Island of Secrets

by Karen Abbott

  In the end, Gini went on her own. It was what would have happened without all of this and she needed Simone and Louise to get on with some of the sewing. She was thankful that she knew there was already a police-watch on the place. Even so, she felt nervous as she crossed over the road from where she always parked her car.

  She opened the shop and looked over at the corner. As Louise had said, she had tidied it up. But you could still tell there was more sand there. She resisted the impulse to investigate it. The police-women would do that when they arrived.

  They began to drift in almost immediately. Gini knew they weren’t genuine customers by the short, curt nod that the first one gave her. Some drifted out, others drifted in. A few genuine customers made purchases. Anyone watching wouldn’t have known how many had entered or how many had left.

  The morning passed uneventfully. They were reasonably busy, which helped to cover the seemingly casual coming and going of the ones Gini suspected as being the undercover police-women. It seemed unreal to her. It couldn’t be happening!

  “Is it closing time?”

  Gini looked up sharply. She immediately realised that there were no genuine customers left. She looked at her watch. It was just before half-past twelve.

  “Yes. I’ll lock up now. What are you going to do?”

  “Leave the three of us locked in. As soon as we get the ‘all clear’ from our colleague outside, we’ll investigate the corner. If it’s all a big fuss over nothing, you’ll get a call to say it’s all over. If not, we’ll take it from there. In either case, we’ll be in touch. We would appreciate it if you would keep yourself available for more questions, depending on what we find, of course.”

  “But I don’t know anything else.”

  “That’s all right. It’s surprising what expert questioning can bring out. Things that seem insignificant at the time.”

  I’ll bet! Gini thought darkly.

  “And do remember not to speak of this to anyone, won’t you?”

  Gini glanced at her sharply. Did she suspect she might? She dropped her eyes.

  “I won’t,” she said blankly.

  She left the shop and locked the door. A few tourists were sauntering by. Or were they tourists? She was getting to be suspicious of everyone. She wasn’t sure what she expected the police to find. It didn’t matter to her. All that mattered was that Hugo was innocent.

  She glanced around as she went to her car, wondering if she could spot any observers’ She couldn’t. Not for sure, anyway. She drove home. It was a beautiful day, too beautiful for anything like this to be happening. The hollyhocks that grew in wild profusion all over the island, were now in full flower. The sight of their dark red, various pinks and creamy colours lifted her spirit slightly, but it was with a troubled at heart she drove home.

  Luc was still at his friend’s house but the rest of the family were there. They didn’t have long to wait for the police to be in touch. Inspector Tessier was coming straight round.

  The knock at the door came just after they had cleared away the remains of their lunch. He didn’t beat about the bush. It was drugs—with a street value of a million francs!

  “This is big-time,” the inspector said, regarding them all seriously. “I want to go over the list you gave me last night and include anyone who has had access to the key for whatever reason. And a list of any regular visitors, even customers, women included. Especially any who may have made several visits. And anything else that comes to mind.”

  There was no choice. One by one, all the names of the surfing boys were verified; the property owner, Paul Meroc and a few regular customers added. Gini felt as if she were betraying them all.

  Jean-Claude saw her look of despair.

  “They have no need to worry if they’re innocent,” he comforted. “And, if anyone is guilty, they deserve whatever they get. Drugs dealing, at whatever level, is despicable. It shatters more lives than the drug-users themselves.”

  Gini nodded miserably.

  “I know. But they’re our friends.”

  The inspector eventually snapped his notebook closed.

  “I think that’s all for now.”

  He looked at them seriously. “This may seem hard to do, but I want you to carry on as if nothing unusual has happened. And I must inform you that this is now an official investigation of high priority. You must not, on any account, say anything to anyone about what is happening. The smallest hint of danger would send those involved underground. Do you all understand?”

  His glanced passed quickly over Georges and Marie, Jean-Claude and Christi. He lingered longer over the three girls. They nodded their heads and murmured their agreement.

  “What will you be doing next?” Georges asked. “Are the drugs still there?”

  “That’s our next step.” He turned to Gini. “Do you re-open Sunday afternoons?”

  “Yes. Is that all right?”

  “Exactly what we need. I have arranged for someone to bring in a substitute package similar to the one we have found. Park at Le Port Des Salines. The package will he handed over to you there. Have you a large bag you could carry it in? ... Good. Once it is in place, there will be an exchange of surveillance officers.”

  He looked reassuringly at Gini’s parents.

  “We will keep a close surveillance on the place, both night and day. Two officers will spend the night there, relieved each morning by two more.”

  Turning back towards Gini, he added, “Others will do short relief-breaks, so be prepared to have a few more ‘browsers’ than usual. Don’t speak to them any differently than you would to normal customers. Keep it as natural as you possibly can.” He stood up, tapping his notebook on the back of his other hand. “In the meantime, we’ll run checks on all of these people.”

  He left immediately, having told Gini to follow on shortly.

  The handing-over of the substitute package went without a hitch and she continued on to St. Trojan. Again, she couldn’t see any of the undercover observers. They could have been any of the casual-looking tourists strolling by. A few customers were seated at the open-air tables outside the small restaurant further along the quay-side. Another was lying on his back on the grass outside the Tourist Information Office; two more seated on benches. None caught her eye.

  She went into her shop, re-locking the door behind her. The package was substituted, the two officers again withdrew into the back room and, after a brief look round to make sure all looked perfectly normal, Gini re-opened the door. She kept pinching herself to make sure that this wasn’t some horrible dream, wishing she could wake up and just be there to sell her designs.

  Surprisingly, she felt more light-hearted now that she knew what was involved. Drugs just didn’t fit in with her knowledge of Hugo. He was strongly against such things. He had said so, only the other night.

  The afternoon passed slowly. It should have been Louise taking her turn in the shop but Gini hadn’t felt it right to put her friend in danger, especially picking up the false package. But it meant that she would miss the final round of the competition. Never mind. She would be there later in the evening to attend the barbecue with Hugo and she knew he would understand, once it was all over.

  It was early evening when she drove into the crowded Boyardville. It was always busy on a Sunday evenings in summer. She wove her way through the holiday-makers thronging the streets, parked her car and ran to the beach. It was crowded with family groups, youngsters still building sand-castles or paddling in the sea, teenagers playing volley-ball, older people sun-bathing.

  Further along she could see where the barbecue was situated and hurried across. At first, she couldn’t see anyone she knew. Her eyes skimmed over the crowds for the familiar shape and height of Hugo but couldn’t see him. Had he gone to her home to find her, she wondered.

  She heard her name called and turned round to see Dominic and Louise.

  “Salut! How did it go?” She looked about her anxiously. “Is Hugo around? I couldn�
�t get here any earlier. I’m so sorry.”

  “That’s okay. Louise explained. We knew something must have delayed you. The competition was great.”

  A huge smile split his face.

  “Hugo won!”

  “Oh, marvellous! I hoped he would!” She was overjoyed for him. “Where is he?”

  “He’s gone. He wanted to get in touch with you but hadn’t time to wait.”

  Her heart froze.

  “Gone? Gone where?”

  Her eyes flew swiftly to Louise. Had she said anything to him to cause alarm? But Louise shook her head.

  Dominic didn’t notice the silent exchange.

  “He’s left the island. Something had come up. He didn’t say what. He said to tell you not to worry. He’ll be in touch and will see you as soon as he can.”

  Gini was dumbfounded. Did that mean Hugo was guilty after all?

  Chapter 9

  Gini stayed to the barbecue, though she took no pleasure in it. She danced and chatted to people she knew, trying to hide her anxiety. Simone joined them a while later having got a lift with some friends of Gini’s. Both Louise and Simone seemed to have thrust the matter out of their minds. She hoped they were being discreet and not mentioning the undercover operation to any of the surfing lads.

  In a lull between dancing, she found herself on the fringe of the crowd. She bought herself a fruit juice from the drinks stall and sat down at an empty table. The sun was almost setting but the air was warm. She wished Hugo were there. She’d had a number of dances with different young men, all very pleasant. But they weren’t Hugo. Maybe she had been too off-hand with him? Had he decided that there was no future in pursuing their friendship?

  But, no. He had told Dominic to tell her not to worry. He’d be back.

  She stared out to sea, watching the sun slowly sinking down towards the sea. The sky was now a glorious peach and rose colour. She looked away. It was too idyllic for someone sitting on their own. It stirred her emotions too deeply.

  She watched the couples dancing and could almost imagine that she was in Hugo’s arms, feeling the touch of his hand upon her back. His face, the way his lips curved slowly upwards as he smiled, the crinkles at the outer corner of his eyes, meant so much to her. She wanted to tell him of her deepened feelings for him.

  Why had he left so suddenly? Maybe he had had an urgent call from his family? He hadn’t said anything about them. Where did they live? Had he got a family even? Oh, she knew so little about him! And realised that she wanted to know everything!

  The more she thought about it, surely fact that he had left the island would take him out of suspicion? The person who had hidden the drugs in her shop wouldn’t leave such a valuable hoard behind.

  A cold knife seemed to twist inside her. What if he had called at the shop on his way to the viaduct? It wasn’t far out of his way. Guilty or not, his presence there might seem suspicious to the police. What if he had been arrested? He wouldn’t have a clue what it was all about. He might even suspect that she was involved in something and implicate himself to save her!

  In sudden confusion, she accidentally knocked over her drink and leapt to her feet to avoid it spilling onto her dress. A couple seated a few tables away smiled sympathetically at her.

  “No harm done!” she said brightly, trying to hide her agitation.

  Maybe if she were to drive past the shop, she would be able to tell if the police were still there keeping watch? If they were, it could mean that Hugo had not become involved at all and she could wait less anxiously until he contacted her.

  She didn’t stop to think it through. There was no time for delay. Pausing only to make sure that Simone and Louise would be able to get back home without her, she hurried to her car, thankful that no awkward questions had been asked.

  Once clear of the town, the traffic lightened and she quickly reached the traffic island at Dolus, where she swung onto the main road leading to Le Chateau and St. Trojan. The sun was sinking quite rapidly now and she was beginning to question the wisdom of her decision to check out the shop. However, she knew that if she didn’t, she would have a very restless night. Oh bother!

  She had reached the point where she had to make up her mind. She slowed down momentarily. It wouldn’t take long, so where was the harm? With a surge of optimism, she followed the curve of the road to the right. Twenty minutes, that was all it would take.

  Compared to the crowds still filling the streets and pavement cafés at Boyardville, the small town of St. Trojan seemed almost deserted, as she reached the large traffic island on the edge of the town. All seemed quiet and perfectly normal. Now, was that because the police were still undercover? Or did it mean that the observation was over? She continued round the traffic island, still intending to go back down the road she had driven in on and then branching off to Le Chateau at the appropriate point.

  She wasn’t sure why she changed her mind. It happened in the instant when she should have taken the exit on her right. Instead, she continued to the next one and turned into the small car-park that she used each day. She switched off the engine and sat quite still for a moment, letting the gentle sounds of the summer evening take prominence in her mind. What now?

  An occasional car was driven past, slowing down at the island before picking up speed again. Sounds of music drifted through the night air, either from the passing cars or from one of the nearby pavement cafés. All birdsong had ceased and the sky over the port had darkened perceptively, even in the few minutes that she had been there.

  The sun had set behind the forest and into the sea on the Atlantic side of Ile d’Oleron. The tall forest trees that had survived the winter storm effectively hid the last remnants of the sunset.

  Peering across towards the port, she could make out the dark outline of her shop and the other buildings nearby. What had she expected to see? She didn’t know. The air had cooled rapidly and she involuntarily shivered. She shouldn’t be here. She had better go home.

  She made that decision with her mind but her body didn’t respond. All she had to do was to reach out her hand and turn the ignition key and rejoin the roadway. So, why didn’t she? Did she really think Hugo might be involved and be about to try to recover the packet of drugs?

  No! No, she didn’t! She didn’t! But he had missed the celebration barbecue and he did intend to leave the island! And he had gone without seeing her first or telling her why. She was afraid, terribly afraid, that she might be as wrong about him as she had been about Vincent.

  So, instead of leaving, she found herself slipping out of her car and making her way quietly around the outer edge of the traffic island in front of the Tourist information Office. She would saunter slowly past her shop and down towards the port before returning and continuing her way back to her car. Then she could go home with an easy mind. She hoped!

  She tried to look as casual as she could, as if she often strolled along there at this time of night, but the prickling of the skin on the back of her neck told her that the undercover observation was still in place. She felt strangely aware of how conspicuous she must look. But no-one would know who she was. She might easily be a solitary tourist, out for a late-evening stroll.

  Everything seemed normal at her shop. It was in complete darkness and she wouldn’t have suspected that anyone was in there keeping watch from wherever they were hiding. She found herself nervously glancing around her, wishing now that she had gone straight home.

  Not wanting to turn abruptly and return to her car, she continued down the short roadway that led to the jetty. She could hear the gentle lapping of the waves against the stone wall. It had a mesmerising and reassuring sound and she stood for a few minutes, staring across the narrow stretch of water that separated Ile d’Oleron from the mainland. The lights of Marennes and Bourcefranc-le-Chapus twinkled across at her. It was all so peaceful. So harmonious. It made both the accusation of her cheating and the stache of drugs hidden in her shop seem very unreal.

  And whe
re was Hugo? The question stabbed at her mind once again. She needed him. She needed his reassuring smile and the strength of his character. He had nothing to do with all of this! The very idea was preposterous! He deserved more trust from her.

  Feeling ashamed of herself, she turned her back on the sea and retraced her steps towards the traffic island. She was on the other side of the road from her shop and her glance swept unconsciously towards it. The night-sky was dark now. She could just make out the outline of the roof and the lighter outline of the next building. Her glance was sweeping back when her breath caught in her throat.

  There had been a small movement. A dark figure had flitted from the shadow of the next building to the front of her shop. She couldn’t see anything now but she was sure she hadn’t been mistaken.

  She froze. It was him! The intruder! It had to be!

  Where were the police? Why was no-one going over to challenge him?

  Of course! There were two police officers hiding inside! In spite of that, a sudden anger flooded over her. How dare he use her shop! How dare he store his evil goods there! All reason fled from her.

  Her whole being tensed for action. Exactly what, she hadn’t decided. And she wasn’t would never know. She heard a soft footfall behind her and, as a startled cry arose from her throat, a gloved hand clamped over her mouth and she was swept off her feet and pushed to the ground, her assailant’s body dropping on top of her.

  She felt completely winded and couldn’t have moved, even if the weight upon her were to suddenly be removed. She made a token gesture of protest, only to have the vice-like grip that held her tighten its hold.

  “Don’t move!” a voice hissed in her ear.

  Some chance, she thought, somewhat hysterically. Her assailant seemed content to have immobilised her and, for some reason, the shock and fear left her. At the same moment, a barrage of shouting erupted from the direction of her shop. The weight on top of her lessened and the hand was removed from over her mouth.