Chapter 20
I try to end the call but he answers before I can do so.
‘Juno?’ he says. ‘Is that you?’
‘Trapped? Where?’
‘I’m not totally sure. I went down into the cellar and—’
I break off, holding the phone away from my ear. Over the rush of the waves, I hear the sound of a boat. I jump to my feet – it’s a speedboat. I recognise Ollie at the helm and someone else – Alex, I think.
‘Hey!’ I cry out. ‘Over here!’
For an awful second, I think they won’t hear me. Then, Alex looks in my direction. I wave my arms, but he turns away. Either he hasn’t seen me – or is choosing to ignore my distress. But then, the boat slows and turns. I’m being rescued!
‘What’s happening, Juno?’ Will says through the phone.
‘Thanks,’ I say. ‘I’m good.’ As the boat draws nearer, I end the call.
The little boat bucks and pitches, and I worry they won’t be able to reach me. But they manage to manoeuvre the craft near the rocks, and Ollie throws me a life ring. I have to jump into the water, hanging on for dear life, as the boat tows me beyond the breaking waves and Ollie helps me aboard.
‘My God, Juno,’ he says, raising his voice over the noise of the engine. ‘I thought you were a siren – or a ghost.’
My teeth are chattering so hard, I can barely speak. Ollie throws me a towel – it’s covered with engine oil, but I put it around me anyway. ‘I… might have become one… if you hadn’t turned up when you did.’
‘What in hell’s name were you thinking? It’s dangerous out here. Especially if you’ve got no clue about the tides, and what’s safe and what isn’t.’
I bristle at another Penhelion trying to warn me of another danger.
‘You’re right,’ I say, ‘but I have a clue that someone is hiding out in the caves below my inn, getting into my cellar, and stealing food from my kitchen.’
‘What?’ Ollie frowns. ‘You’re joking, right?’
I don’t like his tone. And Alex – his eyes bore into me like two sharp knives. He may like Bridget, but for some reason, I get the distinct impression that he’s taken a dislike to me. Which happens to be mutual…
‘No. I’m not joking.’ The motion of the boat makes my stomach lurch. ‘And do you mind if we continue this discussion back on dry land? I think I’m going to be—’
I treat my rescuers to the sight of me retching over the side of the boat.
‘Shit!’ Alex calls out. ‘Let’s go.’
Mortified, I keep my eyes firmly fixed on the shore as they stoke the motor. The boat masters the waves and soon we reach the little cove where Cliff keeps the Porthcurno.
Ollie manoeuvres the boat up behind a dinghy that’s bobbing next to the dock, and helps me onto dry land. I collapse on one of the large rocks at the side of the cove, gasping for breath. Alex stays in the boat, looking surly and anxious, like I’m keeping them from something.
‘I’m sorry,’ I say, as Ollie comes and stands over me.
‘You’ve clearly had quite the ordeal, Juno,’ he says. ‘Do you think you’ll be OK? I’d walk you home, but we’re in a bit of a rush. We need to get the barque ready to sail this afternoon.’
I nod automatically, though in truth, I’m a little put out that he won’t see me safely to my doorstep. Clearly, I’ve caused them an inconvenience.
‘I’m fine,’ I say. ‘You go. I’m sorry to have kept you.’
‘Don’t worry.’ He sits down on the rock next to me and takes my hand, gripping it firmly. ‘Do you want to tell me what happened?’
I tell him briefly about the voices, the men, the bedroll and the food. ‘I was afraid they would come after me, so I kept going and found the mouth of the cave. I tried to get up to the headland, but the tide was coming in. I ended up getting trapped.’
‘Sounds scary,’ he says.
‘It was. And I guess I’ll need to report the trespassers and get the police out.’
‘You could.’ He lets go of my hand. ‘Though, if I’m being completely honest, I doubt they’d take any action. It’s probably better if you just fix the wall in your cellar. Problem solved.’
‘But what about the men?’ I say. ‘Do you think they could be smugglers? Or traffickers?’
He laughs good-naturedly, like I’ve made a funny joke.
‘I think someone’s been reading too much Daphne du Maurier.
I sail these waters nearly every day, and I’ve seen no sign of anything like that.
I think people like to keep the old stories alive – it makes the place more exciting.
I’m guilty of it too: scaring my punters with tales of ghosts, wreckers, pirates, and murderers. None of it is true nowadays.’
He’s probably just trying to lighten the mood, but I’m annoyed that he’s being so dismissive. ‘But what about the body that washed up?’ I say. ‘What about the police stopping boats looking for traffickers and drug smugglers?’
‘Sadly, I think the casualty on the beach was an unlucky swimmer who got caught by a wild wave. Around here, the undertow and currents can catch a person unawares. As for the rest, well, like I said, I haven’t seen anything amiss.
’ He lowers his voice. ‘Unless you count Cliff and his casks of bootleg whisky. But I don’t. ’
‘OK, maybe you haven’t encountered anyone. But what about my intruders? I’m not making it up, Ollie.’
‘Of course not,’ he says. ‘I’m sure you thought you heard something. But you hit the nail on the head with the caves and tunnels. They run for miles, and there are always people caving or exploring the old mine workings – even when they’re told it’s dangerous.’
He sounds so convincing… And when he smiles at me with desire sparkling in his eyes, I want to be convinced. Truly.
‘I’m sure you’re right,’ I say. ‘I’ll get the cellar wall fixed and try to stop worrying.’
‘Good,’ he says. ‘And like I said earlier, I’m sorry that I haven’t been in touch. I’ve been thinking about you a lot, and looking forward to seeing you again. But duty calls – and those of us who weren’t born with a silver spoon have to make a living.’
‘Don’t I know it.’
‘I’m sure.’ He smiles. ‘But if it would put your mind at ease, I can come by tomorrow and check the cellar to make sure everything’s secure.’
‘Yes,’ I say, ‘I’d like that.’
Looking at me through lowered eyelashes, he brushes a windblown strand of hair from my face.
‘Me too, Juno,’ he says. ‘Definitely.’
He kisses me hard on the lips, leaving me breathless as he returns to the speedboat.