Waves of Murder

by J B Raphael

  He hailed a taxi that was waiting at the rank, “The Tunisian Palace Hotel,” he said to the driver.

  “Yes sir-r-r,” the cabbie replied.

  “Is that where you are staying?” she asked.

  “Yes,” he said, “but I only moved in today. Before I had a self-catering apartment, but I realised I prefer the finer things in life, with some good service.” Good lord, he thought, I’m telling the truth for once! “I’ve heard the restaurant is excellent,” he added.

  They arrived at the venue and walked in through the auto doors into the Arab-influenced foyer. It was busy as Jon guided Agneta to the Carthagian bar. They were greeted by a young girl in belly dancer’s costume and was shown to a table. She then produced an enormous wine list, bowed and walked away with a wiggle. “Shall we celebrate your successful business day with some champagne?” Jon suggested.

  “Yes please,” Agneta said, “I love it!”

  Jon ordered a bottle of Chrystal ‘99, he didn’t know, but the price said that it was a good vintage! “Cheers, and good trading with your leather boutiques,” Jon said as he raised his glass and chinked Agneta’s glass.

  “Thank you,” she said, and blew him a kiss, “why does your accent change sometimes?” she asked.

  “Oh, it’s because I’ve spent so much time in London talking to cockney car dealers,” he felt himself blushing, “my sister, in Dublin says the same!” he lied.

  “What’s cockney?”

  Jon laughed, “It’s the accent of London, especially among car dealers, they have their own language. For instance, a car is a ‘jam jar’,” he explained.

  She laughed, “Does that mean that my Mercedes is a German jam jar?”

  “Yes!” said Jon, and they both laughed loudly. She is wonderful, Jon was thinking, absolutely fabulous, I could settle down with her, but that was a crazy thought. “Do you need to do any more shopping?” he asked.

  “Yes, shoes!” she replied, “but you won’t want to be with me when I go shopping for them,” she said.

  “Oh, I don’t mind, it’ll be nice just being with you,” he said, very smoothly.

  She reached across the table and held his hand and didn’t let go, then she said something that really rocked his world, “As you’re not allowed on the ship, we can go up to your room.”

  Jon felt sand-blasted, amazed, shocked and happy at the same time but played it cool and gathered his breath. He took time to fill her glass again, he hoped it wasn’t the champagne talking, but she’d only had one glass. She meant what she said, he thought.

  Their dinner was exotic and a little spicy, but delicious, the service couldn’t be better. In the distance they could hear music, Jon hadn’t looked around the hotel, but he guessed there was a nightclub near by. They left the restaurant having had a marvellous dinner, a bottle of exquisite champagne and two balloons of Napoleon brandy. They walked towards the melodic sound, a doorman dressed in Aladdin garb opened the very ornate double doors for them, “Good evening,” he said, as they entered a dimly lit, but not too dark, venue. It was quite busy with Aladdins and belly dancers serving drinks to lots of customers. The music was supplied by a group of five, playing modern western songs. They found a table for two and ordered two cocktails. Sipping the drinks, Agneta gazed into Jon’s eyes with a smouldering look, and Jon ogled her jewellery first, and then looked into her eyes. The magical sex spell was set. They danced closely to slow songs for about an hour and a half, at midnight they decided to go up to Jon’s room on the first floor. He opened the door and ushered Agneta inside, almost immediately she put her arms around his neck and found his mouth with hers. The kiss lingered for quite a while as they began to undress each other, zips, buttons and buckles were quickly dealt with until they were both naked. They fell on to the bed with arms and legs entwining, moaning in ecstasy.

  She turned on to her stomach and said, “Like dogs do it, from behind,” she added. Jon had only heard of the position but had never indulged, it was fantastic and their orgasms were amazing and simultaneous. They laid side by side gasping, and laughing nervously.

  Jon rose from the bed and went over to the mini bar and found two miniature cognacs, he poured them into ordinary wine glasses and they sat on the bed sipping the nectar. “Get dressed and I’ll call you a taxi,” he said.

  “No you won’t,” she almost shouted, “I’m staying the night, I haven’t finished with you yet!” she laughed loudly.

  “What about your ‘check in’ back on the boat?” Jon asked.

  “I’ll phone them, I have the number in my bag,” she said.

  The phone call only took five minutes and she settled back on to the king-size bed, she was still wearing her diamonds. The black mist started to descend once again, but Jon pushed it to the back of his mind and joined her on the bed. Still sipping her brandy with one hand, she fondled his genitals and kissed him passionately. His ardour returned and they made love again during which she rolled on top of him. The diamond and pearl necklace dangled in his face, they gleamed and sparkled in a tantalizing way and once again the black mist descended .... but it didn’t affect their orgasms. She screamed and said something in Swedish, she then started laughing. “What did you say?” Jon asked.

  “I called myself the ‘bejewelled fucker’,” they laughed loudly.

  More brandy from the mini bar was poured, Jon went into the en suite and ran the hot tap to freshen up. As the steam rose on to the mirror words appeared on the glass ‘U.O.ME’ and underneath was the letter ‘S’ as some sort of signature. Jon’s mouth dropped as he looked at the demonic message, he broke into a cold sweat, no, he thought as he wiped the mirror, it must be the brandy, I’m seeing things. When he returned to the bedroom Agneta was asleep, the empty brandy glass was on his pillow, he was still in a sweat over the ‘message’. On the bed beside his ‘bejewelled fucker’ he laid looking at the ceiling and feeling scared, very scared. He fell into a troubled slumber as Agneta snored very slightly and quietly.

  Agneta ordered a room service breakfast, coffee, toast and scrambled eggs. She gently shook Jon who woke with a start, shouting, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” Agneta jumped back as Jon sat upright wiping the sweat from his forehead. “Bad dream about a car accident I had in London,” he lied, thinking quickly.

  “Oh I see,” she said, as she put his tray on the bed and kissed his hot forehead. They showered and dressed after breakfast, Agneta looked at herself in the long mirror, and laughed, “I can’t go out dressed like this,” she said.

  Jon also laughed, and said, “What size are you?”

  “I can get away with size ten trousers and a 34 top with size 5 shoes,” she replied.

  “Okay,” he said, “I’ll be back in twenty minutes,” and left the room.

  True to his word, he was back as said, with a pair of white trousers, a navy striped silk top and a pair of flat white casual walking shoes. “Where did you get these?” she asked.

  “In a little boutique opposite the hotel,” he answered.

  “They’re fabulous,” she said, and went in to the bathroom to shower, she had left all her jewellery on the dressing table. The temptation for him was enormous, but he resisted it, this one would be different. He put the mirror message to the back of his mind, he put it down to the alcohol. She came out of the shower wrapped in a white robe and couldn’t wait to try on the new casual outfit. She oohed and aahed when she saw the finished image in the mirror. “It’s perfect,” she said, “thank you, how much do I owe you?”

  “No, no,”Jon said, “call it a gift to a bejewelled fucker!” he said, and they laughed.

  Having just one day left of the Tunis stop-over, they spent it shopping for gifts for all her family, including her sister Gretta. Gretta he thought, no, that’s impossible, there must be thousands of Grettas in Sweden, he put the daft thought to the back of his brain. Her ship was due to sail at 6 o’clock so they had a room service late lunch and sex at his hotel. At 4.30pm a taxi was hailed and they went to t
he boat with all her packages. Jon was allowed to go on to the cruiser, but only as far as the entrance lobby, with a security person standing by. They exchanged loving words and promises to meet again (sooner than Agneta thought) She gave him her card, saying, “Please don’t leave it too long.” With moist eyes she kissed him. He watched as she walked into the body of the boat, she looked back and blew him a kiss.

  He asked the security person what their next port of call was. “Palermo, then Rome,” came the answer. Fuck, he thought, Rome, that sounds dodgy. He would leave it for a couple of weeks and then phone her to see what her reaction was when she heard his voice.

  New Rochelle (New York)

  Liz Fenner’s memorial service was very well attended, her sister made a drama of mourning. She was comforted by a young good-looking man who kept his arm around her shoulder throughout the service. (A nice bit of Hollywood, Mel thought.) After the service the young man asked Mel when he thought the will would be read. “Two years,” Mel said, and walked away from him, how many times did these people have to be fucking-well told?

  “We had a visit at the office from Liz Fenner’s sister this afternoon,” Mary-Lou told Mel over dinner, “she wanted the keys to Liz’s Manhattan apartment. I told her that it was impossible until the will is read in two years time,” she said, “I nearly called 911 when she started to go berserk, kicking chairs and screaming obscenities, but the man with her calmed her down, as she left she shouted ‘it’ll all be mine, just you wait and see’,” Mary-Lou told Mel. He asked if there were any other relatives. “There’s an adopted son and daughter, and her mother-in-law whom she was strangely close to,” she told Mel, then, “I haven’t told you that, okay?”

  “Yeah, it’s forgotten,” he said, “so it looks as if it won’t be ‘all her sister’s’.”

  “You said you’d forget it!” Mary-Lou said.

  “Yeah, sorry, oh, just one more thing, would Mr Fenner her ex-husband, have a claim, after all it all came from him originally?”

  “No,” she said, “divorce in New York State is complete severance unless specified in her will, which I doubt,” she answered, “now, please get on with your dinner!”

  Tunis

  The message on the mirror was still on Jon’s mind, I fancy a short cruise, he said to himself. May be along the north African coast, calling in to Casablanca and Gibraltar, perhaps. ‘Tunis Travarama’ was on the Avenue Afrique, the middle aged woman smiled, and in perfect English said, “Can I help you?”

  “Yes,” said Jon, “I would like to take a cruise, about ten days, possibly calling at Casablanca and also Gibraltar, for some duty-free!” he said.

  “Yes, of course,” the lady said with a nice smile. “We have exactly what you want, leaving in two days time, is that too soon?” she asked.

  “No, that’s fantastic,” he replied, “how much for an outside stateroom with balcony, preferably midship?”

  “I’ll check the computer,” she said. Sitting at her desk, she typed away at the keyboard, then smiled, “Yes, we’re in luck,” she said, “cabin 330, deck 3, midship, and it is priced at $2,850 or 2,200 euros,” she answered.

  “That sounds perfect, let’s do it, I’ll do the business now,” he said with a broad smile.

  “Any visa charges will be collected if you go ashore, when you’re on board.”

  He paid in dollars and received all the paperwork. On his way back to the hotel he called in at the Yves St Laurent boutique and bought some ‘Going Cruising?’ clothes. Suit, white shorts, shirts, deck shoes and a very nice tuxedo with all the dress accessories to go with it. Once again, the young man received a very nice ‘keep the change’ tip, bowed and said ‘thank you sir-r-r’. He was $1500 poorer but ready for the trip. Back at the hotel he hung his purchases in the wardrobe. He would pack and be at the cruise reception area at the quayside, in two days time.

  The Afrique Queen

  Not a huge cruise liner, it’s passenger capacity was 2,000, but big enough and very luxurious with a Franco Moorish decor. He found his stateroom, with his luggage already delivered. He poured a large whiskey and soda and said ‘it’s five o’clock somewhere’ dropped in a cube of ice saying, ‘cheers’ as he took a large gulp. He walked out on to the balcony and sat at the small circular table, he was suddenly aware of a woman standing at the rail, “Good afternoon,” he said.

  “Oh, hello,” she said, smiling with almost perfect teeth, “are you taking the afternoon air?”

  “Er, yes, and a nice libation!” he answered, raising his glass and saying, “happy cruising!”

  “Where are you from?” she asked.

  “Originally from Ireland, but I’ve spent a lot of time in London, I buy and sell expensive cars.”

  “Oh, a second-hand car dealer, eh!” she laughed.

  “Well, no, they’re mostly brand new imports,” he lied.

  “Oh, I’m sorry,” she said.

  “Oh, no apology needed!” he smiled. “What do you do?” he asked, and then said, “I’m so rude and sorry, I’m Keiron Pearce, originally from Dublin but now a resident of old London town. Camden Town to be exact,” he said.

  “And I’m Hannah Golding from Hove in Sussex, getting away from the hustle and bustle of business and work. I manufacture denim jeans and skirts, quite successfully. In fact, trade is very good, even during this damn recession,” she added.

  He noticed quite a large diamond ring on her right hand, obviously not an engagement ring, at least not a current one. He looked again and reckoned it to be about 4 carats, if it was real, it’s sparkle and light colour changing suggested that it was. “Well, if you will excuse me, I must unpack,” Jon said, adding, “I hope to see you later.”

  “So do I,” she said with a very nice smile.

  He showered and changed into a new white blouson and black trousers. As he was leaving his stateroom Hannah came out of hers, “Oh, hello again!” they said simultaneously, and laughed. “How about we take a walk around the deck, have a nice cocktail and go in to dinner together?” he asked.

  “I was hoping you’d say that,” she said. They walked about half way around the ship then went in to the main body to the ‘Bar Americain’. It had a jazz art deco theme of decor, all chrome and black. They sat at the end of the bar on chrome tubular stools.

  “How about some champagne to set the mood for the evening?” he suggested.

  “Oh, yes please,” she laughed, “what a wonderful way to start my holiday!” she enthused.

  Jon took a good look at her, she wasn’t beautiful, but very attractive with a very comely figure and a lovely cleavage. It was at this point that he saw the multi-diamond two tiered necklace, about twenty good sized stones and of very good colour and quality. The bottle of ‘Chrystal’ arrived and the barman poured two flutes of the golden bubbly, “Cheers! Happy cruising!” he said as they chinked glasses. She looked at him with a wanton smile as she sipped the’Chrystal nectar’. With the bottle empty they decided to go in to dinner, as they walked out of the bar and on to the concourse, she took his arm, whoops he thought, the old charm is still working! Just a short walk to the stern, was the ‘Casablanca Restaurant’ with large pictures of Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman illuminated with blue spotlights. A little 20th century they thought but the food was the most important thing, which was very good, especially Jon’s fillet steak. Hannah’s sea bass was not only very big, but delicious. After dinner they just sat talking about their lives, she had been married to a gambler but she hadn’t known until his fashion business folded and the bailiffs moved in on the bank’s behest. The house and the cars went, luckily there were no children involved. She’d started her business in a little shop in Brighton, with just two machinists and working 14 hours a day, 7 days a week. But now she had an industrial workshop and employed 30 people. Nice, Jon thought, very nice.

  “What make of cars do you import?” she asked.

  “Mercedes, Audi, Maseratti, Lexus and occasionally Ferrari,” he said.

&
nbsp; “What about Rolls, Bentley and Jaguar?” she asked.

  “I don’t have to,” he said with a smile, “they’re made in England!”

  “Oh, yes of course,” she giggled, covering her full-lipped mouth.

  “Who’s looking after your business while you’re on holiday?” he asked.

  “My brother Monty, he’s brilliant, an absolute brick. Do you gamble?” Hannah asked.

  “No, it’s a mugs game, the odds are always in the house’s favour, the ordinary punter stands no chance,” he said.

  “Well, I wouldn’t mind a little ‘spiel’ in the casino,” she announced.

  “Okay,” Jon said, “I don’t mind watching.”

  They found a chair at the black-jack table, “Hit me!” she said to the dealer as she was holding 16, “Wow!” she said, “a 5, that’s 21, dealer pays black-jack.” Hannah played for about an hour and finished winning $200. But Jon had had his attention taken by a good looking woman on the roulette table, wearing a veritable array of jewellery. Necklace, two diamond bracelets, a watch and three diamond rings. Wow he thought, that’s my kind of girl! But oh no, two possibilities on one trip, how am I goig to see to both in ten days, or can I? he pondered. He decided not to get too involved with Hannah for now, but at the same time get to know this roulette woman, if he could. But softly, softly, catchy monkey! he thought.

  “Well, how did you do?” he asked Hannah.

  “I won a few bucks,” she said, smiling.

  At one o’clock Jon feigned tiredness and walked Hannah back to her stateroom, as she opened her door, he opened his, he kissed her on both cheeks. They exchanged pleasantries and she went in and closed the door, he didn’t, he stayed outside and closed the door loudly, but he switched on the interior lights so that they could be seen from her balcony. He scooted down the corridor and made his way to the casino, she of the diamonds was still sitting there with a decent pile of high value chips in front of her. The diamonds, if real, were to die for, they caught the light beautifully, with many exquisite hues and colours. ‘They’re genuine all right’ he said to himself, ‘the real McCoy’. He stood opposite where she was seated, just watching the action, she’s good, he thought, six straight winning bets, he decided to bet off-table and copy her. After about 7 or 8 bets she realised what he was doing and smiled while wagging her forefinger at him. He smiled and gave her the thumbs up. After a while he realised he’d won about $1500. Suddenly the casino manager tapped him on the shoulder, he had been watching them and decided that they had some sort of scam going on, he didn’t know how but he was sure that somehow they were working together. “I’m sorry sir, but the table is now closed for you, the lady can stay.”