‘Moustache?’ The colour slid from Bramwell’s face. ‘Did he have a long moustache?’
‘Yes, Bram.’
‘Lettie’s brother. Oh shit.’
‘He found us.’
‘The bugger used to be a jungle tracker. So he says. Anyway he only had to look in the phone book.’
‘What are you going to do?’ She was pulling on her pants and trying to locate her sweater. ‘We’re right in it now.’
Bramwell tried to think. ‘Just go to the door and have a peek,’ he suggested firmly.
‘Me? But … he may still be out there.’
‘Look, I can’t do it. He’ll see it’s me. I’ll back you up. If the sod comes charging in, I’ll get him. Have you got a bottle?’
‘A bottle of what?’ She was tugging on her sweater.
‘Of what? Anything. Empty. I want to hit him with it not drink!’
‘Don’t shout at me, Bram. We should keep calm.’
She had put the sweater on back to front and was attempting to reverse it. ‘Sorry, darling,’ he said trying to help her. ‘We really ought to. I can’t go to the door anyway, in case he sees me. I’d better hide.’
‘Oh, that’s right, hide,’ she reacted scornfully. ‘What if he attacks me? We should ring the police.’
‘Yes, that’s a good idea. After all they’re not interested in what I’m doing here, but a Filipino with a moustache, crawling around in the dark on the canal bank – that’s something else. I’ll ring nine nine nine.’
He did. ‘It’s a houseboat along the canal,’ he reported. ‘And there’s a Filipino chap looking in the window. How do I know it’s a Filipino? Oh God. I just do. Will you please send somebody along … and quick. These people run amok, you know.’
‘That’s Malays,’ said Barbara thoughtfully when he had put the phone down. ‘Malays run amok. I know because I’ve been out there. Something sends them mad.’
‘Listen, don’t let’s split hairs. Lettie’s brother is quite capable of splitting ours, believe me.’
‘Oh Bram, I love you but this is terrible.’
‘It means Lettie knows, or she’s pretty certain. When the police get here I’d better hide because maybe he’s still out there. Then he will recognise me.’
She acknowledged the logic. Then she said: ‘If we ever get married, don’t ever do this sort of thing.’
‘I won’t,’ he said. ‘I’ve had enough. Broken leg, broken nerve, broken marriage.’
They sat nervously in the dark and waited. After ten minutes a blue light was reflecting through the gap at the top of the curtains onto the ceiling. ‘They certainly take their time. We could have been massacred,’ Bram grumbled. ‘I’ll hide.’
He went into the bathroom and Barbara went tentatively to the hatchway door and called through. ‘Is that the police?’
‘Police,’ confirmed a light voice.
She withdrew the bolts and turned the key. Two thin young policemen stood in the light of the deck lamp. ‘Having trouble?’ asked the first. The other was whispering into the radio attached to his tunic.
‘There was a man out there,’ said Barbara. ‘Looking through the curtains.’
‘He would have had to climb on board,’ said the officer. He looked pleased at the deduction. ‘He must have been quite agile, don’t you reckon, Jonty?’
Jonty concurred. ‘He was a Filipino,’ Barbara told them.
‘Ah, now they’re quite agile,’ said Jonty. ‘We’ll take a look around.’ He gave her an anxious glance. ‘Did he have any arms?’
‘Arms?’ she said astonished. ‘Oh, guns. I don’t know.’
The policeman gave a wide grin. ‘You’d be amazed at the answers we get to that one.’ He repeated it in a pleased way. ‘Did he have any arms?’ He looked at the other officer. ‘Don’t we, Rollo?’
‘I’ll say,’ agreed Rollo. ‘Amazed.’
They appeared to be debating the wisdom of looking around. Jonty walked to the end of the barge one way and his companion to the opposite end. They returned within seconds. ‘Not a sign,’ said the first officer.
‘Vanished,’ said the other trying to sound disappointed. ‘We’d better take some particulars.’
She opened the door for them and they stepped heavily into the spacious area. ‘Very commodious,’ said Jonty as if he were thinking of buying.
Bramwell decided to come out of hiding. His entrance was more forthright and sudden than he had intended and both policemen were facing the other way. They jumped as a pair and turned pale faced, Jonty almost knocking over the low table. ‘You gave us a start,’ he admonished. He put the table in its correct position.
‘This is not the man, I take it,’ suggested Rollo examining Bramwell.
‘No, this is, my … fiancé. He’s got a broken leg,’ Barbara told them. ‘Otherwise he would have been out there like a shot.’
‘I’d have got that peeping Tom,’ confirmed Bramwell.
‘Yes, exactly,’ said Jonty. ‘Is it all right if we sit down?’
‘Oh sorry, please do,’ invited Barbara.
‘These uniforms get very heavy,’ said his companion.
‘Would you like a drink?’ asked Bramwell.
The officers faced each other. Jonty said: ‘It’s against the rules, but nobody’s looking.’ He glanced around.
‘Nobody’s looking,’ corroborated Rollo. ‘Any scotch?’
Barbara went to the cabinet, took out a plastic bottle and emptied three whiskies from it, then another plastic container from which she poured gin, adding tonic from a conventional bottle. ‘Looks like it fell off an aeroplane,’ said Rollo conversationally. ‘You in the trade?’
‘I’m a steward and Barbara’s a stewardess,’ intervened Bramwell. Jonty regarded Rollo severely as if he had abused the rules of hospitality. ‘It tastes the same, I expect,’ he said.
‘Oh, I’m sure,’ agreed Rollo, a little shamefaced. He accepted the glass but peered into it as though it might contain clues while Jonty took a quick swallow with the attitude of someone sportingly destroying evidence. ‘The bottles were broken, unfortunately,’ said Bramwell primly. ‘I dropped the supermarket bag.’
‘I’m always doing that,’ said Jonty.
‘You do,’ said Rollo. They each took a second drink. ‘They sell some good stuff in Safeways now,’ Rollo continued. He looked up. ‘Do you know a lot of Filipinos, sir?’
‘Some,’ said Bramwell guardedly. ‘I’m married to one.’
‘Ah, then it’s domestic.’ The policemen both nodded knowingly. ‘Now that’s different.’
‘This Filipino could have murdered us,’ pointed out Bramwell, his tone hurt. ‘He was a jungle tracker.’
‘Don’t come across many of them around here,’ agreed Jonty. ‘Occupation “Jungle Tracker”,’ he said wistfully, pretending to write in a notebook. ‘Trouble is “domestic” puts it into a different category. If it’s a house …’
‘This is a boat,’ pointed out Barbara. ‘And it’s very isolated.’
‘You’re right there,’ he agreed.
‘Must be difficult for the shops,’ nodded Rollo. ‘And the supermarket.’ He examined his empty glass. Bramwell picked up the plastic bottle and poured two more scotches. The action appeared to inspire Jonty. ‘I’m not really empowered to give you this information,’ he said inclining his head. ‘Officially. But …’ He studied his companion.
‘Yes?’ prompted Bramwell.
‘A group of Filipinos were observed … at least the bloke thought they were Filipinos, although he wasn’t sure. They were from that direction, anyway. He used to do a lot of travelling.’
‘He was a train driver,’ pointed out Rollo.
‘Where?’ Bramwell prompted again. ‘Where did he see them?’
‘The Crazy Kat Café. Know it?’
Bramwell exchanged glances with Barbara and they shook their heads.
‘Sort of Stanwell way …’ Jonty consulted Rollo. ‘It is Stanwell there, isn’
t it.’
‘Just,’ said Rollo with the pedantry of an expert. ‘Other side of the road is Bedfont.’ He paused. ‘West Bedfont.’
‘He’s red hot,’ said Jonty admiringly. He continued: ‘The Crazy Kat Café. They spell the kat with a K, can’t think why. It’s not a posh place.’
Bramwell took a deep breath. ‘And these Filipinos …’
‘Oh yes, them,’ said Jonty as if he had lost his train of thought. ‘Four. Three women and a man. The bloke that owns the place thought they was up to some illegal entry scam at Heathrow, you know getting another hundred or so sneaking in without passports.’
‘He thought they were suspicious,’ said Rollo. ‘He thought they were plotting something and he feels there’s enough of them in the country already, not just Filipinos either, and he was only doing his duty. So when they had gone he notified the police …’
‘Us,’ blinked Jonty. ‘But by the time we got there they’d gone. Apparently the Filipino bloke had been in there before, and the good-looking woman. There was another older woman and a girl who didn’t seem to know what was going on and didn’t say much. Just moved her hands around. He thought she might be deaf and dumb.’
‘Dumb,’ said Bramwell dolefully. ‘That’s our Pauline.’
The policemen placed their glasses with finality on the coffee table. ‘We had a peek around but we couldn’t spot them,’ said Jonty. ‘And it’s not something you can put an all-cars alert out for. We’ll have another look on our way home. We’re off duty now.’
‘In twenty-three minutes,’ said Rollo checking his watch.
They stood and replaced their hats and went towards the door. ‘Thanks for everything,’ said Bramwell sarcastically.
‘Yes, thanks,’ agreed Barbara misunderstanding him. He glanced at her. ‘Domestic’s very difficult,’ Rollo said apologetically. ‘There are things we can do and things we can’t. If he’d murdered you then it’s a different ball game.’
‘You’ve got to be dead then?’ said Bramwell.
‘Or injured,’ amended Jonty. ‘Injured’s all right. But not just domestic.’
‘If we acted on every domestic then we’d have no time for anything else,’ said Rollo. ‘For a start, half the-time we’d be breaking into other coppers’ houses. They’re the worst for domestic.’
‘I’ll say,’ said Jonty. They had reached the deck. ‘It’s got ever so dark,’ he said.
‘It gets dark early now,’ confirmed Rollo.
When Bramwell had gone Barbara picked up her drink and then pushed it aside and instead made herself a cup of coffee. She was contemplatively sipping it when she heard a sound at the cabin door. The coffee slid into the saucer and out onto her lap. She glanced at the splash but apprehensively returned her eyes to the door. ‘Yes? Who’s there?’
Georgina’s voice came faintly. ‘It’s me. Georgina.’
Barbara had pushed the bolt home and now she went to the door and withdrew it before unlocking the Banham. ‘Don’t you believe me?’ whispered Georgina through the widening crack.
‘Sorry about that,’ said Barbara opening the door. Georgina stepped in. She was carrying an overnight case. She looked around in an amused way and inquired: ‘What are you up to? Have you got company?’
‘Had,’ corrected Barbara moodily. She carefully secured the door again. ‘Bram was here, but he’s gone now.’ She looked in alarm at Georgina. ‘Georgie, there was a man looking through the curtains.’
‘What!’ Georgina turned and looked towards each window.
‘Not now. We’ve had the police, everything. It was Bram’s brother-in-law. He’s a Filipino.’
‘Ah, that explains it,’ said Georgina. Lightly she held the other girl’s hand.
Barbara said: ‘He scared the hell out of me.’
Georgina released her fingers and went towards the drinks cabinet. She glanced backwards at Barbara’s swamped coffee cup and saucer. ‘You look as if you need something more than that. I’m having a vodka.’
‘I had one, but I left it,’ admitted Barbara. ‘I’ll have one now you’re here.’
When Georgina had poured the drinks they sat on the long settee below the window on the river side. ‘Do you think he’s got a frogman’s outfit?’ asked Georgina peering over her shoulder. She smiled: ‘Poor you.’
‘I know it’s silly but it was a scene believe me. Bram was here but he’s still got a broken leg.’
Georgina made a wry face. ‘Still? He did that weeks ago.’ They both realised that they had not seen each other often.
‘It’s a difficult broken leg. He’s out of the main cast but he still has a secondary cast on it. He’s more or less immobilised…. Well, as far as getting about is concerned. And, of course, when he realised who this peeping Tom was, he couldn’t show himself because the game … our game that is … would be up.’
‘So you called the police?’
‘Next to useless. They said it came under the heading of “domestic”. They have pigeonholes and they just slot them into whichever is the most convenient. For them, that is. One was called Jonty. It could have been nasty. This chap was a jungle tracker.’
Georgina leaned forward and embraced her fondly. Barbara wiped the final tears. ‘It’s all so stupid really, isn’t it. Life never seems to be easy.’
‘It isn’t,’ agreed the other woman carefully. ‘Are you and Bram … is that looking serious … permanent?’
Barbara nodded but not certainly. ‘It’s going that way. He’s been a so-and-so in the past. Women … he’s had a weakness. He’s known for it. But I think he’s sort of retired. This leg’s given him a lot to think about.’
Georgina grimaced: ‘He can’t chase anything for a start.’
‘I know. But I’m in love.’ She looked up with embarrassment. ‘I didn’t think it could happen, not with his type, and a steward as well.’
‘You’re lucky to have got a straight one.’
‘There are a few. He’s been making up for those who aren’t. Anyway, for better or not, it’s become serious. I think the to-do this evening might make something happen. He’s gone home now but he doesn’t know what he’ll find there.’
‘She’s from the Philippines,’ said Georgina. ‘One of those off-the-shelf wives?’
Nodding a touch shamefacedly, Barbara said: ‘He bought her in a weak moment.’
‘And you’re sure he’s not playing you along? Until his leg gets better?’
Barbara shrugged. ‘Who knows?’ she sighed. ‘No woman can be sure, can she? All I know is that it’s all going to come to a head. Her relatives are over here. The police said they were plotting in a café near the airport.’
‘Plotting in a café! That’s dramatic.’
‘I think it’s become like that. Anyway, something is going to happen, perhaps it will be for the best. It will bring it all out in the open.’ Georgina’s expression became thoughtful. She rose and went towards the vodka. ‘Have another?’ she asked.
‘I ought to keep a straight head in case of another crisis.’
‘Better face it with vodka.’
‘Oh, all right. Not too much though.’ She watched the other woman pour the drinks admiring her slim form, her backside, her legs. ‘All I’ve done is talk about my own troubles,’ she apologised. ‘What’s been happening to you? We’ve hardly seen each other. Have you been on a lot of stopovers?’
Georgina’s shoulders lifted in a sigh. She returned with the glasses. ‘No,’ she said decisively. She sat down next to Barbara again. ‘No, I’ve quit.’
‘Good God, when? I’d no idea….’
Georgina smiled tightly. She had planned to lie her way through this. ‘It’s been some time,’ she said vaguely. She revolved the drink in her glass. ‘I’m a kept woman.’
‘You’ve met someone!’ Barbara’s eyes lit. ‘Ah, the Porsche. I knew it wasn’t your father.’
‘I haven’t got one,’ said Georgina looking down at her drink. ‘I’ve got a Porsche but not a
father.’
‘Who? Who is he then?’ Barbara was excited. ‘Somebody famous?’
‘Oh, no, he’s a businessman. French. He wants me to go and live in Paris.’
‘How wonderful!’ Barbara blinked. ‘Then you’ll be leaving.’
‘I’m afraid so.’
Barbara recovered. ‘That’s all right. French! Is he … young … ish? What’s he look like, Georgie?’
‘French … Lebanese actually.’
‘Dark … then.’
‘A bit. Very good looking though. And masses of money.’
‘I can see that by the Porsche. Do you think it will be …’
‘Permanent?’ She shrugged. ‘Who knows? He’s nice to me. All I have to do is to sleep with him.’
‘That’s all most of us have to do.’ Barbara looked reflective. ‘When will you be going?’
To her surprise the other woman said: ‘Tonight. Now. I just came back to tell you and to collect some of my things. Perhaps I could send for the others later if I can’t get back myself. I’ll give you a month’s rent if that’s all right.’
Her words slowed and it seemed they would be overcome by tears. Barbara regarded her mournfully. They held hands. ‘Are you sure you’ll be all right tonight?’ said Georgina. ‘I ought to go, but …’
Barbara gave a sniffle. ‘Don’t worry. I’ll keep the door bolted. Anyway the jungle tracker must be gone now.’ She became thoughtful. ‘I hope Bram is going to be safe.’
‘Men usually are,’ said Georgina her lips hardening.
Barbara regarded her oddly. With an abrupt turn Georgina went towards her room. She refused Barbara’s offer to make coffee and reappeared almost at once with a medium-sized suitcase. ‘The rest is in the wardrobe, and the dressing table,’ she said. ‘You’re sure that’s all right?’
‘No problem,’ Barbara told her sadly. She brightened a little: ‘Bram may be moving in. If things get too hot.’
Georgina was ready to go. She still wanted to say something. Instead she said: ‘Now don’t forget, keep the curtains drawn tight.’
‘Oh, I will.’ Barbara puffed her cheeks: ‘You’ve no idea what it’s like to realise that a strange man is staring at you … when you’re naked in bed.’
Arrivals & Departures Page 34
