Reading Room 2019 - X

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

Reading Room 2019 X- Whisper Of a Kill by Lois Welling

http://www.thecircuitarchive.com/tca/archive/12/whisperof.html
Whisper Of a Kill by Lois Welling
Hosted by gilda_elise


This is a story where what happened in Bodie's life was slightly different. The people are the same, it's the circumstances which have changed.



This is a different Bodie, a Bodie who didn’t leave Africa while still a young man. And this Bodie’s job is to kill George Cowley. It looks as if he’s going to do just that, surprising Cowley at his car. But then he surprises himself by giving his gun to Cowley and announcing that he wants to work for him.

Of course, it wouldn’t be as easy as that. Taken into custody, Bodie is interrogated for three days. Finally, comes a question from Cowley. “Now, Mr Bodie, why didn’t you kill me?” It takes a few seconds for Bodie to gather his thoughts. He finally confesses, “You and yours wear the white hats, and I want one.”

Cowley agrees to give Bodie a chance, but that chance starts with bunking down with Doyle who continues the interrogation. When Bodie is almost killed by a woman he picks up at a bar he and Doyle visit, you begin to see the start of the draw between the two men.

Doyle is sent to Liverpool in order to find out more about Bodie. Cowley isn’t satisfied with what they’ve learned so far. He knows that Bodie is hiding something. A visit to Bodie’s sister reveals the truth, but the visit ends disastrously.

Bodie flees to Wales, but is easily found. Now that Cowley knows the secret that Bodie was trying to hide, he’s willing to allow him into CI5. He sends Doyle with a message: it’s time to spend some time with Macklin.

Finally part of the squad, Bodie finds himself low man on the totem pole, and ostracized by everyone except Jax and Doyle. When a mission goes wrong because of the other’s behavior toward Bodie, Bodie is no longer low man.

Partnered, Bodie and Doyle draw closer. Drawn into a threesome, they discover that they both want more, something neither can handle.

A hit man is sent after Bodie. He and Doyle manage to turn the tables and kill the man. But Cowley isn’t pleased, and they’re still uncomfortable around each other.

Because of the trouble with the hit man, Bodie’s landlady throws him out. He’s ordered to bunk with Doyle. At the flat, Doyle finally makes his feelings known and they have fast, hot sex. Too fast as it turns out because Doyle wants, and gets, more.

Bodie returns to Africa without telling anyone. He needs to deal with the situation so that there won’t be anymore hit men. Doyle follows, though he’s very upset with Bodie for leaving him. He gets to Bodie’s hotel room where, after Bodie calms him down, they make love and fall asleep.

Bodie once again gives Doyle the slip. With the help of a couple of contacts, Bodie extricates himself from his old boss by faking his death. He returns to his hotel room where he and Doyle deal with Doyle’s overreaction to being left alone.





I hate to admit it, but I wasn’t as taken by this story as I have been in the past.It’s not that I didn’t enjoy it; I did. It just didn’t live up to the way I remembered it. I could see Bodie clear enough, but I felt that Doyle came across as needy. I know he was supposed to given his past, but he didn’t seem to have any control over it.

Bodie, on the other hand, was definitely the Bodie of the show, even if he took a turn a bit later in his life. His history fit into the change in his life, because, given other circumstances, like here, I could easily see Bodie taking that direction.

The back story regarding Bodie’s sister was interesting, though the resolution seemed a bit pat. She was there to give a reason for Bodie’s life being different, but I wish there had been more background for her.

My favorite parts of the story were when it was just Bodie and Doyle doing what they do, whether on the job or in their personal lives. Those parts held my interest and I enjoyed reading about them. Maybe that’s the parts I remembered and why I wanted to reread the story.



That's my take. Comments?

Comments

[shooting2kill.livejournal.com]

Just popping in for a second to say thank you for this post and how glad I was to see it chosen as it's one of my favourite stories! I'll try to get back later.

[jat-sapphire.livejournal.com]

At first, I thought this was, as you said, a new backstory going to the same place. Then I noticed the references to Ann, whom Ray had loved and lost before Bodie ever appeared--a real AU, then. The fact that, without Bodie, Doyle feels even more lost and unloved, is an interesting side-note on "Involvement" and how much more central Bodie is to Doyle even during Doyle's involvement with Ann.

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

I think both have a real need for the other, and not just a sexual one. Even if you saw them as just friends, it would be hard not to see how central each is to the other's life. I do like that the author threw in events from other episodes. It made the story not quite an AU for me, more of an AR. Though I guess it can go either way.

[shooting2kill.livejournal.com]

I hate to admit it, but I wasn’t as taken by this story as I have been in the past.It’s not that I didn’t enjoy it; I did. It just didn’t live up to the way I remembered it.

I know what you mean and I feel that about quite a few stories, but surprisingly (to me) I didn’t feel it about this story. Being reminded of how good it was came as a welcome treat and rereading it wasn’t the chore it might have been given that it was fairly long. In fact I was reminded of how many memorable scenes it had, scenes which I’d always thought came from several different stories e.g. the one with Marge Talbot I’d always thought had been written by Sebastian (Thanks to BSL who reminded me a while back.) And the scene with the Blond Widow. And the opening scene was brilliant with just one closing sentence turning the whole thing on its head.

I felt that Doyle came across as needy. I know he was supposed to given his past, but he didn’t seem to have any control over it.

I thought generally his portrayal wasn’t too bad except for when at one stage he actually passed out! Authors seem to have him passing out *a lot* e.g. The Far Shore (or was that Bodie?). Anyway…. But I’m not sure, though, if you *can* control things like that?

Bodie, on the other hand, was definitely the Bodie of the show, even if he took a turn a bit later in his life. His history fit into the change in his life, because, given other circumstances, like here, I could easily see Bodie taking that direction.

Yes, I agree.

The back story regarding Bodie’s sister was interesting, though the resolution seemed a bit pat. She was there to give a reason for Bodie’s life being different, but I wish there had been more background for her.

I’ve got mixed feelings about this scene. Years ago when I first read it I liked it, a bit later when I read it again I felt it was too long and this time it didn’t seem so bad. But every time I’ve felt irritated by the use of the name ‘Will’, don’t ask me why, I just did. And the abuse element, to be fair it was novel when the writer wrote this but now I’m a bit tired of having that as a reason for so many things in so many stories. And another thing…. If Bodie was so worried about his sister and so close to her, why spend all those years in Africa leaving her to her own terrible thoughts and memories?

My favorite parts of the story were when it was just Bodie and Doyle doing what they do, whether on the job or in their personal lives. Those parts held my interest and I enjoyed reading about them. Maybe that’s the parts I remembered and why I wanted to reread the story.

I agree, I loved those parts but I thought the whole story was well balanced with good action scenes, a gradual slow building and realistic discovery of each other and then more intrigue etc. I was never bored with it but could have done with the ‘Will’ scene being a bit shorter. Having said that I don’t know what the author could have cut from that scene and I thought the angry interaction between the three men was very well done.

[One tiny niggle: why was Bodie permitted to live alone after the Blonde Widow incident? Surely that showed the need for him to continue to have Doyle’s protection?]

Thanks for this rec, I enjoyed it!

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

I'm still (re-)reading it, but...

One tiny niggle: why was Bodie permitted to live alone after the Blonde Widow incident? Surely that showed the need for him to continue to have Doyle’s protection?
Yes I wondered that - why was the danger to him suddenly over? Surely the Cartel wouldn't have sent just one person after him...

If Bodie was so worried about his sister and so close to her, why spend all those years in Africa leaving her to her own terrible thoughts and memories?
I suppose I figured this was because he thought he was on the run for murder (although he was apparently able to just waltz back into the country with his own passport, which was odd. I don't think cases are ever closed to the point that a murderer stops being wanted for arrest just because a few years have passed...)

[shooting2kill.livejournal.com]

One tiny niggle: why was Bodie permitted to live alone after the Blonde Widow incident? Surely that showed the need for him to continue to have Doyle’s protection?
Yes I wondered that - why was the danger to him suddenly over? Surely the Cartel wouldn't have sent just one person after him...

I'm so glad I'm not the only one to think that.

If Bodie was so worried about his sister and so close to her, why spend all those years in Africa leaving her to her own terrible thoughts and memories?
I suppose I figured this was because he thought he was on the run for murder (although he was apparently able to just waltz back into the country with his own passport, which was odd. I don't think cases are ever closed to the point that a murderer stops being wanted for arrest just because a few years have passed...)

I agree, I don't think cases get closed, either.

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

I’ve got mixed feelings about this scene. Years ago when I first read it I liked it, a bit later when I read it again I felt it was too long and this time it didn’t seem so bad. But every time I’ve felt irritated by the use of the name ‘Will’, don’t ask me why, I just did. And the abuse element, to be fair it was novel when the writer wrote this but now I’m a bit tired of having that as a reason for so many things in so many stories. And another thing…. If Bodie was so worried about his sister and so close to her, why spend all those years in Africa leaving her to her own terrible thoughts and memories?

Yeah, Bodie's not a "Will." Maybe Bill, but probably William. That's a good point about why he left if his sister needed him so much, which she obviously did.


[One tiny niggle: why was Bodie permitted to live alone after the Blonde Widow incident? Surely that showed the need for him to continue to have Doyle’s protection?]

Does seem odd. It's an obvious set-up for something else to happen.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Oh no, not Bill! I can see him as Will far more than as Bill...! Isn't it funny how we all have different ideas of names and what they mean about people.... *g*

[shooting2kill.livejournal.com]

To be honest I can't see him as either Bill or Will. Bill sounds a bit normal and boring and Will is a bit too young and middle class for me (Just William). Despite what other people have said over the years I've never seen Bodie as middle class!

[jat-sapphire.livejournal.com]

S2K's comment reminded me that the ending of the father's story was satisfying as narrative--I want abusers to get their comuppances--but as far as I understand, quite rare in life. Abused children cling to the abuser, and have had plenty of time to be trained to take the blame themselves. I wonder whether Bodie's presence and emotional support is what should enable his sister to feel her own anger. I dunno, it seems a little pat to me.

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

It seemed to me, too. I know as writers we want to tie up all the loose ends, but that's not how life really is.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Nice review - thank you!

I'm still reading this one - though of course it's a re-read, and in fact not even from all that long ago. Being me though, I still can't remember all of it - I mix bits up with other stories I've read since.

I've just re-read the sister bit, and I did find it a bit... I dunno... it made me want to wince a bit on Bodie's part, especially where he collapsed from the trauma of it all. I agree about it all being very neatly "wrapped up" too, which is nice in one way but doesn't seem very realistic. I know they talked about Keirin needing more counseling, but...

And Doyle going on about being especially disgusted because Bodie'd committed "patricide" didn't seem right to me either. The Doyle we see in the eps is usually pretty understanding about people who do terrible things because they've been forced into it (even if he doesn't necessarily means they should go unpunished either) - it just didn't seem like him at all. And then later he felt terrible because he'd been wrong and so on, but... just no...

I'm not convinced about the "swearing in" either - I know they do it in the police, but I just can't see that being a CI5 thing.

And that's where I'm up to right now, so if I get a chance to read tonight - more anon!

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

The thing with the sister seems to be a mutual point of contention. But I have to admit, I don't think I'd ever write anything about sexual abuse. It's a really tough subject, so I have to give the author kudos for doing it.

[paris7am.livejournal.com]

Thank you, gilda_elise, for choosing and hosting this story - I've enjoyed reading it again. I cannot figure out how I can remember the first part so clearly (up to the blonde widow) and have no recollection of the rest of it! Did I stop reading, or has my swiss cheese memory just become a sinkhole?
   Very interesting commentary from everyone, too. I am on phone, so I can't refer to previous posts, so Ill try to remember what I was going to say. I think that the story is oddly uneven. The pace changes, the level of plotting changes. It's so odd, trying to describe it. I think the first time it struck me was during the dealer's daughter's episode. Everything slowed down, tight focus, very internal. Maybe it's just me. Because that scene, as hot as parts were, really bothered me... Bodie spanking her, I mean. He can go ahead and kill and do all manner of things, but the spanking got to me. Maybe because of the sister background and the way he responded to the men at his father's old pub? Not that I can defend the woman in any way! Just, why?
   It seems like the author was willing to take on some very uncomfortable, awkward, difficult subjects. Not just slide over them, but dive deep and stay for a while! The sister part, for example. The rationale and back story for Bodie really is important, but it still seems like a completely different world, to me. Or that drop into the memory of Sheila? Shelly? And subsequent fantasy about Doyle... It's like the stage lights go out and a spotlight shines on one tiny place for a long time. And, the very emotional responses both B and D exhibit? As others mentioned, not the way I would expect them to behave.
   On the other hand, there is a lot to love! This Bodie is so attractive and compelling (for the most part) - wanting to fight for the right side... And Doyle, I love his characterization. I wish the abandonment thing hadn't been so emphasized, but I love how he's portrayed being clear and open about what he wants and needs from Bodie. Once he goes for it, and they both go for it, they don't hold back or play games... Except for the plotted problems they face. When they are together and trust each other, it's quite amazing. Cowley, for some reason, is the one character in it that I thought was awesome, without hesitation. Really well done. The ops and action and ci5 business, too, were great, I thought. Even if liberties were taken (swearing in thing, for example?) It still worked.
   Besides the spanking and those odd slow episodes, I think my only other niggles were the over-the-top "no! don't do it!" moments like when Doyle just waltzes off to get the ivory box, and Bodie blithely encourages him... What?! Are you both out of your minds? It's as bad as a really awful horror movie when you see the danger a mile away and the characters just la la la along...
   This is discombobulated, but I hope you can follow my trail. Another part that came to mind as very well done is how the author takes bits of the plot and winds them in to the story later with significance, so we experience that ah hah moment of privileged knowledge. There were several, but the only one I can think of right now is the tying up fantasy and the buying scarves end. Shoot, my memory is terrible. There were others.
   All in all, a very entertaining read. And before I forget, how about the cover art? omg!

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Ha - I'm just the same, I always remember the first bit and not the rest....

I agree about that teach-her-a-lesson sex scene too - I'm pretty uncomfortable with the author's description of her as "looking to get fucked", based on what she's wearing. Watch what you decide to wear, women!

And yeah, then Bodie physically hits her repeatedly (calling it spanking doesn't really change that and leaves her on the floor. While all this is going on, Doyle gets Bodie a drink, and then they humiliate her, and at the end Bodie jokes to himself about "thanks for everything bitch" and sending her a thank you card... Again, I think the author's set her up to be a horrible person just to let the lads do that, but I'm not convinced they'd go that far. As you say, not Bodie with the background he's given, and not the Doyle I see in the eps.

(Also on phone now, so more later!)

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

To begin with, yes, the cover art is gorgeous! I love Suzan Lovett's work, but this one is really exceptional.

You're so right about the unevenness of the story. A good reason why so many people love certain parts, other parts not so much. I'd forgotten about the spanking, but, yeah, that was weird and icky. It's things like that that turned if from a story a love to one I just like. But like isn't bad, is it? *g*

[shooting2kill.livejournal.com]

I thought you've made so many good, insightful points here!

.. Bodie spanking her, I mean. He can go ahead and kill and do all manner of things, but the spanking got to me. Maybe because of the sister background and the way he responded to the men at his father's old pub? Not that I can defend the woman in any way! Just, why?

That's interesting and something which hadn't occurred to me at all. Maybe he felt so violent towards Marge (because she'd humiliated him and Doyle and taken them for granted), wanted to *be* violent towards her but knew he couldn't/shouldn't for so many reasons and maybe bottom slapping was the only outlet he had for these feelings? He might have associated bottom slapping with the way parents reprimand their children or the way some people use it as a kind of sexual foreplay. He wanted to humiliate her in one of the few ways he could without resorting to more classical forms of violence like punching her on the jaw. That kind of violence, apart from lots of other negatives, wouldn't be manly enough for Bodie.

On the other hand, there is a lot to love! This Bodie is so attractive and compelling (for the most part)

He is, isn't he?!!!!

This is discombobulated, but I hope you can follow my trail. Another part that came to mind as very well done is how the author takes bits of the plot and winds them in to the story later with significance, so we experience that ah hah moment of privileged knowledge. There were several, but the only one I can think of right now is the tying up fantasy and the buying scarves end.

Ah yes, good point. I wonder, is 'privileged knowledge' (I like that term) the same as dramatic irony? I remember that from school.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

I'm being very piecemeal here - sorry!

Just read the bit where Bodie's being "ostracised" as the new man on the team by everyone except Doyle and Jax, and... again, I'm not convinced. I'm not convinced he'd put up with it for very long, although I do think he'd be patient for a bit. I'm not 100% convinced that any CI5 agent would bugger off for a few hours of their watch either, even if it was explained that no one believed anything would happen...

Also not convinced that Doyle would casually throw around "Pakkie" - look at how he reacts in Klansman when Bodie uses "spade"...

It's odd though - for all I'm being picky, I do generally like this story, and think of it as g good one!

[shooting2kill.livejournal.com]

Just read the bit where Bodie's being "ostracised" as the new man on the team by everyone except Doyle and Jax, and... again, I'm not convinced. I'm not convinced he'd put up with it for very long,

But he's got nowhere else to go which is safe.

although I do think he'd be patient for a bit. I'm not 100% convinced that any CI5 agent would bugger off for a few hours of their watch either,

Oh I dunno, it's amazing what you can be tempted by when you've spent years in the same old job! Anything to beat the system and I'd imagine there's nothing more pointless or boring than sitting up all night with nothing going on when you could nip away for a couple of hours leaving no one the wiser.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Oh I know, and I'm the last person who thinks CI5 agents are superhumans who never mess up or slack off, it just seemed fairly extreme here, and I suppose it read to me like an excuse to show how diligent Bodie was in comparison.

I mean, we see Bodie slacking off in the eps, leaving Doyle working alone. This just... It was a bit perfect tin soldier when that's just not Bodie to me. Again, I know he's trying to impress Cowley and keep his place, but...

[shooting2kill.livejournal.com]

Oh, good point, I'd forgotten about Bodie slacking off! Naughty Bodie... And how good it was of Doyle to cover for him, he took it pretty well considering.

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

The agent leaving his post was something of a shock. I certainly can't see Cowley keeping him around after that, no matter how much he apologized.

That seems to be the consensus, that while not a great story, certainly a good one. :-)

[shooting2kill.livejournal.com]

Sorry forgot this bit:

Also not convinced that Doyle would casually throw around "Pakkie" - look at how he reacts in Klansman when Bodie uses "spade"...

I agree it's not consistent with Klansman but (and I think we've discussed this before!) don't forget Doyle very uncharacteristically called one female a 'slag' in one episode which I can't remember the title of and it was very odd.

Added on: just found it, from Fugitive:

Scene 20: Bodie and Doyle in the car.

COWLEY: [into R/T] Sounds like your friend Slater might just be chancing his arm.

BODIE: Yeh, we're on our way. There's such a thing as traffic, you know. Out.

DOYLE: Well, is it her, or is it just some slag he's having a thing with?

BODIE: Well, he took a lot of trouble to shake off his tail.

DOYLE: Yeah.

BODIE: Well, we'll soon find out.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Yes, that's true - and it always makes me think that Pros is having a Sweeney moment which I always think it's different from.. Although there's one other moment I think that, at the start of Takeaway when Johnny Wong is being chased and they catch him in bed with his girlfriend...

Anyway - yes, but that scene doesn't quite fit the rest of Doyle's characterisation to me either! I think because when we see him with any kind of woman he's treating them well. Right back in Female Factor he's telling Bodie that hookers are women too, after Bodie's made some kind of joke about Ann Seaford...

[shooting2kill.livejournal.com]

Yup. I suppose we've got to keep in mind that there were quite a few writers involved with different episodes and they're going to write the lads as they saw them or how they wanted to see them, all different.

[golden-bastet.livejournal.com]

But there's another episode where they're talking about some foreign baddies (think it's some eponymous "Arabs") and Doyle says something along the lines of "you shouldn't need subtitles to understand what they're saying" and "they're in England, they should speak English."

(Sorry about approximations; I need time to find exact quotes and I don't have it. I think it's the episode where they're standing outside a theatre showing a Bollywood film and I checked to see if it was a real movie.)

So I agree it's not consistent characterization - Doyle *is* supposed to be socially aware - but it happens several times throughout the series. I can't blame the author for Doyle's use of "Pakkie" if similar stuff shows up several times in canon.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Ve-ery late reply...

Yeah, I know the ep you mean - Blind Run, with Tinkerbell. *g* Doyle says:
OFFICIAL: Stop. [he speaks in Arabic to Leila]
DOYLE: Look, tell Sinbad here he needs subtitles, will you. Across there, in big white letters so that when you talk like that, we can read what you're saying.

I never take the subtitles thing as you're-in-England-you-should-speak-English, as much as I-can't-understand-you-and-its-pissing-me-off. For me, Doyle calling him "Sinbad" is the objectionable bit in that sentence - "you're not a person with a name, you're defined by your race cos I'm calling you the name of someone else who was a similar race..." Which was the kind of casual not-getting-it racism of the time.

But that's still a huge step up from "Pakkie", which is more the equivalent of Bodie's "spade" in Klansmen, or even of "nigger". It's canon that Doyle objects to that level of racism, even though he's still working on another level of it that the times hadn't yet called up with yet, which is why it doesn't make sense to me in the story.

The other example I always think of is Doyle in Need to Know:
Doyle pushes Choy to a seat on the sofa.
DOYLE: Chinese are like that. They respect authority.
BODIE: That one of the sayings of Mao, is it?
DOYLE: Oh, no, experience. I used to walk a beat down Chinatown. Got to know 'em quite well.
It's that nasty insidious form of racism, that's really harder to deal with than blatant name-calling, because it's basically just stereotyping. Bodie does it too in that ep, with added misogyny, but again only the type that was of its time:
BODIE: What, birds as well?
DOYLE: Oh, yeah, especially the birds.
Doyle picks up the phone and dials.
BODIE: I never had a Chinese bird.
*shudders* - like you can "have" a Chinese bird and it'd somehow be different to "having" a bird from any other country... *shudders again*

but it happens several times throughout the series. I can't blame the author for Doyle's use of "Pakkie" if similar stuff shows up several times in canon.
Yeah, but "Pakki" doesn't happen in the series, any more than "nigger" does - and "spade" happens in an ep where it's being shown to be not-okay. There's definitely racism/sexism in Pros, but it's not at that level - it's the lower-level stereotyping kind, which took - is taking - so much longer to wake people up to...