‘Oh, and now you can. Came to you in a flash, did it? Incidentally, I’ll have the Vacances au Soleil papers if that’s what’s in the envelope. They don’t need to go in the safe.’
Silently Nanette handed the envelope up to him.
‘You lied to me, didn’t you, Zac, when you told me there was nothing illegal about the package?’
Zac shrugged. ‘Did you open it?’
Nanette flushed but didn’t answer.
Zac’s eyes narrowed.
‘You did. I trust you didn’t go as far as using any of the contents? Or, indeed, showing them to anyone else?’
‘Why would I show bottles of shampoo to anyone?’ Nanette said, as innocently as she could. Nothing would induce her to tell Zac that Jean-Claude had been with her when she opened the parcel – or that Mathieu had also seen the contents and told her what they contained.
‘Good. Well, go on – put it in the safe.’
He watched as she carefully did as she was told and closed the door.
‘Don’t forget to leave everything tidy, will you?’ he said, looking at the shelf and the towels on the floor, before turning on his heels and leaving Nanette alone in the bathroom.
Nanette steadied herself against the cupboard as the yacht rocked unexpectedly on her mooring. Shakily, she started to replace the shelf before reaching for the towels. Only a few more minutes and she’d be on her way home.
Another unexpected movement of the yacht and Nanette frowned. Something big must have come into the harbour to cause such a rocking wake. It was almost as if Pole Position was underway. Nanette felt her body freeze at the thought.
Leaving the towels on the floor and slamming the bathroom door behind her she ran to the nearest porthole in the master bedroom.
Monaco town lights were fading into indistinguishable specks along the shoreline. The walls that guarded the entrance of the harbour were disappearing from view as the yacht made for the open sea.
‘Nice evening for a trip round the bay, don’t you think?’
Nanette spun round to see Zac watching her lazily from the large king-sized bed.
‘Turn the yacht around and let me off,’ Nanette demanded.
Zac shook his head. ‘Sorry, I can’t do that. We have to talk.’
Nanette glared at him. ‘If I’m not there to take the twins to school tomorrow morning, Mathieu will be worried.’
Zac shrugged. ‘I spoke to him on the satellite phone a few minutes ago. I told him you were spending the night with me.’
Nanette flushed angrily at the implication behind his words.
‘If you don’t turn around immediately, the first thing I shall do when I get back is go to the authorities and have you charged with kidnapping,’ Nanette threatened.
‘They’d just think you were a spurned lover – after all you were happy enough to come aboard before. Besides, you did come aboard of your own free will. Phil will attest to that.’
Disconsolate and fighting back tears Nanette stared at him. It seemed a long time ago that she had thought she loved this man.
‘How long do you intend to keep me on board?’
Before Zac could answer there was a discreet knock on the cabin door.
‘The saloon is ready sir,’ the head stewardess said.
Zac turned to Nanette. ‘You told me recently we needed a serious talk so, shall we be civilized and do it over a meal?’
‘Answer my question. How long?’
Zac sighed before saying slowly, ‘As long as necessary. Now, shall we eat? What with the flight back and the time difference I haven’t eaten for hours.’
‘I’m not hungry,’ Nanette said.
‘Suit yourself. You can talk to me while I eat.’
Two places were laid on the mahogany dining-table – crystal glasses, silver cutlery and candles in gold candelabra gave a gentle glow to the cabin. Champagne nestled in a silver ice bucket, while a CD of guitar music was playing softly in the background.
‘Just like the old days when we were together,’ Zac said.
‘Hardly,’ Nanette snapped.
Zac poured a glass of champagne and offered it to her. When Nanette shook her head and turned away he raised the glass in a mock salute before taking a long drink and then topping up the glass.
‘What are you doing here anyway?’ Nanette asked. ‘Why aren’t you still in America?’
‘Only five drivers were going to trust their tyres enough to line up on the grid – as none of them is anywhere near me in the championship I decided I could boycott the race too without it affecting my title chances,’ he answered. ‘So, as I’ve got some urgent business to sort out here, I caught the first available flight back.’
He helped himself to a portion of smoked salmon.
‘Vanessa is due back soon, isn’t she? Thought anymore about working with me on Vacances au Soleil? We could be a good team again. I’ll even make you a director if you want. I’m hoping Mathieu is going to join the company too in the near future.’
Nanette, about to protest that Mathieu definitely wouldn’t be joining him and that she knew Vacances au Soleil was a front for a money laundering operation, stopped. Zac didn’t yet know the part Mathieu was about to play in his downfall.
‘The answer is still no, Zac. I won’t work for you again.’ She paused. ‘Besides, I’m not entirely convinced you’re not lying to me when you say it’s a legal business.’
Zac eyed her over the top of his champagne flute.
‘You lied to me – to everyone – three years ago, about the accident, didn’t you, Zac?’ she said, watching his face for a reaction to her words.
‘I wasn’t driving that night, was I, Zac? What I don’t understand is why you lied? Why you ruined my life?’
In the silence that followed her words, Zac impassively forked some food into his mouth.
Nanette felt her temper rising. He could he be so indifferent to what she was saying, to her feelings? He didn’t care. Had he ever really cared?
‘I remember driving to the restaurant,’ Nanette continued softly. ‘You offered to drive back so I could enjoy the wine with my meal. All evening, apart from a single glass of champagne to toast my birthday, you drank water.’
Nanette took a deep breath.
‘I remember you getting into the driver’s seat when we left the restaurant. So, why after the accident, did you deliberately make it look as though I’d been driving? You knew the wine and the champagne I’d drunk during the evening would have put me way over the limit, whereas you were sober.’ Nanette held her breath waiting for his reaction.
Zac sighed before finally looking her in the eye.
‘Couldn’t you just see the headlines in the Nice Matin – “Formula 1 Ace charged with dangerous driving”? So, when the pompiers arrived and assumed you were the driver as it was your car, I decided not to enlighten them.’
‘It was very convenient for you then, that I lost my memory for so long, wasn’t it? Couldn’t speak up and set the story straight.’
Zac didn’t reply.
‘Is that why you didn’t come near me again? Why you had me airlifted back to the UK? You were afraid that I would suddenly broadcast to the world that I wasn’t actually driving when the car aquaplaned. It was a famous racing driver who had taken the coward’s way out!’
‘I did pull you out of the wreckage before it burst into flames. I deserve some credit for that, don’t I?’ Zac asked quietly.
Nanette glared at him. ‘What you did afterward was despicable, Zac.’
‘The media would have crucified me, Nanette. I was at a critical point of my career – just changing teams – I didn’t need the wrong sort of publicity. You on the other hand’ – he shrugged before giving her a sardonic smile – ‘who was going to really care whether you lost your licence? You were just my girlfriend, no one special in the eyes of the world.’
As he stared her down, defying her to argue with him, Nanette knew that any lingering love she had once f
elt for Zac Ewart had just been bludgeoned to death by his callous words.
‘Tomorrow I am going to start clearing my name,’ she said defiantly.
‘Why bother after all this time? Besides, who are people going to believe: a world-famous racing driver or a one-time office girl?’ He hesitated before adding quietly, ‘I did try once, Nanette, to set the record straight, but by then the police had done their paperwork and it was too late.’
‘If you had any decency left you’d come with me and make them acknowledge the truth.’
Nanette gazed reflectively at Zac. Life on the race track was a serious business, not to be taken lightly, but away from the circuit Zac had always had this cavalier attitude to life. It had been one of the things she’d found difficult to accept about him. Jean-Claude, she knew, would never have deserted her in her hour of need. That Jean-Claude would always be there for her, she didn’t doubt for a single second.
‘Nanette, what are you thinking? You’re miles away. I remember you getting that dreamy look when we were together. Are you thinking about us?’
Nanette shook her head. ‘Oh no, Zac. I’m not taking a trip down memory lane with you. I’m thinking about my future and you are staying firmly in the past.’
‘Have you met someone else?’
‘Yes,’ Nanette said simply. ‘Someone very special. Someone who truly loves me.’
Nanette didn’t understand the pained look that crossed Zac’s face, but she did realize that he clearly hadn’t been expecting that answer from her.
There was a short silence, before he said slowly, ‘I hope things work out for you.’
He continued, ‘Things in my life have changed, too, in the last three years. There are different things at stake.’
‘Things like your business deals with that criminal Boris Takyanov? You know, Zac,’ Nanette said thoughtfully, ‘I never had you down as a common criminal. How did that happen?’
Zac was silent for several seconds before saying, ‘I stupidly got myself involved in something I shouldn’t have. The next thing I knew Takyanov made me an offer I couldn’t refuse – didn’t dare refuse,’ he added quietly. ‘And now I’m in too deep for him to let me go.’
‘He’s blackmailing you? Oh Zac, what a mess,’ Nanette said sadly. ‘Well, I can’t see him doing much in the way of business from Monaco jail,’ Nanette said.
Zac spun round from the table where he was helping himself to yet more champagne. ‘Takyanov’s been arrested?’
‘Yes. Hadn’t you heard? Along with several of his so-called business associates.’
Zac pushed past her and opened the cabin door.
‘Phil, turn around and take us back to harbour now,’ he shouted.
Nanette heard the skipper’s answering ‘Will do’, felt Pole Position change course and breathed a sigh of relief. This nightmare would soon be over.
Unexpectedly he grabbed her hand. ‘I need some air. Come on, let’s go out on deck and watch the lights.’
As Zac pulled her towards the yacht’s bow, Nanette was struck by an irrational fear. Could he possibly be planning to push her overboard and claim it was an accident?
The city of Manaus was a huge shock to Vanessa. Ralph had told her it was one of the most isolated metropolitan areas in the world but she was ill prepared for its vastness and the noise it generated.
As their boat drew alongside the floating dock she stood up and looked around. Seven hours ago the boat had been moored in a quiet tributary with jungle animal sounds providing the background noise and happy smiling natives helping them load the boat for the journey up-river.
Here, moored on the banks of the Amazon River itself, it was the raucous sounds of a modern industrial jungle that surrounded them as they stepped off the boat. It was hard to believe that this busy inland port was in the heart of the rain forest.
Vanessa gazed fascinated at the double-decked ferries and houseboats that were everywhere, crammed along the shoreline in front of ramshackle buildings on the water’s edge. Dozens of large cargo ships were tied up unloading goods, others were taking on board sacks of coffee beans, rubber, and nuts. All, it seemed to Vanessa, in vast quantities. She glanced at her husband.
‘Do you think anyone is going to be interested in shipping the small quantities of produce Fruits of the Forest is going to have in the beginning?’
‘Of course,’ Ralph said confidently. ‘We’ll look for a small commercial shipper who is keen to expand and grow with the co-operative. No point in even approaching the big international boys in the beginning. We’ll ask around tomorrow. Right now, let’s get to the hotel.’
The hotel, a tall modern building ten minutes from the city centre, was blessedly cool after the humidity outside.
Once they were registered, Ralph asked the receptionist to book a phone call to Monaco for them, and they went straight to their room.
When the phone on the bedside table rang, Vanessa snatched it up only to be told the number wasn’t answering and the receptionist would try again later.
‘Perhaps by then we’ll have a definite UK arrival date,’ Ralph said trying to ease her disappointment. ‘Nick and Harry are going out to the airport later to try and book flights.’
‘Do you feel up to doing some exploring?’ Ralph continued. ‘Might as well see the sights.’
‘Can we leave the touristy bit until tomorrow? What I really want to do is have a shower, something to eat and go to bed. I’m exhausted,’ Vanessa said.
‘Sure. In that case I’ll go out to the airport with the boys. Do you want me to order you something from room service, or will you go down to the dining-room?’
‘A sandwich from room service would be fine.’
After her shower Vanessa curled up on the double bed to eat her supper revelling in the air-conditioned coolness of the room. She’d forgotten during the last few months in the jungle what it was like to be comfortable and not continually damp with perspiration.
Ralph returned with frustrating news. ‘I’m sorry, Vanessa, I know you’re desperate to get home to the twins, but there are no direct flights available. We’ve got to go via the States. And even then we can’t fly for forty-eight hours.’
Vanessa hid her disappointment. ‘Can’t be helped. Hopefully I’ll get to speak to them tomorrow.’ She glanced at Ralph, hot and sticky from his foray to the airport.
‘Why don’t you have a shower and then come to bed? It’s far more comfy than the hammocks we’ve been using recently.’
The next morning they were up early intent on getting down to the docks to look for a shipper exporter willing to discuss handling the Fruits of the Forest produce. Vanessa also wanted to explore the Mercado Adolpho Lisboa, the city’s oldest market place.
Their search around the docks for a shipping company proved fruitless. Nobody even had the time to speak to them, let alone discuss exporting Fruits of the Forest produce.
‘Let’s give up,’ Vanessa said. ‘I’ve a feeling it’s going to be easier to organize it through a third party from the UK.’
Before returning to the hotel they wandered through the vast ancient market thronging with locals buying their produce from the traditional stalls. The outside streets were packed with more stalls and souvenir sellers. Vanessa was delighted to find a stall selling the locally made woven bags and ponchos.
‘Nanette will adore one of the bags,’ she said. ‘And I’ll get a couple of ponchos for the twins.’
Back in their hotel room Vanessa booked a call to Monaco. Standing, receiver in hand, she listened to the ringing tone before shaking her head at Ralph.
‘Still no reply. I don’t understand it. Oh … hello Jean-Claude? Where is everyone? I was just about to hang up.’
Vanessa was silent as she listened to Jean-Claude for several minutes.
‘OK. Will you tell Nanette I’ll ring her tomorrow then with our plans? Yes, we’ve had a great time. Hope to see you soon. Goodbye.’ Vanessa slowly replaced the receiver before turning to lo
ok at Ralph.
‘That was weird. Neither Mathieu nor Nanette were in the apartment. Jean-Claude wouldn’t tell me where they were although he assured me the twins are fine. I’m worried now. Something is going on back there.’
Dawn was breaking over a sleeping Monaco as Pole Position sailed towards the harbour entrance. Nanette, standing in the cockpit, felt an overwhelming sense of relief sweep through her body. Another half-hour and she would be back on dry land.
A tense Zac had insisted they spent the entire return journey up on deck and now Nanette watched the shore lights getting closer with unconcealed pleasure.
As Phil carefully positioned the yacht to motor slowly into her allocated berth and the crew tied the large navy fenders in place, Zac turned to her.
‘I guess you and I are all washed up now. No chance of even remaining friends?’
‘We were all washed up, as you put it, when you decided to lie about the accident,’ Nanette said, watching Phil press the button to lower the gangplank. ‘I can never forgive you for that.’
Zac suddenly turned her to face him, gripping both her arms tightly.
‘Stop it, Zac, you’re hurting me.’
The pressure increased on her arms as Zac ignored her words and squeezed harder. Nanette closed her eyes, willing him to stop inflicting pain, and waiting for him to release her.
‘You think this hurts? Be warned, Nanette – it’s nothing to what could happen. Other people don’t have my scruples – or share a past with you. Do one last thing for me: walk away from whatever you think is going on.’
The grip on her arms lessened and Nanette opened her eyes to see Zac staring at her intently.
‘Goodbye, Zac,’ she said. Trembling, she moved away from him towards the gangplank desperate to put as much space between her and Zac Ewart as possible.
Blinded by the tears that had started to run down her cheeks, she didn’t see Jean-Claude standing on the quay with Mathieu until it was too late and she’d run into him.
‘Doucement, ma chérie,’ he said, gently enveloping her in his arms. ‘Doucement. I’m here now to take care of you.’
The gentle kiss he placed on her forehead wasn’t enough for Nanette. She turned and looked at him before hesitantly kissing him deliberately on the lips. As she surrendered herself to Jean-Claude’s passionate embrace, she was conscious of a statue-like Zac watching them with an unfathomable look on his face.
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