Chapter 30

P

anic began to engulf Jeanne as she fought to clear her head while dizziness and nausea kept sweeping over her. Nick, she must ring Nick! She stumbled back down into the cabin to find her phone. It was a while before she could remember where it was. The previous evening was a blur and she struggled to think what she had done on returning to the boat.

Handbag! She rummaged around on the bunk and found it under the bedclothes and dialled Nick’s number. It rang and rang and Jeanne was just about to give up in despair when his groggy voice answered.

‘Izzat you, Jeanne? Whassa matter?’

‘Oh, Nick! Thank goodness. The boat’s adrift – it’s going out to sea – and – and she’s sinking! There – there’s water in the cabin!’ She was now crying with terror.

Nick came to as if he’d been slapped. ‘Okay. Hold on, I’m on my way and I’ll get help. Wait in the cockpit.’ He cut off the call and Jeanne was left shaking but hopeful. Nick wouldn’t let her drown. As she looked around the cabin she saw her laptop and files. She couldn’t lose them! Disobeying Nick’s command to stay in the cockpit she began to slowly transfer the computer and the files up the steps and into the relative safety of the cockpit. It was slow and difficult because the boat kept shifting and she was still dizzy, finding it hard to carry anything and remain upright at the same time.

She was crawling up the steps with a box file when she heard a shout – ‘Ahoy there! Jeanne – can you hear me?’

She scrambled into the cockpit and opened the awning. Two men in a dinghy were heading towards her and she could just make out one was Nick.

‘Yes, I…I can hear you. Wh…what do you want me to do?’

‘Just stay there for the moment. We’re going to attach a rope for a tow. You’re quite safe, she’s not that low in the water. Just hang on!’ Nick shouted.

She thought she might as well bring up the other files while she waited. There was no way she would leave them on the boat once she was rescued. The men’s voices mingled with the sound of the rain as they made fast the rope.

‘Okay, Jeanne. We’re going to start towing now. Won’t be long. Better if you sit down.’

She sat on the bench seat and felt the boat lurch as the dinghy started to pull away. It must have a powerful outboard, Jeanne thought, as it took the strain. Le Belle Élise was only metres away from the nearest pontoon and slowly the boats inched back towards safety.

There was a bump and the boat rocked for a moment and then steadied. The awning was thrown back and Nick jumped down into the cockpit. Jeanne staggered into his arms and burst into tears.

‘Hey, it’s all right. You’re safe, darling, you’re safe. Hush, now, hush,’ he said gently as he held her tight. Jeanne felt his fingers brush the hair back off her tear streaked face before guiding her to the side of the boat and then onto the pontoon. The other man reached out to give her a hand and threw a waterproof cape around her shoulders.

‘All right, miss? You’ve had a nasty experience, you have. We’ll soon have you in the warm and dry.’

Jeanne nodded numbly, still in shock. She saw Nick’s head appear in the cockpit and called out to him, ‘Nick, my laptop and files. Please don’t leave them!’

‘Don’t worry. I’ll make sure everything’s safe. I’ve just got to stop the water coming in and might be a while. Mike, could you please take Jeanne up to the office? And if you’ve got any brandy or something?’

‘No problem. Come on, miss, let’s get you out of this rain. Nick knows what he’s doing, he’ll be along directly.’

As Mike guided her steadily along the pontoon Jeanne saw lights on in a couple of boats and voices called out to ask what was going on.

‘It’s all right, folks. A boat lost its moorings but it’s safe now. You can go back to sleep,’ Mike answered and within moments all was darkness again. The rain ricocheted off the boats with a sharp staccato and lightning lit up the sky overhead. She was glad of the hooded cape as she stumbled up the office steps.

Mike unlocked the door and helped her into a chair. He then disappeared into another room and came back with a tumbler containing what must have been at least a double measure of brandy.

‘Here, miss. This’ll make you feel better,’ he proffered the glass, shifting from one foot to another.

‘Th…thanks,’ Jeanne murmured and took a cautious sip. The fiery liquid caught the back of her throat and she gasped. The brandy’s fire spread through her body and began to settle her groaning stomach.

‘Will you be all right now? I’d best see if Nick needs a hand.’

‘Of course. I can manage.’

He quickly left the office and she sat huddled in a chair taking small sips of brandy. She groaned. What a night! And how on earth did the boat become adrift and start taking in water? The questions swirled around her befuddled brain. Nothing made sense to her. And she couldn’t understand why she felt so dizzy and sick. Her head was like cotton wool and when she tried to remember what had happened the previous day everything was a blur.

Sometime later, as she was on the verge of losing consciousness, the sound of heavy footsteps outside startled her awake and for a moment she thought that danger was still stalking her. Her heart was hammering in her chest when, to her great relief, Mike entered, followed closely by Nick. They were carrying her boxes of files and Nick also had her laptop. After putting everything down Nick went over to her and she stood up shakily as he threw his arms around her.

‘Well, you sure gave me a fright, young lady. I’ve never been so scared in my life as when you phoned to say the boat was sinking! But you’re safe now,’ he said, stroking her hair.

‘But what happened? How did the boat come loose? And why all the water?’

‘The sea cock had given way, I don’t know why. And the valve in the heads was set to the pump position. I’ve managed to fix it temporarily so at least no more water can come in. As for the moorings – they couldn’t have come loose on their own,’ Nick’s jaw tightened as he added, ‘We’ll talk about it later. You need to get to bed, you look all in. And you should see a doctor. I’m taking you home, okay?’

She nodded, too horrified by the implication of what he’d just said to say anything herself. If Nick was right, then it meant someone had just tried to kill her!