'He's not likely to turn down the idea, is he?'
'Not unless his ulcers are bothering him! Now look, you'd better tell me how you propose to work this. Won't your father be coming to see you off?'
'No. He had to fly to Sweden for a conference. Bicks - that's the chauffeur - is calling for me tomorrow afternoon, so if you could be here at four, we'll drive to Southampton together. When we get there I'll get rid of him and you can go on board. Then I'll come back to London.'
'You've thought of everything, haven't you?'
'I only got the idea when I saw you this evening. I'm not usually so quick or efficient.'
'Perhaps you haven't had the chance to be!' Jane looked round for her bag. 'I'll have to fly. If my editor agrees I've got to do my packing and—'
'Don't bother packing,' Janey interrupted. 'You can take my clothes. I don't suppose you've anything suitable for a cruise.' Janey came close. 'You won't let me down, will you?'
'Don't worry,' Jane grinned. 'This is my big scoop!'
Her words were echoed by Frank Preston when she put the proposition to him. Delighted that she had wangled herself aboard the S.S. Cambrian he did not inquire too closely how she had managed it.
'It's a certainty none of the other papers will have anyone on board, so you'll have an exclusive. Cable us as often as you can and give us the lowdown on what's going on.'
'Won't it be dangerous to cable you?'
'I'm sure you'll be able to fix something with the wireless operator. That'll be a piece of cake compared with the trouble you must have had fixing yourself on board ship!' He leaned across the desk and patted her arm. 'Good luck, Jane. If Dinky finds out who you are, you'll be needing it!'
Jogging home in the bus, Jane wondered why Frank Preston's praise had given her a feeling of guilt. Why should she feel guilty because she had wangled a chance to go on the cruise? She had not lied or stolen to achieve it - indeed she was doing somebody a good turn.
She was still uneasy when she arrived home, and going into the kitchen she put the casserole, which the 'daily' had prepared, in the oven. Luckily her father had not yet returned and she went into the living-room and dialled the Saville Hotel. What she had to say to Janey Belton did not take long, and she was pale and shaken when she replaced the receiver, wishing she could forget the heiress's impassioned pleas to change her mind and not let her down.
Yet though she wished there were some way she could help the girl, Jane's main feeling was one of relief in the knowledge that she had done the right thing.
But what would Frank Preston say? Much though she had disliked ringing Janey, it was nothing to the fear she felt when her editor's voice came on the other end of the line. As quickly as she could she explained that she was not going on the cruise after all.
How come it's fallen through?' he asked. 'When you left the office you seemed certain it was O.K. Do you need some more money as a bribe?'
'It's nothing like that,' Jane said quickly. 'It's just that I don't think it's ethical to go on the cruise and hide the fact that I'm a reporter. The passengers have paid a fortune for their privacy and—'
'Ethical!' The word exploded down the line. 'What's ethics got to do with it? Either you go on the cruise, or you look for another job!'
'But, Mr. Preston—
'It's my last word, Jane. This was the biggest chance of your career, and if you're willing to turn it down then you'd do better to find yourself a job on Kid.diewinks' Weekly'
The line went dead and she shakily replaced the receiver. Turning round, she saw her father in the doorway, and with an effort smiled at him.
'I didn't hear you come in, Dad. Caught any good crooks lately?'
'None worth mentioning.' Tom Berry removed his bowler and smoothed his forehead where the rim had left a red mark. 'I think I got more excitement on the beat than I do on this job.'
'You got less money too!'
'I know. But money isn't everything - if you'll forgive the clich6. The Metropolitan Insurance are a good firm, but it's not like working for the Yard.' He sniffed. 'Nice smell. I take it you haven't eaten yet?'
'No. I've only been in a few minutes. If you'd like to wash your hands and go into the dining-room I'll bring in the casserole.'
It was not until dinner was over and she and her father were sipping coffee that he asked her what had happened.
'I know something's up from the look on your face. Would I be wrong in assuming that a scoop's gone sour?'
'More than that,' she replied, and was glad their relationship was such that she could talk to him on equal terms. Trying to keep all emotion out of her voice, she told him what had happened.
'You'd have been a great help to Miss Belton if you had agreed to go,' he commented, as he stuffed tobacco into his pipe.
'Maybe so, but helping her would have meant letting down everybody else. I don't hold any brief for Dinky Howard, but the passengers go on his cruise in good faith.'
'If it's a question of good faith, then you're in the wrong job. I told you so when you went to work for that rag.'
'That "rag", as you call it, gives millions of people the news in a way they can understand,' Jane protested. 'Not everybody finds it easy to read The Times!'
'I won't argue with you about that. But I did warn you that ethics and the Morning Star don't go hand in hand.' Her father blew out a cloud of smoke. 'Beats me why Stephen Drake wanted to buy the Morning Star. It isn't as though he needs the money. His other interests bring in a fortune.'
'But they're all high class. Maybe he feels he's done a good thing in bringing the news to Mr. and Mrs. Average.'
'Mr. and Mrs. Moron, more likely,' her father grunted. 'There's no doubt—'
The ringing of the telephone cut him short and he picked it up. While he was talking Jane went into the kitchen to replenish their coffee cups, and by the time she returned her father was puffing at his pipe again.
'That cruise we were just discussing,' he said. 'Would you still be able to change your mind about it?'
'I should think so. Why?'
'Because I'd like you to ring Miss Belton and tell her you're willing to go.'
Jane stared at her father in astonishment. 'What's happened to all those ethics you were talking about a moment ago?'
'They still stand,' came the reply. 'Originally you were going on the cruise for the wrong reason; now I'm asking you to go for the right one.' Tom Berry stood up and began to pace the room. 'To have you on the Cambrian is the chance of a lifetime. It's the sort of thing that happens in T.V. serials, never in real life. When Marshall just told me…'
Her father's voice trailed away, and Jane's curiosity mounted, for Dennis Marshall was a senior executive on the security side of the Metropolitan Insurance Company.
'You're making it sound very intriguing, Dad, but I've no intention of telling Janey or Mr. Preston that I've changed my mind unless you give a good reason for my doing so.'
'Would the Lorenz Diamond be a good enough reason?'
Jane's eyes widened. The stealing of the forty-carat diamond had hit the headlines of every paper less than a fortnight ago.
'You're not trying to tell me that it's on the ship?'
'That's exactly what I am trying to tell you. Unfortunately we don't know who's got it - only that it will be on board. According to our information it's being smuggled to Greece.'
'Pity your information couldn't tell you who was doing the smuggling.'
Her father sighed. 'Our informant is in the London Hospital at the moment - with his skull cracked. It's touch and go if he'll ever recover consciousness.'
Jane moistened her lips. 'I take it that it wasn't an accident?'
'No, it wasn't.'
'Even so, if you at least know the diamond will be on board, why don't you plant a detective there to keep watch on everyone?'
'Because Mr. Howard would refuse to allow us. The last thing in the word he wants is this sort of notoriety.'
'Why not send someon
e in the crew, or even as a passenger?'
'We've thought of that, but there isn't time. All the crew are hand-picked and there's no vacancy for another passenger. I suggested to Marshall that he tried to get one of the existing passengers to do a bit of snooping for us, but he won't hear of it Insurance companies have to be very discreet.'
Jane grinned. 'I can imagine what the Morning Star editorial would say about it if they found out.'
'Exactly. That's why, when Marshall just rang and told me that the jewel was going to be on the Cambrian, I realized what a godsend this set-up of yours could be. You're the ideal person, Jane. You're intelligent, you know how to keep your eyes open, and besides that, no one will dream of suspecting Janey Belton of working for anyone except herself!'
The doorbell rang, and before Jane could answer it, her father was already in the hall. A moment passed and he came back holding a small parcel.
'When I told Marshall about your going on the cruise, he said you should have a look at this,' he told her.
'You took it for granted I'd change my mind, didn't you?'
'Naturally. I'm not interested in your story for the Morning Star, nor in helping the love life of a silly girl. But the Lorenz Diamond is worth a quarter of a million pounds and we've got to get it back.'
As he spoke he opened the parcel and took out a gold coin.
He put it on the palm of his hand and held it out for his daughter to see.
She stared down at it, intrigued by the strangely fashioned letter 'L' embossed on one side.
'What is it?' she asked.
'I suppose you could call it a talisman. The gang that carried out this job regarded it as their membership card. If you find the person on board who carries a coin like this, you'll be half-way to helping us find the diamond.'
'And what do I do if I do find them? Lock them in a cupboard and dial 999?'
Her father frowned. 'This isn't a joking matter, Jane. If you discover anything at all, tell the Captain at once. He'll know what to do. But on no account do anything on your own. If anything should happen to you…'
'Don't worry, Dad, I was only teasing. I'm sorry.' She took another careful look at the medallion. 'It's horrible to think that a lump of carbon can cause men to steal.'
'And murder,' her father reiterated. 'I doubt very much whether Hawton will recover.'
'If he does say anything else, will you let me know?'
'Of course. I'll cable you even if it's just the thinnest of clues. Every single bit of information you have to go on will be of help.' He lit his pipe again and settled back in his chair. 'Incidentally, no one must know what you're up to.'
'How can they? I'm going as an heiress.'
'I know that. But even if your real identity is found out - that you're a reporter, I mean - you mustn't tell a soul you're doing this job for us. It could be dangerous for you. Very dangerous.'
Although Jane thought her father was being over-serious she did not say so, and picking up the telephone dialled the number of the Morning Star and asked to be put through to the Features Editor.
'Mr. Preston,' she said in a voice shaking with suppressed excitement, 'it's Jane Berry here. I wanted to tell you I've changed my mind. I'm willing to go on the cruise after all… Yes, you were quite right. There's nothing more important than getting a good story.'
CHAPTER TWO
At four o'clock the following day Jane entered the suite occupied by the Belton heiress, and from the look of relief which flooded Janey's face it was obvious that until this moment she had experienced some doubt as to whether Jane would arrive at all.
'Thank goodness you've come,' she exclaimed. 'We must leave at once.' She thrust out a bunch of keys. 'You'd better take care of these from now on. There's no point arriving on board with a hundred dresses and no way of getting at them!'
Chattering excitedly, she led the way down in the lift and crossed the lobby to the entrance where a maroon and silver Rolls-Royce was waiting for them. As the car glided through the traffic Jane felt for the first time that her adventure was beginning, and she sat erect in the car and tilted her head imperiously as they passed a queue of people waiting for a bus. She was aware of envious and admiring glances and she suppressed a grin. So this was how the rich lived; there was a great deal to be said for it!
Janey fumbled in her bag and took out a bundle of letters. 'You'd better keep these too. They're the ones I've written to Dad. I've arranged them in date order, so all you need to do is to post them when you stop at a port. And you'd better take these as well.' She held out a passport and some travellers' cheques, but Jane shook her head.
'I've got my own passport and money, thanks.'
'Don't be silly. You can't use your own passport. You've got to take mine whether you like it or not.'
Secretly glad that no matter what she did to break the law it could easily be rectified by her father, Jane put the passport in her handbag.
'I won't take the cheques, though,' she said. 'If I start forging your signature I really will begin to feel like a criminal.'
'All right.' The younger girl put the money away. 'If you want me for anything you can get in touch with me at my cousin's place - 1845 Park Street, Mayfair. But don't write unless you have to.' She stretched her arms above her head in a gesture of victory. 'I still can't believe it's happened. Can you imagine Ted's face when he finds out I'm still in England?'
Watching the young, wilful face in front of her, Jane wondered what sort of man Ted could be to bring such a look of happiness and vulnerability to it.
'What's he like?' she asked softly.
Janey smiled. 'You probably wouldn't give him a second look. He's not good-looking or sophisticated, but he's terribly kind.'
Jane was surprised that a girl of nineteen could rate kindness as the most important asset for a man. 'Not that it isn't,' she admitted to herself, but most of her contemporaries wanted something far more exciting than kindness!
'I suppose you've been in love dozens of times?' Janey asked. 'You must meet lots of men in your job.'
'Most of them are married. Not that that stops them from getting ideas! But thank goodness I've never fallen for one of them yet.'
"Don't you want to get married, or would you rather be a career girl?'
'There's no reason why the two can't go hand in hand,' Jane replied with some asperity. 'As it happens I've just not met anyone with whom I'd like to spend the rest of my life.'
She thought fleetingly of the many men she had dated in the past few years. Gay and amusing though most of them had been, none of them had engendered that extra rapport she considered so essential in a lasting relationship. Yet maybe she wasn't the sort of person ever to find a real relationship with anyone? The thought was so disquieting that she pushed it to the back of her mind, angry with herself for allowing Janey's happiness to infect her in this way.
'Let's not talk about me any more,' she said. 'I'm supposed to be you, and I'd better know all the thing's you've got up to in the past few years.'
'It's all in the press cuttings. You should have read them.'
'I did! But there are still more facts I'd like to know. What are your favourite foods, for example, and what's your taste in music and art and literature?'
'I've got no taste in anything,' came the answer. 'I'm a nothing personality! Dad never gave me the chance to develop, and expensive boarding schools don't encourage you to be anything other than a conformist. So your task isn't difficult. Jane. Just be ordinary!'
It was six o'clock when they arrived at Southampton Docks and drew up at the quay where the's.s. Cambrian was moored. A flock of white-coated stewards waited to greet the passengers, and within a moment of Janey's cases being unloaded, they were cleared through the Customs and taken on board.
'Don't bother to wait,' the heiress instructed her chauffeur.
'I'd like to see you on board, miss,' he replied. 'Your father instructed me to do so.'
'Don't be stuffy, Bicks! Miss Ber
ry's here and she'll make sure I don't run away.'
The man touched his cap, and returned to the car.
'I hope your father won't blame him for all this,' Jane murmured.
'Dad would never sack Bicks. He's the only chauffeur who can stick him!' She grinned at Jane. 'I've five minutes to catch the London train and I'll just do it. I'll see you when you come back. I know you'll have a wonderful time and I'm sure you won't regret it.'
'I hope not,' Jane answered, and watched as the girl threaded her way through the crowds and disappeared towards the station. Then with a deep breath she walked up the gangplank and, handing over her passport and tickets, stepped on board.
The moment she did so she seemed to be in another world; a floating planet where luxury was taken for granted. Two stewards stepped forward; one took her bag and holdall, the other her coat, then they escorted her up a flight of stairs to the main deck and down a panelled corridor carpeted in red. Half-way along they stopped and, unlocking a door, ushered her into a stateroom whose magnificence took her breath away. Just in time she bit back an exclamation of delight; it would never do for the Belton heiress to be overawed by her surroundings.
'The far door leads into the bathroom,' one of the stewards said, 'and those two bells by your bed should give you all the service you require. One is for your personal maid and the other for the steward. The phone will connect you to any other part of the world.'
The door closed behind them and, left alone, Jane allowed her curiosity full vent. How stupid to have expected an ordinary ship's cabin! This room was even larger than her bedroom at home, and its fittings more worthy of a palace than a ship.
Taking off her coat, she flung it on the marble-topped table and sank down on the small love seat placed near the porthole. The scent from a basket of flowers on the dressing- table tickled her nostrils, and from sheer excitement she jumped up again and pirouetted round the room. 'It's the opportunity of a lifetime, Jane Berry,' she told herself, and then caught her breath. She was Jane Berry no longer. She was Janey Belton, and she had better become used to thinking of herself in this way.
'I'm Janey Belton,' she whispered aloud. 'My father's head of Belton's Bakeries and I'm worth a million. I'm used to mink and diamonds, and I'm bored to death with smoked salmon and caviare!'
Rachel Lindsay - Moonlight and Magic Page 2