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‘It’s in the living room,’ Teri says. ‘Pride of place.’
‘Tell me, because I’m intrigued, and because I know how hard it must be to find a gift for a man who appears to have everything – and against all logic seems to crave even more. What did you choose?’
She opens her mouth, closes it, opens it again. ‘It’s kind of private,’ she says. ‘Sort of … embarrassing.’
Gabriel remains silent. With people like Teri, it’s often his preferred strategy.
‘I had a … I organized … well … I think they’re called boudoir shoots.’ Teri glances at her lap. ‘It’s not porn. Nothing like that. Glamour photography is sometimes what they call it. Except … maybe it was a bit more than that. I had one of the images blown up and framed for him. To go above our bed.’
Gabriel considers this for a while – and how his brother might have reacted. ‘You let another man see you naked? Take intimate photographs of you?’
Blanching, Teri shakes her head. ‘It was an all-female team. I would never …’ She takes a breath. ‘I wouldnever.’
Gabriel suspects that Teri’s gift would have symbolized, to his brother, the final surrender of her dignity; would have demonstrated that the game was effectively over, because nothing remained worth playing for – because, to Angus, the only thing less interesting than a slave is a willing slave. ‘Well, it was certainly thoughtful,’ he says. ‘Did he take you to dinner afterwards?’
‘Thursday night?’
‘Thursday night.’
‘Thursday night, I think he was …’ Again, Teri’s eyelids stutter. This time, a single tear spills down her cheek. ‘I think he was with one of the others.’
From his pocket, Gabriel retrieves a handkerchief and offers it. ‘I’m sorry. That must have been tough. I’m guessing things have been difficult for a while. Has Angus stoppedpaying you as much attention? Stopped trying to make you happy?’
Teri dabs at her eyes, careful to avoid her mascara. Finally, she nods.
‘Who was the girl?’
‘Someone new, I think. Someone younger than me. A lot younger.’
‘Where’s my brother now?’
‘I’m guessing he’s still with her.’
‘You haven’t seen him since Thursday?’
‘No.’
‘Have you heard from him?’
‘Not yet.’
Plum blossom falling on to slow-flowing water. Cotton-white clouds passing over Mount Huangshan. Gabriel breathes long and slow. ‘Have you tried to contact him?’
Teri shivers. Again, she shakes her head.
From outside comes the buzz of a leaf blower. A muscular-looking guy in overalls appears around the side of the building. As he passes the orangery, he glances through the windows at Teri. When he spots Gabriel on the opposite sofa, he quickly averts his eyes.
‘I don’t know if you’ve heard this story,’ Gabriel tells her. ‘Maybe you have, but I think it’s worth repeating. One year, when we were a lot younger, Angus was in Panajachel, Guatemala, on our birthday. He was out of money, had nothing of value to trade. He found a fisherman with a mobile phone on Lake Atitlan, but the man wasn’t willing to hand it over. Angus beat him bloody and used the phone to get in touch.’
Gabriel grimaces. ‘I can never decide if that’s a story about savagery or love, but that’s not really why I’m sharing it. The point is, every year since our lives took separate paths, Angus has always made contact on our birthday.’
He pauses, lets that sink in. ‘Most people understand that the bond between twins is something special. But when those twins grew up in care, as we did, that connection eclipses everything. You know what Angus said to me Thursday night?’
‘No.’
‘He said nothing, Teri, because he never called.’ Gabriel searches her expression. ‘What do you make of that?’
‘I’m sorry, Gabe, I—’