No Mercy Read Free Page A

is also capable of using facilities and eating. That is it. You wish to see him?'
    'Yes. Now.'
    'Prepare yourselves . . .'
    Paula glanced at Tweed. A similar warning to Bella's final remark when they'd left her. What horror was about to appear?
    Saxon opened a door at the back, gestured to a tall slim figure, in his thirties, Paula guessed. What gave her a shock was the way he held his long head stiffly erect, even more the bloodless pallor of his face and the pale eyes which passed over her as though she didn't exist.
    Michael wore an expensive grey suit jacket and well- ironed trousers. His shirt was pale grey with a matching tie. All grey, she thought. Like the man. She looked at his well- shaped hands - she always checked hands.
    Michael's hair was dark, thick, neatly trimmed. Presumably Saxon brought in a hairdresser. Maybe he wasn't completely the ogre she had thought. The psychiatrist took Michael by the arm, guided him into the treatment chair, swivelled it round so it faced Tweed and Paula.
    Michael had walked stiff-legged, almost martial. In the chair he sat erect, stared into the distance. This is eerie, Paula thought, like watching a robot. Saxon opened a hand and gestured.
    'So now you have seen Michael.'
    'A personal question,' Tweed said, waving Saxon well away from the chair. 'Money. He's been here nine weeks, so who pays his fee?'
    'I do not know.' Saxon's lips tightened as he observed Tweed's expression. 'When he arrived from Mrs Ashton's someone phoned me, asked how much each week. I told them and they said the fee would be delivered by courier. It has arrived each week. The courier delivers a thick envelope. Inside, well wrapped in thick blank notepaper around a cellophane envelope, is the fee. In banknotes.'
    'Which firm does the courier work for?'
    'I have no idea. One of those motorcyclists. Different man each time.'
    'Was the person making the calls a man or a woman?'
    'I couldn't tell. Sounded as though they talk through the tissue paper.' He stared at Paula, who had joined them. 'No need to be secret. Michael does not understand anything he hears.'
    'You're probably right,' Tweed agreed. 'But it is still an assumption. I don't take chances. We'll be going now, Dr Saxon.' He walked past the front of the treatment chair to fetch the overcoat, which he'd dropped on another chair. He began to put it on in full view of Saxon's patient. Michael climbed out of the chair, walked stiffly to his room, closing the door.
    'He can at least move,' Paula commented.
    Almost at once the door opened again and Michael walked out. He was wearing a grey overcoat with an astrakhan collar. He then headed towards the exit door leading to the outside world. Tweed looked quizzically at Paula.
    'He wants to leave with us.'
    'No!' thundered Saxon. 'He cannot do this. You cannot take him with you. You hear me?'
    'I can hardly avoid doing that when you start bellowing like a bull elephant.'
    Tweed was thinking rapidly. Saxon was advancing on him, shaking a clenched fist as he ranted on.
    'It is illegal. I am responsible for him.'
    'You have a letter from a close relative authorizing you? Plus a letter from a doctor?' Tweed enquired genially.
    'I do not need such a thing.'
    'Which means you haven't. Also, you know little about the law. He's here at his own wish. Now he's clearly sick to death of you and your clinic. He can do what he likes.'
    Pushing past Saxon, he headed for the door, which Michael had already opened. 'Excuse me,' Paula said as she gave the psychiatrist her most wintry smile.
    When Tweed got to the outer door he saw Michael standing on the pavement by the car. Tweed used his remote to unlock the doors. As soon as Michael saw the flash of the lights, indicating the car was unlocked, he pulled open the front passenger door, got inside and pulled the door shut.
    'What's Michael up to?' Paula asked.
    'We'll find out, won't we?' Tweed opened the rear door, Paula climbed inside, sat behind Michael. Tweed walked round