by Bea Green
Elena nodded disconsolately.
‘Don’t you have any music ready prepared that you could run through their music system?’ Elinor asked the DJ as a last resort.
The DJ’s face lit up as he thought this proposition over.
‘Yeah. That might work. But I need to see their system first.’
Elena clapped her hands.
‘Oh, that is good. Come and see.’
Elena dragged the DJ off to see their music system, which was installed in the hallway between the dining area and the kitchen.
‘What’s wrong?’ asked Tony, puzzled, as he came up to Elinor with a glass of champagne for her.
‘Teething problems with a prat of a DJ,’ answered Elinor, gratefully accepting the glass.
‘Oh! And where are all the others?’
‘In the kitchen until the music’s fixed, apparently. I think we should fetch them through or this evening’s going to end in disaster.’
‘I’ll go fetch them. Elena looks like she could do with some TLC,’ said Tony as he watched Elena bustling back into the dining area. He disappeared off into the hallway.
‘He says he can play the tunes through his phone on our system,’ said Elena, shrugging. ‘It’s better than nothing.’
Two minutes later the muted sound of The Script’s ‘Hall of Fame’ rang around the dining area. It was definitely an improvement.
Elena grabbed a glass of champagne from a tray the waiter was carrying.
‘That stupid man! Does he think we all want to listen to only his music and not be able to talk at all? I told him it was an opening night at a restaurant! Not a disco!’
She swallowed her champagne glass in two big gulps and then took another glass.
‘Bah! I am not going to let that idiot spoil the night! We’re going to have fun, aren’t we?’ she asked Elinor conspiratorially, smiling determinedly at her.
‘Yes, Elena, we’ll have a great night. You wait and see.’
Sure enough, an hour later the place was heaving with people and the noise of the chatter was soon overriding the background music. The Greek goddess Nemesis herself, thought Elinor amusedly, couldn’t have planned Elena’s retribution on the hapless DJ better than that.
50
It was close to eight o’clock when Elinor saw Richard Glynn walk in through the door. Her heart sank. Knowing how determined Leo was to confront Richard about his suspicions, she had a horrible feeling the two might cause a scene and ruin the party for everyone else. She resolved to keep an eye on the two men so she could try and intervene if things got out of hand. Not that Leo was ever going to listen to her, but she might be able to rope in Tony.
She’d told Tony all about Leo’s discoveries and his suspicions about Richard Glynn. Tony was inclined to dismiss the whole thing as pure fantasy, refusing to believe Richard would ever try anything illegal, but she knew Tony would get involved if an argument broke out between Leo and Richard.
Elinor went and stood with Leo as he chatted with his friends at one corner of the room. It didn’t take him long to notice Richard helping himself to a drink from the table at the entrance. Elinor saw him stiffen like a terrier in pursuit of its quarry. Leo waited until an opportune moment arose in the conversation and then excused himself, turning to head across the room.
Elinor reached out quickly and pulled on his arm.
‘Leo, are you going to speak to Richard?’
‘Yes, why?’
‘Can you let me come with you, please?’
Leo looked cross.
‘Oh, come on, Elinor. I’m a grown man, you know,’ he said exasperatedly.
‘I know. But I was there too, remember? I want to know what’s going on just as much as you do.’
‘OK,’ said Leo, accepting her explanation. ‘But I don’t want you interfering, right? And you don’t need to fret about me, I’m well capable of looking after myself.’
‘Fine,’ said Elinor, relieved he was allowing her to tag along with him.
They went up to Richard, who looked puzzled to see them approaching him.
He was a tall man but not as big as Leo. He had Celtic black hair and his eyes were clear blue. His features were harsh, his skin weathered to a tan and he carried himself with awkwardness in his suit. It was clear he was more at home out in the fields than at a social gathering. Similar to Leo, except Leo preferred the water to the soil.
‘Hello, Richard.’
‘Hello, Leo,’ said Richard cautiously. He was clearly wondering what it was Leo wanted to speak to him about.
‘This is my niece, Elinor,’ Leo said awkwardly, feeling introductions were needed.
‘Hello, Elinor,’ said Richard politely, nodding his head towards her.
‘We were wondering if we could have a word with you about something. It’s a little awkward, I’m afraid. We were just wondering if you could try and explain to us what’s going on.’
‘Sure,’ said Richard, pulling out his bottom lip. Looking briefly at the group next to him, he gestured towards the door.
‘Would you rather we talked in private?’
‘Yes, that would be a good idea,’ agreed Leo.
Without saying anything more they all walked outside. Elinor shivered. Even with all the alcohol she’d drunk, she felt the chill in the wind.
‘So, what is it you wanted to ask me?’ asked Richard impatiently, as he watched Leo struggle with himself to begin the conversation.
‘It’s a little convoluted so bear with me,’ said Leo eventually. ‘You might’ve heard we had six men, who didn’t speak a word of English, arrive on our doorstep in the middle of the night. That was in November. Then I heard from a friend that someone down the road from us had been noticing a white van turning up in the middle of the night, and this lady said she heard men talking a “foreign language”. All of this, right next to the wheat field.’
Elinor had read about people going pale under their tan, but until that moment she’d never seen it. Richard Glynn had gone a shade paler as he stood watching them fixedly, a ghastly expression of horror on his face. Both Leo and Elinor knew straight away that Richard was aware of or complicit in what was going on.
‘Anyway, I discovered a tunnel in Wine Cove,’ said Leo, continuing implacably. ‘But what worried me were the signs I saw of it being in active use. Torches in a waterproof bag, a cleat in the wall to moor a small boat. It looked very suspicious to me. So we went to speak to the lady and gave her our phone number to call if she saw anything of a clandestine nature taking place.’
Elinor and Leo looked expectantly at Richard but he said nothing. He was staring at Leo as mesmerised as a snake confronted with a wily mongoose.
‘So she called me one night, saying the white van was back again,’ continued Leo. ‘Elinor and I went into the wheat field to see if we could figure out what was going on. And sure enough, we saw men coming out of a hole behind the hawthorn bush. Would you mind telling us what’s going on? Because I do feel I have to report this to the authorities but it would be good to have a proper explanation.’
Richard licked his dry lips and again said nothing. Elinor could see his mind was whirring in many different directions as he thought about plausible reasons he could give them for what had happened.
Clearly none came to mind, because his shoulders suddenly dropped as if in defeat. They clearly weren’t confronting a hardened criminal.
‘What do you want to know?’ asked Richard, stalling for time.
‘Are you running a small smuggling operation into this country? With illegal immigrants?’ asked Leo, going straight for the jugular.
Richard licked his lips nervously again. He then shrugged.
‘I needed the cash at first,’ he confessed, finally.
Elinor and Leo waited for him to elaborate.
‘It’s been a dire
year for crops because of the weather. The politicians all bang on their drums about climate change but it’s us farmers that are on the front line of it. And then again all of us farmers are struggling with the price of milk. The supermarkets are crushing us. I mean, four pints for little over a pound. It’s insane...’
Richard’s voice tailed off as though he’d realised his attempts to justify his actions weren’t really going to cut it with Leo.
‘How much money were you getting for doing this?’ asked Leo, a frown between his eyebrows.
‘About three grand a time.’
Elinor nodded, impressed at the amount of money people seemed willing to hand over to complete strangers for the chance to get into a country illegally.
‘They just want to work. They’re not a burden on the state. Half this country wouldn’t function without cheap labour.’
‘Yes, but it’s illegal, Richard. A crime, in other words. As I’m sure you’re well aware,’ remarked Leo, angrily.
Leo rubbed his face wearily.
‘Christ, Richard. What on earth? I mean how could you think you’d get away with this?’
‘I did get away with it until you two came along,’ said Richard aggressively, standing with his legs apart and his arms crossed defensively in front of him.
‘How long’s it been going on for?’ asked Elinor.
Richard looked at her as though he’d forgotten she was there.
‘I was approached by a fisherman at Padstow about four months ago.’
‘And where are these men coming from?’ asked Leo curiously.
‘Where do you think?’ answered Richard sulkily. ‘France, of course. Where else?’
The door to The Ninth Hole opened behind them and Tony poked his head out.
‘What’s going on, guys? Everything OK, Elinor?’
Elinor looked quickly at Richard and straight away saw that he didn’t want anyone else involved in their conversation.
‘We’re fine, Tony. We’ll be finished in a minute.’
‘OK. Don’t take too long, it’s cold out there.’
The door clicked shut again, leaving the three of them standing outside with the wind gently ruffling up their hair and gusting against their chilly bodies.
‘Richard, I am going to report that tunnel to the authorities and get them to close it up,’ said Leo firmly. ‘I’ll say that I’ve seen teenagers using it and it’s not safe. But what you’re doing has to stop. If I hear or see anything suspicious going on, anywhere, I’ll be going straight to the police next time. Understood?’
Richard nodded, looking relieved.
‘Next time you’re in financial trouble try legal ways of resolving it, OK?’ insisted Leo. ‘You’re an intrinsic part of the countryside around here and a good farmer. Don’t throw it all away. Try talking to us next time. We might be able to help you out.’
Richard released a long sigh of relief, reaching up a hand to his forehead and tilting his head backwards as if unable to believe his good fortune.
‘Leo, thanks for this. I really appreciate it. I’m done with the whole thing anyway. It’s cost me several nights’ sleep and a lot of stress. It’s not worth spending my life looking over my shoulder, waiting for someone to catch me out. I’m just glad it was you. And yes, next time I’m in dire straits I’ll come to you for some advice.’
‘Good lad,’ said Leo, patting Richard on the back as though he was a young boy.
Leo turned and looked at Elinor.
‘Right. I need to get home soon. I’m not as young as I used to be. Elinor, are you staying on?’
Elinor was finding it hard to keep up with Leo’s sudden change of conversation.
‘Umm. What? Yes, I was going to stay longer but I’m sure Tony’s happy to take us back now. It doesn’t bother me.’
‘No, no,’ insisted Leo. ‘I’ll head back on my own. I could do with the fresh air. I’ll just go in and get my torch.’
Before Elinor or Richard could say anything, he walked off back into The Ninth Hole.
‘Elinor, I’m sorry you got caught up in this,’ said Richard, tentatively.
Elinor understood what reassurances Richard was looking for from her.
‘It’s OK. I won’t say anything. I’m hardly blemish-free anyway. I’ve done plenty to be ashamed about in my life and made many mistakes, although thankfully nothing illegal.’
Richard flinched at the word ‘illegal’. It certainly didn’t sit comfortably with him. Elinor wondered what twists and turns life had given Richard to encourage him go down the road of illegal smuggling. Just like it was in Cornwall two hundred years ago, Richard’s smuggling seemed to be an act of survival or desperation.
51
‘Tony, where exactly are you taking me?’ asked Elinor curiously as Tony took a left hand turn, instead of a right towards Trenouth. It was nearly midnight. Having helped José and Elena tidy up after the party at The Ninth Hole, they’d left later than they’d intended.
Elinor was beginning to feel drowsy too.
‘I’ve a surprise for you.’
Elinor turned on her seat to observe him.
‘Didn’t anyone tell you I don’t like surprises?’
‘No, they didn’t,’ said Tony. ‘And no, I’m not going to tell you what it is. You’re just going to have to lump it until we get there. Which won’t be long.’
Elinor gazed out of the front window in a huff, wondering what he was up to. They drove past Booby’s Bay and then they were driving down a single-track road towards Trevose Head, the headlights of the car lighting the way directly in front of them. But although they couldn’t see much in the darkness, Elinor could sense the wash of the waves and the wildness of the sea all around them.
A hundred questions were rotating madly in her head but she kept her mouth tightly shut. If Tony gave her any more of his wise guy backchat she’d be strongly tempted to slap him.
Tony drove right up to the lighthouse, turned in at the entrance gates and parked next to a small cottage.
‘Here we are,’ he said, switching off the motor.
Elinor looked out at the bleach-white lighthouse and the neat cottage next to it. She’d walked on Trevose Head before, keeping to the footpath as requested by the National Trust so as not to disturb the birds’ nests, but she’d never actually walked up to the lighthouse that was owned and managed by Trinity House.
‘Tony, why are we here?’
‘I’ve booked us Verity Cottage for a couple of nights. I thought we could do with a short break and I’m a little tired of working out the logistics to and from Wadebridge and even staying over at Trenouth.’ He shrugged. ‘I thought you might appreciate something a little different.’
Elinor placed her hand over Tony’s and reached over to kiss him on the lips. Maybe surprises weren’t so bad, she thought, when someone as thoughtful and considerate as Tony plans them.
They got out of the car, Elinor clasping her coat tightly to her, as the wind was stronger here on the headland and it was cutting straight through the flimsy material.
‘What about Leo, Tony?’
‘He knows all about this. And I’ve a bag packed by him for you here, but you’ll have to excuse him if he’s picked the wrong clothing out for you or put lots of extraneous stuff in it. He did his best.’
Elinor chuckled. Goodness knows what she’d find in the bag, but who cared?
Tony opened the door and they made their way inside. The cottage was beautifully neat and tidy. Elinor felt herself relax as soon as she saw how comfortable it was.
Tony had a quick look around the rooms and then selected the bedroom which had a view straight out to the sea. They could hear the water slopping, gurgling and hissing close by the walls of the house. Elinor wasn’t used to hearing the ocean as close as this. Trenouth was hundreds of metres above sea level, si
tuated near what used to be the remains of a clifftop fort. But here at Trevose lighthouse the sheer power of the ocean could be heard close by, like a living, breathing monster. Leo would have loved it.
They were so tired they collapsed into the bed, only to be woken in the early hours by the cheerful song of the skylark, ringing happily through the bright morning. Before Tony could reach out to her and pinion her in his arms, Elinor rushed to the window and pulled the curtains open. She looked down at the swirling, foaming water licking the rocks below them and at the sun reflecting shining points of light across the ocean that stretched away to infinity.
She turned to Tony.
‘It’s utterly beautiful. I could spend all my days looking at this and never grow weary of it.’
‘I could say the same,’ said Tony, watching her naked body with a deep lust in his eyes.
Elinor giggled and seductively walked back to bed to celebrate the beauty of the natural surroundings with a carnal act that now felt as natural to her as the coast...
‘Imagine living here as a lighthouse keeper,’ murmured Elinor later, as she lazed in bed, comfortably held in the close embrace of Tony’s arms and looking out at the blue sky outside the bedroom window.
‘The lighthouse didn’t become unmanned and automated until 1995, so it wasn’t so long ago that someone lived here as the lighthouse keeper.’
‘No,’ said Elinor wistfully.
‘Are you thinking you wish you could be a lighthouse keeper? You’re turning into another version of Leo,’ observed Tony, thoroughly amused. ‘You’re falling under the spell of the ocean. Once you’re under its enchantment it’s very hard to escape its clutches.’
Elinor turned around to look pointedly at him, her head resting comfortably on the pillow.
‘So says the man who’s obsessed with surfing.’
‘True. But I do spend more than half my life away from the seawater, surrounded by people. Life as isolated as the one Leo leads, or that of a lighthouse keeper, wouldn’t be for me. I need to be with people.’