The Emerald Eagle

by Jane Corrie

  `You did say he was a professor, didn't you?' Rory queried mildly. 'Only,' he went on silkily, `I must say he looks a bit young for the part. I shall, of course, go into his qualifications later,' he threatened.

  For a brief moment Sonia felt relief. She had had a ghastly suspicion that George had sent for Professor Inskip—well, it obviously wasn't him. 'Actually,' she said, 'I was just showing off.' She raised what she hoped were innocent eyes to his implacable ones. 'He's not a professor. You see, George is a bit stuffy and a little bit of a snob, so I lied, I'm afraid.'

  He gave her a disdainful look. 'Comes easy, doesn't it?' he drawled. 'Lying, I mean.'

  Sonia flushed. 'Well, may I see my fiancé?' she asked haughtily, wanting to get it over. Rory couldn't very well stay in the room, could he? And she had to see who it was before she made any dangers.

  His lips thinned. 'Very well,' he said. 'I could have refused, you know. But let's say I'm interested,' he added meaningly.

  He was only gone a few minutes, but to the waiting Sonia it seemed a lifetime. She all but jumped when she heard voices outside the door. Taking one look at the blond six-footer standing beside Rory Maragal, she just managed to gasp out, 'Gary ! ' before she was caught in his arms and being given a kiss that completely winded her.

  Gary Linden was a fellow student of hers at Cambridge, studying law. Sonia had lost count of the times he had asked her to marry him. She didn't know how George and Chloe had got hold of him. It was not a choice she would have made herself. Gary would be only too willing to accept the part.

  Rory's cold voice cut across the rapturous welcome Gary was intent on giving her. 'Would you mind sitting at that table,' he said to Gary. 'Miss Wells, here.' He pointed to a chair the other side of the room.

  Sonia glared at him. Why had he stayed ? Prisoners were allowed some privacy, weren't they?

  Gary looked at him. The tension between the two men could actually be felt. 'I would like to see my fiancée in private,' he said haughtily.

  Sonia could have hugged him. She knew she

  had a worthy champion in Gary.

  Rory smiled grimly. 'No doubt you would, but Miss Wells happens to be my prisoner.'

  Gary's hands clenched, but he remained calm. `I am not only her fiancé,' he said in the best courtroom manner, 'but her lawyer as well. I now request a few minutes alone with my client.'

  Rory's eyebrows rose, as did Sonia's. She forgot the previous order to stay apart from Gary and held out her hands to him. 'You've passed ?' she cried.

  He caught her to him. `With flying honours, darling. What better case could I have to start with than my own true love's?'

  Rory looked murderous. 'This is not a musical comedy,' he said coldly.

  Gary looked at him over Sonia's head. 'I don't know what else you'd call it,' he answered equally coldly. `Sonia's no more a jewel thief than I am. You've got the wrong person, Mr Maragal, and I'm going to prove it to you.'

  `Are you,' queried Rory silkily, 'aware of the facts?'

  Sonia held her breath. Something told her he was about to deliberately bait Gary.

  Rory continued, 'Certain articles were found in her possession, leaving, I might add, the island.'

  Gary nodded curtly. 'Anyone could have placed them in her pocket. I can understand

  why you arrested her. You knew nothing about her apart from the fact she was George's sister, and you weren't even convinced of that either, were you?'

  Sonia looked at him with dawning respect. He had certainly not wasted much time in getting clued up !

  Rory's eyes held ice. 'You are not absolutely correct, Mr Linden. I have had ample chance of observing Miss Wells. I found she was rather addicted to falsehoods. She has in fact admitted as much to me. Under the circumstances, I had no option other than to keep her under surveillance.'

  Gary looked at Sonia. 'You didn't confess, did you, darling?'

  Sonia shook her head. She had not liked the reference Rory Maragal had given her. 'I only lied about your position, darling,' she said sweetly. 'I told everyone you were a professor and not a struggling law student.'

  Gary's expression was comical. He tried to look indignant, but it didn't come off. He grinned. 'I've never been a struggling student, my love, the only struggles I had were with you, and you know it !'

  Sonia flushed and attempted to pull away from his encircling arm round her waist, but he held on.

  `I'm afraid your time is up,' Rory announced

  grandly. 'I may permit another visit next week,' he added graciously.

  Gary stared at him. 'I demand parole for my client,' he announced.

  Rory's eyes narrowed. 'Your client has parole right now,' he murmured.

  `I demand access to her at any time of my choosing,' Gary persisted.

  Sonia looked alarmed. She did not like the idea of Gary pursuing her round the grounds.

  `You will visit Miss Wells when I choose to allow you access to her,' Rory replied smoothly.

  Gary's jaw clenched. Sonia saw the danger signals. She caught his arm. 'No, Gary,' she said quietly, 'I can't tell you any more than George or Chloe can. Perhaps in a week you'll have news for me.'

  He was still glaring at Rory, but he relaxed slightly, then sighed. He looked down fondly at Sonia. 'If they push you around, yell for me, do you hear?'

  Rory now lost his cool approach to the situation. He moved swiftly, his eyes blazing. 'Would you care to repeat that statement?' he asked through clenched teeth. 'Just to give me the pleasure of knocking it down your throat!'

  Gary was more than ready to oblige. It was only the entry of Mr Parks that prevented the fight—Rory was wanted on the phone. He drew a swift breath, and told him he would be right

  along. Then he stood at the door waiting for Gary to join him. For a second it looked as if Gary would refuse to oblige, but Sonia half pushed him to the door. 'See you in a week, Gary,' she said firmly.

  After Gary's visit, Sonia became aware of being under stricter supervision. It was not blatantly obvious, but she constantly found either Mr Parks or Atlas in the near vicinity. On several occasions she also caught sight of Rory himself, but he did not make his presence known to her. It was just that she had developed a sort of awareness when he was around. She wondered if he were afraid Gary would attempt to get her out of Mainsprings, and as she remembered his mood when he had left that day, it was quite likely he would.

  Gary's appearance on the scene presented quite a few side issues. Chloe had written to her and more or less explained his presence with a few well chosen sentences, such as, 'Wasn't it nice of her fiancé to decide to join her like that?' from which she deduced that Gary had looked her up; he had known she was visiting George at the start of her vacation. She sighed. How she would be able to keep him at bay if he did manage to clear her was a question that constantly worried her. He was sure to capitalise on it. George and Chloe meant well, but they

  hadn't actually helped.

  She was not surprised when she received the note. A child handed it to her surreptitiously during the morning, and shortly disappeared. Sonia dared not read it there. She was not sure the action hadn't been spotted by Atlas, who was quite near. She kept the note tightly clutched in her hand and stayed out of the water until twelve-thirty, when she made her way back to her room to change for lunch. Once there, she read the short, concise note. It told her to make her way down to the swimming pool after lights out, avoiding the lighted areas on the terraces.

  She frowned at the writing. It didn't look like Gary's, then she thought of his position as her lawyer; if the note were discovered and proved to be his writing, Rory would have a field day. No, he had cleverly got someone else to write it. That it came from Gary she was certain. It looked, she thought grimly, as if there was little hope of establishing her innocence, and he had been forced to adopt this method. He had probably also arranged to get her off the island and back to England. She couldn't see Rory Maragal taking the trouble to pursue her that far. The jewe
llery was safely back in his possession. In all probability, she told herself, he would be only too pleased she was out of his hair once and for all.

  Soon after lights out she cautiously made her

  way down the dark passages of the staff quarters. She decided not to take her case, as it would only hamper her progress. Wearing a navy blue sweater and jeans, sneakers, plus a dark scarf she had had the forethought to snatch up in order to cover her hair, and her shoulder bag, containing her passport and various necessary documents she would have been lost without, thanking providence Rory Maragal had not confiscated them, she hugged the side of the passage farthest away from the outside lights.

  Once outside the building, she drew a breath of thankfulness. So far so good. Now she had the hardest part to negotiate. The terraces were well lit by soft coloured lights, and drinks were served to guests preferring to spend the evening in the cool night air.

  The terraces sloped gradually down the side of the hill the camp had been built on. Sonia knew she would have to avoid the paths and kept to the bushes bordering the terraces. Nearing the bottom terrace, she peeped cautiously out on to the terrace itself, then quickly drew back. Rory Maragal sat alone at the nearside table. He was smoking a cigar and had a drink in front of him. Sonia's heart hammered. For one awful moment she wondered whether he had written that note himself. If not, what was he doing here at this time? The thought almost made her turn around and slip back into the safety of her

  room. Then she relaxed. He would hardly be sitting there if he was supposed to be meeting her at the pool.

  She stood there watching him. She knew she ought to move on, on towards freedom, freedom from the man who had bedevilled her since her arrival on the island. She found herself strangely reluctant to take that freedom. She noted the way his strong lean fingers curled around his glass. His head was in profile as he gazed out over the surrounding valley. Her heart jerked, a sudden crazy impulse came over her to rush over to him—and what? Tell him she loved him? She gulped, the china doll had come to life. But it was too late, she thought bitterly. She moved on quickly, determined now to put as much space between them as possible. She was just being silly. It was a human failing to want what you couldn't have, especially if it had once been within your grasp and you had spurned it.

  Then she caught herself up quickly. What on earth was she going on about? Rory Maragal had never been in love with her, she could stop fooling herself on that count. Gary loved her—look what he was doing for her now. He wasn't reclining on a terrace enjoying a late cigar with a drink in front of him ! Gary was doing something about her.

  Making her way stealthily past the main swimming pool partially lit, she had to hug the

  shadows. Gary, she guessed, would be waiting by the children's pool, the lighting there was practically non-existent. She knew the way well enough and kept going until she reached the far end of the pool.

  `Sonia?' whispered a voice.

  Turning towards it, she called, 'Here,' softly. `Is that you, Gary ?'

  A figure loomed up beside her. It was not Gary, he was not tall enough. She knew a moment's panic, then, 'Kirk, at your service, ma'am.' Sonia hadn't much time to think about this as he caught her arm, murmuring softly, `Come on, let's get out of here.'

  She had no choice but to follow him. She did not understand what was happening or why Kirk should help her. They passed a small clutch of buildings beyond the pool used for stores, and on to the edge of the camp itself. Sonia stared at the six-foot fence facing them. Below, she knew, was the beach she had caught a glimpse of on her arrival. The fence was a precaution against children wandering out of bounds. 'Kirk, I can't possibly scale that!' she whispered.

  He laughed softly. 'Won't have to.' He bent down and pushed two slats of the fence, and they swung back silently. He slipped through, then helped her through.

  Now they were on the cliff top. Sonia glanced down, the twinkling lights out at sea telling her

  how high up they were. She closed her eyes, wishing she hadn't looked.

  Kirk carefully replaced the slats, then still keeping his voice low said, 'We follow the path down. I'll go first—watch your feet, and don't look over the cliff top. Keep the light down on the path.'

  Sonia, accepting the flashlight he gave her, thought it was a bit late for his advice about not looking down.

  As she had imagined herself descending a sheer cliff face, she was profoundly relieved to find herself walking a narrow but definite path twisting tortuously down to the beach. It seemed an age, but eventually she was standing on firm beachy ground. The sea lapped the shore close to where she was standing.

  `We made it ! ' exclaimed Kirk, and she knew he was grinning.

  Sonia looked at him. 'I don't get it, Kirk. Why did you come? Did Gary put you up to it ?'

  His voice sounded indignant. 'Honey, no one put me up to it. I got you in this mess, didn't I ? So I get you out. It's as simple as that ! '

  Sonia stared at him. 'You put those things in my pocket ! ' she exclaimed indignantly.

  She saw him shrug. 'Sure, but I thought you'd get clear in time. I'm sorry, honey, I thought they'd concentrate on the island first—in any case I didn't think you'd be searched.'

  Sonia was nonplussed. 'But why, Kirk? You must have known you wouldn't get away with it. No one would touch that eagle, it's a well-known collector's piece, according to Rory.'

  He scuffed the sandy sail with his sandal. 'Oh, I guess I could have found a market for it. You'd be surprised at the way some collectors snap up these pieces without any questions asked.'

  `But your father ! ' exclaimed Sonia.

  Again the shrug. Then he said abruptly, `Come on, I've got a boat round this cove. It's as well we get a head start before they discover you're missing.' He caught her hand and led her under the towering cliffs above. He moved quickly and Sonia was too breathless to ask any more questions.

  They rounded the cliff face and here the beach was wider. Sonia saw the dark hull of a boat loom up before them as they neared it. Kirk climbed aboard and reached a hand down to her.

  `Where are we going ?' she asked.

  She saw the flash of his teeth as he answered, `We haven't had that trip to the Bahamas yet, have we?'

  Sonia looked at the boat. 'In this?' she asked.

  `Not unless you're a champion rower,' he said, chuckling. `No, I've got the yacht anchored in the bay. Come on.'

  `But, Kirk—I'm not sure—' she began, then subsided as he caught her hand and pulled her firmly into the boat. 'Kirk ! ' she gasped as she got her breath back.

  He laughed softly. 'Relax, honey. It's all taken care of.' He slipped quickly out of the boat and gave it a push out, then got back again and started up the motor. 'We'll talk it over in more comfortable surroundings,' he said above the roar of the motor starting up.

  The yacht was small but in the luxury class—it belonged, she surmised, to his father. The compact salon was well fitted out, even including a tiny bar that Kirk made straight for as soon as they arrived. 'What would you like?' he asked.

  Sonia shook her head. She was beginning to have qualms about the whole thing. She must get back to Gary and somehow get Kirk to own up. If only he'd told her before she left Mainsprings. She could have gone back and waited until she'd seen Gary again; it would have been no use telling Rory, he wouldn't have believed her, but Gary would have. What was more, Kirk would have had plenty of time to get clear himself.

  `Come on,' Kirk urged, breaking into her musings. 'Just one to celebrate putting it over Maragal,' he grinned.

  Well, that was different, thought Sonia. She looked at Kirk; she didn't condone his action in

  taking the pieces, but he had tried to put things right, his way. 'Just a small vodka and lime, please,' she said, unable to stop herself from answering his grin.

  She stared around at the fittings as he fixed the drink. 'Your father's?' she asked, as he handed her the drink.

  He made a wry face. 'Of course,' he sai
d. 'I was loaned it on the understanding that I got the hell out of it,' he gave her his characteristic grin again and raised his glass. `Skol! ' he said.

  Sonia sipped her drink and made a face. `You've gone heavy on the vodka, Kirk,' she accused him.

  He got up and took the drink from her, then went back to the bar and added more lime. 'Try that,' he said.

  Sonia did. It was still extremely strong. 'It's better,' she lied, then looked at him. 'Have you quarrelled with your father?' she asked.

  `That's one way of putting it,' he said as he stared at his glass. 'I'm out on my ear. There was one hell of a row after you left that night.' His eyes narrowed. `Maragal ordered me to stay away from you.'

  Sonia's eyes opened wide. 'He did? Well, of all the ...'

  `That's how I felt about it,' interrupted Kirk. `Not hard to see why either. I told you he was crazy about you, didn't I?'

  Was was the operative word, she thought. It hadn't been love either.

  Kirk continued, 'I'd just about had enough. What with him laying down the law, and Dad getting on at me, I guess I blew my top. I told Maragal just what I thought of him and he floored me before I could defend myself. Dear old Dad takes his part and tears me off a strip right in front of him.' He drank some of his whisky, then looked at her glass. 'Come on, you've barely touched yours.'

  Sonia obligingly sipped a bit more. 'I won't have another, Kirk,' she said. 'It must have been pretty rotten for you,' she said sympathetically.

  He grinned. 'Well, sure got my own back, didn't I?'

  Sonia was beginning to feel slightly sleepy. It must have been the sea air. She blinked and concentrated on Kirk. 'Not such a good idea, was it?' she said dryly. 'He got his pieces back and I got nabbed.'

  Kirk's grin got wider. 'Sorry, honey, but there's a bit more. Okay, he got his precious eagle back—I was as sore as hell about that, but what really riled me was the fact that he'd got you. I'd played right into his hands. You don't honestly think he believed you'd taken that stuff, do you?' His eyes narrowed. 'No, baby, he'd got you and he was keeping you. You were in for a long, long stay, and you wouldn't have