High Water

by Douglas Reeman

  wall.

  'And what were you conspiring about?' he chuckled.

  'I asked him if he knew where I could get some sandals. He said there's a place by the harbour entrance, so I can walk there in my bare feet!' Her eyes shone brightly. `I can get you a bucket and spade at the same time!'

  He waited while she went below to `powder her nose', as she put it, and Cooper walked softly over to him, brushing furiously at his jacket.

  `Looks as if I've slept in it!' he muttered bitterly. `What are you going to do now?' His eyes were sharp and watchful.

  `Well, I've got some shopping to do,' said Vivian casually. `I suppose you'll be off to London to break the news to Mason, eh?'

  Cooper rubbed his chin. `Guess I'll 'phone him, and tell him what's happened. He's not going to like it, though.'

  `He'll like it even less when Mr. Jensen closes up the beautiful partnership,' said Vivian grimly. `He doesn't like being led up the garden. Any more than I do.'

  Cooper's face darkened. `I hope he doesn't do anything hasty, we've been kinda depending on him.'

  `Well, that's all finished,' he snapped.

  Cooper shrugged. `I'm off, then.' He beckoned to Morrie, who was gazing up at the facts of the holiday-makers who were admiring the yacht. 'C'mon, bonehead! We've got work to do!'

  The big man didn't even glance at Vivian, and his eyes were dull, almost unseeing.

  Vivian shuddered. What a pair, he mused.

  `I'm ready!' The girl was at his side, smiling at him. She had discarded her jacket, and her blouse made her look cool and carefree.

  With his hand on her arm, he guided her through the jostling throng. When they reached the end of the outer harbour, they stopped, and looked back at the graceful, white hull, dwarfed by the rough stonework. Her sides glistened, and the reflected lights dappled the boat with gold. She squeezed his hand. `Dear little Seafox. She has looked after us very well.'

  They bought the sandals from a shop festooned with holiday-wear, postcards, and Ramsgate rock, and when she had slipped them on to her dainty feet, they made their way to a secluded 'phone box.

  He squeezed in beside her, her closeness making him feel excited once more, but he forced himself to think calmly, as he sorted out the correct money for the call.

  `Don't forget, Karen, tell him everything that's happened, but speak in Danish. We want to be sure that this is for his ears alone.'

  They waited patiently, while the line buzzed and clicked, and then, all at once, she was speaking, and although he couldn't understand what was being said, he could tell from the exclamations from the other end of the line, that Nils Jensen was more than relieved to hear from his niece again.

  She spoke quickly and carefully, the soft words rolling off her tongue like music, and occasionally, she would pause, as the old man asked her a question.

  She covered the mouthpiece. `He wants to know when we are going back to London,' she whispered. `He is very angry about the things Mason has been doing.'

  `Tell him you'll come back today. I can hire a car, it'll be quicker.'

  `Jeg rejser til London idag,' she said, nodding her head, as if in answer to her uncle.

  Vivian tapped her arm. `Tell him to warn Felix of what's going on,' he said quickly. `The poor chap won't know what to say to Mason otherwise!'

  He'll be as relieved as I am when this is over, he thought, it can't have been any fun, sitting in an office listening to all sorts of rumours.

  He was aware of two indignant holiday-makers queuing impatiently outside the box.

  `Come on, Karen,' he grinned. `We're holding up the works!'

  `Jeg kan ikke kornme igen, Yils! Fartvel!' And with a laugh, she put down the 'phone.

  They were still laughing, as they stepped out into the bright street.

  `He said to thank you for looking after me,' she said a length.

  `I think it was the other way about,' he answered feelingly.

  They passed a shady public house, which was displaying a discreet menu, and he stopped. `Come on, let's have a drink to celebrate.'

  'What shall we celebrate, Philip?' She was mocking him, her face impish.

  `To celebrate my finding you,' his voice was so sincere, and warm, that she reached up and kissed him quickly on the cheek.

  He flushed. `That does it! I'll buy you the best lunch we can get, too!'

  After the meal, which they scarcely noticed, so wrapped up in each other were their thoughts and hearts, they wandered hand in hand down to the harbour, Karen clutching a paper parcel, containing a bathing suit, which she had bought on the way, and Vivian happily puffing at a new pipe. Her present to him.

  Without the two other men, Seofox seemed friendlier, and more intimate, as they climbed aboard.

  `I'll go and put on my costume,' she announced. `You get yours, and we will have a lovely swim, before we go back to the grime of London!'

  `We can go out in the dinghy!' Her happiness was infectious, and he felt like the air itself. `We can be alone for a bit then.'

  He slipped into his swimming trunks, and padded on deck, humming to himself, as he swung the dinghy over the side, and flexing his broad shoulders iii the sun, feeling the warmth seeping into his body. He lowered himself over the side, and sat back in the small boat, watching the slow movement of people along the wall, and listening to the gulls screaming for tit-bits.

  A shadow crossed the dinghy, and he looked up. The next instant he was sitting bolt upright, his mouth dry, as he saw Karen walking lightly down the yacht's side deck. In the pale blue costume, with the sun caressing her young limbs, she walked with an unselfconscious grace, her skin more golden than brown, and her beauty accentuated to one of breathtaking perfection.

  As he helped her down into the swaying boat, her hands rested lightly on his arms for support, and he felt the gentle curve of her breast touch him for a brief moment, which filled him with a wild yearning, and the ache of desire.

  For a full second they stood motionless in the tilting dinghy, their eyes full on each other. Her lips twitched, and she smiled shyly.

  `I think we had better get started, Philip, before a crowd gathers!'

  Once clear of the harbour, the little boat seemed like a tiny island, intimate and private, and the crowded beaches, which jumped and shimmered in the heat haze, were part of another world.

  The boat rocked, as Vivian stood up, and as if in response to a silent signal, they both dived over the gunwale, and were soon gliding and diving in the clear water.

  Once, as she seized his ankle, and tried to duck him beneath the surface, he rolled over on his back, and burst up beside her, like a dolphin, and together they floundered in the trough of a wave, laughing, and so aware of each other.

  It was with silent regret that Vivian rowed slowly back towards the harbour, while Karen sat quietly, dabbing at her hair with a towel, her face thoughtful and slightly sad.

  `Cheer up!' he smiled, with a gaiety he did not feel, `it'll soon be all right now.'

  `I know, Philip. It's just that all this has been so wonderful today. Like ... like . . .' she groped for the words, `like the beginning of a new life.'

  He leaned on the oars, as the boat floated gently across the harbour towards Seafox. Like a mermaid, he thought, as she combed the dampness from her long hair.

  `Ahoy there! Mr. Vivian!'

  He jumped, as the booming voice rang out from the harbour wall, shattering his thoughts. He saw the harbourmaster waving down to them.

  `Telephone call for you, in my office!'

  Vivian sighed, and grimaced at the girl. `Here we go! I expect that'll be Felix ringing up now!'

  They climbed up on to the yacht, feeling heavy with the sun and the swimming.

  `Where's the 'phone?'

  `You've got a long walk,' chuckled the harbourmaster. `The call's come through to the main offices, by the harbour entrance!' He gestured with his head. `You want to tell your friends to be more thoughtful!' He walked away, laughing to himsel
f.

  `Blast!' muttered Vivian. `I'd better get up there quick, before the line gets cut off, or something.' And he dived below, pulling on his shirt, and a pair of drill trousers over his damp costume.

  `I think I'll sit on deck and wait for you, Philip. I can dry my hair while you're away.'

  He smiled at her, his eyes warm. `Shan't be long.'

  `Philip!' Her voice stopped him with one foot in midair, reaching for the ladder, and he turned, his face questioning.

  `What's up?' he asked.

  She crossed quickly to his side, then she halted, one hand resting on his arm.

  `It's nothing,' and she shook her head. 'I just had a strange feeling, that's all,' and she shivered, as if cold.

  `Well, I'll wait for you,' he smiled, but his eyes were anxious. `We can walk up together.'

  `No, really, I'm all right now. It was silly!' And she lowered her face, rubbing her cheek against his shoulder. `But hurry back!'

  He laughed. 'Before you can say "Skal"!' And he swung up the ladder to the wall, feeling the stones hot through the soles of his shoes.

  He found the office without much difficulty, although the effort of forcing his body against a steady stream of holidaymakers had left him slightly breathless. The telephone lay waiting on the desk, and giving him a nod, the uniformed official strolled out of the office, banging the door behind him.

  Vivian snatched up the instrument. 'Hallo, Vivian speaking!'

  `Oh, er, good,' the dry voice crackled in his ear, `I'm glad you found the time to come!'

  Vivian frowned at the mouthpiece. `Who is that speaking? And what d'you want?'

  There was a soft laugh. `Don't recognize me, eh? I'm surprised; after all, the last time we met, you threatened me, remember?'

  'Mason!' Vivian was breathing fast. 'Well, you're wasting your time. It's finished, washed up!'

  `Just a minute!' The voice became sharper, and more urgent. `I want you to listen to me, just for a moment. So please don't hang up!'

  `Well all right, but make it snappy!' answered Vivian testily.

  `When you've listened to what I have to say, you'll be glad, I promise you.'

  `All right, I said I was listening, but don't try making any more deals. You know what I'm talking about!'

  `Well, listen carefully.' The voice hardened. `The plates. The ones that our mutual friend wanted to get rid of. I want them!'

  I'll bet you do, thought Vivian. So Jensen had told Mason off already, had he.

  `Are you listening?'

  `Yes, but I don't see why you're telling me all this.'

  `Oh, you will, you will, I promise you! As I said, I want them. There is no point in wasting this golden chance of making money, now is there?'

  `Look, will you come to the point?' Vivian snapped impatiently.

  `All right, but just hang on for a second, I just have to look out of the window.'

  Vivian fumed, as the receiver clicked in his ear. Blasted fool! he muttered to himself.

  `Right!' The voice was sharp, and, Vivian thought, eager. `This is what I want you to do.' He paused, his breath rasping harshly. `I want you to get the plates for me! And bring them to a place which we will decide later. All right?'

  `Is that what you wanted to ask me?' Vivian stared at the mouthpiece in amazement. `You're crazy! I told you what I....'

  `Wait!' It was a command. `Get them! Or, to put it bluntly, your little girl friend will get a rather unpleasant time!'

  `You try to lay a hand on her, and I'll fix you for good!' His voice shook with rage.

  `Another threat?' The line buzzed with his laughter. `We have laid our hands on her!' And as Vivian didn't answer: `That's what I went to the window for. I was waiting for a signal! Do you understand, Vivian, we have her, she's all ours!'

  Vivian stared blindly at the telephone, his spine chilled with a creeping horror.

  `Don't do anything foolish, Vivian! Don't call the police, Vivian! Or I promise you will not recognize her again when you see her!' The voice grated on ruthlessly. `Ever seen the results of a razor, Vivian?'

  `You swine" His throat was choked, his eyes smarted. `You haven't, you couldn't!' He wanted to drop the telephone, and run back to the boat, but the voice held him powerless.

  'We have. And could! I promise you! Don't forget. The plates. I want them, you get them. It's all so simple really, even a fool like you should understand. When you're ready to do business, hang a towel on the rail of your boat.' The laugh rang in Vivian's ears, it was a horrible sound. `This is what comes with meddling in affairs which are too big for you!'

  'But I .. He stopped, as the line went dead.

  Dropping the telephone, he burst out of the office, his skin clammy with cold sweat, and he started to run back into the harbour: Even as he reached the deck, he knew what he had known all the time, the boat was empty. He stared into one cabin after another, calling her name, and finally, when he opened the door of his own cabin, and saw her things scattered across the bunk, he halted, his heart beating with fear and misery.

  He stared about him wildly, but the boat was still, and the sound of the water against the hull seemed to mock him. In despair, his half-demented mind thrashed and reeled in a vain effort to grasp an explanation, and he fought down the sudden, overwhelming desire to kick out at the seemingly smug objects about him.

  Eventually he calmed. She had gone. Karen had gone. It beat like a tattoo in his skull. He blindly picked up her jacket from the bunk, and as he lifted it, he started, as 'a piece of filmy underwear slithered from underneath, and fell on the deck. He went cold. Wherever she was, she was still in her bathing costume, and her assailants must have been perfectly confident of their actions. He blundered on deck, blinking in the light, Mason had been watching for a signal. He must be here, in Ramsgate! He swore horribly. He had automatically thought the call was from London. And they had been quite certain of his reactions, as they waited, and watched.

  A yachtsman, leaning lazily on a mooring post, nodded pleasantly down to him. Vivian scrambled tap the ladder, his mind working furiously.

  `You didn't see a young lady leave, did you?' He tried to keep his voice steady.

  `Sure,. Went off 'bout five minutes ago, I suppose.' The man eyed Vivian curiously. 'Nothing wrong, is there?'

  Vivian fought down the impulse to scream out what had happened, but remembering Mason's cold threat, `Ever seen the results of a razor?', he shook his head, turning his eyes away. 'No, I just wondered where she'd gone, that's all.'

  'Bloke came an' give her a message, and off she went!' He grinned. `I was watching, naturally. Couldn't help it. She ooks a real gem in that swim-suit!'

  `Did she know the man?'

  `Oh yes, she knew him. I expect she's just gone up to the end of the wall.' He chuckled. `Reckon you'd better keep an eye on 'er, she'd make any man weak at the knees, just to look at 'er. You're a lucky fellow, an' no mistake!'

  Lucky! The word stung and jarred in his ears, as he walked hurriedly along the wall. But there was no sight or sign of her, or anything that looked suspicious.

  He returned to the boat, trying to think clearly. He must see Jensen, at once, and get the plates. That would be easy. But Karen, he stopped, sweating, would Mason keep his word? The thought of her, alone and terrified, with Cooper close to her, made him sob aloud.

  Must think, must think slowly! He flung on his jacket and tie, and thrust some money into his pocket. Got to hire a car, and get to Jensen, that's the first thing! Then get back here at once, and put the signal out. Hurry, hurry! He locked the boat, and set off for the shopping centre, where he eventually found a car-hire firm, who let him take an ancient Ford, at a fabulous deposit.

  An hour later, as the shadows along the roadside turned to purple, he pressed his foot down hard, making the old car roar and buck along the open, deserted road. He was in a nightmare, and it seemed as if the journey would never end.

  His sweeping headlights glinted on a public call-box, and with a screech,
he jarred the car to a halt.

  Fumbling with the coins, he screwed up his brow, trying to remember Jensen's number. It came to him, even as he jammed the money into the slot.

  `Number please?'

  He had to repeat the number twice, and then waited,

  pounding the pile of grubby directories with his fist, while the operator's voice faded into a series of clicks and rattles.

  `I am sorry. The line is dead.'

  He stared around desperately. `What, out of order?'

  `I imagine so. I will make further enquiries, if you wait, caller.'

  `No, no, that's all right!' And he blundered out into the darkening roadway.

  No time. No time. The voices persisted in his brain. He became calmer with the strain of driving. It would be all right. Jensen would not allow things to go wrong. He would know what to do. He had been dealing with these people for years.

  The road branched left, and he saw the gleam of water, as he joined a stream of traffic passing over Kingston Bridge.

  `Soon now,' he muttered, and saw the high walls of the Royal Parks flashing past.

  6

  THE house was in darkness, as Vivian swung the protesting car into the driveway. He switched off the engine, -and_ sat for a moment in the darkness, getting his bearings, and looking at the unlighted windows, and the high frontdoor.

  So Jensen was out, or so it appeared, so what course oin action should he now contemplate: He slid from the drivingseat, and closed the car door quietly behind hire, then walking carefully, to avoid the dark patches of the flower }oeds, he turned left round the side of the house, izn the direction of the lawn, which lie remembered so clearly from his last visit. At the memory of holding Mason, and shaking burn like a rat, Vivian trembled, wishing he had been able to foretell the future at that time. I'd have killed him, he thought savagely, He caught his foot on a piece of stonework, and felt the crunch of the gravel path. In another second he was standing outside the glass doors of the big room, where only two days before, he and ensen had made arrangements for that last, fateful trip.

  He pressed his face against the glass, holding his hands like screens on either side of his eyes, and tried to pierce the darkness. Then he remembered the heavy curtains. if he could get in, and draw the curtains, he could have a look round. He nodded to himself, yes, that was it. He could cave a message for Jensen, if he could not find the plates.