There was a short silence as Nanette looked from Jean-Claude to Mathieu.
‘Personally, I think the best place for it is on board Pole Position. I really don’t know what made me remove it,’ she said quietly, shaking her head. ‘At least if it’s in the safe when Zac gets back, he doesn’t need to know that I didn’t do as he asked.’ She took a deep breath and cut short both Jean-Claude and Mathieu’s protestations. ‘As I’m the one who took it and the only one who knows where the safe is, as well as the combination to open it, the responsibility to return it is mine.’
38
The city of Manaus was a huge shock to Vanessa. Ralph had told her it was one of the most isolated metropolitan areas in the world, but she was ill prepared for its vastness and the noise it generated.
As their boat drew alongside the floating dock, she stood up and looked around. Eleven hours ago, the boat had been moored in a quiet tributary with jungle animal sounds providing the background noise and happy, smiling natives helping them load the boat for the journey upriver.
Here, moored on the banks of the Amazon River itself, it was the raucous sounds of a modern industrial jungle that surrounded them as they stepped off the boat. It was hard to believe that this busy inland port was in the heart of the rainforest.
Vanessa gazed, fascinated, at the double-decked ferries and houseboats that were everywhere, crammed along the shoreline in front of ramshackle buildings on the water’s edge. Dozens of large cargo ships were tied up unloading goods, others were taking sacks of coffee beans, rubber, and nuts on board; all, it seemed to Vanessa, in vast quantities. She glanced at Ralph.
‘Do you think anyone is going to be interested in shipping the small quantities of produce Fruits of the Forest is going to have in the beginning?’
‘Of course,’ Ralph said confidently. ‘We’ll look for a small commercial shipper who is keen to expand and grow with the cooperative. No point in even approaching the big international boys in the beginning. We’ll ask around tomorrow. Right now, let’s get to the hotel.’
The hotel, a tall modern building ten minutes from the city centre, was blessedly cool after the humidity outside. Once they were registered, Ralph asked the receptionist to book a phone call to Monaco for them, and they went straight to their room.
When the phone on the bedside table rang, Vanessa snatched it up, only to be told the number wasn’t answering and the receptionist would try again later.
‘Perhaps by then we’ll have a definite UK arrival date,’ Ralph said, trying to ease her disappointment. ‘Nick and Harry are going out to the airport later to try to book flights. Do you feel up to doing some exploring?’ Ralph continued. ‘Might as well see the sights.’
‘Can we leave the touristy bit until tomorrow? What I really want to do is have a shower, something to eat and go to bed. I’m exhausted,’ Vanessa said, trying to push her illogical worry about not being to get through to Mathieu and the twins away.
‘Sure. In that case I’ll go out to the airport with the boys. Do you want me to order you something from room service, or will you go down to the dining room?’
‘A sandwich from room service would be fine.’
After her shower, Vanessa curled up on the double bed to eat her supper, revelling in the air-conditioned coolness of the room. She’d forgotten during the last few months in the jungle what it was like to be comfortable and not continually damp with perspiration. While Ralph was out organising a flight, she’d use the time to write down the details of their return journey through the jungle in the diary, ready for the twins to read.
Ralph returned with frustrating news. ‘I’m sorry, Vanessa, I know you’re desperate to get home to the twins, but there are no direct flights available. We’ve got to go via the States. Even then we can’t fly for seventy-two hours.’
Vanessa hid her disappointment. ‘Can’t be helped. Hopefully I’ll get to speak to them tomorrow.’ She glanced at Ralph, hot and sticky from his foray to the airport. ‘Why don’t you have a shower and then come to bed? It’s far more comfy than the hammocks we’ve been using recently. We can actually have a proper cuddle.’ Vanessa looked at Ralph, a half-smile on her lips.
‘Now why didn’t I think of that,’ Ralph said, undoing his shirt and moving towards the shower. ‘Give me five minutes and I’ll take you up on that offer.’
The next morning, they were up early, intent on getting down to the docks to look for a shipping exporter willing to discuss handling the Fruits of the Forest produce. Vanessa also wanted to explore the Mercado Adolpho Lisboa, the city’s oldest marketplace.
Their search around the docks for a shipping company proved fruitless. Nobody even had the time to speak to them, let alone discuss exporting Fruits of the Forest produce.
‘Let’s give up,’ Vanessa said. ‘I’ve a feeling it’s going to be easier to organise it through a third party from the UK.’
Before returning to the hotel, they wandered through the vast ancient market thronging with locals buying their produce from the traditional stalls. The outside streets were packed with more stalls and souvenir sellers. Vanessa was delighted to find one selling the locally made woven bags and ponchos.
‘Nanette will adore one of the bags,’ she said. ‘I’ll get a couple of ponchos for the twins.’
Back in their hotel room, Vanessa booked another call to Monaco, crossing her fingers that this time she’d get through. Standing, receiver in hand, she listened to the ringing tone before shaking her head at Ralph.
‘Still no reply. I don’t understand it. Oh… hello Jean-Claude? Where is everyone? I was just about to hang up.’
Vanessa was silent as she listened to Jean-Claude for several minutes.
‘OK. Will you tell Nanette I’ll ring her tomorrow then with our plans? Yes, we’ve had a great time. Hope to see you soon. Love to the twins. Goodbye.’ Vanessa slowly replaced the receiver before turning to look at Ralph. ‘That was weird. Neither Mathieu nor Nanette were in the apartment. Nanette had taken the twins somewhere and he didn’t know where Mathieu was. He assured me the twins are fine and looking forward to seeing me.’ Vanessa sighed. ‘Something is going on back there. I can just feel it.’
39
‘Right, you two. Dry yourselves off, get dressed and go to the games room while I have a quick swim. Papa Jean-Claude will be here soon and then we’ll have a quick snack before we go home.’
Nanette had taken the twins up to the villa on Sunday afternoon for a swim. To her disappointment, there had been no sign of Jean-Claude. Anneka had told her, ‘Monsieur had to go out for an hour. He asks that you wait for his return.’
Lazily floating on her back after completing a couple of energetic lengths, Nanette found herself thinking about Mathieu’s revelations and the package currently concealed under her bed. Somehow she had to find the right moment to go inconspicuously to Pole Position and put it in the safe.
She heard the twins calling out ‘Bonjour, Papa Jean-Claude,’ and quickly swam to the steps and got out of the pool. Before she could pick up her towel, Jean-Claude appeared and took her in his arms.
‘I’ll make you all wet,’ Nanette protested weakly, before she surrendered herself to his embrace. Several minutes passed before Nanette sighed and drew away. ‘I think you’d better let me get dressed before the twins come demanding to be fed,’ she said regretfully, giving Jean-Claude one last lingering kiss.
It was early evening when Nanette left to take the twins back to the apartment. Olivia and Pierre had already kissed their grandfather goodbye and were waiting for Nanette out on the terrace when Jean-Claude said, ‘I’ve been thinking about the package. If you are determined to replace it – and I agree that would probably be for the best – I will come with you. I think tomorrow morning after the twins go to school, n’est pas? I will wait on the quay, while you go on board.’
Nanette hesitated before saying, ‘Perhaps Mathieu ought to come with me instead. The police have involved him officially, whereas you
…’ Her voice trailed off.
‘Non. I’m coming with you.’
Nanette smiled, before kissing him gently. ‘OK. Thanks. Now, I’m going home to get the twins to bed and I think I might have an early night myself. I’ll see you in the morning.’
When Nanette did go to bed, soon after the twins, she slept fitfully. She’d been convinced she was so tired she would have no problems sleeping, but the hot midsummer night air was stifling. Even the ceiling fan silently whirring away above her head was failing to keep her cool. It wasn’t just the heat keeping her awake. Her mind was tossing and turning, too. All day Mathieu’s words ‘it isn’t over yet’ had been playing on her mind.
She knew Boris was still in jail, having been refused bail, and the latest rumour flying around Monaco was that Interpol had arrested his son. More arrests were expected to be made soon. Was that going to include Zac?
Mathieu had spent most of the day in the apartment on his computer after warning her and Jean-Claude that things were likely to come to a head soon and he intended to lie low for a few days.
Unable to sleep and sighing in frustration, Nanette got out of bed. Pulling on her dressing gown, she went through the silent apartment to the kitchen to fetch a glass of water. A dim light was shining under the threshold of Mathieu’s door, everywhere else was in darkness. At least he was home tonight.
Returning to her room, she opened the curtains and pushed the balcony door open. The breeze from the harbour ruffled her hair but was too hot to bring any relief from the heat.
Glancing down at the harbour, Nanette was struck by a sudden idea as she looked at Pole Position gently moving on its mooring. The lights were on in the main saloon of the yacht – that had to mean only one thing: the crew, or at least Phil, the skipper, was still up.
Ten minutes – fifteen at the most – was all it would take to go down, put the package in the safe and return to the apartment. The quay was relatively empty of people, with only a few couples out, taking a romantic night-time stroll.
With luck, nobody would even notice her. She’d be able to tell Jean-Claude in the morning he needn’t worry about accompanying her to the yacht. The package was back where it should be. She and Jean-Claude could no longer be linked to the contents.
Quickly putting on a pair of jeans and a dark top, she slipped her feet into her docksiders, before pulling the box from under the bed and taking out the Vacances au Soleil papers as well as the package. If the luxury holiday business was a front for money laundering, as Mathieu had said, those papers, too, would be better back on board.
Picking up her keys, Nanette quietly left the apartment and went down the marble stairs rather than take the lift. As quiet as it was at this time of night, the sound of its movement did drift through to the apartment and she didn’t want to disturb Mathieu.
Once on the quay alongside Pole Position, Nanette was surprised to find that although the ‘No Entry’ sign was in place, the gangway to the yacht was lowered, so she simply unhooked the chain with its ‘Private’ sign and walked on board, before hooking it back in place. The door to the main cabin was closed and, as she opened it, Phil glanced up from the table where he was working on some papers.
‘Hi. I just need to put these in Zac’s safe,’ Nanette said confidently, as she walked past him towards the master bedroom, willing him not to stop her.
Phil looked as though he was about to say something and then simply shrugged his shoulders and returned to his paperwork.
Nanette didn’t bother to throw the light switch in the bedroom – there was enough light from the passageway for her to see her way across. In the bathroom, she pushed the door to as she switched on the mirror lights before kneeling down and moving the towels and lifting the under-sink shelf out.
Once again she concentrated on remembering the twists and turns between the numbers and breathed a sigh of relief as she pulled the safe door open. She was doing what she should have done originally – putting the package in the safe.
Another minute and she’d be on her way back to the apartment. Her actions froze as her gaze took in the empty shelf where the gun had been: there was only one person in the world who could have removed it.
The door behind her creaked. Slowly, she raised her head. A cold shiver ran through her as she saw the man reflected in the illuminated bathroom mirror.
Nanette watched, rigid with fear, as Zac Ewart casually flipped off the safety catch before levelling the gun at her and asking, ‘Why, oh why, did you have to meddle, Nanette?’
Night-time sounds of the crew moving about up on deck punctuated the silence as Zac regarded Nanette intently, the gun steady in his hand.
‘What are you doing here?’ Nanette forced the question out, her gaze firmly on the gun.
‘Only five drivers were going to trust their tyres enough to line up on the grid. As none of them are anywhere near me in the championship, I decided I could boycott the race too, without it affecting my title chances,’ Zac said. ‘So, as I had some urgent business to sort out here, and my usual private jet was on standby, I decided to come home.’
‘Do you intend on using that, or shall I put it in the safe too?’ Nanette asked quietly, indicating the gun.
Zac looked at the gun as if he’d forgotten he was holding it, and shrugged. ‘Might as well.’ As he leant forward and handed it to her, he said, ‘Don’t worry, it’s not loaded.’
Wordlessly, Nanette took the gun from him and put it in the safe.
‘Why didn’t you put the package in the safe the other day?’
Nanette swallowed hard. ‘Couldn’t remember the correct twists and turns between the numbers,’ she said finally, hoping he’d believe her.
‘Oh, and now you can. Came back to you in a flash, did it? Incidentally, I’ll have the Vacances au Soleil papers if that’s what’s in the envelope. They don’t need to go in the safe.’
Silently, Nanette handed the envelope up to him. ‘You lied to me, didn’t you, Zac, when you told me there was nothing illegal about the package?’
Zac shrugged. ‘Did you open it?’
Nanette flushed but didn’t answer.
Zac’s eyes narrowed. ‘You did. I trust you didn’t go as far as using any of the contents? Or even showing them to anyone else?’
‘Why would I show bottles of shampoo to anyone?’ Nanette said, as innocently as she could. Nothing would induce her to tell Zac that Jean-Claude had been with her when she opened the parcel – or that Mathieu had also seen the contents and told her what they contained.
‘Good. Well, go on, put it in the safe.’ He watched as she carefully did as she was told and closed the door. ‘Don’t forget to leave everything tidy, will you?’ he said, looking at the shelf and the towels on the floor, before turning on his heels and leaving Nanette alone in the bathroom.
Shakily, she carefully slotted the shelf back in position before reaching for the towels. Only a few more minutes and she’d be off the yacht and on her way home.
Nanette steadied herself against the cupboard as the yacht rocked unexpectedly on her mooring. That wasn’t right. Boats didn’t rock like that on their harbour moorings. Suddenly she registered the muted vibration of the boat’s engines. Pole Position was underway. Terror flooded her body as bile rose in her throat and she realised the truth.
Leaving the towels on the floor and slamming the bathroom door behind her, she ran to the nearest porthole in the master bedroom. Monaco town lights were fading into indistinguishable specks along the shoreline. The walls that guarded the entrance of the harbour were disappearing from view as the yacht made for the open sea.
‘Beautiful evening for a trip round the bay, don’t you think?’
Nanette spun round to see Zac watching her lazily from the large king-sized bed.
‘Turn the yacht around and let me off,’ Nanette demanded.
Zac shook his head. ‘Sorry, I can’t do that. We have to talk.’
Nanette glared at him. ‘If I’m not there t
o take the twins to school tomorrow morning, Mathieu will be worried.’
Zac shrugged. ‘I spoke to him a few minutes ago. I told him you were spending the night on board with me.’
Nanette flushed angrily at the implication behind his words. ‘If you don’t turn around immediately, the first thing I shall do when I get back is go to the authorities and have you charged with kidnapping,’ Nanette threatened.
‘They’d just think you were a spurned lover – after all, you were happy enough to come aboard before. Besides, you did come aboard of your own free will. Phil will attest to that.’
Disconsolate and fighting back tears, Nanette stared at him. It seemed a long time ago that she had thought she loved this man. ‘How long do you intend to keep me on board?’
Before Zac could answer, there was a discreet knock on the cabin door.
‘The saloon is ready, sir,’ the head stewardess said.
Zac turned to Nanette. ‘You told me recently we needed a serious talk, so, shall we be civilised and do it over a meal?’
‘Answer my question. How long?’
Zac sighed before saying slowly, ‘As long as necessary. Now, shall we eat? I haven’t eaten properly for hours.’
‘I’m not hungry,’ Nanette said.
‘Suit yourself. You can talk to me while I eat.’ Zac swung himself off the bed and walked to the saloon.
Two places were laid on the mahogany dining-table – crystal glasses, silver cutlery and candles in gold candelabra gave a gentle glow to the cabin. Champagne nestled in a silver ice bucket, while a CD of guitar music was playing softly in the background.
‘Just like the old days again when we were together,’ Zac said.
‘Hardly,’ Nanette snapped.
Zac poured a glass of champagne and offered it to her. When Nanette shook her head and turned away, he raised the glass in a mock salute before taking a long drink and then topping up the glass.
One Summer in Monte Carlo Page 20