Page 277 - Bridget Jones's Diary - by Helen FIELDING

Bridget, and your mother is to be branded a common criminal.'

After that he broke down. Una came to the phone, saying that she was going
to give Dad some Ovaltine. I told her I'd be there in two hours but she said not to
drive till I'd got over the shock, there was nothing to be done, and to leave it till
the morning. Replacing the receiver, I slumped against the wall cursing myself

feebly for leaving my cigarettes in the living room. Immediately though, Jude
appeared with a glass of Grand Marnier.

'What happened?' she said.

I told her the whole story, pouring the Grand Marnier straight down my throat
as I did. Jude didn't say a word but immediately went and fetched Mark Darcy.

'I blame myself,' he said, running his hands through his hair. 'I should have
made myself more clear at the Tarts and Vicars party. I knew there was

something dodgy about Julio.'

'What do you mean?'

'I heard him talking on his portable phone by the herbaceous border. He didn't
know he was being overheard. If I'd had any idea that my parents were involved
I'd . . . He shook his head. 'Now that I think about it, I do remember my mother
mentioning something, but I got so upset at the mere mention of the words

'timeshare' that I must have terrorized her into shutting up. Where's your mother
now?'

'I don't know. Portugal? Rio de Janeiro? Having her hair done?'

He started to pace around the room firing questions like a top barrister.

'What's being done to find her?' 'What are the sums involved?' 'How did the
matter come to light?' 'What is the police's involvement?' 'Who knows about it?'
'Where is your father now?' 'Would you like to go to him?' 'Will you allow me to
take you?' It was pretty damn sexy, I can tell you.