Page 50 of One Summer in Monte Carlo
‘Oh, no, you’re not. The doctor said bed rest for twenty-four hours, so don’t you even dare to think about getting up,’ Nanette scolded her. ‘When I get back from putting whatever it is in the safe, I’m ringing the clinic to make you an appointment,’ she said and tucked Patsy firmly back into bed.
Later that morning, she left Patsy with some magazines and strict instructions to take it easy and made her way down to the harbour.
Walking towards the yacht, she could see the gangway was raised, making access from the quay impossible.
Hadn’t Zac told the crew he’d arranged for her to meet someone there? What would she do if the crew had all disappeared for the day and she couldn’t get on board?
To her relief, as she got nearer, she saw Phil, 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 gangway and let her on board. Instead, he finished his conversation and took his time before pressing the button that would lower the gangway.
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 secondsecretsafe 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 Zac.’
‘Oh, I intend to,’ Phil said. ‘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 please, Captain?’
Without waiting for a reply, Evie slipped off her high heels and walked along the gangway.
‘I’ve got a package for Zac,’ she said, rummaging in her tote and producing a medium-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. ‘When you’ve done what you have to do.’
‘Love one. Give me five minutes to put this away first.’ Nanette turned to Phil. ‘All right if I go down below?’ she asked.
‘Be my guest – you know where it is,’ and Phil moved aside 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. Remembering her birthday date backwards was the easy bit. Counting under her breath, Nanette concentrated on remembering the number of turns she had to make to the right and then to the left in between several of the digits. As she did the last turn to the right, she heard the satisfyingclickof the lock undoing and with a deep sigh of relief she pulled open the door.
The safe was empty – except for a 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.
