Counterpoint

by John Day

  Apart from the obvious head trauma, it looks like he died from a massive heart attack. That is what his death certificate shows. It also transpires the oxygen content of his blood was extremely low; he was suffering from hypoxia, most likely from being in the tomb for so long. The condition would have impaired his judgement and reasoning, so perhaps he was running from something in his imagination, straight into the end wall of the tunnel. Anyway, the body will be brought back to Italy for cremation.

  Lastly, thank you both for all your efforts; the mission has gone well so far. Take a couple of days there to recover and we will arrange to get you home.”

  Relieved, Carla and Max said goodbye to Sam and ended the call.

  Chapter - Mistaken identity.

  By the time Philippe and his remaining men landed at Malé, news of the helicopter and its two occupants was all over the town, though nobody knew where they had gone. In case Max and Carla had gone into hiding in the town, Philippe’s men prowled around on the lookout.

  It was not long before one of the men noticed Amy as she did a bit of shopping. The men followed her back to the yacht. Philippe felt sure his man had made a mistake, but went along and checked it out, anyway. From a distance, Philippe saw Amy for himself, thinking it was Carla. He found it hard to believe Carla would be so blatant as to remain in the town, but then she was a cunning little vixen, perhaps she thought this would be the safest place, right under his nose, hiding in plain sight.

  He closed in on her with his men nearby. No doubt about it, it was Carla all right, he thought.

  Amy boarded David’s yacht and went below to prepare lunch. Philippe waited for a while, looking around him for some sort of trap. Eventually, he quietly boarded with his men. Amy and David looked up in astonishment as first legs, then the body and finally Philippe’s head came into view, as he descended the steps into the lounge.

  David spoke first, indignantly demanding to know who he was. Philippe’s reply was to hold his gun at David’s head, as he came face to face with Amy. She looked at Philippe squarely, a hostile expression on her face, he had seen that look before when Carla shot Vincent in the runaway Mercedes. Philippe thought he had at last caught up with Carla, but she was a cool customer though, almost as though she had never seen him before. “What do you want?” She demanded, staring Philippe down. Amazing bluff, HELL she acts as if she does not know me. A flash of doubt crept into his mind, it went just as quickly; there was no mistake this was Carla.

  “I have caught up with you at last, my darling daughter. I want the statuette, and then I will pay you back for all the trouble and pain you have caused me.” He turned and pointed at the disfigured side of his face.

  Defiantly she stood her ground and said, “Firstly, I am no daughter of yours, you homicidal freak and I don’t know anything about a statuette.”

  Pent up rage swept through Philippe, and he lashed out at her. Quick though, he was, his temper spoilt his swing, and she instinctively, threw up an arm to counter it. She kicked high at his face, and he countered that. The next instant she turned and ran into the toilet, locking the door behind her. Reaching up, she released the skylight catches, opening it fully. As Philippe battered the door down, Amy lithely climbed out on the deck. Three men advanced towards her along the deck, cutting off her escape to the jetty.

  There were crowds of people about, so she screamed for help. The men and Philippe ran off into the crowd.

  “What was all that about?” She said to David.

  “I don’t know why you’re asking me?” He said, “It was you, they were after.”

  “Perhaps they were after Carla?” She said. “And what did he mean by saying, I was his daughter?”

  “I don’t know!” Repeated David; “I think we better get the police.”

  The police came but could not throw any light on the event. They did mention the attack on the Ocean Raider though, so Amy decided to say nothing more until she had spoken to Carla.

  She called Carla and told her what had happened. Carla said she would contact her again when she got back from Egypt, but in the meantime, Amy must get police protection.

  Chapter - Amy’s romance.

  Early next morning, crew from Ocean Raider towed the launch belonging to Geoff Collins (alias Stan Peters), to the nearest shore and beached it. They then returned and the ship weighed anchor, making for the nearest facility that could repair the damage caused by the shooting. It was here that Geoff Collins slipped ashore unnoticed. Whilst on board, he had heard about the message from Sam to Max and their imminent return to Italy from Egypt. Italy was a big place, and he needed to find out where they would go. His only lead was Amy, on the yacht at Malé. He set off at once back to his Hotel in Malé to change his clothes and pick up some money and equipment. Next, he looked for the yacht that Amy and David used; it was still there.

  He spent the rest of the day loitering and listening to the conversation between Amy and David as they went over the attack. Collins guessed the person they referred to was his adversary, who tried to board the Ocean Raider. Later he heard Amy refer to the statuette, and wanted to know what the attacker was referring when he demanded it back. He also heard David mention Max and Carla, and their imminent return from Egypt. Collins was now extremely pleased with himself. He was back on track already, all he needed to know was where to find Max and Carla.

  That night, Amy and David went out to dinner. Collins went on board and planted three electronic bugs in key places on the yacht. Now all he had to do was listen, and wait.

  Next morning he heard a mobile phone ring on the yacht, it was Carla calling Amy. She had invited the two of them back to her home in Rubiana, Northern Italy and said she could meet them from the airport if they told her what flight they could get. David said he wanted to stay with his yacht so Amy must go on her own. After a brief row, Amy booked her flight and confirmed the details to Carla. Collins smirked as he muttered to himself, “On a plate, they give it to me on a plate!”

  Collins booked a ticket on the same flight and continued surveillance in case there were any last minute changes. The following day Amy made her way to the airport, dragging her very large pair of suitcases behind her. The row between her and David had developed to the extent she was leaving him, though she did not want to say so to his face. She had packed everything she owned in the cases. She knew it would not be long before she met some other man, and if necessary, use him as a stepping-stone to a better life.

  The man in the water taxi dumped her baggage on the jetty and burbled away to his next fare. Amy orientated herself to the airport, braced herself, and heaved the cases along behind her.

  A deep and pleasant voice called out to her from behind. She stopped and turned to face the man. He was immaculately dressed, shaved head, a craggy face, probably in his early Fifties and physically, supremely fit. He looked like a man of authority, wise and quick-witted, his warm smile made her feel at ease.

  He offered to help her with her cases.

  No harm in that; saves me lugging them around, she thought.

  “That’s very kind of you,” she said in her best posh voice. He whisked them onto a trolley, placing his small bag on top.

  “My name is Geoff Collins, I’m going to Turin Caselle Airport,” he said.

  “Oh!” Said Amy, “So am I, hope we will be on the same flight. It will be delightful to have someone friendly to talk to.”

  Still chatting away, they booked in together and then went for coffee in the departure lounge.

  Amy found Geoff so easy to talk to, it was just as if she had always known him. She skilfully explored his situation and circumstances. She was delighted to discover he was unattached, and had a successful company manufacturing high-tech medical equipment. Apparently, he had business to attend to in Italy, and then planned a break, exploring the area for several weeks.

  “It gets better and better,” thought Amy.

  Collins listened attentively to Amy and appeared intensely absorbed i
n what she was saying, but he was actually looking out for the tall man who had been following Amy, ever since she got off the water taxi. The man had no luggage, but joined the check-in queue behind her and disappeared to make a mobile phone call when his turn came to check-in, now he had disappeared.

  Collins might have done something similar himself, if he was following someone, and wanted to know more about them and their destination. He supposed it was his adversary or one of his henchmen, reporting back and arranging a tail at the other end of the flight.

  Wilson, the tall man Collins had spotted, had made his report to Philippe. The girl believed to be Carla was indeed going to Turin Caselle Airport as expected. Philippe had already gone ahead to follow her back to the hideaway where she lived. Once he knew where she was, he could deal with her in the comfort of her own home and not only retrieve the statuette, but probably the Project Oracle, as well.

  Geoff Collins and Amy became extremely close friends on the flight, and exchanged mobile phone numbers so they could keep in contact, after they landed, then went their separate ways. If possible, they planned to meet up again at the earliest opportunity. Amy apologised for not being able to say exactly where she was staying, explaining she would be met at the airport by her sister, then taken back to her sister’s home in the mountains.

  Geoff mentioned he was in no better position because he had not booked anywhere yet. Amy seized the opportunity and invited him back with her; she was certain Carla would not mind.

  She was disappointed when Geoff said he could not stay with her just yet, because of his business commitments, and thought it was just an excuse to stop seeing her. Geoff, on the other hand, wanted to find out where Carla lived, but did not want to be recognised by her or Max. He would spring his surprise meeting with Carla when it suited him.

  Geoff slipped away for a few minutes at the baggage carousel to order a taxi, arranging for it to meet him at the airport. He took the registration number and agreed where to find it. He planned to follow Amy to Carla’s home.

  With the excuse that his bag had not circulated yet, he said goodbye to Amy. He kissed her gently on her cheek, gave a warm smile and a lingering look, deep into her blue eyes.

  Amy set off alone, through Customs, to find Carla in the arrivals hall. Geoff hung back out of sight; bag in hand.

  The two girls met, they were more than sisters, he thought; they were identical twins. Max was there as well dealing with cases. Geoff was surprised when they went through to another section of the airport and not to a taxi or to the car park.

  They made their way to a waiting helicopter.

  “Damn!” He swore to himself. He had not anticipated that, never mind he still had a good line of contact with Amy, but noted the index number of the aircraft just in case.

  Geoff made his way to the nearest luxury hotel with the help of his taxi driver.

  Amy was a bit awestruck when she boarded the private helicopter; she had never flown in one before.

  Amy deliberately selected the best labels to travel in, to show Carla she had style. Carla chose to dress down today, hoping to make Amy feel more relaxed and welcome, knowing the private helicopter ride, the Duke’s home in the mountains, and her hideaway, would be rather intimidating.

  Max looked his usual self, smart but casual, perhaps a slightly older style would have been more appropriate for his age though, Amy thought. She admitted to herself that she fancied Max a lot, but Geoff was much better and more important, available.

  When they reached the private helicopter, Amy was feeling a bit overwhelmed and wondered with whom she was getting involved. Still the novelty of her first helicopter flight got her through the moment of anxiety. Carla explained to Amy that the helicopter belonged to her employer, and so did the house in the mountains. Amy felt much better about things and relaxed into girly conversation, happy to bask in the reflected glory of it all.

  Carla checked with the Office that both car and chauffeur were still available, and they were.

  “We are going to scrounge a lift from here to my little hideaway,” explained Carla, after they had landed at the Duke’s home, then made their way to the underground garage. The Duke’s Rolls took them down the mountain into the Town. Understandably, Amy became apprehensive when it drove towards a security gate, and then apparently, into a warehouse. She expected a normal house somewhere in town.

  Carla seldom had the opportunity to show off her home, it was a closely guarded secret, but she loved the look of amazement when her guests saw it.

  The contrast of a dark warehouse on one side of the door and the wonderland lit garden, and character brick house on the other, inside another building, was unexpected. Amy was wide-eyed and open-mouthed as she entered the entrance hall of the house; she was speechless until she saw the statuette on the table. The spot lighting lit it to the best possible effect. It sparkled and glowed like a living thing.

  “So this must be the statuette that man wanted,” she murmured. “No wonder he wanted it back!” Amy said, turning to Carla, “You know; David was so upset about his toilet door being broken down, he didn’t seem to care about what might have happened to me. If only he could see this!”

  "Come on in," said Max, “Maria has laid tea for us.”

  “You have a maid as well?” Gasped Amy, “What do you do all day? No! Don’t tell me, I can guess by Max’s grin.”

  “Actually, we are hardly ever here, we are busy most of the time in different parts of the world,” said Max.

  “You have never said what you actually do for a living?” Questioned Amy. “Never mind all that,” said Carla, deflecting warmly. “Let’s settle you in and then have a good conversation about everything. There are many things you will want to know and what we do, won’t interest you, really.”

  Chapter - An unwanted parent.

  “Well!” Said Amy after tea, “What have you two got me into, why did that man come on David’s yacht and demand I gave him back the statuette?”

  Carla looked at Max; he spoke first. “From your description I believe the man was a villain called Philippe. Carla and I were instructed to obtain the statuette from an agent in Sri Lanka, taking it through customs, all perfectly legal I might add, and deliver it to another agent. We did all this, but somehow Philippe intercepted the second agent and tried to take it from him. I fitted a tracking device to the container of the artefact and managed to recover it from a crashed helicopter, in the Indian jungle. Philippe turned up there just as I was leaving and tried to kill me, and take it from me. I got lucky and escaped. No one knows to whom it belongs; every part of the transaction was untraceable so we could not return it. Carla is now the undisputed owner; I gave it to her as a token of my love.” Carla smiled and squeezed his hand.

  Amy took in everything Max said and was far from satisfied. “So why did this Philippe pick on me?”

  “I believe he thought you were me,” continued Carla. “Had I known he would pick on you, I would have warned you, you were extremely lucky to have escaped with your life, actually. Rest assured, you are safe here.”

  “What happens when I leave here?” Demanded Amy. “He could track me down, and I might not be so lucky next time.”

  “Max and I have discussed this, and we plan to let him have the statuette in return for his word not to pursue any of us, for things that have happened in the past.” Max looked slightly surprised and shot an inquiring glance at Carla. She flashed a quick smile back and said, “I hope you will feel safe now Amy.”

  “Well, yes, if he agrees! When will this all take place?”

  “I will make arrangements tomorrow,” said Carla. “What about the damage to the man’s face persisted Amy?”

  “Well, he tried to kill me, so I had to take desperate measures. He came off worse.”

  “Oh come on!” Sneered Amy “I’m not daft! How could you beat a professional killer like him, I know what he’s like, I’ve met him.”

  “Well, you escaped, didn’t you?” Carla
reasoned.

  “That’s different; I had the help of members of the public on my side.”

  “We both had good luck on our side!” Carla suggested.

  Carla knew Amy would not be satisfied with less than the truth. She explained that Tim had cocked up a deal involving the large transaction of money and because he died, Philippe came after her to get it back. She carried on with the story from where the Mercedes entered the tunnel and how Philippe almost had the drop on her, but had to regain control of the car first. The car crashed, and he lost the side of his face in the accident. Carla walked away unhurt because she was wearing a seat belt.

  It all sounded plausible to Amy, so she let the matter drop. “What did this Philippe mean when he referred to me as my daughter?” Asked Amy

  “I think we had better clear up some other matters first,” said Max. “Firstly, you and Carla are twins. I had a hair of yours compared with one of Carla’s and the DNA matches exactly.”

  Carla looked at Amy. The tears welled up in her eyes as she reached out and pulled an astonished Amy close to her. Both girls hugged tightly and burst into tears of joy.

  Max felt so pleased to see them together, their deep emotion got to him, and he wiped tears from his eyes before they noticed. It was a while before the girls’ regained composure and could talk again.

  Both girls felt sure Lana had been their mother and were keen to swap their personal knowledge of Lana to build a better picture in their minds. They decided to talk with Sam Leighton in the morning, to find out what he knew, and if the Duke had any records they could look at.

  “Do you think Philippe could be our father?” Asked Amy. The question fell like a tray of the best crystal glass on a marble floor. Both Carla and Max refused to entertain the possibility. No man, even an evil bastard like Philippe could father such beautiful girls, and be prepared to hurt or kill them, without the slightest qualm. Surely, he would have known Lana was pregnant if he were the father, even if no one else did. The Duke was the only real possibility.