‘I promise. Things are more . . . serious now.’
‘For a start, will you tell me who you’re working for?’
A pause, then: ‘Yes.’
‘So why is this time more important than last?’
There was a silence, and he thought she wasn’t going to answer. Then she said in a half-whisper, ‘People have died.’
Jonathan felt the frisson that presaged a good story. ‘Your last chance, then,’ he said. ‘Tomorrow morning, eleven o’clock at the same place?’
‘Oh thank you, thank you so much! I shall be there.’ And she rang off.
‘Well, what do you make of that?’ he demanded as Steve returned to his seat.
‘Worth looking into, at least.’
‘Will you come with me?’
Steve gave a surprised laugh. ‘Afraid she might proposition you?’
‘Hardly. I’d just like to know what you make of her. If it really is a big story, as she seems to imply, we might even work on it together.’
Steve shook his head doubtfully.
‘What? You still think she’s taking me for a ride?’
‘I don’t know; she could be.’
‘She didn’t strike you as genuine?’
‘Oh, she was fairly convincing, I grant you. The test will be if she turns up tomorrow and spills the beans.’
‘Then you will come?’
‘OK, but only to satisfy my curiosity.’
By ten to eleven the following morning, they were seated at a window table. At least, Jonathan told himself, they’d not met Elise in the doorway, fleeing the scene. But as the hand of his watch crept past eleven, he was convinced, suddenly, that she wasn’t coming. It was illogical – she was not yet five minutes late – but the certainty grew.
‘Let’s order for ourselves, anyway,’ he said, ignoring Steve’s quick look as he called the waitress over. Damn the girl! he thought furiously; that was twice she’d made a fool of him. Steve, he knew, was concentrating on not saying ‘I told you so’.
Their coffee came. At nearby tables, people met, chatted, left. By eleven thirty, conversation between the two of them had dried up.
‘All right,’ Jonathan said harshly. ‘Say it.’
Steve moved uncomfortably. ‘Perhaps she looked through the window, saw me with you, and panicked.’
‘Why should she panic? You haven’t got two heads.’
‘She might have thought it was a trap of some kind.’
‘If it’s a trap,’ Jonathan said drily, ‘I’m the one who’s been caught. I can’t believe I allowed myself to be talked into it again, after what happened last time. But what the hell is she playing at, Steve? It’s not the first of April. What possible good can be achieved by making a fool of me?’
‘Relax!’ Steve said easily. ‘It’s no big deal. For all we know, she might have a genuine reason for not coming.’
‘And pigs might fly.’
They had just asked for their bill when her call came. Jonathan glanced at the screen and swore under his breath; the number showing was the same as the previous evening.
‘I’ve a damn good mind not to answer it.’
‘At least give her the chance to explain.’
He jabbed at the button, but before he could speak her voice reached him, hurried and barely audible.
‘I am so sorry – please forgive me! I could not get away. I’m afraid they might suspect—’ The next few words were drowned in a burst of static. Then a rapid whisper: ‘I shall contact you.’ And she ended the call. Jonathan had not spoken one word.
‘So that,’ he said heavily, ‘is that. If I’d had the chance, I’d have told her not to bother. I’ve had enough of being messed around.’
‘It didn’t sound like a hoax,’ Steve said consideringly.
Jonathan stared at him. ‘Are you pleading devil’s advocate?’
‘No, I just . . .’ He broke off, shrugging.
‘Just what?’
‘It’s hard to explain. At first, I assumed she was out for publicity; but the last two calls – I don’t know; I’m inclined to think there might be something in it.’
Jonathan sat back in his chair, regarding him sceptically. ‘Well, you’ve changed your tune.’
‘Perhaps she’s fooled us both. The thing is . . .’
‘What?’
‘If you don’t hear any more, we’ll be left wondering.’
Jonathan frowned. ‘So what do you suggest we do?’
‘There’s nothing we can do. You’ve no address for her, have you? Not even a last name. Just what do you know about her?’
‘Let’s see: she works in the leisure industry – whatever that means – and has been over here for around two years. She wants me to look into something nefarious – or at least, she thinks she does, but the people she works for wouldn’t want her speaking to me. And, most importantly, she says people have died.’ He frowned. ‘What the hell did she mean by that?’
‘God knows. Industrial espionage?’
Jonathan gave a snort. ‘She’s hardly the type.’
‘Well, you’ve met her and I haven’t. But what else could it be?’
Jonathan shrugged, staring down at his mobile.
‘You could ring her back on that number,’ Steve suggested.
Jonathan considered for a moment. ‘Suppose it got her into trouble? She didn’t seem free to talk.’
‘You see!’ Steve said triumphantly. ‘You’re beginning to wonder, aren’t you?’
‘Let’s say I’m not prepared to risk it.’
‘In which case, we’re back to square one, having to wait till she contacts you.’
‘Or writing it all off as a lesson in being gullible.’
Their bill was placed on the table, and Jonathan took out his wallet. ‘Thanks for coming with me. At least you can see what I’m up against.’
‘A handful of smoke,’ Steve declaimed whimsically, ‘that dissolves in the air when you try to grasp it.’
‘And a colleague who’s finally lost his marbles,’ Jonathan retorted, pushing back his chair.
Sophie sat in the studio, the latest brochure on the desk in front of her. The immediate rush was over, orders had been despatched, and they could now sit back and await the next batch. In the meantime, she saw from her desk diary that it would soon be her nephews’ birthday. Tom and Tim had been born on the same date two years apart, so shared a joint party. She lifted the phone and called her sister-in-law.
After they’d exchanged greetings, she said, ‘I’m in search of suggestions for birthday presents.’
‘Well, they’ve both made lists,’ Vicky replied, ‘but that’s little help, since they range from a puppy – which is not on the cards at the moment – to vastly expensive toys seen on TV, which they’d doubtless tire of within a week.’
‘Then I’ll have to use my ingenuity, but as you know, I don’t do boys. Will there be the usual joint party?’
‘Yes, but it’ll probably be the last. So far, they’ve been happy with friends for tea and a conjuror or entertainer of some kind. But next year Tom will be seven, and among his friends, tenpin bowling or the cinema are already taking over. I’m pretty sure he’ll be wanting something similar, which might not appeal to Tim.’
‘Better make the most of it this year, then!’
‘Oh, and as Anna only arrives home on Sunday, we’ll be holding it the following weekend, so she can be there. You’re invited, of course, if you can bear it.’
Sophie hesitated. ‘And . . . Jonathan?’
There was a pause. Then Vicky said, ‘Haven’t you spoken to him this week?’
‘No?’
‘Well, we reached a sort of truce at the weekend. He came for supper on Saturday.’
‘Oh, Vicky, I am glad! He’s been so miserable.’
‘So have I, heaven knows. But he really wants to try again, so we’re going for it. He’ll come home for good the weekend of the party – and what’s more, he’s promised to help with
it, which will be a first.’
‘Excellent!’
‘I was to blame too,’ Vicky put in quickly. ‘It’ll require an effort from both of us, but I’m sure our marriage will be the stronger for it.’
As the call ended, Sophie sat back with a sigh of relief. By the sound of it, she could stop worrying about Jonathan – which just left Imogen.
She did so wish her friend would pull herself together. Though she’d been happy to support her during their schooldays, she’d assumed her task was finished once Imogen married. Now, though, with her marriage under strain, Imogen had turned back to her, putting her in an invidious position.
It was not as though she were a weak character, either, Sophie thought in exasperation. It was only when her self-confidence was challenged that she buckled – under teasing at school, and now criticism from Roger. All Sophie could do was continue her efforts to bolster it and hope she’d meet with more success than had so far been the case.
FOUR
The next morning, Harry and Susan emerged from their chalet as Anna was setting off for breakfast, and they walked together to the Centre.
‘Thanks again for coming to my rescue,’ Anna said. ‘It wasn’t too pleasant, finding myself suddenly alone in the dark.’
‘No problem. Glad I found you!’
The renewed thanks put a satisfactory end to the episode, she thought with relief. She’d feared Harry might refer to it in front of Lewis, and she’d prefer him not to know she’d been wandering around after he’d returned to his chalet.
On arrival at the restaurant, they were directed to a table where several of their party were already seated, and it wasn’t until they gathered by the jeeps for the game drive that Anna saw Lewis. He was standing slightly apart from the Salters, staring frowningly into space, but Wendy saw her approach and came forward to greet her. It was therefore natural, when they climbed into the jeep, for the two of them to sit together, for which Anna was grateful. Still feeling guilty about the overheard phone call, she was not yet ready to face Lewis.
They were fortunate on the drive; a group of elephants, slow and lumbering, crossed the path only a few yards in front of them, and a little farther on they came across a family of lions at a waterhole. Like the others, Anna had her camera on video, watching in enchantment as the male lifted his head to look across at them, water dripping from his muzzle. She had to keep reminding herself that these were not captive animals in zoo surroundings, but wild and free in their native habitat.
The day passed in a kaleidoscope of sounds, sights and smells that conjured up the very essence of Africa. Then, after an early dinner, they set off on the Night Drive, with Edda and the local guide holding spotlights on either side of the jeep. After a slow start, sighting only the ubiquitous impala and zebra, Edda pointed out a group of buffalo the other side of the river and, minutes later, hyenas feeding off a carcase. Then, close at hand, a giraffe materialized beside the road, and a herd of wildebeest crossed just in front of them in the full glare of the headlamps. Finally, a fitting end, a large rhino loomed up within a few feet of the jeep.
It was only ten o’clock when they were deposited back at the Centre, but it had been a long, tiring day, and another lay ahead of them. In twos and threes, they started to make their way back to their chalets.
Having replaced her torch battery, Anna was looking round for Harry and Susan when Lewis came up to her.
‘Walk you home, ma’am? I’ve not seen much of you today.’
‘It was pretty frenetic, wasn’t it?’ Anna said lightly, falling into step beside him.
‘Overkill, perhaps, considering we’ll be going through much the same routine at Kruger.’
‘Oh, I don’t know; I want to see as much of the animals as I can.’
He smiled in the dark, threading her free hand through his arm. ‘You’re really enjoying it, aren’t you?’
Involuntarily, her heart set up a panicky beat. For heaven’s sake! she thought impatiently; he’s no idea you overheard him! Though even as the thought crossed her mind, she knew that wasn’t the reason for the dryness of her mouth and the sudden heat of her body.
She said, surprisingly calmly, ‘Of course I am! Aren’t you?’
‘It’s interesting, yes, but I’m not much of a one for holidays – too busy thinking of what I could be doing at home.’
‘Work, you mean?’
‘Did Wendy tell you I’m a workaholic? She’s right, I suppose. I find difficulty delegating, convinced no one can do things as well as I do.’ She felt him glance at her. ‘But yes, to answer your question, I am enjoying it, mainly thanks to you.’
She gave an uncertain little laugh. God, where was everyone? Surely someone must be coming in this direction? She daren’t turn round, but all was quiet behind them.
‘It’s difficult to admit, for a hard-bitten old cynic like me,’ he was continuing, in that new, low voice, ‘but it was I who suggested Wendy ask you to join us, back in Cape Town. And I can tell you she and George have been pulling my leg ever since.’
‘I’ve . . . enjoyed being with you all,’ Anna said.
He continued as though she hadn’t spoken. ‘It was a blow to learn you’d been widowed. With no husband in tow, I was hoping you were divorced, like me. Wendy warned it might be too soon, but – well, by then the die was cast. I’m known for my quick decisions – in business it’s a necessity – and the more time we’ve spent together, the more certain I’ve become. But now time’s running out, so I have to know, Anna. Is there any chance at all for me? If not now, in the future sometime?’
God help her, how could she answer him? Of course she enjoyed being with him, but Miles had only—
He pulled her gently off the path and into the shadows of a rondavel.
‘At least not an immediate “no”,’ he said softly. And then, without either of them seeming to move, he was holding her close and kissing her, and all logic and reason evaporated in a surge of longing as the blood coursed through her veins, and sensations she’d never expected to feel again flooded over her.
Only the sound of approaching voices pulled them apart, and they stood immobile as a group, chatting and laughing, passed by on the path, a mere ten feet from them. As their footsteps died away, Lewis said, not quite steadily, ‘It’s like being sixteen again!’
Anna stepped quickly away, the enormity of what had happened sluicing over her. Oh, God, God, God!
‘Anna?’ he said tentatively.
‘I don’t . . .’ she began, and stopped.
‘Look –’ his voice was gentle – ‘I took you by surprise, I appreciate that. Damn it, I took myself by surprise. But surely that doesn’t alter how we feel?’
She lifted her hands helplessly, searching for the right words – but what were they?
He sighed. ‘Let’s leave it for the moment. You need time to think things over. If I’ve jumped the gun, I apologize. We can take it as slowly as you like, continue to meet back in the UK, perhaps, and see how things develop?’
He paused. ‘I suspect you’re feeling disloyal to your husband, but ask yourself if he’d really want you to spend the rest of your life alone. We’re both adults, Anna, free to do as we choose without hurting anyone. Remember that.’
When she still didn’t speak, he took her arm and led her back to the path. ‘What number is your chalet?’
‘Seventeen.’
He took her hand, and they walked in silence along the path, lit by his torch. Much to Anna’s relief, they saw no one. When they reached her hut, he waited while she fitted the key in the lock with shaking fingers, then bent and kissed her cheek.
‘Goodnight, my love,’ he said.
Stumbling inside, Anna pushed the door shut and leant against it, eyes closed, straining to hear his retreating footsteps. As they died away, she walked slowly to the bed and, sinking down, put her hands to her face, fingers splayed. Her heart was still knocking painfully against her ribs. Anna Farrell, she thought mockingly, known
for her self-control, her cool detachment, her sangfroid! Where were they now?
Until the previous year she’d been on firm ground emotionally, sure of herself and those around her. But, after expecting to grow old together, Miles had suddenly died, and that firm ground gave way to sand, no longer supporting her. Now, ten months later, the sands had shifted again.
One thing, at least, was certain: the screens she’d been carefully erecting throughout the holiday had been well and truly demolished, forcing her to confront feelings that, unacknowledged, had been welling up inside her.
But could this really be happening? Was it remotely possible that she, Anna, widowed less than a year, could, after loving one man all her life, have fallen for someone else – someone, she reminded herself, about whom she knew next to nothing – in the space of two and a half weeks? And the answer to that, she thought unwillingly, had to be ‘yes’. Hadn’t she and Miles become engaged within a month of their meeting? Like Lewis, it seemed she also was prone to quick decisions.
But, as he’d guessed, it was Miles, dead for less than a year, who was foremost in her mind – the only man she’d ever slept with, and had never doubted would remain so.
She raised her head, taking a deep breath and trying to be dispassionate. Lewis had as good as said he loved her. How did she honestly feel about him? That he was attractive, there was no disputing, his occasional broodiness and flashes of temper adding to, rather than detracting from, that attraction. He was also an entertaining and interesting companion, and from the first she’d been flattered by his attention.
Thus far she could be rational. But there was no denying his embrace had lit fires in her reminiscent of the early days of her marriage, fires which, though remaining warm and comforting, had over the years lost their fierceness. Tonight, incredibly, she’d been consumed with all the excitement and impatience of her teens, and, as he’d reminded her, their time together was running out. The thought of not seeing him again suddenly appalled her.
We’re both adults, he had said, free to do as we choose without hurting anyone. And he was right, she thought with a sudden lifting of spirits. Though this was happening sooner than she could have hoped, it offered a chance of happiness that might not come again, and she’d be a fool to turn it down. At least she’d agree to their continuing to meet, and if, when they knew each other better, they still wanted to be together, so be it. But one thing was clear: whatever her feelings for Lewis, now or in the future, he would never replace Miles. She hoped that Miles himself, wherever he was – not to mention her family – would understand that.
Shifting Sands Page 5
