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"I SAY, YOU DID A SPLENDID job piloting that shaky aircraft. I thought the wings were going to fall off! Please, let me pour you a martini. Mario, makes them for me, he used cherries this time, they're divine?" Sylvester said reaching for the pitcher.
Jane had been pampered ever since she boarded the La Vie. It was like a fête for a celebrity. All this attention was a bit disconcerting. “Sebastian should be here to enjoy this. His calm demeanor and excellent instructions save our bums. Thank you," Jane said holding up her elegant glass just as Yvette and Sue Lee walked into the lounge to join them.
"Your just in time to join our celebration, Mario is mixing another pitcher and we have a dish of hors-d'oeuvres. Was Louie La Monte of any use to you Sue Lee? Did you find Monsieur DuPont, for Clara? She is such a dear to everyone, especially my friend Alex. If indeed, this DuPont is her husband, he is a cad of the worst kind.” Sylvester said handing over two martinis to Yvette and Sue Lee.
"Louie’s confident after asking the publisher to trace the royalty payments that he is living in Dijon. It's unusual because the address is an Abby.” Yvette said as she raised her hand before Sylvester could interrupt. “I have already told Le Capitaine, we will be stopping in Marseille on our way to Rome. If you ladies don't mind, I would like to accompany you. I have many friends in the Burgundy region, perhaps they could be of help."
Yvette was a sommelier originally from Paris. During the occupation, she became an operative working for MI6 under the supervision of Sir Jonathan.
"Excellent idea, we can make arrangements to take the train." Sue Lee answered when Sylvester Interrupted.
"Let us all go. We will take my car.” Sue Lee and Jane looked surprised. “It's stored below. You see. I know where we can stop for a fabulous lunch on the way. Besides, this cad may need a good punch in the nose!"
Sue Lee smiled and agreed, but she also knew from Alex that Yvette could easily do the punching. During the war, she was known to use brass knuckles.
"We also received a wire from Sebastian, congratulating you on your new flying skills. He said you were the best student he ever had.” Sue Lee said smiling at her friend.
"What about the local authorities, and the stolen plane," Sylvester asked? Worried about their departure.
After tying the floatplane to the dock, Mario quickly whisked Jane and Sue Lee away in the speedboat out to the La Vie.
"Jonathan intervened, he told the police about the graves at the farm and what Sue Lee saw from the air. We can be of no further assistance to them." Yvette said while clearing a place for Mario to set down the hors-d'oeuvres.
"The young pilot was a good talker, and added credibility to their ghoulish plan but didn’t know he was being used. I’m sure they wanted the plane only for their own escape route.” Sue Lee said, looking out the port window watching the Rock of Gibraltar fade into the distance.
Jane too was watching with regret for leaving so quickly. She did not have time to visit her friends in Gibraltar, especially Samuel in the control tower.
Mario made hasty arrangements to send him a bottle of Gin as a Thank you. She wished she could have shared it with him instead of this sweet-smelling martini.
Again, Mario came to her rescue and replaced her untouched glass with a fresh G&T before Sylvester declared a toast to the flying doctor.