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  Emily grinned. ‘It does look good; thanks for lending it to me.’

  ‘Not at all,’ Laura said. ‘And here.’ She pushed a wad of crisp notes into Emily’s hand. ‘Don’t refuse them and embarrass me,’ Laura told her, seeing the hesitancy on Emily’s face. ‘You’ll need some money while you’re on shore. What you don’t spend, you can give me back when you return.’

  Emily nodded, touched by the woman’s thoughtfulness.

  ‘We’re still five minutes away,’ Captain Wilde said gruffly. ‘Do you want to take a look at the jeep again now we’re closer?’ He held out the binoculars for Emily, not expecting her to refuse.

  ‘You’re both being very kind to me,’ Emily said, touched by their unexpected gallantry. ‘I’m sure I don’t deserve so much kindness.’

  ‘So am I,’ Captain Wilde said sourly. ‘But, please, look anyway.’

  Emily grinned at his good-natured rudeness and took the glasses from his hand. The port was so close now she could make out figures on the dock. The jeep was still visible, and after a moment’s fumbling with the controls on the binoculars she could make out the characters on the registration plate.

  It confirmed what she and the captain had both thought. This was Roderick’s car. She was reading the letters of the number plate slowly to herself when her vision was interrupted by a couple moving in front of the bonnet. ‘Shift,’ she muttered rudely. A thought occurred to her and she moved the lenses up a fraction so that she could see the faces of the people blocking her view.

  With his familiar ponytail and open, honest features, Roderick was an easy person to recognise, even at this distance. Emily felt a heavy weight lift off her chest, and her lips broke into a broad, eager smile. Her fiancé was there, waiting for her at the dock. The thought was liberating and she bit back the urge to cry out his name and wave excitedly to him. He was still far away and she doubted he would be able to notice her aboard the Amazon Maiden.

  She kept the binoculars trained on Roderick’s face long enough to see a woman’s hand slide around his shoulder.

  A snake of doubt uncurled itself in the pit of her stomach. Her fears intensified when she saw Roderick turn, his lips pouting into a soft kiss.

  Emily put the binoculars down, her heart suddenly feeling heavier than ever before. She did not need to train her binoculars on the couple to know Roderick was kissing Judy. She had seen enough to realise that the pair were not just enjoying a platonic kiss either. The intimacy in their embrace had transcended anything platonic. Although Emily did not want to believe what she was seeing, she knew the couple were now lovers.

  ‘Is everything all right?’ Laura asked, concerned by the frown on Emily’s lips.

  Emily nodded, grateful for the dark glasses which were now concealing the tears welling up in her eyes. ‘Everything’s fine,’ she said, careful to make the words sound normal. She released a ragged breath of fury and glared angrily over the side of the boat.

  It was time to amend her plans, she thought. Whatever else she had been intending to do, that would have to take second place. There was something more important to take care of first, she realised. Before she dealt with her other plans, she had to sort out the pair who had left her to the mercy of Captain Wilde.

  Seven

  ‘It won’t be the same boat,’ Judy told Roderick wearily.

  He was straining his eyes as the boat neared. The sun was high and bright, making him squint awkwardly. ‘I think I can make out the name on the hull,’ he said, ignoring Judy’s doubts. ‘I’m sure it’s the Amazon something.’

  Judy sighed and glared spitefully at Roderick’s back. She wanted to get him away from the port and into Enoba. Though he had agreed to marry to her, there was nothing official yet. She wanted him to take her to a jewellery shop and get her an engagement ring. That would be a start. That would put some authenticity into their relationship. She had given the town’s few shops a cursory glance when they arrived and she doubted any of the jewellers would even stock diamonds. She was certain there would be nothing that contained the number of carats she wanted.

  ‘It’s hot here, isn’t it?’ Judy said quietly, trying another tactic. ‘Why don’t we wait in the shade at the café over there?’ She pointed towards one of the small, tatty buildings that enjoyed a view of the riverside.

  Roderick shook his head. ‘You go and wait there,’ he said. ‘I’ll join you as soon as I’ve spoken to the people on board this boat.’

  Judy sighed and stood beside him. If Emily was on board the boat, she needed to be with Roderick when he spoke to her. After Port Maga, Judy doubted the woman would be too happy with her, and she would need to defend herself from whatever version of the truth Emily came out with. Standing on the port, watching the boat come nearer, she dismissed the threat of impending problems and considered Roderick instead. They made a splendid couple, she thought. As they had walked this morning, she had caught sight of their reflection in a handful of shop windows and thought how suitably matched they were. He was still wearing jeans and a sweat shirt. It seemed like all he had packed in his wardrobe. She was dressed in a mini-skirt with stockings, high-heels and a tight silk blouse that accentuated her petite breasts. She knew it was not the ideal clothing for an equatorial region, but it made her feel good to dress with that little more finesse than the rest of crowd.

  The fact that they made such a fine-looking couple only enhanced her plans. The idea of being married to Roderick was exciting in its own way, but she intended to use it to full advantage. Simply hinting at marrying him could be enough to make her a wealthy woman when she got home. She savoured the notion warmly and turned her mind back to the current situation. Though this was only a small part of her plan, it was crucial she dealt with it properly.

  The majestic prow of the boat slowed as it neared the jetty and Roderick caught the mooring warp that was thrown to him. He tied it quickly and glanced up at the deck. ‘Ahoy!’ he called.

  ‘Ahoy yourself,’ the dark-haired man called down. ‘Can I help you, son?’

  Roderick swallowed. ‘I’m looking for my…’ He paused and started again. ‘I’m looking for a woman.’

  ‘Then you shouldn’t be hanging around a dock. You’ll only meet sailors around here, and not everything they say about sailors is true.’ The man laughed darkly at his own humour. His mirth increased when he saw the long-haired youth on the jetty blush profusely; the bellow of his laughter rang louder.

  ‘We were all on holiday together,’ Roderick explained. ‘She went missing about three hundred miles down the river. I wondered if you’d given her a lift.’

  ‘Are you talking about Emily?’ the captain asked sharply.

  ‘You know her?’

  Judy closed her eyes. Had she been Catholic, she would have genuflected.

  ‘You’re right. I did give her a lift, but I dropped her off in Port Maga.’ He stared poignantly at Judy. ‘Didn’t I see you while I was there?’

  Judy glanced up at him, remembering the features of the arrogant dark-haired man who had been sauntering across the road when she was trying to speed out of town. ‘You might have seen me,’ she said nonchalantly. ‘We were there for a while.’ She could feel her heart beating fast with relief. She was delighted that Emily was not aboard the boat. Perhaps they would have to go back to Port Maga now, but the chances of finding Roderick’s former fiancée were becoming more and more negligible.

  ‘Come on, sweetheart,’ she said, circling her arm around Roderick’s waist. ‘Why don’t you thank the nice sailor and we’ll get back to the hotel?’

  ‘How long ago was this?’ Roderick demanded.

  Captain Wilde shrugged. ‘It would be about four days ago,’ he said. ‘But you’ll have to excuse me now. I have docking procedures to follow.’

  Roderick nodded. ‘Thank you for your time,’ he said quietly. He allowed Judy to lead him down the jetty away from the Amazon Maiden.

  * * *

  ‘The bitch was calling him darling,’
Emily said. She slammed her curled fist against the deck. ‘I’m going to ring her fucking neck.’

  ‘Get to the back of the queue,’ Captain Wilde growled. ‘If anyone is ringing that bitch’s neck, I get first shot at it.’ He rolled his eyes in disgust. ‘How dare she call me a sailor? It makes me sound like fucking Popeye.’

  ‘She called him darling,’ Emily said, bewildered by the way things had changed. Tears of frustration and anger welled behind the dark lenses of her sunglasses.

  ‘What’s happening, Emily?’ Laura asked. ‘Why the charade? Why did you have us pretend we dropped you back at Port Maga?’

  Emily shook her head. ‘I’ll explain it all to you some other time,’ she said, working hard to keep her voice free from tears. ‘I just didn’t want them to see me getting off the boat.’ Smiling reassuringly at Laura, Emily added, ‘I’m fine now.’

  Captain Wilde grunted dark laughter. ‘I think you’re more than fine.’ Studying her face, a wry smile surfaced on his lips. ‘I think those two have just made a dangerous enemy when they crossed you. Are you going to let them find out how big a mistake they’ve made.’

  ‘Why, Captain Wilde,’ Emily replied primly, ‘I’m sure I don’t know what you mean.’ She placed her hands on his broad chest and pecked him gently on the cheek. An idea occurred to her and she smiled thoughtfully to herself. Turning to Laura she said, ‘Before I leave, there’s something I need to borrow.’

  ‘Take whatever you want,’ Laura smiled.

  * * *

  ‘What are you doing?’ Judy demanded sharply.

  They were back in their hotel room, at her suggestion, and she had thought they were going to spend the afternoon in bed together. It would not have been a bad way to spend the day, she reflected. Roderick had developed quite an appetite for bondage games, and she could have happily tied him up and played with him for hours on end.

  Instead of undressing, he had thrown his suitcase on to the bed and was hurling his clothes angrily into it. ‘What does it look like I’m doing?’ Roderick replied sharply. ‘I’m packing. We have to get back to Port Maga.’

  ‘Why don’t we just find some local authorities and ask them to help?’ Judy asked petulantly. She felt safe in suggesting this now. Wherever Emily was, Judy knew she was out of the way. There was no chance of her making her way back into Roderick’s life before the end of the holiday. By the time they got back to England, it would be too late for her. ‘The authorities will be better equipped to deal with a search,’ Judy explained. ‘And there are more English speaking people here in Enoba.’

  He shook his head. ‘That’s too much like giving up,’ he said. ‘I’d never forgive myself if anything happened to her.’

  Judy moved towards him and placed her hands on his shoulders. ‘Which is why we should get in touch with the authorities. They can organise a search. They can sort things out for her. They can stop something from happening before it actually does happen.’ She placed her head against his chest as she spoke. Her fingers began to slowly ease his shirt buttons open as she talked to him.

  ‘I suppose you’re right,’ Roderick conceded eventually. ‘They should be the ones looking for her.’

  Judy nodded, reaching the waistband of his trousers with her cool fingers. ‘We’ll go and see the local police this afternoon,’ she said. Whispering into his ear, she added, ‘As soon as we’ve finished.’

  ‘Finished what?’ he asked, puzzled.

  Judy reached behind him and pulled the suitcase from the bed. It fell to the floor with a heavy thud. Before the echo of the noise had disappeared, she was pushing him backwards so that he fell on to the soft mattress. His shirt was open and the sight of his lean, naked chest excited her.

  ‘As soon as we’ve finished this,’ Judy said, standing on the bed and towering over him. She grinned down at him, aware that he was trying to glance up her skirt as she stood above him. ‘Are you trying to look at me?’ she asked coyly. ‘You’re a dirty little bastard, aren’t you?’

  Lying on the bed, beaming up at her, Roderick shrugged. ‘Perhaps I am,’ he conceded. ‘I didn’t think you’d complain.’

  She raised the hem of her skirt, revealing the dark edge of her stockings and a glimpse of milky white thigh. ‘Is this what you were trying to see? Were you trying to see the tops of my stockings?’

  He grinned. ‘I might have been. Stockings excite me.’

  Judy laughed at his openness. ‘Really?’ She sounded surprised. ‘How much do they excite you?’

  He swallowed eagerly, the bulge in his pants was growing noticeably. Judy knew that he had not particularly cared for her when his mother had first introduced them. She had seen the same disparaging look on his face that a lot of men gave her. He had considered her to be obvious, brash and uninteresting. Now, after less than a week of sharing intimacy, he was prepared to marry her. She congratulated herself on manipulating him so well.

  ‘Do you want to kiss the tops of my stockings?’ Judy asked. Her voice was a sultry whisper. ‘Do you want to kiss the tops of my stockings while I’m wearing them?’

  He nodded, not trusting himself to speak.

  Slowly Judy raised her short skirt so that she had more room to manoeuvre. Her legs were on full display, as was the black gusset of her knickers. Aware that Roderick was smiling appreciatively up at her, Judy lowered herself on to his face. Roderick’s hands caressed her silk covered legs and massaged the muscles of her calves, then her thighs. As she neared his mouth with her inner thighs, he delivered a series of small kisses to her through the sheer hosiery. They were each making soft, guttural sounds of approval, losing themselves in the glorious joy of their shared intimacy.

  Judy allowed him to kiss her a while longer, enjoying his adulation as she towered over him. ‘That’s good,’ she said quietly. ‘You can do that a lot longer.’

  He grinned up at her. ‘When we make love,’ he began slowly. ‘Would you leave the stockings on?’

  Judy smiled down at him as she shook her head. ‘I can’t do that,’ she whispered. ‘If I left them on, what would I use to tie you up?’

  Groaning excitedly, Roderick began to kiss her thighs even more ardently.

  * * *

  Emily had rushed from the Amazon Maiden, determined to follow the pair. They had not returned to the jeep, and so she assumed they were staying in a hotel near to the port. She caught sight of them and stifled a feeling of outraged fury when she saw they were walking with their arms draped around one another. Glowering furiously behind the black lenses of her dark glasses, she strolled purposefully behind them and watched as they walked into a nearby hotel.

  The pair were so involved with each other she knew she could have stood next to them as they got their key from the concierge. However, favouring a more subtle approach, Emily maintained a discreet distance in her pursuit. She could not see the number on the room key and she did not trust her luck to hold out if she followed the pair up the hotel stairs towards the bedrooms. It was sufficient for her to see that they only took one key.

  As soon as the pair had left the lobby, Emily rushed towards the desk.

  ‘Which room are they staying in?’ she asked the receptionist, pointing towards the retreating couple. ‘What number room?’

  ‘Scusé?’ the woman asked.

  Emily groaned inside. ‘English,’ she began slowly. ‘The English couple who you just passed a key to. What number are they staying in?’ She struggled to repeat the question in a bastardised version of Italian, Spanish and French, but the woman was nodding understanding before she had finished.

  ‘They are in room 312,’ she said, speaking slowly. ‘You want I call them?’ She was reaching for a phone on the reception desk as she asked the question.

  Emily placed a steadying hand on the woman’s, stopping her before she could warn Roderick and Judy. ‘Don’t bother,’ she said quietly, staring at the phone. Another idea occurred to her and she grinned broadly. ‘Your telephones,’ she began excitedly. ‘Are t
hey capable of international calls?’

  The woman paused for a moment, her bottom lip jutting out uncertainly as she tried to make sense of Emily’s question. ‘Yes,’ she said eventually. ‘We have telephones. International calls are made from here.’

  Emily could have kissed her. ‘Do you have a fax?’

  ‘Fax?’ The receptionist frowned.

  Emily held her breath, wondering if she had been hoping for too much.

  ‘Yes. We have fax,’ the receptionist said after a moment. ‘But is only for the use of hotel guests. You understand? You want I call your friends?’

  Emily placed her hand firmly on the telephone, stopping the woman from using it. ‘I want one of the rooms next door to them,’ she said slowly. ‘Would one of them be free?’ Again, she held her breath, hoping that the woman would say yes. If one of the rooms was vacant, she could start work on her plans straight away. The idea was so appealing she dared not dwell on it, knowing that success rested on the receptionist’s answer.

  ‘No,’ the receptionist said with a frown. ‘Neither of those rooms is free.’

  Emily groaned in despair and glared angrily at the polished top of the desk.

  ‘Each room costs forty-eight Reals a night,’ the receptionist explained. ‘You want room 311 or 313?’

  Grinning broadly, Emily reached into her pocket and began to leaf through the money Laura had given her.

  * * *

  Roderick lay naked on the bed. Above him, Judy was still fully clothed. The crotch of her panties was soaked with a mixture of saliva and pussy juices as she writhed eagerly against his face. A groan of elation swept over her as she pushed the heat of her sex against his manly chin.

  ‘Undress,’ Roderick gasped. ‘Please, undress.’

  Judy giggled. She reached her arms across herself and tugged the blouse from her body. She wore a black bra that matched the rest of her lingerie. It contrasted with her wan flesh and Roderick growled his appreciation. ‘Do you want me to take my skirt off?’ Judy asked coyly.