"Glad you've come, Carter," he said. "I have to attend a meeting in Victoria. Be back in a day or two — maybe three. Mona will see that you get whatever you want."
I kept a straight face as I watched the smile whisk across Mona's lips and disappear instantly. "Did you find anything in the records yesterday?"
"Kind of," I said. "I had a full evening last night." I sat down and briefed him on what had taken place, telling him about Judy's part as an apparent contact girl, but leaving out her agreement with me. I wasn't being protective. All those humanitarian instincts had been discarded a long time ago. Being a good Joe and staying alive are very often diametrically opposed, in this game. But Judy Henniker was my own private lead, and it was a rule of mine, learned the hard way, that you always kept your leads to yourself until you were positive of everybody and every place. You always held back a little — and I was holding back Judy's private understanding with me.
When I'd finished my story, the Major was gray and shaken, but he left wishing me the best of luck in my investigation. His eyes were tired, mirroring the heaviness inside him, and I knew what he was feeling. He was deeply disturbed by the thought that his country could be so thoroughly infiltrated by enemies. I didn't tell him not to take it too hard. Perhaps it was good for them all to be shaken up. But I knew that a top espionage outfit could infiltrate anything. It was your counterespionage work that determined how far they got. I turned to Mona after the Major left and found her eyes were playing a cool obbligato to her questions.
Isn't it possible that John Dawsey was killed for very personal reasons?" she asked. "Suppose he had gotten involved with narcotic smuggling or crooked gambling?"
I had to admit that there were those possibilities and they weren't that far out either. Dawsey could have gotten into some big money in underground operations and he was afraid my snooping might uncover it. When he called his pals they decided to play it safe and shut him up altogether. Of course, they had to do the same with me when I stumbled onto them. It was perfectly plausible. I just wasn't buying it. But I had to go along with her. Besides, I didn't want to skewer that national pride which made Mona, even more than the Major, unwilling to admit any weaknesses.
"Get me Lieutenant Dempster's base commander," I said. "I want Dempster at the base for an interview. Maybe I'll be able to answer some of your questions better afterwards."
But I was out of luck. After nearly an hour of phone calls and red tape, Mona told me that Dempster was away on leave. He was due back in two days.
"Have the base commander call me the minute they know Dempster will be arriving," I said. "Then get your Naval Operations Chief on the wire. I want to question Burton Comford."
"Look, Nick," Mona said. "You had a bloody rough night and you're damn well banged up now. Why not knock off on this a bit? Just come up to my place for drinks and dinner and relax. You need it, I'd say."
"The naval base, gorgeous," I said. "I couldn't relax now, not until I get a few more answers."
She sighed and made the call, going through the various channels of Navy red tape — poised, efficient, one helluva beautiful woman. I watched her, hearing half the conversations she held and then, finally, she put down the phone, and there was expression of triumph in her eyes.
"The man you want, this Burton Comford, was reassigned to the harbor patrol operating out of Innisfail," she said. "Innisfail is just up the coastline, perhaps hour's drive from Townsville or a bit more. The harbor patrol is really a coastal watch, small vessels that see to all kinds of coast-wise problems. Comford is on duty now. He'll be coming in at the end of the shift, midnight tonight. I left word that he is to report to the commander's office and that you'd be there."
"Midnight, eh?" I grunted. "I guess that's it, then."
"That's it." She smiled smugly. "And now as there's nothing you can do but wait, you can have cocktails and dinner at my place while you're waiting. You can leave in plenty of time. The coastal is a fast one and leads right into harbor patrol base."
I grinned at her. "You're not only beautiful, you're persistent," I said. "And you're not only persistent, you have the luck of the gods on your side. Let's go."
I watched Mona get her things and then she was beside me, her arms linked into mine, the side of her breast brushing lightly against my arm as we walked out to where the little Anglia was parked. I was feeling on edge and itchy and I knew why. I hated delays and I'd had two of them, one on top of the other. Something unexpected could always happen with delays, and the fact that there wasn't a damn thing I could do about these two didn't really help. I was anxious as hell to pump questions into the Air Force lieutenant and the radarman. I didn't want to wait two days, or even five hours. But I had to, dammit. I swore under my breath.
As I looked at Mona walking beside me, I knew that the restless fire inside me would erupt to engulf her if she played games. She was one gorgeous piece of woman, and her eyes were provocative as hell, but she was Major Rothwell's assistant and I didn't want to start something sticky. But, I mumbled to myself, this is no night to play with matches.
Mona's apartment was comfortably furnished, with a nice long sofa and uniquely shaped coffee table. The decor was white and red, with matching red sofa and draperies, two large white stuffed chairs offering contrast. Mona showed me her liquor cabinet and asked me to make drinks while she changed. 1 had martinis ready, very cold and very dry, when she came out in black slacks with a white jersey top that caressed her breasts. She started dinner during the first martini and came out to sit with me during the second.
"Were you born here in Queensland?" I asked her.
"I was born in Hong Kong," she answered. "Daddy was a major in the British army, and we were stationed in Peking for a while too. Of course, that was all before the Communists took over."
"What is someone as beautiful as you doing unmarried?" I asked, and quickly apologized for the question. "I don't mean to be crude but hell, I thought the Aussies were good judges of women."
She laughed and had me make us another round. "I've only been here for three years," she said. "Until I got here I was in England, mostly, and all those narrow-hipped, thin English girls made me feel out of place. I kept to myself a lot. But I like it better here."
It was an answer that didn't really answer my question, but I didn't press further. Mona's eyes were roving over me as she paused to drain her martini.
"Do you believe in instant attraction, Nick?" she asked, leaning back on the sofa.
"You mean some kind of immediate chemical interaction between two people?" I queried. "I believe in it. I've had it happen to me."
She sat up and leaned forward, her face only inches from mine. "So have I," she said. "The first moment I saw you." Her lips, full and moist, sent out their own invitation as she stayed there, in front of me, not making a move, just sending out heat waves. I leaned forward and my lips found hers — I felt her mouth open at once, her tongue at the ege of her teeth, waiting to leap forward. We kissed without touching bodies, arms at our sides, like two serpents moving together in a swaying rhythm. Suddenly she pulled away.
"I smell something burning," she said and dashed into the kitchen.