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Dr. Higgins

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A BLURRY-EYED DOCTOR sat across the table, finishing his tea provided by the ship’s cook, Angelo, “Well, that’s it then. The bullet is out. He will need rest. Be sure to follow my instructions for the medicine. You say you’re sailing on to Gibraltar, then London. I wish I could join you. I’m writing down a surgeon’s name. Charles is currently stationed at Gibraltar. We were mates at the university. You see.” 

“Why not join us? We certainly could use the services of a good doctor aboard,” Yvette said, glancing over his instructions.

“You’re all very kind, especially since I wasn’t sober when I arrived last night. Things haven’t worked out as I thought they would. India was going to be a new life for me.”

“I agree; you should join us to see to the safety of our friend. I will pay you well, plus add a bonus if you decide quickly,” Sylvester said, entering the Salon followed by Mario. 

Yvette was great full for the interruption before the Doctor became maudlin. She also knew Sylvester had been in the radio room gathering information from Sir Jonathan. She was sure he knew all there was to know about Dr. Rupert Higgins. 

Sylvester waited while watching the downtrodden Doctor decided. To hasten the process, Sylvester leaned across the table wrote a few numbers down on the tablet the Doctor was using for Yvette’s instructions.

“This is the amount of the bonus I will pay you. This is your monthly salary. You will have your own cabin as much food as you want to eat. Sylvester’s offer was extremely generous; simultaneously, Angelo, the ship’s chef, set down a full English breakfast that included bacon, sausages, tomatoes, and eggs in front of him. What say you, Doctor?”

If Sir Jonathan’s research was correct, this brilliant man had fallen on hard times, and they both agreed he needed a lift up.

He looked across the table at Yvette and Sylvester, “Are you sure?”

“Yes, your talents are needed aboard my La Vie, your friends the Snodgrass family, would not let us return without you, especially, your old schoolmate, Dr. Jane. If you don’t sail with us, she will come to India, kick you in the bum, drag you back home. Now say yes, eat your breakfast, we will take care of everything.” 

“I say, you are a persuader, yes. I’ll join your crew, but l need to return for my things.” The Doctor said, rising to leave but paused to look at his scrumptious breakfast.

“Sit down, Rupert, tuck in, your things are waiting for you in your cabin—we will be underway shortly,” Sylvester left for the bridge. 

It surprised Rupert, “He must be very sure of himself; was he a commander during the war?” 

“No, a spy also a Jewel theft, enjoy your breakfast when you’re finished Mario will show you to your cabin.” Yvette smiled to herself after leaving the astonished Doctor with unanswered questions.

* * *

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RUPERT WAS LEFT ALONE, but not in the least lonely. He felt safe here like he did when he was an army surgeon. Everything was laid out for you like his mother did for him. You knew when to eat and where, he thought, biting into a tasty sausage. Officers, especially doctors, were quartered in more comfortable accommodations, sharing with others in the same field. He didn’t mind that his sexual preference was for men; you never knew when an opportunity would arise. Secrecy was the key to those involved. However, hiding had its price. The hospital community was a closed society aware of his preference, but since he was a brilliant surgeon, it was kept behind closed doors.

However, if anyone found out he was stealing drugs for his addiction being used by the wounded, he could have hanged.

Jane found out and contacted his mother. With Sir Johnathan’s help, he was shipped back to England to discreetly treat his problem.

His mother stood by him during that black year, but it took a toll. She passed, leaving him alone to fend for himself. 

The decision to return to India, a country he loved, was made after his mother’s death, disregarding colleagues’ warnings at work.

He remembered the words of the head surgeon before leaving London. “Things change. You’re no longer in the army, Rupert. You’re hoping to be accepted by a culture you know little of.”

He was saved again by his oldest friend Jane, whom he turned his back on during those terrible years of drug addiction.

They grew up best of friends and tended University medical school together; Jane and his mother were the solitary women in his life. Now it was only Jane. Her tenacious attitude was beyond anyone he had ever met, and she never gave up on him.

He recognized how much trouble he had been—he made a pledge to himself to change all that just as Mario entered the gallery to show him to his cabin.

Rupert’s second surprise came while checking his wardrobe that was so thoughtfully put away by Mario’s helpers.

There were three brand new sports coats with matching slacks and a half-dozen shirt all pressed and hung.

After spending a long time fussing over Alex, and a patient from the engine room with a severe gash on his right hand that required stitches. Dr. Rupert returned to his cabin. While changing for dinner, he was reading a message that had been left in his door mailbox.

Doctor, if your duty permits it, cocktails at seven in the Aft Lounge.  Sylvester,

I say that will be grand—hopefully, I’ll learn more about my employer, the jewel theft. All I know so far is that he has impeccable taste in accommodations and clothing. Rupert glanced again at his image in the full-length mirror before leaving his cabin. He was a tall, lanky man with an unruly head of black hair, with a slight touch of gray creeping in. His glasses were always slipping down his aquiline nose, exposing his hazel eyes. He stopped on his way to the Aft lounge to check on Alex. Dr. Rupert quietly opened his cabin door. Two of Sylvester’s nieces volunteered to watch over Alex. Rupert thought, their enthusiasm, was more to do with his handsome patient. Eve was curled in a chair reading a book when he came into the semidarkness. She held her finger to her lips, indicating Alex was sleeping. Dr. Rupert nodded and whispered, “I’ll be dining with Sylvester; call me if you’re unsure about anything. Thank you, Eve.”

“Please sit here, Rupert,” Yvette gestured to an armchair next to her facing Sylvester, who was pouring martinis.

“And do try one of these; they’re outstanding, a taste of lemon, but not overwhelming. Sylvester said, passing a delicate crystal glass with the name La Vie carved in gold to Rupert. Mario makes them for me, you see. All his fruits are freshly picked from a greenhouse nursery on our upper deck. How is Alex? I certainly hope my nieces are not in your way? I’m afraid they are at that awkward age of discovery.” Sylvester smiled, settling back into the larger chair.

“No, no, I say, they’ve done an excellent job of watching him for me. It’s giving me this moment to enjoy your company. Rupert raised his glass, Salute!”

What Rupert didn’t know, Yvette thought while raising her glass. The young ladies were watching his every move, taking turns reporting to her and Sylvester.

During the occupation of Paris, Yvette used the innocence of youth to befuddle the Germans. Now her skills were needed again to help unlock Rupert’s drug-inflected past regarding his involvement with the India diamond cartel.