Follow Your Star by Jennifer Bohnet (best value ebook reader .TXT) 📗

the skipper, out on the starboard deck talking to someone on the next yacht. Seeing her standing at the stern, Phil raised a hand in greeting but didn’t immediately move to lower the gangplank and let her on board. Instead, he finished his conversation and took his time before pressing the button that would lower the gangplank. Nanette was sure he would never have dared to have kept Zac waiting, but he was clearly trying to make a point.

‘Zac has asked me to meet someone here and—’

‘I know,’ Phil interrupted. ‘He phoned me this morning.’ He looked hard at her. ‘I’m sure you are aware that the captain of a boat is the one held legally responsible for whatever takes place on board – regardless of whether he or the owner sanctioned it.’

‘Yes, I know,’ Nanette said quietly. ‘All I can say is, Zac assured me last night, that it is nothing illegal he wants me to put in the safe, otherwise I certainly wouldn’t be here.’

‘Until this morning I wasn’t even aware there was a second secret safe on board this yacht. It is something I should have been told about.’

‘This is something you are going to have to take up with him.’

‘Oh, I intend to,’ Phil said. ‘But if you speak to him before I do, you can tell him that I’m seriously thinking of looking for another position – one where the owner treats me with the respect and trust I deserve.’

Nanette was silent, not knowing what to say.

‘Cooee.’

They both turned to see Evie standing on the quay.

‘Hi, Nanette, haven’t seen you in ages. How are you? Can I come on board?’

Without waiting for a reply Evie slipped off her high heels and walked down the gangplank.

‘I’ve got a package for Zac,’ she said, rummaging in her bag and producing a paperback-sized parcel.

‘You have?’ Nanette said surprised. The last person she’d expected to be meeting was Evie.

‘It’s from Luc,’ Evie explained. ‘My ex-boss as of today,’ and she held the package out to Phil.

Phil shook his head, declining to accept the parcel. ‘Not me. Nanette is here to collect it – and put it somewhere safe,’ he added.

Evie looked at the two of them, clearly sensing the tension, before shrugging her shoulders. ‘Whatever. I’ve done my bit.’

‘Thanks,’ Nanette said, taking the parcel.

‘Have you got time for a coffee?’ Evie asked.

‘Love one. Give me five minutes to put this away first.’

‘All right if I go down below?’ Nanette asked, turning to Phil.

‘Be my guest – you know where it is,’ and Phil moved away indifferently.

Closing the master cabin door behind her, Nanette walked across the cream deep-pile carpet towards the en-suite bathroom.

The luxurious bathroom with its marble and gold fittings had been spared refurbishment last year and was exactly as Nanette remembered it. Kneeling down she opened the vanity unit under the double marble sink and lifted out the white towels that were stored there.

Carefully she tapped at the front edge of the flooring shelf to loosen it before lifting it out and laying it on the floor. Sitting back on her heels she looked at the small dial previously hidden by the false cupboard bottom but now exposed in the recess under the sink. What was she going to find when the safe door opened? What secrets did Zac already have stashed away within the steel box?

Nanette took a deep breath. It had been a long time since she and Zac had devised the code. She only hoped she could remember it.

Counting under her breath, and slowly turning the dial, Nanette concentrated on remembering the correct sequence of numbers and the number of turns she had to make to the right and then to the left before she heard the satisfying click of the lock undoing and she was able to pull open the door.

The safe was empty – except for the handgun. Nanette stared at it stunned. Since when had Zac found it necessary to have a gun on board? Sitting back on her heels Nanette looked at the packet Evie had given her, wondering about its contents. She sat there for several minutes before coming to a decision and closing the door and spinning the combination lock.

The flooring shelf slid back in easily and Nanette replaced the towels tidily before shutting the vanity unit door, picking up her handbag and leaving the bathroom.

Evie was waiting for her in the stern and Nanette quickly said ‘Goodbye’ to Phil who was busy adjusting fenders near the bow, before following Evie down the gangplank and back on to the quay.

‘Shall we have coffee at the apartment?’ Nanette suggested. ‘Then I can introduce you to my sister Patsy. And, tell me, why is Luc your ex-boss?’

Evie sighed and glanced around before saying quietly, ‘I think his business is in trouble. He’s talking of restructuring, or he may give up altogether. Anyway, he’s given me two months’ pay in lieu of notice and told me he doesn’t need me anymore. He has promised to help me find another job if I want to stay in Monaco. Which I do.’

‘Have you heard of any jobs going?’

‘No. But I’ve got an interview with an agency tomorrow so I’m hoping they’ll come up with something,’ Evie said. ‘Even if it’s only temporary.’

Nanette glanced at Evie as a sudden thought struck her. Should she tell her about Zac needing someone for Vacances au Soleil? But how could she possibly recommend a job with Zac when she suspected he was involved in something illegal?

Instead she said, ‘I’ll have a word with Jean-Claude if you like, he may know of something.’

‘Thanks,’ Evie said. ‘I’m hoping something does turn up. I really like it down here and would hate to have to leave.’

The consultant at the clinic where Nanette had made an appointment for Patsy was thorough in his examination. And definite in his opinion.

‘Everything seems fine now. But I suggest you fly home as soon as possible in case the bleeding starts again. Leave it too