by J B Raphael
“Why?” Jon asked, “I don’t even know her.”
“I’m sorry sir, it’s the casino’s decision,” the man said, “you are of course free to play everywhere else in the room.”
The woman watched what was occurring, then stood, collected her chips and went to the cash grille to collect her winnings. Jon was watching the black-jack when he received another tap on the shoulder, “You kept very calm with that heavy guy,” she said in a New York accent.
“Oh, I don’t worry about people like him unless they have more to accuse me of. I’m not really a gambler, I just like a flutter now and then. I won a little but it won’t change my life,” he laughed.
“I like you,” she said, “you’ve got a good slant on life, my name’s Rosa, Rosa Mitchum. I’m Robert Mitchum’s niece, do you know him?”
“Oh yes,” said Jon, “Cape Fear, Danger Road and many, many war films, a wonderful film actor.”
“Yuh, that’s right, but I didn’t really know him, he was on the other side of the family if you know what I mean, but he was a generous man and spread his legacy fortune right across the family,” she shook her bracelets, “know what I mean?” she said.
“My name’s Keiron Pearce, from Dublin and London, hence my crazy confused accent!” he admitted.
“I thought I could hear some Irish,” she said, “what do you do?”
“I import cars from mainland Europe, only expensive ones, and sell them to wealthy people in England.”
“Could you sell me a Bentley?” Rosa asked.
“No,” he said, “because there is a Bentley showroom on Fifth Avenue, I’m guessing that’s in your neighbourhood?”
“Yeah,” she said, “Manhattan, although originally Brooklyn, I lived in the same street as Barbra Streisand, in fact my grandmother and her mother were at the same school,” she enthused.
“Really,” Jon said, looking at the gems and not giving a hoot about Barbra Streisand or her mother. “Would you like to go into the bar for a night-cap?”
“I thought you’d never ask!” she replied. They went in to the ‘Bar Americain’ and Jon ordered two brandy cocktails, as they sat at the bar on corner-shaped stools they talked for well over an hour and downed more cocktails. Rosa more than Jon, she was showing signs of being slightly drunk, but she held it well, it only showed in her slightly slurred speech.
Jon looked at his watch, it was 2.30am, “I think we should climb the slumber hill,” he said.
“Yes,” Rosa agreed. They walked arm in arm back to her suite on the prestige deck (nice, he thought, this lady is wealthy). They parted with a kiss on each cheek and said that they would meet again tomorrow.
Jon went to sleep with only one thing on his mind, diamonds, and he meant to get his hands on them by hook or by crook. In a dream he was walking through a black mist into a cave full of jewels, and sitting at the end was Satan smiling and saying ‘these are all yours Jon, to have for eternity, you know what I want, you owe me!’..... ‘Yes’ Jon said, ‘but I must fulfill my quota of kills.’ He woke in a cold sweat and went into the bathroom to have a cold shower, it was 5 o’clock and the sun was rising. He stood with just a towel around his waist, looking out to sea, thinking what would his future be, he knew it would only be a short one so he was going to live it to the full “starting today” he said to the world loudly, at the balcony door.
He went out on to the balcony and was surprised by Hannah sitting at her little table with coffee, “Hi,” she said, with just a bath towel wrapped around her, “I had room service bring me a pot of coffee, would you like some?” she asked.
“Yes, please,” he said.
“Climb over,” she said, “we don’t need two balconies to drink coffee!” she laughed. He climbed over the rail and as he did his towel slipped to reveal all, he quickly pulled up the coverage! “Don’t be shy,” she said, “I’ve seen it all before,” she giggled.
He changed the subject by saying, “I’ll have mine black please.” It’s said that a lot of women are ‘morning people’ sexually, and Hannah certainly was. She stood to pour his coffee then bent and kissed him, a long lingering and passionate kiss that he felt down to his toes. She reached down inside the towel and felt his erection building, she got down on her knees and took his manhood in her mouth and gently moved her lips up and down on it. His orgasm was immense, even Hannah almost shouted “Wow, that must have been the second coming!” as she ran into the bathroom.
He sat waiting for her to return, then suddenly heard, “Keiron, in here, now,” she demanded. It was obvious to Jon that Hannah had not had sex for quite some time, she enjoyed three orgasms, each one louder than the last. “You are amazing,” she shouted on her last thrustings. They laid side by side gasping, even though they were at sea it was hot, even at seven in the morning.
They showered together, then rubbed each other down with towels, Hannah didn’t stop kissing Jon, but he only half enjoyed it. In fact, he’d had enough sex, he stood and said, “I must get dressed, shall we meet down at the pool?”
“May be later, I want to do a little shopping in the ship’s mall,” she answered.
As he climbed over the rail a male passenger on the neighbouring balcony smiled and winked, touching his nose, “Morning,” he said, still smiling a knowing smile. Jon just smiled and nodded, all he could think of were the diamonds, but there was something not quite right about her story. Would a woman who was building up a business spend about £150,000 on jewellery, may be £50,000, he would have to take a closer look at them, but how? could they be fake? he wondered. Jon walked down to the coffee shop and had a light breakfast of coffee and toast. The pool area was not yet too crowded, he bought a novel in the gift shop, something to do with the surrender of Singapore, a WW11 story. He had a choice of sunbeds and selected one that was, for the time being, in the shade. Settling down, he opened the book and was soon getting in to the story. The sun came around the super-structure of the ship and bathed him in heat. Applying some high factor cream, a shadow crossed him and stopped, he looked up to see Rosa Mitchum standing at his feet, “Hi good looking, how you doing?” she asked with a beautiful smile.
“I’m fine,” he said, jumping to his feet, “are you staying, or just passing through?”
“I’ll stay if I may,” she said.
“Please, dear lady,” he said with a little blarney, and pulled a sunbed closer to his and a little table for her bits and pieces. “How is your holiday so far?”
“Oh, it’s fine, but I’ve been a little lonely, I’m a ‘people’ person, can’t stand being alone,” she admitted, looking deep into his eyes, sexily.
Whoops, he thought, as the black mist started to descend. After about an hour and a half the sun was beginning to burn, so they decided to bring over a parasol on a stand. The waiter helped to set it up, “Would you like a drink sir-r-r?” the young man asked.
“Yes, good idea,” Jon said, “Rosa, what is your pleasure?”
“I’ll have a large manhattan, with lots of ice,” she said.
“I’ll have a cold beer, nice and tall please,” he asked.
“Yes sir-r-r,” said the waiter.
“It’s five o’clock somewhere,” Rosa laughed as she chinked her glass against Jon’s.
“It must be,” he said, “round about India I’d say!” they laughed
“Well, here’s to India!” Rosa laughed.
Another round of drinks and they decided to go for some lunch, he saw Hannah walking around the deck above carrying quite a few packages, luckily she didn’t see him with Rosa, but he had made no promises after their sexual encounter and no arrangement to meet, just a loose ‘see you later’. They had a lobster salad with it shelled, with a fruit salad to follow, and coffee and cognac. “What shall we do this afternoon?” Rosa asked
“Well, perhaps we could go back to the pool deck, and just chill,” he said.
“Yeah, and then we could go back to my suite and fuck!” Jon was shocked, and laughed nervously.
“Does that idea not appeal to you?” she asked
“Er, yes, but the way you said it was a sudden, wow!” he replied, “Let’s meet later and have dinner and see what happens,” he suggested.
“Okay,” she said, “but I still want sex!” she giggled.
“Well, perhaps you might be lucky later, who knows!” He’d never been propositioned in this un-subtle way before, but he would like to see her jewellery again, he was sure hers was the real thing.
He didn’t know how Rosa obtained his phone number, she must have asked at reception, “Hi honey, it’s sexy Rosa, dinner is being served in my suite at 7 o’clock, sharp. No need to dress, in fact, don’t wear anything!” she giggled.
“Okay,” Jon said, “but what will people think when I walk along the corridors?”
“They’ll think, wow!” she shouted, and hung up.
He arrived at her suite at exactly 7 o’clock, but was dressed in white slacks and a navy silk shirt. He knocked on the door which was ajar, and just opened slowly, he walked in and gasped at the sight that confronted him. Rosa was sitting naked at the table, apart from every piece of jewellery she owned, and a smile, “C’m in and undress!” she said.
He sat down and undressed but only to his ‘skimpies’, it was then that he noticed that Rosa was wearing a thong. “Well, at least we are partially dressed for dinner!” he said.
Her breasts were firm and proud, and the natural cleavage contained the necklace beautifully. Rosa lifted the covers on the dishes, lobster, caviar and a well tossed bowl of salad, and of course, strawberries and cream with two bottles of Chrystal champagne. The toast was to ‘cruising’ and they chinked glasses. The food was fantastic and they sat back in their chairs very, very well fed, and burst into laughter. “Have you ever done this before?” Rosa asked.
“Yes, dozens of times,” Jon replied, “in my dreams!”
Rosa giggled, the Crystal was going to her head, she stood and poured two brandies from a nearby table, “Now, let’s just relax and gather our strength for some very serious sex, okay?” Their sexual session lasted until midnight when the food and alcohol took it’s toll on their stamina and Rosa fell asleep. Jon could have done the evil deed there and then, but the timing was wrong, it would have to be nearer the end of the cruise. He looked at the gems, but strangely the black mist didn’t descend. He was sure that these diamonds were genuine and beautiful and he would soon have them. Oh yes, he thought, $150,000 worth, he couldn’t let them slip through his fingers, he would now work out how to do it without being suspected or caught. The next port of call was Algiers, which would be at midday today, good, he could spend some time with Hannah and possibly find out the provenance of her jewellery.
Algiers
A beautiful Moorish city, over-populated and very, very busy. The ship docked at ten o’clock in the morning with most of the passengers eager to disembark and go into the souks and casbahs to snap up souvenirs that after two weeks at home, would finish up in a cupboard and be forgotten. He saw Hannah in the queue to go ashore, but luckily she didn’t see him, today he wanted to be alone and not go ashore. After all, he lived in an Arab city and knew what going ashore would mean, ‘very cheap today for you sir-r-r’, ‘feel the quality sir-r-r’, ‘come into my shop and see my wonderful bargains sir-r-r’. No thank you, he thought, he was on the cruise for one reason and one reason only, diamonds, and to kill if need be. Every morning he had woken with diamonds on his mind, and the black mist descended. Only a few days to go and Rosa’s would be his.
Tangier
Another Arab/Moorish city and the same old souvenirs, statuettes, spices, outrageous shirts and other soon-to-be-forgotten garments, no thanks he thought, I’ll stay on board and enjoy some peaceful relaxation. He called Hannah and conveyed his thoughts to her.
“I’ve had enough sun for the time being,” she said, “and I feel the same about going ashore, let’s see what a half-empty ship has got to offer, see you for a coffee at eleven-ish in the coffee shop, okay?” she suggested. At the rendez-vous, Jon would take a good look at the large single stone rings, those babies must be real, he thought, this could be a double event!
Jon went into the shower in a very good mood, he was even singing. Afterwards he moved over to the wash basin, and on the steamed up mirror was the word ‘SOON’. His blood ran cold, he looked again and the glass was clear. His mood immediately changed, he dressed slowly, feeling inwardly sick, but he was too far down the road of damnation. There was no return and no repentance, he was the devil’s property now, only what was left of his life could be a consolation of wealth and luxury. He had no alternative but to carrry on killing and robbing, he would never be rid of this black mist and his hunger for diamonds and money and the devil.
He met Hannah as arranged, she looked marvellous, wearing a white silk self-patterned top and navy shorts, her slender legs were shapely and tanned, “Hi babe, why the long face?” she asked.
“Oh, nothing, I think the heat must be getting to me, now that the ship is half empty I may go for a swim in the pool later.”
“I’ll join you,” she said, “I feel the same, even 10 minutes after a cool shower, the humidity must be bursting the barometer.” They drank their coffee in silence, with Jon just staring at her rings, “They’re gorgeous aren’t they,” she said.
“Yes,” he said, “to die for!”
“2.9 carat matching stones that I bought from a dealer in Hatton Garden a few months ago and had them made into rings,” she told him. He smiled and thought perhaps he would be getting some of his old merchandise back! “40 grands worth,” she said, “I thought, I owe them to myself after all the hard work I’ve put in to the business. The necklace, the watch and the bracelet were what I managed to hang on to after the divorce, if my ex knew, he’d blow a gasket! He could spend many happy hours in a West End casino with a blonde bimbo with what they’re worth.”
Jon laughed, “He sounds like a bad man,” he said.
“Only when it came to gambling and young blondes with big tits and short skirts. He was very good looking, very charismatic, he could sell ice to the Eskimos, and I probably still love him, but as there were no children involved I decided enough was enough and severed all connections with him. Since he heard I’ve done well he wants us to get back together, no way, NO WAY!” she said, loudly, “ he’d only fritter it away. That’s enough of my life, tell me more about you.”
(Into Kieron mode) “I was born in Dublin and lived there until I was 20 and then came to London to seek my fortune. I lived with my sister, a successful private doctor, but then I started dealing in expensive cars thanks to a loan from her, and now I have a turnover of about two million a year,” he lied.
“What sort of expensive car?” she asked.
“Oh, the usual, Mercedes, BMW, Lexus, top range Range Rovers even the odd Bentley, in other words, anything over 30 grand,” he said, “I advertise them in good trade mags and papers.”
“A cut above a second hand car dealer then,” Hannah said.
“Yes, I suppose,” Jon agreed, “but no Fords, Toyotas, Renaults, Citroens etc., too cheap!”
“I’ve got a Renault Espace,” she said, with a serious look on her face, and then laughed, “it’s a very useful vehicle!”
“I’m sure it is,” he said, “but not for my customers!”
“Fuck off, you snob,” she laughed. That was the first time he had heard her swear. “Is the casino open during the day?” she asked.
“Let’s go and see,” he replied. They walked from the coffee shop through the mall to the casino, and to their surprise not only was it open, but there were quite a few midday punters. They managed to find two seats at the roulette table, Jon changed a $100 bill in to chips, Hannah changed 100 euros.
“I think I’ll go red and even block,” she said, putting 40 euros on the table.
“It’s going to be black and the odd block for me,” Jon said.
“Red, 24,” the croupier said.
&nb
sp; “Yes!” Hannah said, quite loudly, as her winnings were pushed on to the table and Jon’s chips were taken.
“Oh well,” he said, “I’ll try again.” He did and this time he won, not much but he would try and build up a pile. After about three hours they were running about level in their winnings, nearing $1000 each, “Not a bad afternoon’s work,” Jon said, as they cashed in their chips.
“We missed out on lunch,” Hannah said, “let’s go and eat, but only a sandwich or something, don’t want to spoil dinner.” Their next port of call was Gibraltar.
Gibraltar
Being British territory, Jon realised he had to be careful, and wore his wide brimmed fedora when he went ashore. It was well pulled down over his eyes, CCTV was probably used here because of the electronic, booze and jewellery stores. But one dire problem would be British TV possibly showing his face as being wanted for murder. Hannah and Jon walked into a ‘Brit’ pub for a well-earned cool drink, he spotted the TV set up on the wall above the bar, and positioned himself facing it and therefore barring Hannah’s view. He watched the screen intently, but thankfully he was now old news and his picture didn’t appear. “You don’t need your hat in here,” she said.