Clara sat on the hotel terrace, overlooking the Nile Corniche, with a nice pot of hibiscus tea. She had become quite partial to the brew since first tasting it at Sara and Mansoor’s house. She must take some back with her to England. Whenever that might be … She and Bella were booked on the return cruise in ten days’ time, but if the case hadn’t been solved by then, she would stay on. Although she suspected once the Scotland Yard man got there she might be prohibited from investigating any further – at risk of arrest!
She watched vehicles – horse-drawn and motorised – coming and going, bringing new guests and leaving with old. But as yet, Bella and the cruise passengers had not arrived. She was interrupted in her surveillance by a cheerful: ‘Miss Vale! How delightful to see you again!’
She turned towards the voice and saw Larry Winter approaching her, wearing his now familiar boater and blazer. Clara smiled up at him. He looked well, having been in the sun long enough to give him some colour but not to burn.
‘Lieutenant Winter! You’re back! Do take a seat. Would you like some tea?’
‘Oh yes, please,’ he said, slipping into the wicker chair beside her. ‘Are you waiting for the cruise crew?’
‘I certainly am!’ She looked at her watch. It was nearly one o’clock. ‘They’re a little late.’
He laughed. ‘Midday traffic in Cairo! They’ve got to get from the train station to the hotel. It’s only a couple of miles, but in this mayhem it could take as long as the ride from Alexandria!’
‘Pity you couldn’t fly them all here,’ quipped Clara.
‘Pity!’ laughed Larry.
Clara called over the waiter who was hovering nearby. He wore a long white robe, red sash and red hat, which Clara noted was the ubiquitous uniform of the serving classes in Cairo. The impassive expression that was pretending not to listen in to conversations also appeared ubiquitous. That could prove useful, thought Clara, but at the same time realised she ought to be careful. Walls have ears, her uncle had said. So when Larry asked what she’d been up to when he was away in Jordan, she replied: ‘Oh, this and that.’
She told him about her trip to Giza with the Fitzgilberts and her detour to Saqqara, but she did not reveal that she’d left the group and gone off on her own. As far as Larry knew she was there as a tourist, to see the places her uncle had loved so much. She did, however, mention that she’d seen Dr Abdul Rahman from the university, in order to pass on news of her uncle’s death and to confirm that the financing of a bursary from his estate would continue. She did not, however, say who the bursary recipient was or anything about the return of the Ahhotep jewels.
The tea arrived and she waved the waiter away, saying she would pour.
‘I see you’re drinking the local brew,’ chuckled Larry. ‘You’ll be trying a hookah next!’
‘What’s that?’ asked Clara.
‘It’s one of those pipes with herbs and tobacco in hot water. You inhale the steam.’ He gestured around. ‘You’ll not get them here at Shepheard’s, but if you do me the pleasure of accompanying me out to a local restaurant one evening, I shall introduce you to it.’
‘I should find that very interesting, thank you. But I’m not sure of my itinerary yet. I’ll have to speak to Bella.’
‘Miss Cuddy, of course, would be welcome to come, too …’
‘Thank you. I’m sure she’ll be delighted to.’ Clara was glad he had said that. Although the attraction she’d first felt in Gibraltar was still there, so was her resolve not to get entangled in anything romantic. Her life – professional and personal – was far too complicated for that right now. But she enjoyed his company and would be happy to spend time with him socially. Come to think of it, he could prove useful professionally …
‘Lieutenant Winter, I was wondering … you said you had taken my uncle for a flight over Giza and Saqqara. I believe you let him use the camera.’
‘That’s correct. He was most helpful. I do have it rigged up so I can click the shutter from the pilot seat, but I can’t be too specific in what I shoot that way. I really ought to get myself an assistant – a male version of your Miss Cuddy.’
Clara smiled. ‘So Bob was helpful?’
‘Oh yes. When he told me he was a keen photographer I decided to put his skills to good use. He was able to focus in more while I controlled the plane.’
‘Do you by chance still have those photographs? I’d love to see what he did.’
Larry thought for a moment and said, ‘Actually, I do. Not here at the hotel. But I can get them.’
‘Thank you,’ said Clara. ‘That is very kind of you.’
At that moment a trolley bus pulled up in front of the hotel and through one of the windows Clara recognised the ginger hair of Bella Cuddy.
‘They’re here!’
Bella lay out on her bed, propped up with pillows and sipped a glass of lemonade. She said it had been an exhausting journey from Alexandria and she was glad it was over. There had been an outbreak of gastroenteritis on the ship and nearly everyone had had it. Bella had a strong constitution and had recovered quickly, but said she still felt a little below par.
Clara sat in an armchair in Bella’s room and chatted to her assistant as she rested.
‘Jack Danskin was quite unwell. I think he’ll be in bed for a few days,’ said Bella.
‘Oh, poor Jack!’ said Clara, and meant it. He did annoy her, but she didn’t wish him ill. ‘I’ll pop in to see him later. Has he seen a doctor?’
Bella nodded. ‘Yes, the ship’s doctor visited everyone who was poorly. They really do look after you well on that ship, Miss Vale. Apart from having the runs the last few days, it was a real treat. Although I missed having you around.’
Clara smiled. ‘I missed you, too, Bella. But I’m glad I got to Cairo early, I’ve already learned a lot.’
Clara went on to tell Bella everything that had happened and what she’d learned so far. She was relieved that with Bella she did not have to second guess what she should or shouldn’t say.
‘Bleedin’ heck!’ said Bella. ‘You have been busy! So, what are going to do next?’
Clara smiled at her assistant’s earthy language and can-do attitude. It was good to have her back. ‘Well,’ said Clara, ‘I think you should rest for today. Then tomorrow, if you’re up for it, we can visit the university and see those girls, then perhaps take a trip to the police station to see that Sergeant Mackenzie.’
‘I’ll definitely be up for it, Miss Vale. A little dicky tummy won’t keep me back. It didn’t on the ship, and it won’t here.’
Clara nodded her approval. ‘I’m very glad to hear it. But if you do feel poorly, do tell me. Are you able to talk more now? I’d like to hear what you learned on the ship about the archaeologists.’
‘Oh aye, I can do that,’ said Bella and settled her empty lemonade glass on the bedside table. ‘Right, well, firstly, I learned what you now already know: Pilkerton was not on board. I showed his photograph to every chamber maid on the ship. None of them recognised him. Then …’ she grinned ‘… I managed to get a sneaky peek of the ship’s manifest.’
‘And how did you do that?’ asked Clara.
Bella tapped the side of her nose with her forefinger. ‘Ways and means, Miss Vale, ways and means.’
Clara laughed. ‘So, what did you learn? That Pilkerton wasn’t listed?’
‘That’s right, nor George Herbert, which was the name he used at York station. Of course, he could have used yet another name – like he’s going as Reg Yorke here – but that, along with me showing his photograph around, made me think he wasn’t on board. And I also took down the names of every male passenger who was travelling alone. There was only a dozen of them. So I was able to find each one and check them out for meself. None of them was Pilkerton. And now that you tell me he was seen here in Cairo when we were still at sea, that confirms it.’
Clara nodded. ‘Yes, it does. But it makes me wonder who it was who broke into my cabin that first night. If it wasn’t Pilkerton, who was it? And what was his motivation?’
Bella readjusted herself against the pillows. ‘Well, Miss Vale, you’ll be pleased to know I wasn’t idle on that front either. Our lad Rudy has been a fount of information.’
‘Rudy Werner?’ A knowing smile crept across Clara’s face. ‘So the holiday romance continued after I left.’
Bella chuckled. ‘Well, I don’t know if it’s been a romance, but it has been fun! More importantly, for us, it’s been very helpful. That and the fact that Miss Philpott gets very chatty when she’s tipsy.’
‘Oooh, really?’ asked Clara, leaning forward. ‘So, what have you found out?’
‘Well,’ said Bella, clearly enjoying showing off her investigative skills, ‘I started on the assumption that whoever came into your cabin was someone who’d been in Newcastle – because of the break-in at your house there. So, that narrowed it down to Rudy Werner, Dr Stein, Dr Davies, Professor Petit, Pilkerton – although we now know he wasn’t on board – and Jack Danskin.’
‘Jack?’
‘Aye. When I checked out the ship’s manifest I saw he’d arrived the same night we did, not the morning after as we thought. He didn’t attend that dinner, so we didn’t see him, but turns out he was there – and had dinner brought to his cabin.’
‘Why would he do that?’ asked Clara.
‘My question exactly, Miss Vale. So I asked him. He told me to mind me own business. I’ve known Jack Danskin for a few years now, and I can tell you that he likes to control things. He likes to know who’s who and what’s what. So, my theory is, he spent the first night watching. Watching who was on board. Watching who we were with. He didn’t want us – or more likely you – to know he was there until he was ready. He wanted to shock you.’
‘So he broke into my cabin? It was a shock, I can give you that.’
Bella shook her head. ‘No, miss, I don’t think that was him. If he was looking for something in your cabin – the jewels probably – he could have done it when we were at dinner. And he’d be in and out without us knowing. He’s a professional, is our Jack.’
Clara nodded. She had seen Jack Danskin operate herself. Bella was right, if he wanted to get the jewels from her he would have done it less ham-handedly.
‘Well, assuming you’re right, that leaves three questions, Bella. In what way did Jack want to shock me? Why didn’t he get hold of the jewels if that’s what he wanted – remember, we didn’t leave port until the following morning, after breakfast, so he could have got them, got off the ship and taken them back to Newcastle – and thirdly, if it wasn’t Jack then who was it?’
Bella raised a finger. ‘And those, Miss Vale, are the questions I asked meself.’ She grinned. ‘Eee, miss, we sound like Poirot and Hastings, don’t we?’
Clara chuckled. ‘We do. So, what did you deduce with your little grey cells?’
Bella grinned. ‘Well, to the first question. He shocked you in the swimming pool, didn’t he?’
‘Yes, he did.’
‘Aye, he’s a scoundrel, that Jack Danskin. And a ladies’ man. You’ve already turned him down romantically, haven’t you?’
Clara remembered doing so quite emphatically in a hotel cocktail lounge. ‘I have.’
‘And Jack doesn’t like that. He’s used to women swooning for him. So he’s got something to prove there. What better place to do it than when you’re half naked.’
Clara balked. ‘I was not half naked.’
Bella cocked her head to the side. ‘For a man, seeing you in a bathing suit, does make you half naked. Then, add to that, dripping wet with water …’
‘Bella!’
Bella laughed. ‘Come on, Miss Vale, you know what I’m talking about.’
Clara sighed. ‘You’re right. I do. And I did feel vulnerable.’
Bella nodded her agreement. ‘As any woman would. And you were alone. With him. Anything could have happened. He knew that. You knew that. But more importantly, he knew that you knew. And that’s what he wanted.’
‘So you’re saying he planned it. That it wasn’t just a coincidence.’
‘It couldn’t have been.’
‘How do you know that?’
‘Because our Jack doesn’t much like swimming. You’ll remember the jiu-jitsu classes he runs – where you and me first met – are at the City Baths in Newcastle.’
‘Go on …’
‘Well, when me and the lasses first started, we asked Jack if we would be able to go into the pool afterwards. Now, I don’t swim, as you know, but a couple of the other lasses said they’d like to go into the shallow end and have a splash. Jack said we’re welcome to, but he wouldn’t as he didn’t much like swimming. He said he can swim – he learned when he was in the army – but he didn’t like it. So, then, why would he just happen to be swimming on the ship?’ Bella gave an incredulous snort. ‘No, miss, he was just there to bother you. To let you know he was on board. And that – in his mind – he could have you whenever he wanted.’
Clara’s jaw dropped. ‘Bella! The way your mind works!’
Bella cocked her head to one side. ‘Tell me I’m wrong, miss. You know I’m not.’
Clara sighed. ‘No, you’re not wrong. But I honestly don’t think Jack would have done anything.’
Bella shrugged. ‘I don’t think he would, either. But he wanted you to know that he could have if he wanted to.’
Clara rolled her eyes. ‘So just a stupid game, then.’
‘Aye, miss, I think so.’
‘However …’ Clara’s mind was whirring.
‘What?’
‘Do you think it could have been Jack? The night before. Playing his stupid games?’
Bella shook her head. ‘No, I don’t. But I’ll get to that in a minute. We haven’t looked at the second question yet. Why Jack didn’t take the jewels and get off the boat.’
‘Well,’ said Clara, remembering a conversation she’d had with Jack, ‘he did seem surprised when I told him I had the jewels with me. He gave me the impression that he thought Daphne had the jewels.’
Bella tutted. ‘He was just telling porkies, miss. He knew you had the jewels. He told me that himself. When you did your moonlight flit with Lieutenant Winter, Jack was livid. And he asked me: “What’s she going to do with them? Who’s she going to give them to?”’
Clara frowned. ‘Why did he ask that? I told him I was returning the jewels.’
‘Aye, miss,’ replied Bella, ‘but did you tell him who you’d be returning them to?’
Clara thought for a moment. ‘No, I didn’t. I didn’t mention Dr Rahman to him.’
Bella nodded. ‘And neither did I. But that’s what he wanted to find out. He wanted to follow you to discover who your contact was. That’s why he left the jewels. He wasn’t as interested in them as he was in who your contact was in Cairo. That’s what I think the museum board in Newcastle wanted to know. Who Daphne Coleman is working with.’
Clara frowned. ‘But why do they want to know that?’
Bella shrugged. ‘I don’t know, miss. Maybe you can ask Dr Coleman why next time you speak to her. Ask her why that worries the board.’
Clara nodded. ‘Yes, I’ll do that. It’s a good theory, Bella. Not foolproof, but plausible. And it’s the best we’ve got for now. But then, that brings us to the third question: who was it who broke into my cabin if it wasn’t Jack Danskin?’