Twelve Thrilling Tales Read online

  TWELVE THRILLING TALES

  RITA CHEMINAIS

  Copyright © 2016 Rita Cheminais

  The moral right of the author has been asserted.

  Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of research or private study, or criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, this publication may only be reproduced, stored or transmitted, in any form or by any means, with the prior permission in writing of the publishers, or in the case of reprographic reproduction in accordance with the terms of licences issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency. Enquiries concerning reproduction outside those terms should be sent to the publishers.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imaginationor used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons,living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  Matador

  9 Priory Business Park,

  Wistow Road, Kibworth Beauchamp,

  Leicestershire. LE8 0RX

  Tel: 0116 279 2299

  Email: [email protected]

  Web: www.troubador.co.uk/matador

  Twitter: @matadorbooks

  ISBN 9781785896712

  British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data.

  A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

  Matador® is an imprint of Troubador Publishing Ltd

  For my uncle, Captain Derek Brear, and my tutor, June Davies, at Liverpool Rotunda Writers, who gave me the inspiration and encouragement to write this first short story collection.

  Contents

  Diamonds Are Forever

  The Brown Sugar Cafe

  The Murder Mystery Weekend from Hell

  Garden Makeover

  Double Deal in Nice

  Turmoil at the Blue Moon Restaurant

  One of Those Nights at the Hotel California

  A Birthday to Remember

  A Recipe for Murder

  Bicycle for Sale

  Writers’ Circle

  Burning Desire

  About The Author

  Diamonds Are Forever

  Max and Camilla Partridge had finally sold their jeweller’s business. They were both looking forward to enjoying a Mediterranean cruise to celebrate the start of their retirement. As they boarded the Queen Elizabeth liner at Southampton they were feeling rather apprehensive, after hearing stormy weather was forecast around the Bay of Biscay. A bellboy directed Max and Camilla to their stateroom, which was located midship (port side) on the high deck.

  Max and Camilla began to unpack their suitcases and place their valuables in the stateroom safe. There was a knock at the door, which Max answered. To his utter amazement, standing before him was Gloria Blair – a former assistant, who used to work in their jeweller’s store. She was wearing an elegant black cocktail dress and a diamond necklace. In her hand she clutched a diamond-encrusted evening bag.

  Max was as white as a sheet, and remained speechless.

  This can’t possibly be real, Max thought to himself, because Gloria Blair disappeared five years ago, presumed dead, following a diamond theft at our Partridge’s jeweller’s store.

  Newspaper reports at the time speculated that Miss Gloria Blair had been kidnapped and subsequently killed by a ruthless diamond thief.

  “Well, hello Max,” said Gloria. “Fancy seeing you here after all this time. I bet you never imagined I would reappear again after having gone missing, presumed dead.”

  On hearing Gloria’s voice Camilla rushed over to join Max at the stateroom door.

  “Hello, Gloria. Max and I, like the police and the press, thought you had been murdered. The stolen diamonds were never recovered, you know. I notice you still have a passion for wearing diamonds, Gloria.”

  “Well, sorry to disappoint you, Camilla. Here I am. Perhaps you and Max would like to join me after dinner this evening at ten for a drink in the Commodore Club bar… Look forward to catching up.”

  “OK. S-s-s-see you later,” stammered Max, closing the stateroom door quickly.

  “Can you believe the coolness of that woman, Max? What a nerve she has got… turning up like this, out of the blue. I sincerely hope she isn’t going to ruin our cruise of a lifetime.”

  Max returned to finish his unpacking. He found it difficult to concentrate on what he was doing. Camilla suggested they open the complimentary bottle of champagne in their room, enjoy their chocolates and watch a film on the television.

  “How about watching the James Bond film Diamonds Are Forever, or The Return of the Pink Panther?” said Camilla.

  “I don’t think either film would be appropriate to watch, Camilla,” remarked Max abruptly.

  “I was only joking, my love. Relax, unwind and focus on having a really good time on board ship.”

  “Do you honestly think it is possible to relax, Camilla, with the return of Gloria Blair? It is almost as if she knew we were going to be on board this ship.”

  “You’re becoming obsessed with the woman, Max. She’s only an ex-employee who disappeared five years ago, at the time of the shop break-in and theft. We got most of the money back for the lost diamonds on our business insurance anyway.”

  “You are probably right, Camilla. As usual. I’m overreacting. I promise I won’t give Gloria Blair a second thought from now on. Let’s finish the champagne, take an afternoon nap and enjoy a shower together before we dress for dinner,” suggested Max.

  “Sounds good to me, Max. Let’s go for it.”

  Max and Camilla dressed for dinner. The beautiful diamond necklace Camilla wore glistened and glittered like a million stars lighting up the night sky.

  “You look wonderful, darling,” whispered Max, as he gently kissed Camilla’s neck.

  Their table in the Queen’s Grill restaurant by the window was perfect, as they could see the white crests of the waves striking the side of the ship as it sailed across the sea. After enjoying a delicious meal and an excellent bottle of Malbec wine they made their way to the Commodore Club bar at the front of the ship.

  It was dark outside. Max and Camilla could feel the ship rolling from side to side.

  Gloria waved to them as they entered the bar. She beckoned them over to join her for a drink. Max ordered three double amarettos with ice. Gloria opened the conversation after an initial pause of silence.

  “Well, isn’t this nice? The three of us all together again. How long, Max, did you think you could get away with the theft of the diamonds from your store?”

  Max nearly choked on his drink and remarked,

  “I don’t know what on earth you are talking about, Gloria.”

  “Oh, come on, Max. Don’t act the innocent with me. You’ve had five good years free from me and the law. Now it’s time for you to pay the price for involving me in your little game of fraud and deception. I bet Camilla would love to know what you’ve really been doing over the last five years. I suggest we all leave the bar now and we continue this discussion outside on deck. I’ve got a gun in my bag – so don’t try any funny business, either of you.”

  Max and Camilla walked out of the bar ahead of Gloria, who followed close behind them. The ship was really rolling from side to side. They all struggled to walk in a straight line. It was absolute madness to go outside on deck in such stormy weather.

  As Max opened the deck door the wind howled and the spray from the sea hit the deck. A ship’s officer passed them and suggested it would be unwise to remain on
deck in the current weather conditions. Gloria told him they only wanted a quick smoke, and that they would shelter by the deck door. The ship’s officer said he would return in ten minutes to check that they had returned to their rooms safely.

  Perfect, thought Gloria to herself. Ten minutes is all I need.

  Camilla clung to Max, not knowing exactly what Gloria was going to do next.

  Gloria told them both to move over to the ship’s side rail, out of view of the door.

  “Don’t try to call for help,” said Gloria, “otherwise you are both going to pay the price. Give me your necklace, Camilla.”

  Camilla undid her diamond necklace and passed it over to Gloria. Max made a sudden run to grab Gloria’s bag as she was taking the necklace from Camilla’s hand. Gloria, however, was too quick for Max, and she fired the gun through her bag.

  Max fell to the deck with a thud. Blood began to ooze out on to the front of his shirt where she had shot him in the chest. Camilla screamed.

  “Shut up,” yelled Gloria.” You are going to have to help me push Max over the side of the ship.”

  Camilla and Gloria pushed Max’s body over the side of the ship. Gloria threw her bag into the sea. Gloria turned round and looked at Camilla, and Camilla stared at Gloria. Neither spoke to each other. Just then the deck door opened and the same ship’s officer they had met before asked them to return inside.

  “Where is the gentleman who was with you before?” enquired the ship’s officer.

  “Oh, he finished his cigarette earlier than us and he has already returned to his stateroom. We were just about to go back to our rooms too, officer… weren’t we, Camilla?”

  Camilla didn’t reply. The officer said,

  “Goodnight, ladies,” and locked the deck door behind them as they made their way back to their staterooms.

  “Well, Camilla, our little plan worked beautifully. Max hadn’t got a clue what was going to happen to him. Let’s get a good night’s sleep, and in the morning you report your husband missing to the ship’s purser. Here, you had better take your diamond necklace back. Diamonds are forever ours. Goodnight, Camilla. Sleep well.”

  The Brown Sugar Cafe

  It was ten o’clock in the morning, and Jason Savage had not turned up for his eight o’clock shift at the Brown Sugar Cafe in Little Wellings. Jan Harvey, manager and owner of the popular retro-style cafe, had been ringing Jason’s mobile phone number at regular intervals throughout the morning, but had continued to get no reply.

  Jason was never late for work. This was so out of character. Jan could manage to cover the breakfast and morning coffee trade alone, but lunchtime would be a struggle for her on her own.

  Jan decided to give Tina, her part-time waitress, a call on her phone to see if she could come in earlier and do the lunchtime shift with her. Tina said she could help out for an hour, from twelve to one. But she had to collect her daughter from nursery at one thirty, and take her to her mum’s before returning to do the afternoon tea shift at the cafe. Jan thanked her, but still hoped that Jason would appear before lunchtime.

  Steve Pratt, a local builder, and one of Jan’s regular customers, came into the cafe carrying a copy of the Little Wellings Gazette under his arm.

  “Morning, Jan. Can I have the usual, please? Have you seen the headlines on the front page of this morning’s Gazette?”

  “No. I haven’t had a minute’s break, as Jason hasn’t turned up for work yet.”

  “Well,” said Steve, “the police have found an unidentified body floating in the canal by the railway bridge.”

  “Really?” remarked Jan. “Probably just another bloke who has had too much to drink, lost his balance and accidentally fallen into the canal.”

  “Let’s hope you are right, Jan,” remarked Steve. “The police are keen to speak to anyone who may have seen something between nine o’clock last night and six o’clock this morning, when the body was discovered.”

  As Steve tucked into his full English breakfast Jan asked if she could have a look at the Gazette’s front page. She wondered if she should contact the police to report Jason not having turned up for work. Could the body found in the canal be Jason?

  Jan thought she was probably worrying unnecessarily. So far Jason was only two hours late. Just then the cafe door opened and in strolled Jason, looking like death warmed up and as white as a sheet.

  “What time do you call this, Jason? You look dreadful,” remarked Jan.

  “Sorry, Jan, I overslept. I was at a friend’s party last night, and had a bit too much to drink.”

  “I’ve been ringing your mobile all morning, Jason, and getting no response.”

  “I couldn’t find my mobile phone this morning, Jan. I must have left it at my friend’s house.”

  “That must explain why I kept getting no reply,” grumbled Jan.

  Steve Pratt had finished his breakfast. He decided it was time to get back to work. He paid Jan for his breakfast and left the cafe, deciding it was probably best to leave Jason and Jan to sort out any differences between them. Jason slunk into the kitchen, took off his coat and put on his waiter’s apron. Jan shot through to the kitchen.

  “Listen, Jason, I’ve asked Tina to come in at twelve to help out at lunchtime, because I thought you were not going to appear. Are you sure you are fit to work?”

  “Yes, I’ll be OK, Jan. Ring Tina back and tell her to come in at her usual time for the afternoon shift.”

  “OK, Jason, I will ring Tina. I’m docking your wages, though, for the time you have been absent from work this morning.”

  “Fair enough, Jan. I fully understand how you feel about my lateness.”

  Jan wondered if she was being too hard on Jason. After all, he had never been late for work before. Perhaps she should just give him a warning. However, she was the boss, and he had to learn a lesson about punctuality for work. Jason started to clear the tables from breakfast, wipe them down and lay them up again for lunch.

  He asked Pete the chef what the specials were for lunch and promptly wrote them up on the chalkboard in the cafe. Jan watched Jason as he worked, and thought he looked tense and pensive.

  The cafe’s regulars began to arrive for lunch. Between them Jan and Jason took their orders and served their meals. Jason had got one order muddled up – but otherwise he appeared to be coping well, despite his hangover. By two o’clock Tina had arrived for her afternoon shift. She was pleased to see that Jason and Jan had relaid the tables for afternoon tea. Tina looked at Jason and remarked jokingly,

  “My God, Jason, you look rough. Were you out on the ale last night? That’s not like you. Don’t put the customers off their afternoon tea.” Jason gave Tina a withering look, and went back into the kitchen for some more glasses.

  Just at that moment the cafe door opened and in walked two smartly dressed men in suits. One of them showed Jan his ID card and said, “We are looking for a young man called Jason Savage. We have reason to believe he works here.”

  Jan was taken by surprise, and thought to herself,

  Why are these two plain-clothed police detectives keen to find Jason? Jan responded to the detective’s enquiry.

  “Yes, Jason Savage does work here. He’s just popped into the kitchen for some glasses. I’ll go and get him for you now.”

  “Thank you. That would be helpful, Miss.”

  “Oh, I’m Jan Harvey, owner and manager of the Brown Sugar Cafe. I won’t be a minute.” Jan walked into the kitchen.

  “Hey Jason, there are two police detectives in the cafe. They would like to speak to you.”

  As Jason turned to face Jan he accidentally knocked a couple of glasses off the tray. They smashed as they hit the ground.

  “I’m sorry, Jan. I’ll pay for the breakage. Let me clear the mess up.”

  “No, Jason. You go out and ta
lk to those two detectives before the customers begin to arrive for afternoon tea. I’ll clear up the broken glass.”

  Jason walked out of the kitchen. He was immediately greeted by one of the detectives.

  “Are you Jason Savage?”

  “Yes, I am.”

  “We would be grateful if you would accompany us to the police station… to help us with our enquiries regarding an incident involving a man found dead early this morning in the canal.”

  “I don’t know anything about a body found in the canal. I was at home late last night, sleeping off a hangover,” insisted Jason.

  “Get your coat, Jason. We will continue this conversation down at the station.”

  Jan and Tina stared at Jason open-mouthed as he went to get his coat.

  “You can manage without him, can’t you, Miss?” asked one of the detectives.

  “Yes. Tina and I will manage without him this afternoon.”

  They both watched from the cafe window as Jason was escorted to a dark blue Ford Mondeo by the two police detectives.

  That was the very last time Jan and Tina saw Jason Savage. He never returned to work, and they never heard anything back from the police.

  Three days later Jan picked up the morning edition of the Little Wellings Gazette as it landed with a thud on the floor after dropping through the cafe’s letter box. The front-page news reported that Jason Savage was actually Benny Doyle, a known identity fraudster who had been wanted by the police. Benny Doyle had been blackmailing and harassing the real Jason Savage. He had taken his passport, his National Insurance documents and a considerable amount of cash from Jason’s flat. The motive for the crime was that Jason had gone off with Benny’s long-term girlfriend.

  After considerable police questioning Benny Doyle had confessed to the murder of Jason Savage. Benny had got involved in a fight with Jason on his way back from a party. Benny had pushed Jason deliberately into the canal. Jason couldn’t swim. Benny panicked and ran away from the canal. In his haste to leave the scene of the crime Benny’s mobile phone had dropped out of his pocket on to the canal path.