Death of a Supertanker by Antony Trew Read Free Book Online Page B

catering officer could have done it. He’s got a first aid certificate, which is more than you have.’
    She began to undress. ‘For your information the catering officer did do it. I happened to be helping him. Any objection?’
    ‘Yes, plenty. A lot of fuss about nothing. The average kid gets a thick lip at least once a term without all that bother.’
    She turned on him with angry eyes. ‘It was not a thick lip. It was a badly cut one, but you’re such a jealous bastard you can’t admit it. If it hadn’t been for Freeman Jarrett we’d have been stuck at the top of the gangway watching those drink-crazed wretches tearing each other to pieces. Just because you and theothers didn’t have the guts to stop it, isn’t a reason for being unpleasant about the man who did.’
    Foley propped himself up on his elbow. ‘Couldn’t you see that your friend was showing off as usual? Officers aren’t supposed to become involved in fights between drunken crewmen. It’s asking for trouble and it’s bad for discipline.’
    ‘I see,’ she said with heavy sarcasm. ‘He should have stood there watching them murder each other, like you other brave lads.’ She kicked off her shoes. ‘If you really want to know what I think, I think it was extremely brave of him.’
    ‘Brave my foot. They were both drunk. Anybody could have laid them out.’
    ‘Well, anybody didn’t and he did.’ She took off her bra, sat on the edge of the bed peeling off her tights. ‘You loathe Jarrett, don’t you … and you’re madly jealous because …’ She checked herself.
    ‘Because what?’ insisted Foley. ‘Come on, let’s have it. Feel free to speak your mind.’
    She looked at him with narrowed eyes, hating him at that moment, wondering how far she could go. ‘Because he likes me and I like him. And because he can do things you can’t. Like knocking out those two men and preventing God knows what.’
    Foley’s face was tense and drawn as he pulled the sheet over his shoulder and turned his back on her. ‘I hope the bloody lip goes septic,’ he muttered.
    ‘That’s exactly the rotten sort of thing you would hope,’ she said. ‘You’re all mixed up, aren’t you?’
    ‘Oh, for God’s sake shut up and turn out the light. I want to go to sleep.’
    She got into the bed, turned off the light and lay there thinking. She had remained in the chief officer’s cabin after the catering officer had gone. She re-lived those minutes, the things Jarrett had said, the way he’d held her, his cheek against hers because, as he’d explained, ‘I can’t kiss you with this bloody lip.’
    So she had kissed him, given him a final hug, and left the cabin.
    It was the breakthrough, and it had been very exciting.

Chapter 6
    Nico Kostadis took the dinner bill from the waiter and went on talking while he checked it with the detached air of a man well able to distribute his attention. ‘Thank you,’ he said replacing it on the salver. ‘We’ll have coffee and brandies on the terrace. Don’t be long.’
    ‘I’ll be there, sir.’ Kostadis was a generous tipper. A man, the waiter decided, with a large expense account.
    Foley followed his host on to the terrace. They sat at a table above the swimming pool, a discreet comfortable place, dimly lit, where the sound of the sea breaking on the rocks below masked conversation. It was a warm night, dark with no moon, and from the lighthouse which stood like a giant sentinel in front of the Oyster Box, a long finger of light swept the sea at regular intervals.
    The waiter brought coffee and brandies, Kostadis signed the chit and told him to come again before too long. The two men talked inconsequentially of many things, laughing at times, silent at others. The waiter reappeared occasionally to replenish the brandies and coffee and, inevitably, conversation became more personal as the night wore on.
    ‘If I’m to hold her I’ve got to leave the sea,’ said Foley. ‘Make real money. God knows how.