scrabbling at it while gingerly moving her feet, and with every step she screamed piercingly and jerked in a perilous manner. Yet she didn’t stop. By an act of will she was driving herself along the ledge. She couldn’t prevent her fear bursting nakedly from her, but she never faltered in her intention.
    ‘Some of you – grab her!’ Brenda Merryn cried. ‘Can’t you see she’s going to fall? She’s got no head, she’s stark raving. She’ll have us both off if she gets here.’
    ‘Back off to the window,’ Gently called.
    ‘Damn you, I won’t. I’m here to stay.’
    ‘If she has to turn she’ll probably fall.’
    ‘Then one of you big brave men come after her.’
    ‘Mademoiselle,’ Albertine screamed. ‘Mademoiselle! Come in now. Oh come in now!’
    She was trembling and wobbling at the knees. But still she kept going forward.
    Brenda Merryn swore. She looked towards the window, from which the head of a constable projected, then at the screaming, shuffling figure, which seemed about to collapse at any second. Her lips compressed. She began to move, quite coolly, towards Albertine, her hands, one advanced, one trailing, sliding lightly over the facing. Within a yard of her she stopped.
    ‘All right. This is far enough, Albertine.’
    ‘Mademoiselle . . . you are coming in!’
    ‘Yes. Stop there. Don’t look down.’
    ‘But you must come in!’
    ‘Albertine. Do exactly as I say. Don’t try to grab me and don’t look down. Just look at me and rest a little.’
    Then she smiled and kept smiling. And after a moment Albertine stopped screaming. The screams became a subdued wailing, like the keening of a child. Albertine clung with all her might, her nails edging at the cement, but she didn’t scream, and her hysterical breathing began to grow more regular.
    ‘Now Albertine, listen closely. You see I’m not frightened, Albertine?’
    ‘Mademoiselle—’
    ‘I’m not frightened because I don’t keep looking down. I’m standing on a ledge and it’s quite safe and I know it’s safe and I don’t think about it. In fact it’s rather grand up here. There’s a