Chapter 31

I

t was midday before Jeanne opened her eyes and again felt that disorientation of not knowing where she was. Realisation dawned that this was Nick’s bedroom and she was in his bed. She vaguely remembered asking him if she could sleep with him as she didn’t want to be alone. He had been happy to oblige, even managing a joke about neither of them being in a fit state for seduction and they were both quite safe.

Nick had called a doctor and he had carefully examined Jeanne while she told him about the dizziness and nausea. He had taken a blood sample before leaving, telling her to rest, before going out of the room to talk to Nick.

As the memories began to surface Jeanne could feel her heart racing at the thought that she had been close to dying at sea for the second time in her life. She was beginning to feel scared at being on her own when the door opened and Nick came in bearing a tray with orange juice, coffee and toast.

His eyes lit up when he saw that she was conscious.

‘Hi, glad you’re awake. Hadn’t wanted to disturb you before but I’m afraid you’re going to have a visitor in an hour or so. How are you feeling?’

‘A bit groggy still and I’m so thirsty, I could drink gallons. Who’s the unwanted visitor?’ she asked, drowsily.

‘Your old friend Inspector Ferguson. He wants to talk to you about last night. But if you’re not up to it I can put him off a bit longer.’

‘No, it’s all right. Though I think I’d better be out of your bed and dressed!’ she managed a faint smile.

‘When you’ve had your breakfast would you manage a shower? Might make you feel better.’

‘I’d love one, if I can stand up without feeling dizzy. Mm, this coffee’s good. A snazzy machine special is it?’

He grinned and said, ‘Of course! No instant rubbish in this house. I’ll leave you to eat in peace. I’ve got a couple of calls to make and I’ll be back in a jiffy.’

‘Shouldn’t you be at work?’ she asked, puzzled.

‘I should be, but as the boss I took a unilateral decision to stay home and take care of my, er, guest. I’m running things from here today, hence the phone calls.’

Jeanne sat up nibbling the toast and drinking her coffee and began to feel a little better – at least physically. Her stomach seemed happy to be fed and watered and when she had finished she pushed the tray to one side and slowly swung her legs over the edge of the bed. Taking a deep breath she put her weight on her feet and levered herself upright.

‘Hey! You were supposed to wait for me,’ Nick said as he came in and strode quickly to her side.

She glanced up at him and said, ‘I’m all right. I’d like to try and walk on my own.’ She carefully took a few steps away from the bed and although she felt a bit unsteady, she took a few more before returning and sitting on the edge of the bed.

‘See? That was okay, wasn’t it? I think I could manage a shower now.’

‘It’s just through here,’ he said, pointing to a door. As he led the way Jeanne had a thought.

‘What’s happened to all my things on the boat?’

‘I brought back your files and laptop last night, or rather early this morning. And I grabbed some of your clothes which are downstairs. The rest are still on board but perfectly safe. I’ll bring up your clothes while you’re having your shower. But don’t you think you should stay in bed? The doctor did tell me you needed to rest for as long as possible.’

‘I’d rather get up but I don’t think I’ll be fit for much. Could you please show me how this amazing looking shower works?’

Nick went through the settings with her, setting out fresh towels before leaving her alone.

The shower was as powerful as it looked and Jeanne allowed the jets to play over her body, easing the tension from her aching muscles. She had caught sight of herself in the bathroom mirror and was horrified to see her hair, normally her pride and glory, looking like a bunch of rats’ tails and she washed it back into shape.

After wrapping herself in a giant fluffy towel she stepped back into the bedroom. Her clothes were laid out on the bed and for a moment she felt embarrassed at the thought of Nick collecting up her bras and knickers with her other clothes. On reflection, she couldn’t remember how she had got out of her wet clothes and into Nick’s pyjama top the previous night. Oh well, she thought, it’s too late to worry about that now. She noticed that he had also left her a hairdryer – he was obviously well versed in the needs of women.

She had finished dressing and was about to dry her hair when Nick knocked on the door. She called him in and he just popped his head around the door.

‘Are you feeling all right? Didn’t like to leave you for too long.’

‘Fine, thanks. Is the inspector here?’

‘No, he’s due in about ten minutes. Just take your time, he can wait. We’ll be in the kitchen when you’re ready.’

‘Okay.’

Fifteen minutes later her hair was dry and combed into shape and Jeanne was ready to go downstairs to re-live a night she would rather forget.

She found the inspector and another policeman sitting at the kitchen table with Nick, drinking coffee.

They stood up as she entered and Nick quickly pulled out a chair for her.

The inspector looked sombre as he introduced his sergeant to Jeanne and then continued.

‘Jeanne, I’m sorry to bother you when you should be resting but, as you’ve probably realised, it was no accident that happened last night. Looks like someone tried to kill you and we’ve got to find them quickly in case they try again.’

She gasped. ‘You think someone could try again? I don’t understand, who wants to kill me?’

‘The same folk as killed your parents, most like. This latest incident proves to me that your parents’ deaths were no accident but deliberate, just as you were beginning to suspect yourself. They need to stop you remembering enough to identify them. I’m afraid there’s no nice way of saying this, but if someone’s already killed two people they’re not likely to worry about killing a third,’ he said, watching her carefully.

Nick was sitting next to Jeanne and he reached out and held her hand as she struggled to come to terms with the inspector’s words.

‘So, you’re absolutely sure that someone planned to…to kill me last night?’ she said eventually.

‘Yes, we’re sure about that. The blood test confirmed the doctor’s suspicions. You’d been drugged and were not meant to wake up till it was too late.’

‘Drugged! So that’s why I felt so awful. But how, when?’

‘That’s what I need you to tell me. Where were you yesterday and who did you see?’

Jeanne’s head was still not completely clear and she had to think hard for a moment.

‘I went to the cottage for a few hours and was on my own the whole time. Then I went back to the boat and later I changed to go out. Oh! Now I remember! Marcus had phoned me and asked me to meet him…’

Nick cut in sharply, ‘Marcus? You didn’t tell me. I thought you two had fallen out?’

‘We did. But he said he wanted to apologise and wanted us to be friends. I didn’t want to see him but wanted to keep the peace for the sake of the group. I didn’t think it would hurt to have a drink with him,’ she said, upset. She didn’t want Nick to get the wrong idea about her seeing Marcus.

Nick squeezed her hand and said, more gently, ‘I understand, don’t worry.’

The inspector had been watching them, drumming his fingers on the table.

‘Please, Jeanne. Tell me who this Marcus character is and what happened.’

She turned to face him and continued.

‘His name’s Marcus Davidson. I knew him at school and met him again soon after I came back in the spring. We went out together a few times and then we fell out. Anyway, I met him at The Doghouse on Sunday evening about eight thirty and had a drink with him. He looked awful – he’s usually very smart – said he’d been working late and not sleeping. Then his brother turned up and bought us another drink. He left soon after and I left about ten and returned to the boat.’

‘Marcus’s brother, is he Dan Davidson, the antiques dealer?’ the inspector asked as he and his sergeant exchanged glances.

‘Yes, I’d met him before, at my cottage. He bought my old furniture from me. He…he gave me the creeps. I think he’s on drugs. Oh! drugs!’ Jeanne’s hands flew to her face.

Nick looked horrified. ‘I didn’t know you knew Dan. He’s bad news, isn’t he, Inspector?’

The inspector nodded. ‘He’s not someone to get on the wrong side of, that’s for sure. Been trying to nail him for years but…Can you excuse us for a minute?’ He beckoned to his sergeant and they went outside for a few moments and the inspector came back alone.

Jeanne looked from Nick to the inspector and cried, ‘I can’t believe that Marcus would try to kill me! He…he said he loved me! And I’m sure he meant it. Perhaps he didn’t know anything about it – it was all Dan’s doing.’

‘Well, maybe he did, maybe he didn’t. But at the very least he’s played a part in what happened, I’m sure of that. We’ll need to talk to him as well as his brother.’ He coughed. ‘Getting back to what you told me about your parents’ deaths. There were two fair haired men in that other boat, you thought. Could they have been the Davidsons?’

‘I…I don’t know. Their faces were a blur, as I said. They did seem young, which they would have been back then. But I knew Marcus at school! I would have recognised him.’ She was feeling queasy at the dreadful thought.

‘That’s true. You would have recognised him if you’d not bumped your head and suffered the amnesia. They would have known that. Has Marcus ever said anything to you about the accident?’

Jeanne had to think, which was difficult with all the conflicting emotions threatening to engulf her.

‘Mm, yes. A few times, actually. He specifically mentioned the amnesia quite early on.’ The nausea was getting worse.

‘And did he know you were using hypnosis to recover your memory?’

‘No, I don’t…Oh, no! I blurted it out when he phoned recently. Oh my God!’She covered her face with her hands and cried.

Nick put his arm around her shoulders and looked inquiringly at the inspector.

‘We’re bringing them in for questioning, sir. We’ll need to examine the boat, see if we can find any trace of whoever tampered with it.’

As the inspector got up to leave, Jeanne lifted her wet face and whispered, ‘What I don’t understand is why they would have wanted to kill my parents. What possible reason could there have been? And why didn’t they kill me then as well?’

‘I can only guess why they killed your parents. But I suspect that it’s because they may have seen something they shouldn’t have. That may come out later. As to why they didn’t kill you, I’m not sure they knew you were on the boat as well. Or the other possibility is that they had to make a run for it. They might have seen the boat coming out of the harbour, the one that found you a bit later. These questions and a load of others are still to be answered. And there’s always a chance these men are innocent. But the evidence is building up.’

Jeanne walked unsteadily with Nick to show the inspector to the front door and dimly noticed the sergeant sitting in the police car, talking rapidly on the phone. As he saw the inspector he got out and said something in his ear. Inspector Ferguson then turned to Nick and said something which Jeanne did not hear but caused a look of alarm to flash across his face. Oh no! What’s wrong now?

Nick returned and put his arm round her as he led her gently back inside.

‘They’ve got Marcus in custody but haven’t been able to find Dan yet. The inspector assures me that it’s only a matter of time before he’s caught even though he’s probably left Guernsey but, to be on the safe side it’s better if you stay indoors. And not alone.’

Jeanne paled, releasing a soft moan. Please God, don’t let him be on the island!