Downstairs the girls had relaxed into basket-work rocking chairs and coffee was still being served. ‘No fresh news about the Admiral,’ said Grant. ‘But a friend of your father has also been killed. Prussic acid, and some people think that the crimes tie up.’
Moogie looked at him for a few long seconds. ‘You are keeping something back. What else?’
‘Mark Goodenough has left France and gone to Turkey with a friend who hasn’t yet been identified. They flew out in a private charter.’
‘And the letter from Bangkok? If you have spoken truly no one was supposed to know your address, yet a mail is delivered within twelve hours. Was it connected with my father’s death?’
‘I don’t think so. An old acquaintance saw me at the airport and wants a word. He has invited Krystelle and me for dinner, but he has left it to us to name the evening.’
‘Tomorrow?’ Moogie pointed to the telephone. ‘You can ring him up now if you wish.’
‘Then can you put me through to the Erawan Hotel?’
‘The girl at the exchange knows the number. This is a very small village but you will get through quite quickly.’
It was amusing to watch her making the call. She bowed to the instrument when she spoke to exchange and seemed too feel that the operator was in the room.
Alvis sounded relieved to hear Grant’s voice. ‘I thought you had gone for a trip. Tried this afternoon but they said you were away for a few days.’
Grant decided to cut it short. ‘Many thanks for the invitation, sir. We’ll be along around seven-thirty tomorrow evening if that suits.’
‘And where are you now?’
‘In the country. Difficult to pronounce these names.’
There was a pause at the other end. ‘No other difficulties? Everything okay?’
‘Sure, sir. Just a little cut off, but see you tomorrow.’
Alvis became unexpectedly persistent. ‘No problems?’
‘Not really.’
There was an even longer pause. ‘Well, be good. And get back into circulation fast. I want to talk.’
‘Tomorrow, sir.’ Grant hung up the receiver. ‘Sorry you’re not included in that invitation, Moogie. Just one of these things.’
She studied a long, almond-shaped fingernail ‘I forgot to say that I put your passports away for safe keeping. It isn’t wise to leave important papers like that in a hotel room. Let me know when you would like to have them back.’
Grant remembered how Tom the house-boy discouraged prowling around the house and began to understand. ‘That was thoughtful of you. I’ll try not to be careless again. Maybe you have some plans. What’s the immediate programme? Tomorrow, I mean.’
‘We can go into town. With proper number-plates of course. I want to show you a little of the city and Krystelle would like to buy silk.’
‘Chinese silk. About a hundred yards of different kinds brocade and Moogie knows the right places. The Thai stuff is too slinky for me.’
Before breaking up Moogie asked the question which Grant sensed had been on her mind all evening. ‘May I come with you for dinner?’ She giggled slightly. ‘Sorry, David. Perhaps I shouldn’t have asked, but I like the Erawan. Bob Hope sometimes stays there. Now tell me even if this sounds silly, because I know that America is a big place. But does this new American friend know my father?’
‘How did you know he was American?’
‘Because we could both hear his accent at the other side of this room. He has a pleasant, quiet voice. But it travels and I thought he sounded kind.’
‘Anything else you thought?’
‘Yes. I think you are telling more lies.’
‘More?’
‘Yes. I’ve got to pump information out of you because you only tell half the truth. My father once wrote that in the old days he had enjoyed shooting birds with a man called Sir John Lyveden. Well, you left your mail on the table and it was only half covered by your napkin so I could read that you met this new American at Sir Jonah Lyveden’s partridge shoot. But why not say so?’
Grant was an expert in direct approach and detested finesse, but he didn’t enjoy being made the target. ‘Because I don’t want you mixed up in it. If anything involving the Admiral comes out I’ll let you know, but this is business. And it runs on a partnership of two.’
‘Well, all I can say is that you don’t do your homework very well. I dropped a hint earlier that my father had been very kind to us. You know that my mother’s husband divorced her and you know that my education must have cost a lot of money. This house isn’t exactly poor either. So where did the money come from? You don’t know anything about my father’s American background, but you must surely have understood that he was wealthy or else he couldn’t have given all this. Or did you think he was just on a sort of staff-office job with a shoe-string salary?’
‘What could that have to do with his death?’
‘People have been murdered before now just for dollars. Wealthy men have heirs. Maybe an heir wanted to see my father dead.’
‘Okay! I’ll buy it. How much did he give you?’
‘He settled one million American dollars on my mother.’ The girl’s eyes filled with tears. ‘He was a generous man. And the “few dollars” he mentioned in the letter I showed you came to another million. So you see my father made me a wealthy young woman and I’ve become a little frightened. If anyone discovers how rich I am I might be kidnapped or even forced to marry someone. Because there are many dangerous men in my country and some would stop at nothing to get a million dollars out of a young girl. Especially when she is good-looking like me.’
Krystelle was very gentle. ‘Honey child, you got no problems now. We’ll look after you. But let’s clear the record. Have you any other surprises which might have a bearing on the future? How about boy-friends, for example?’
‘None to speak of. I used to sleep around a bit at college, but nothing serious. Just enough to let off steam. Then I got my degree and after that I stayed at home thinking about the best way not to attract attention. Money can be dangerous.’
‘And you’ve no close friends?’
‘None who know my secrets.’
‘Your banker?’
‘My mother’s brother. He helped to bring me up and is a good man. He won’t talk.’
‘Your house-boys?’
‘Their parents worked for my mother and I was sort of brought up with them.’ She shook her head impatiently. The first burst of temperament which she had shown! ‘They know nothing about my private affairs, and anyhow they are devoted.’
‘I’ll think it over,’ said Grant at last. ‘Maybe, after all, it might be a good idea if you did meet this American at the Erawan. He did know your father and he has a lot of pull. So let’s wind it up now, shall we? Bed?’ He paused again. ‘You know, Krystelle,’ he said thoughtfully. ‘This business has been getting more complicated every few hours, and I’ve got a faint glimmering sort of hunch that Moogie might be right. Let’s be silly and play things safe. We’ll all sleep together in that suite. You two have the bed and I’ll take the floor.’
Krystelle glanced towards Moogie. ‘What do you say, honey? These hunches my man gets are worth watching. And the same sort of idea had crossed my own mind.’
Moogie’s eyes sparked with satisfaction. ‘I’d like that very much. But we’ll put another bed in the suite. David isn’t going to sleep on the floor.’ She tinkled a bell and Tom appeared like a swiftly moving shadow. Neither Krystelle nor Grant understood much Thai but Moogie took over five minutes to issue instructions and then she smiled.
‘We will have one cup of China tea while we wait and then the room will be ready. I’ve also arranged baths, and if you want a massage the Japanese girl will be, what do you say, standing by?’
Fifteen minutes later they were ushered upstairs. A broad single bed had been put up in the bedroom and a bottle of rice wine with papaya, water melon and peaches sat on a side table. The Japanese girl bowed from the door o
f a bathing room. She was wearing a monokini and carrying a thick bath towel. ‘You like get ready now?’ she said, smiling towards Grant.
‘This,’ said Krystelle in a thickly contralto voice, ‘begins to look like an orgy.’
‘It does, doesn’t it? But very nice. I like being with you both. And David will enjoy his massage. Suki is very expert.’ Moogie was carefully unbuttoning her perfectly tailored blouse. ‘Night is the nicest time of the day, everything quiet and people feeling relaxed. It is only in my bedroom that I can feel really natural. Tom and the other boys can visit all the other rooms, even when I am entertaining, but my bedroom is private.’
Krystelle watched Suki assist Grant out of his slimfit shirt and was glad to see that he was looking more embarrassed than she had expected . . . even allowing for the curious built-in shyness which was part of his charm. ‘Let me help,’ she said abruptly. ‘I feel like scrubbing your back.’
Moogie watched while she nibbled a slice of papaya. She was still wearing her slacks but Krystelle figured she had never worn a bra in her life. ‘Keep some of that for me,’ she called out. ‘Papaya comes best before bath time. And I’ll have a peach as well. But first lemme get out of these things.’
Grant was lying in a deep foam bath with Suki washing his hair and with the door half open. The girls showed one another off to perfection. Moogie’s skin was the colour of very pale walnut in the lamplight of the room while Krystelle seemed several shades darker. Both were pretty flawless, though Krystelle was a head taller than the younger girl and a shade more spectacular. But Moogie had been moulded into the sort of beauty which could make even strong men lose their cool. Her belly was slim, like a Balinese wood-carving, and her breasts set high, while Krystelle’s uniquely thrusting figure crowned the well rounded muscles of an athlete in top form. She caught sight of him watching and half guessed what he was thinking. ‘Pretty good, huh! But I’m coming. Got a date with yo’ back.’
Suki sponged the last of the soap away from Grant’s scalp and wrapped a towel around like a turban while Krystelle lifted a brush and stroked with ever increasing firmness while she improvised a calypso.
‘Yo’ got sixteen grey hairs
On yo’ chest, man.
Sixteen grey hairs only
But dey show dat time’s a-catchin’ up
An soon yo’se gonna be lonely.
Fo’ man! Dat’s de price of grey hair . . .
Grey hair . . .
Grey.
An’ yo’ woman’s gonna get ’em too
Like you . . . oo . . . oo . . . oo . . . oo . . .
Like you.
But you’ll stick around together
Grey hairs . . . grey . . .
Dat’s what ah say
An’ den yo’ won’t be lonely.
Honey, no.
’Cos den yo’ won’t be lonely . . . so
Stick around yo’ woman, man
An take de young one slow . . . ow . . . ow . . . ow . . . ow . . .
Just take her slow.’
Neither had noticed Moogie slip into the room. She was still nibbling papaya and Krystelle saw that she had rubbed on a wisp of magenta-coloured lipstick which was doing odd things to her face. In the crimson-orange glow of the lights she seemed to radiate a new energy and sense of poise which projected fantastic vitality. ‘You hooked on papaya?’ said Krystelle. ‘’Cos yo’ got juice running down all over your boobs.’
‘Who cares?’ Moogie curled up on a floor mat and smiled. ‘This is the very first time house has felt like home since Mother died. Everything’s so nice and friendly, though I can’t see David properly because of all that foam.’
Krystelle changed the subject and wondered how much of her calypso the girl had overheard. ‘See yo’ got a Quant hair style.’
‘And so have you.’ Moogie looked faintly embarrassed. ‘I shaved most of it off because it feels more comfortable, but that tiny heart outline looks exciting. Does David like it?’
‘David did it.’
‘And has he got one?’ Moogie was genuinely curious. ‘Men are so funny about hair. Most of them will only shave their face, though a few will sometimes do their arm-pits if their girl-friend ask often enough.’
‘Well, I’ll tell you a secret, honey,’ said Krystelle at last. ‘David does the face twice daily and the arm-pits once a week but he hasn’t got round to joining the Quant club. Too conservative.’
Grant stubbed out the cigarette Suki had lighted for him before serving a small glass of rice wine. It was difficult to believe that he was only a few hours away from Europe. It had even become difficult to believe that he was living in the 20th century. Moogie’s house was almost a hundred and fifty years old but she had somehow succeeded in creating a world inside it which was in harmony with the past. The house-boys were timeless. The bath girl was traditional. Moogie even seemed to go along with old ideas about the duties of a hostess and had advanced (or old-fashioned) ideas about concubines. But Grant had got the message from Krystelle’s calypso! More important, it was the first time ever that she had shown the slightest sign of insecurity in their relationship. That alone showed how much she must feel out of her depth.
He listened to the girls chattering and tried to think matters out. The Admiral must have been really loaded. Yet everyone had figured he counted dimes. The link with Alvis was equally unexpected and he was counting hours till they met. But why Istanbul? What could have taken Goodenough to Turkey immediately after a triple killing? The place had seldom earned a by-line in any AD SAD file over the last decade.
‘Sink the rest of that drink and let’s hit the hay,’ said Krystelle at last. ‘Me for a shower and Moogie’s gonna get a pedicure from Suki. We’ll be next door if you want anything.’
Grant had only time to dry himself and run his Lektronic razor over his face when the girls swung back into the bedroom. Moogie was wearing a see through ice-blue shortie nightgown, and Krystelle turquoise pyjama trousers. ‘We’ve bin trying to work out sleeping arrangements,’ said Krystelle in a husky, drawling voice which told Grant that she was enjoying herself. ‘Any ideas?’
‘I’ll take the single.’
‘But the bed’s king-size,’ said Moogie. ‘I forgot that when I sent up the extra. Why can’t we all sleep together? And anyhow I’m just a tiny bit frightened.’
‘Honey girl,’ said Krystelle, ‘yo’ cain’t in reason ask a man to sleep in a king-size bed with two dolls like us. The poor guy would have dreams or something.’
Grant guessed that actions would be more important than words and gathered Moogie into his arms. ‘Good night. And I’m for the single.’ He kissed her gently on the forehead, either cheek, and finally just below the chin. ‘Bed.’ Before she could argue he had lifted her on to the sheets and covered her with a house-coat. ‘And pleasant dreams.’
She looked at him sadly. ‘You forgot my lips.’
As he leaned over her she lifted his hand and laid it against her left breast. ‘Now you are very near my heart, and I’ll be good. Sleep well, big brother.’
Krystelle snecked off the lights and held out her arms. ‘Now me.’
Her kiss was gentle, but Grant knew that she wanted more, and felt the urgency in her body as she moulded against him. ‘See you,’ she said at last. ‘And don’t think too much. We can let real work begin when we meet Alvis tomorrow.’
They knew that Moogie was watching them as their heads silhouetted against the windows. She was unexpectedly quiet, but both knew that she was also unpredictable. ‘Krystelle’s right, David,’ she interrupted. ‘I’ve got dogs outside. Guards. And they are quite fierce. Especially if there are strangers around.’
Grant could feel Krystelle’s smile. ‘I thought you said you were frightened?’
‘Well, I am. Just a little bit. But I really wanted to be up here beside you both. I haven’t many friends and you are nice people. I am glad you came to see me.’
‘You brought us, honey. Remember? We didn’t “
come.”’
‘Well, don’t be angry, and sleep together if you want. I can still go back to the single.’
‘Another time,’ Krystelle giggled. ‘But nice of you to think of it. So now how about a ticket to dreamland?’
‘Krystelle. David said he had killed people. Have you?’
Krystelle slipped into bed and closed her eyes. ‘Suah. I like to rub a guy out once a week. What’s on your mind?’
‘I was thinking about Mark Goodenough.’ She paused. ‘I want to kill him very slowly.’
‘Screw Goodenough.’ Krystelle sounded sleepy. ‘We’ll think about that later.’
‘Good night then. But I think about it all the time. And it will be slow. Very slow.’
‘Just as you say.’
The room was suddenly quiet, and Grant was falling over when he heard the gentle rustle of clothes as someone tiptoed across the room. He forced himself to breathe deeply and pretended to sleep as Moogie gently wriggled into bed. She snuggled carefully against him and sighed with satisfaction. Moments later her arm slipped over his flank and her hand lay warm against his skin. He felt her kiss the back of his neck and heard the faintest whisper. ‘You’re very nice, David. Have good dreams.’
When he wakened in the morning she was asleep beside Krystelle, her face serene in repose, but with a smile dimple on either side of her lips. Maybe she too had had pleasant dreams, he thought, and dressed before the girls were awake.
Chapter Four – ‘Don’t let him fall in love with you’
John G. Alvis welcomed Grant as though their last meeting had been yesterday. His lazy southern drawl captivated Krystelle, whom he treated like royalty, while if he was surprised to see Moogie he gave no sign.
Conversation over drinks and dinner ranged from memories of film stars he had known in the thirties to pungent comment on some of the world’s most interesting top people in the early seventies. He had the expert’s knack of keeping punch lines to the end and an infectious laugh which put everyone at ease.
Paradise Spells Danger Page 5