The Forgotten Sea

by Beverley Harper

  Sunday dragged by. Liang Song returned at six. Holly was almost pleased to see her.

  ‘I trust you’ve had a pleasant day?’

  ‘Look, I’m booked to fly to Réunion tomorrow.’ It was a lie but worth trying.

  ‘Sorry.’ She wasn’t. Her tone said she couldn’t care less. ‘You’ll just have to be a no-show. I’ve had no word from Maguire.’

  Holly shrugged but Connor’s continued absence was of growing concern to her. She needed to know he was okay.

  ‘How long do you intend to hold me here?’

  ‘Until he shows up.’

  ‘What if he doesn’t?’

  ‘He will.’

  Holly wished she could be as sure.

  At least Madame Liang was company of sorts. She was not willing to talk about herself and seemed to have an aristocratic, off-hand view of most things. Although conversation was consequently stilted, the two women found some common ground. The interminable boredom of the day was, to some extent, relieved. In response to being asked where the smoked salmon had gone, Holly took grim pleasure in informing Liang Song that she’d made an omelette with it.

  The Chinese woman’s eyebrows rose. ‘An omelette! What was it like?’

  ‘Delicious.’

  ‘A pity. We were going to share it this evening.’

  A little after ten, Madame Liang excused herself. For a second night, Holly was locked in her room. She showered, slid into bed, lay on her back and stared at the ceiling. Would anyone be worrying about her yet? The Merville? How about Detective Sham? He might have tried to reach her today. Holly lived in hope. She was under no illusions about her predicament. Whether Connor showed up or not, would the Chinese woman allow her to go free? That would depend on how confident she was in her own influence and invincibility. How about Quinn? She’d said she’d call him from Réunion but he probably wouldn’t push any panic buttons until Friday at the earliest. Justin? Not likely. She’d told him of her plans to be away.

  Monday went the same way as Sunday. Holly had never been particularly good at doing nothing. She tried reading various books but couldn’t get into any of them. Desperation had her weed a flowerbed by the front door. She made a concentrated effort to endure a bad Hindu soap on television, at least Holly assumed it was a soap since it was about as riveting as the Australian ones. By substituting her own interpretation of the unfamiliar language, ham acting and melodramatic action on screen, she found herself mildly diverted for a time.

  Around midafternoon, more to preserve her sanity than anything else, she had a two-hour nap, waking groggy and irritable as a result. Once again, Liang Song returned at six in the evening. By then, Holly was ready to explode.

  ‘You can’t keep me here much longer. Maguire’s not coming. Please, just let me go.’

  Madame Liang was starting to show the strain too. ‘You will stay as long as I choose.’

  ‘I’m going mad doing nothing.’

  The Chinese woman stared at Holly with hard eyes. ‘Stop your whining. I can assure you, the alternative would be very much worse.’

  It was no hollow threat. The implication was clear. Liang Song could so easily arrange for her to disappear permanently. It was on the tip of her tongue to issue the challenge ‘You wouldn’t dare’, but Holly knew that, if needs be, Madame Liang could and would.

  Locked in for the third night, Holly couldn’t sleep. Tossing and turning, cursing her earlier nap, her thoughts churned. The more she dwelled on her predicament, the more certain it became that she was in extremely serious trouble. What could Connor do? Whichever way he acted, one mission or the other might be compromised. Perhaps he wouldn’t show at all. He might consider that she would be safest if he didn’t. But that had to make Liang Song even more suspicious. What if he couldn’t? What if he were in some kind of danger on Rodrigues?

  Round and round went her thoughts in a sickening maelstrom. Whichever way she looked at the situation there was no escaping the very real danger to Connor and herself. She was eventually dropping off to sleep when a commotion shattered the night’s peace. A horn blared insistently at the front gates, long angry blasts that demanded immediate attention. It worked. Beyond her door, Holly heard Chop and Sticks shouting to each other in Chinese. Liang Song called sharply in the same language. Holly climbed out of bed and crossed to the window. Security lights flooded the garden. The horn didn’t let up. One of the uncles ran to the gates, unlocking and opening them. Liang Song and the other stood together. As the horn finally stopped, an engine revved, tyres squealed, and a car roared through the gates, stopping only centimetres from the Chinese pair. Holly shouted his name from the window when Connor Maguire emerged into the floodlit garden, slamming the vehicle’s door behind him. He gave no sign of hearing her.

  ‘What the hell do you think you’re playing at?’

  Holly had never heard a man sound so furious. She listened very carefully. Her cry must have been audible to him because both uncles glanced towards the window. That meant he was trying to give her some kind of clue, or warn her of something.

  Liang Song stood in silence, robe clutched tight to her throat. In the car’s headlights, she appeared uncertain, frozen to the spot.

  ‘Inside,’ Connor snapped. ‘If you’ve harmed her in any way . . .’

  ‘No.’ Madame Liang’s hair swung as she shook her head nervously. ‘She is not harmed. Please, see for yourself.’ She turned and disappeared from Holly’s view. After a quick look around, Connor followed.

  Doors banged and the conversation became too muffled for Holly to hear what was being said until Connor’s voice rose in anger. ‘How dare you pull a stunt like this. You stupid bitch! She’s a fucking journalist, for God’s sake! She’ll crucify me back home. What the hell were you thinking?’

  Holly heard the extended low murmur of Liang Song’s response. Then Connor’s loud reaction. He wanted her to hear. What was he was trying to tell her?

  ‘So what if I slept with her. That’s not why I’m here. I don’t know if she’ll buy it, but now, thanks to you, I’m going to have to convince her to keep quiet. One bad report from that bloody woman and I’m dead. So is our deal. Christ! You bloody idiot. Get her out here.’

  It didn’t sound much like the Connor Maguire Holly knew.

  ‘What do we do with her now? She knows too much.’

  Don’t overdo it, Maguire. Not on my account.

  A key turned in Holly’s door and one of the uncles beckoned her out. She quickly donned a red and white silk kimono she’d found in the en suite and moved towards the lounge. She could hear Liang Song pleading with Connor to calm down.

  He looked at her briefly when she came into the room. Holly relaxed slightly. She knew his facial expressions reasonably well. Connor was not as angry as he pretended. His show of outrage was to put the Chinese woman off balance and it seemed to be working. Taking his lead, Holly ran with it.

  ‘What the hell is going on? Nice company you keep, Maguire. Thanks to you I’ve missed my flight to Réunion and stuffed up a perfectly good travel feature. You’re more trouble than you’re bloody-well worth. I’m sick of you and your schoolboy treasure. I wish I’d never heard of you.’

  ‘Shut up,’ he snarled at Holly before turning back to Liang Song. ‘Satisfied? Here I am. What was so fucking urgent that you had to pick on this interfering journalist? Do you have a brain in your head? If this is the way you want to do things then we might as well forget our deal. I’m used to my associates showing a bit more professionalism.’

  ‘Where were you?’ Madame Liang’s customary arrogance and composure had momentarily deserted her. She seemed unsure of herself.

  ‘Where the hell did you think I was?’

  ‘The hotel said you’d disappeared.’

  He closed his eyes and rubbed fingers over them wearily. He looked very tired.

  All Holly wanted to do was hold him in her arms. But the play had only just begun and there was a long way to the final curtain call. Everyth
ing rode on the success or failure of the next act. ‘You’ve found out something new about the treasure, haven’t you, Maguire? You waited until I left the island and then went after it. Jesus Christ, you sneaky bastard! I’m supposed to be covering the bloody story. What is it with you?’ She paused for effect. ‘Well? Did you find it?’

  He removed his hand, shook his head and looked at her. ‘No,’ he said shortly. ‘I didn’t.’

  ‘I keep on and on telling you, Maguire. It doesn’t exist. This time the playboy adventurer has failed and you simply can’t accept it, can you?’ His eyes encouraged her to continue. ‘All you’re worried about is what your adoring Australian public will think. What a pathetically transparent creep you are. You’re prepared to wear yourself out in an effort to find it. Look at you. What have you been doing, digging up the whole of Rodrigues?’

  ‘I said, shut up. I’m fed up with your negative attitude. I’m not surprised that . . . what was his name? Dennis, that’s it, had it in chunks and gave up on you. Why don’t you just piss off back to Oz.’

  Whoa, Maguire. That’s a bit under the belt. But she played the game, rounding on him furiously. ‘You may recall that I didn’t exactly ask for this assignment. You’re nothing but a bloody cowboy! I’ve a good mind to set the record straight about you.’ Pick up on this, Maguire, it’s important.

  ‘How do I know you won’t?’

  Thank you. ‘Who’d believe it? All you’d need is a counterpiece about women who can’t take rejection. I’m no fool, Maguire. The oh-so-misguided public love you. They’ve never heard of me. I’d be the laughing stock of my profession.’

  He nodded curtly. ‘Freelance journalists like you don’t forgive and forget. What’s the quid pro quo? What else do you want?’

  Holly didn’t hesitate. ‘A completely frank interview about your two divorces. You’ve never given one. Australians will eat it up. You give me that and I’ll make you sound like the jolly green giant if that’s what you want. How about it?’

  Liang Song cut through their bargaining. ‘Do you trust her?’

  ‘About as far as I can throw her.’ Connor looked over at the Chinese woman. ‘But on this score, she’s right. The wrong publicity would make life a little hot for me but I could do more damage to her reputation. She’d battle to find work. I think we can work out a deal.’

  Madame Liang, with an imperious wave of her hand, dismissed Chop and Sticks who, as usual, bowed and obliged. She folded herself into a chair, indicating that Holly and Connor should also sit. Holly chose the dragons and serpents. Connor perched on the other end. He was the first to speak.

  ‘We have things to discuss.’ His head jerked towards Holly. ‘We can’t talk with her here. Your uncles can take her back to the hotel.’

  Madame Liang shook her head. ‘Not so fast. You might have leverage to stop a bad report but what about me? Perhaps I was a little . . . hasty, but what’s done is done. There’s nothing to stop her going to the police. She has no proof but an inquiry would draw unwanted attention. That’s the last thing I need.’

  Connor jumped up and began to pace. ‘Brilliant, just bloody brilliant.’ He rubbed one hand through his hair. ‘What in God’s name made you do it?’

  ‘I was worried. I didn’t know where you were. There’s so much at stake.’ Madame Liang shot a glance at Holly. ‘How much does she know?’

  ‘Only that we’re close to pulling off a deal together. Miss Jones is a hack journalist sniffing for a story, any story. She knows nothing about our venture.’ He stopped pacing and, with his back to Holly, took a gamble. ‘She is, however, aware that the shipping deal with Dulac fell over. The whole business sector in Australia knows about that.’

  Holly backed him promptly. ‘So that’s it. I wondered . . . Look, Maguire, I appreciate your need for secrecy at this stage. How about an exclusive?’

  He spun around and faced her, approval in his eyes. ‘More to the point, how do I know I can trust you?’

  Holly folded her arms and tried to look smug. ‘A scoop. I’ll write nothing until you give it to me.’ She had never been good at acting but thought she was doing particularly well at the moment. ‘Oh for God’s sake, Maguire, you’re too important a news item with Out of Focus for them to get you offside. You have my word. I’ll write nothing until you’re ready for it, provided I get a world exclusive. I’m prepared to trade. You give me this, I’ll drop the personal story.’

  He pretended to think about it.

  ‘There’s still a problem,’ Madame Liang put in, her self-confidence having returned with Holly’s apparent acceptance.

  ‘Yes,’ Connor agreed. ‘I’m way ahead of you. The last thing we need is for her to go to the police.’

  Holly held her breath. Please, Maguire. Make it good.

  ‘There’s only one thing we can do,’ Liang Song said matter-of-factly. She might have been speaking of putting down a stray kitten.

  Satisfaction gleamed in Connor’s eyes. He’d been leading the Chinese woman, hoping she would make such a threat. In a voice hard with anger, he gambled on Liang Song’s reliance on his business connections. ‘I didn’t hear that. I don’t operate that way. If this is how you do business, you’d better look for another partner.’

  The Chinese woman shrugged as if it didn’t matter. ‘Do you have a better solution?’

  Yes, Maguire. Do you?

  ‘The deal’s off,’ he said flatly. ‘You do what you must, I want no involvement. And I’ll make damned sure no-one can point a finger in my direction. I’m looking for William Maguire’s treasure and that’s it. You’re on your own and God help you if you get caught. Believe me, Madame, if the heat is turned up, the only one who’ll burn will be you.’

  Jesus, Maguire. This is a bit risky.

  Connor went on. ‘It’s not only her, it’s her father too. If he gets wind of this you’ll feel the length of his arm even over here. There’ll be nowhere to run. He’ll do you through the media in ten seconds flat. I hope you’re ready for that.’ He stared Liang Song down. ‘Not even your husband’s family has enough influence to stop him. Everything will fall down around your ears.’ He was getting through to her. ‘Do it my way and I’ll come on board. Do it yours and I’m gone.’

  Madame Liang’s milky white brow creased. ‘What is your plan?’

  ‘She comes with me. I’ll make sure she says nothing.’

  Nope. That won’t do it.

  Connor knew it too. He turned to face Holly then stood in front of her. ‘You’re in trouble, ducky. For that I’m sorry, but Madame Liang is right. We need some kind of assurance from you that you won’t go to the police. Not here. Not in Australia.’

  Holly could see he was desperate for help but couldn’t come up with any way round the impasse. She stared at him, mind blank, frustration and fear strong in her face.

  Madame Liang unexpectedly came to the rescue. ‘You mention the girl’s father. I have contacts here who know certain people in Australia. One word from me . . .’ Long red nails scratched on the arm of her chair while she weighed up the option. Her eyes looked directly at Holly. ‘If you value your father’s life you’ll say nothing about this. Is that understood?’

  It crossed Holly’s mind that for someone who was supposed to think that Maguire and the Chinese woman were working on a joint venture in the shipping industry, she was taking the melodrama too calmly. Outrage and derision were probably called for before Madame Liang had the same thought. ‘Are you actually threatening my father?’ She rose and pushed carelessly past Connor. ‘Is that how you do business? My God! Anyone might think the two of you were talking state secrets. Have you any idea how few people would actually give a shit about your stupid partnership?’ She spun and faced Connor. ‘You have a reputation in Australia for fair play. You’ve blown it this time. Fact of the matter is you’ve teamed up with a gangster. How pathetic can you get?’

  ‘How dare you!’ Madame Liang jumped to her feet.

  Holly turned back. ‘You may be
royalty in Mauritius, lady, but you sure as hell don’t do it for me. I’ll say nothing of this. Not because of your bloody threats, though God knows, I don’t doubt you mean them.’ She jerked her thumb over her shoulder at Connor. ‘And not because I’m protecting his arse either. I’ll keep quiet because I want the shipping story. I want exclusivity as well. Give me that and your gangland tactics will be buried. If the story is leaked to anyone else I’ll blow both of you out of the water. Savvy?’

  Is this working, Maguire? ‘Now, may I please leave?’

  ‘Go to your room. Get dressed. Wait there until I send for you.’

  Madame Liang was going to make one hell of a matriarch when the time came.

  Accompanied by an imperiously summoned Chop who went with her and waited outside the closed door, Holly dressed in her own clothes, then sat on the bed with her fingers crossed. She could hear the low murmur of voices in the lounge. At one stage she caught the words ‘stupid’ and ‘high-handed’ from Connor. Thirty-five minutes went by before Madame Liang called something and Holly was allowed back into the lounge.

  Connor stood with his back to the room, staring out through a window. The stance gave Holly no indication as to whether she was off the hook or not.