Rachel Lindsay - Moonlight and Magic

by Rachel Lindsay

  'Jane, is anything wrong?'

  'I - I've a terrible headache and I can't find any aspirins. I rang for the steward, but no one answered.'

  'They're probably on shore.' He stepped back. 'Anyway I'm glad you had the sense to come to me. I've a bottle of 'em somewhere. Come in and I'll find them for you.'

  She stepped inside and closed the door, watching as he peered on the dressing-table and opened and closed several drawers.

  'I could have sworn I had the bottle here. But maybe it's in the bathroom.'

  He walked past her and she stepped over to the dressing- table and stared unseeingly at her reflection in the mirror. Suddenly she knew what she had to do and, glancing swiftly over her shoulder to make sure Colin was out of sight, she took the coin from her pocket and dropped it on the floor. Hardly had it fallen when he came out of the bathroom, a bottle in his hand.

  ‘Here it is.' In the act of handing it to her he stopped. "You're not going to do anything silly, are you?'

  'Silly?' She stared at him uncomprehendingly. Then she realized what he meant. "No, I'd never do that. No man's worth it!'

  He smiled. 'I'm glad to hear you say that.' '

  She took the bottle and put it in her pocket, lowering her head as she did so.

  'What's that?' Even to herself her voice sounded false.

  'What?' Colin asked.

  'There! On the floor at your feet. Something's glinting.'

  He looked down and then bent and picked up the coin. Jane held her breath, trying with all her willpower not to show the tenseness she felt. Seconds passed as she waited for him to speak, and heightened consciousness made her aware of every sound; the creak of timber, the whirr of air-conditioning, the hum of electric generators.

  'I must have dropped it when I took off my jacket,' he said casually, and slipped the coin into his trouser pocket.

  Relief flooded through Jane; her one coherent thought that it had not been Stephen after all. Hard on this knowledge came the realization that she was at last face to face with the thief. Not merely the thief, but the man responsible for the murder of Edward Hawton. Though Colin himself might not have killed the ex-jockey, the order to do so had come from him, and she shivered uncontrollably.

  'Jane, you've gone white. Sit down a moment.'

  'No, no, I'll be all right. It's my head. I'll go back to the cabin and lie down.' With an effort she smiled at him. 'Thanks for the aspirins. I'll return them in the morning.'

  She wrenched open the door and stepped outside, pausing a moment to regain her control. As the lock clicked into place she became aware of the man at the end of the corridor. Stephen! She did not need to be near him to see the contempt in his eyes nor the scorn in the twist of his mouth. Conscious of the invidiousness of her position, she flushed, her limbs trembling as she began to walk towards him. He said nothing until she was abreast of him. Only then did he move and bar her way.

  'Please let me pass.'

  'I've something to say to you first.'

  'You said all you needed to earlier this evening.'

  'I've a bit more to add,' he answered grimly. 'When you're in England you can do what you like in your spare time, but as long as you're on this ship you're supposed to be working for the Star, and while you are, you've got to behave yourself!'

  She went white. 'Are you suggesting—?'

  'I'm suggesting nothing.' His eyes were fixed on her satin dressing-gown which outlined the curve of her breasts making it obvious that she only wore the flimsiest garment underneath. 'I'm simply telling you that while you're working for me you must keep away from men's cabins!'

  'But I'm not working for you any more.' Her voice was low and filled with anger. 'After the way you've spoken to me I wouldn't work for you if you were the last man on earth!'

  Her hands came up to push him out of the way and he caught them roughly and spun her against the wall.

  'Don't you hit me, you vixen! If you're going to be free and easy make sure it's with kisses - not blows!'

  Before she could evade him his mouth pressed hard on her own, his body pinning her motionless. His hands came up and cupped her face, making it impossible for her to turn away. She struggled and twisted in his grasp, but the violence of her movements only loosened her dressing-gown.

  Fear washed away anger, and the misery she felt was so deep that she began to cry. Tears flowed down her cheeks, trickling against the side of her mouth, and only at the feel of their wetness did his sanity return and he drew back.

  She swayed and pulled her satin skirts around her. 'I'll never forgive you for this,' she whispered. 'Never!'

  'I'll never forgive myself,' he said, and turning on his heel, walked away.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  The next three days were ones of great unhappiness for Jane, and she continually relived her last scene with Stephen. How could he have behaved like that! How dared he assume that because she had been masquerading as Janey Belton she was also a gold-digger and worse? The knowledge of how sorry he would be when he learned the truth did nothing to assuage her present misery, a misery which increased at sight of his attentiveness to Claire.

  They were now sailing past the coast of Greece with Piraeus only a day's journey away. Colin had not yet suggested they spend their time in Athens together, but in all their conversations she had deliberately implied that she was expecting to do so, hoping to make it impossible for him to go off alone. Yet logic told her that if he wanted to be by himself he would have no hesitation in doing so, and she was banking on the fact that he intended to use her company as a cover.

  She leaned over the rails and listened to the gentle soughing of the waves. By this time tomorrow she might already have met the man Colin had come to see, and once she had done so the rest of her task was simple: contact Mr. Aristophanes of the Greek police. The thought of it made her tremble. She might have a nose for a story, but when it came to real sleuthing she was out of her depth. No longer was she the burning suffragette but a frail female desperately wanting a male shoulder behind which to hide!

  She stared out at the sea, her hands clenched on the rails. Somehow she did not feel that anything that happened would make any difference to her future with Stephen. 'Or rather, to my lack of future with him,' she thought bitterly. 'I don't belong to his world and I'll never have another chance of pretending that I do.'

  At dawn the following day the Cambrian sailed into the harbour of Piraeus, and by the time Jane had breakfasted, her landing card was waiting for her at the Purser's office. She had arranged to meet Colin here and she looked around for him, hoping he had not given her the slip. She walked the length of the deck and was beginning to grow anxious when she saw him in the distance.

  He did not see her, but walked instead towards one of the lifeboats. Instinctively, sensing something in his demeanour, she stepped out of sight, delighted that she had relied on her intuition as she saw Claire come out of a side door and go across to him.

  'This is it.' Colin's voice was quiet, but Jane, hidden by a pile of deck-chairs, could hear every word. 'Are you going to change your mind, Claire?'

  'No. I've told you that before.'

  'You're making a mistake. Stephen won't marry you, you know, and you'll be left high and dry.'

  'I'll take that chance.'

  'Well, you know where to contact me if you want me.'

  'Does Dinky know you're leaving the ship here?'

  'I haven't told anyone.'

  'Not even Jane?' Claire said spitefully. 'I'm surprised you don't take her with you instead of me.'

  'She's a nice girl,' Colin replied, 'but I don't love her.'

  'Then why have you been hanging round her ever since we left Venice?'

  'It suited me,' he said curtly.

  'You mean the Belton jewels suited you! I've been expecting her to rush up shrieking that they've been stolen.'

  Colin's laugh, though light, was unpleasant. 'Sometimes you're too melodramatic, my dear. I admit the jewels were a
great temptation and at one time I did consider helping myself to them. But after due thought I realize it would be stupid to take such a risk.'

  'I've never known you worry about a risk before. The bigger the danger the more you liked it. Oh, Colin,' there was unexpected pleading in Claire's voice, 'if only you'd been content with what you had. If only—'

  'If only I'd been content!' His voice rose and he looked round him quickly. Jane, afraid to breathe, drew as far back as she could, and Colin, seeing nothing, turned to Claire again. 'You're the one who was never satisfied. How many years ago did I ask you to marry me? Six, seven? But no, I didn't have enough to keep you in the state to which you'd never been accustomed. It was for you I—'

  'Oh, not that again,' Claire said wearily. 'Don't blame me because you turned into a thief! You'd have done the same whether I married you or not. You wanted money and you didn't want to work for it. Instead you pinched it from your friends.'

  There was the scraping of a match and a pause.

  'Anyway, there's no point in all this,' Claire continued. 'I'm not going with you, and that's final.'

  'Very well. But if you do change your mind…'

  There was no answer, only the clatter of high heels growing fainter in the distance.

  Jane moved cautiously, but the smell of cigarette smoke made her stiffen into immobility again and she waited, palms damp, until she heard Colin move away. Quickly she came out of hiding and began to saunter down the deck. Colin was at the far end and she called him and waved.

  'Sorry I'm late, Colin.'

  'That's all right. I've only just got here.' He came forward. 'You look very pretty this morning.'

  With his hand under her elbow they walked across the wide quay and through the Customs Hall to the other side, where taxis and guides were waiting.

  'What are we going to do?' she asked. 'I hear Astia Beach is lovely.'

  'You don't want any more sunbathing. The thing to do now is to visit the Acropolis.'

  'And afterwards?'

  'Afterwards—' There was hesitation in his voice and she was certain he had not planned on any afterwards, that he had only thought in terms of the Acropolis. That meant he was going to meet his accomplice there! Among hosts of sightseers it would be easy to pass over the diamond and to arrange another meeting, by which time the stone would be cut. She must warn the police at once. But how? She racked her brains, wondering what to do.

  'Look!' Colin said. 'Up there on the hill.'

  Jane stared out of the window. Far head, above the misty panorama of the distant city, marble columns rose to the sky, and even in this scene of light and sunshine they had a radiance of their own.

  'How beautiful they are. They seem to shimmer.'

  He nodded. 'They're just as beautiful when you see them close up. We'll be there in about fifteen minutes.'

  'Isn't it too early to go?'

  He laughed. 'It's never too early to visit the Acropolis. It's always crowded.'

  This was an understatement, Jane decided a little while later, as they left their taxi behind and climbed the steps leading to the most famous ruins in the world. Everywhere people swarmed and French, German and English voices shattered the air.

  Unfortunately Jane was afraid to concentrate on anything except the man at her side, and watching him, she saw he was anxiously scanning the crowds. She had formulated some sort of plan, and though not sure it would work, was determined to take a chance. The first thing was to give a hint, and she stopped walking and swayed.

  Colin looked at her. 'Not tired already?'

  'No, just a bit giddy. I get migraine and I've an awful feeling it's coming on now.'

  'I hope not.' Colin peered into her eyes. 'Let's go up to the top and you can sit down and rest.'

  'Can't we go to a hotel? Or back to the boat?'

  'It's too far. Come on, Jane, it's cooler higher up and I'm sure you'll feel better.'

  Convinced that the person he was due to meet would be waiting for him at the summit, Jane let him lead her the rest of the way, not pausing until they reached the beautifully sculptured caryatids which supported the temple of the Erechtheum.

  'There are some rocks over here you can sit on.' Colin pushed her down and she half closed her eyes.

  'Don't leave me. I feel awful.'

  'Of course I won't leave you.' He glanced round as he spoke and she was aware that his body had stiffened. Turning her head, she saw a swarthy man in a creased fawn suit walking purposefully in their direction. Before he could reach them she stood up and leaned heavily against Colin.

  'I can't stay here. You've got to take me down!'

  'For heaven's sake, Jane, what on earth's wrong now?'

  'It's my head. It feels odd…' She leaned on him more heavily still. 'Take me down, Colin.'

  She felt rather than saw him turn to the man who had hesitated a few steps away.

  'All right,' he said softly, 'I'll take you to the Bristol Hotel. You can rest there. The Bristol Hotel,' he repeated in a loud voice as he led her past the man down the slope.

  All the way back in the taxi she was aware of Colin fidgeting by her side, trying to mask his anger.

  'I'll have to stop at a chemist's,' she said weakly. 'I haven't any pills with me.'

  'Really my dear, you shouldn't have come if you felt ill.'

  'But I felt perfectly all right this morning,' she protested, and wished she could cry to order. Instead she fumbled for her handkerchief and pressed it against her face, keeping it there until Colin asked the taxi driver to stop outside a chemist.

  'What sort of pills do you want?'

  'See what they can recommend for migraine. Not too strong,' she said quickly.

  With an incoherent mutter he got out of the taxi and hurried into the shop.

  The moment he was out of sight Jane took a pencil and pad from her handbag and scribbled a name and phone number on it.

  'I'd like you to telephone this message for me,' she said to the driver.

  He grinned and shook his head and fear grew within her.

  'Don't you speak English?'

  He looked at her uncomprehendingly and she thrust the paper in front of his face. 'Telephone Mr. Aristophanes at this number and tell him the Bristol Hotel.'

  The driver broke into a flood of Greek and taking the paper waved it in the direction of the shop.

  'No, no, don't take it in there!' Jane saw Colin coming out of the chemist's and she turned back to the driver and pressed her finger to her lips, rolling her eyes heavenward in a gesture of fear. The man looked at her with instant comprehension and broke into another spate of Greek, stuffing the paper in his breast pocket as he did so.

  'I managed to get some pills for you,' Colin said, stepping into the taxi. 'You have to take them and drink something hot. They'll work about twenty minutes later.'

  'It's very kind of you,' Jane murmured, and half fell against him as the taxi turned sharply round the corner and drew to a stop outside the flight of steps leading to the Bristol.

  They stepped out, and as Colin paid the driver Jane looked at the man and pointed to his breast pocket. He stared back at her unwinkingly, but as Colin turned away he gave her a wide smile and pointed to the commissionaire standing on the pavement. Hope revived in her and as they moved towards the hotel she stopped by the commissionaire and spoke to him.

  'Lovely day, isn't it?'

  'It sure is,' he replied, a heavy American accent overlaying his English.

  She smiled at him and hurried after Colin. So he did speak English and she had not misjudged the taxi driver's intention.

  Knowing she would still have to play for time, for even when Mr. Aristophanes got the message it would take him a while to arrive at the hotel, she set about being as difficult as she could. She refused to take the pills with coffee and insisted on having tea. But when it came it was too weak and had to be sent back again.

  'Are you sine you wouldn't like to lie down?' Colin suggested. 'I'll have a word with
the manager and see if he can arrange a room for you.'

  'Will you come and sit with me? I don't want to be left alone.'

  Colin shook his head and glanced at the entrance. 'I'll wait here. The manager mightn't like it if I stayed in the room with you.'

  'Then I won't go!'

  A waiter came over to their table with a fresh pot of tea, and knowing she could not hedge any more, Jane allowed Colin to pour her a cup and hand her two tablets. She swallowed them fearfully, hoping they would not make her ill, and then sipped her tea. The waiter was standing in her line of vision, but as he moved she saw a pale crumpled suit in the doorway. Excitement shivered through her. She had been right after all! The man walked in the direction of their table, veering to the left as he neared them, as though intending to sit at the next table. He was almost abreast of them when he hesitated and then stopped. 'Forgive me,' he said in sibilant English. 'But did I not see you a short while ago at the Acropolis?'

  'Why, yes,' Colin said. 'But I don't remember—'

  'I was admiring the temple when I noticed your wife take ill.'

  Colin smiled. 'Not my wife - a friend of mine. She has a very bad headache.'

  'That is indeed a shame. Is there anything I can do?'

  'No, thank you,' Jane said quickly, 'but perhaps you'd like to join us for a cup of tea?'

  'Thank you.' The man sat down at once.

  'What a coincidence your following us to hotel,' Jane said.

  'I did not follow you.' The man turned in his chair to look at her and she saw the sweaty shine on his face and the open pores on his nose. 'But it was a happy coincidence, if I may say so, since it has given me an opportunity to air my English.'

  He moved his chair a little closer to Colin and she wondered whether Colin would try to pass the diamond to him or whether they were going to arrange yet another meeting. But the more they were seen together the more dangerous it was and she was certain the jewel would change hands now. Once the man had it he would disappear, and if he did so before Mr. Aristophanes had the message… She had to do something to create a delay - anything, no matter what it was.

  With a sweeping gesture and a murmur of 'Oh, my head,' she slumped forward across the table, sending the contents of her teacup over Colin's suit.