The Case of the Black Pearl Read Online Free PDF

little late,’ Patrick said, knowing he wasn’t.
    She shook her head. ‘No, I am a little early.’ She glanced down to where Oscar was staring up at her with worshipful eyes. ‘And I have been thoroughly entertained by your manservant while waiting.’ She laughed.
    Oscar’s ears pricked up at the compliment and Patrick could swear the dog looked smug.
    ‘He normally doesn’t allow strangers to board,’ he said, a little puzzled by the domestic tableau.
    ‘But I am not a stranger,’ she assured him.
    Patrick looked at her quizzically.
    ‘When you travel, you leave Oscar with a friend of mine,’ she explained.
    The local vet, Georges Baptiste, took on a whole new persona in Patrick’s mind. Did vets really make enough money to afford Hibiscus rates?
    ‘We went to school together,’ Marie said, as though reading his mind.
    There was an awkward moment before Patrick said, ‘Can you help yourself to a drink while I shower?’
    ‘Of course. Can I mix you something?’
    Patrick had briefly forgotten that Brigitte’s girls were the Mediterranean equivalent of geishas. Schooled in all the arts, including the perfect cocktail.
    ‘I’d love a vodka martini, shaken not stirred.’
    She raised a delicate black eyebrow in what he translated as amusement. ‘Naturally,’ she said.
    Patrick glanced at the galley area.
    ‘Don’t worry, I’m sure I will find everything I need,’ Marie assured him. ‘If not, I’ll shout.’
    ‘The bathroom’s in the stern,’ Patrick said.
    ‘I know.’ She smiled.
    Patrick turned the shower to power and soaped off the salt. It seemed Marie had turned up early, knowing Oscar would let her board
Les Trois Soeurs
, even if Patrick himself wasn’t there. Had she done that on purpose? And if so, why?
    Perhaps she’d turned up early in order to check out the sunken bath. Patrick smiled at the thought. The manner in which Madame Lacroix had mentioned it during their phone call had suggested it was regarded with some humour in her establishment.
    It had been Patrick’s habit on occasion to vacate Cannes during the film festival, renting the gunboat out to delegates via Le Chevalier, for a high price. He suspected at least one of Brigitte’s girls had visited the boat during that time and probably discovered the pleasures of his bath.
    Now dried and dressed, he headed back to the cabin. In his absence Marie had put on some music – the soulful jazz voice of Madeleine Peyroux. She had also mixed martinis and set out the
fruits de mer
platter he’d collected earlier and stored in the fridge.
    They sat for a moment, nursing their cocktails, listening to the music, discussing the singer and her road to fame. Marie Elise reminded Patrick of the American actress Halle Berry, with her close-cropped hair, high cheekbones and stunning smile. Eventually Patrick suggested they eat and she nodded in agreement.
    He produced the wine for her approval and she told him a funny story about a visit to the vineyard that had produced it. She was entertaining, beautiful, intelligent and, he reminded himself, she was with him because he was paying for her rather excellent company.
    Patrick was surprised to find the thought made him a little sad.
    They sat on opposite sides of the table, the large platter of shellfish between them, enough to feed at least three. Patrick motioned to Marie to begin and she delicately selected a langoustine. And so it began: food, good wine and conversation, none of which featured
The Black Pearl.
    Marie waited until the coffee and brandy stage before she raised the subject herself.
    ‘I understand from Chevalier that you asked me here to discuss the launch party for
The Black Pearl
?’ Marie swirled the brandy round the glass and took a sip. ‘What do you want to know?’
    When Patrick tried to soften this by suggesting her company had been just as important, she interrupted him.
    ‘I don’t believe you’re a man who needs to pay for companionship,’ she said