Although shaken, Helga stubbornly refused to accept this.
‘I’ve told you, Jackson! Get out! I’ve had enough of this nonsense!’
‘Jones has bled me white! I’ve got no money!’ Jackson wailed. ‘I’ve got to get off this island! Lopez is already hunting for me! Mrs. Rolfe, for God’s sake, give me some money! If Jones hadn’t broken his arm he would have finished the doll and by now you would be dead!’
Staring at his frightened, sweating face, Helga suddenly became frightened. By now you would be dead. She recalled Gritten’s serious face. She recalled Mrs. Joyce’s change of expression when she had asked about Voodoo. Was this possible?
With an effort, she forced herself to say, ‘I have had enough of this nonsense. Get out!’
Jackson stared hopelessly at her, then lifted his hands in despair.
‘Then I’ll have to trust you to help me, Mrs. Rolfe. That girl... Terry Shields.’ He leaned forward. ‘I can tell you who she is.’
‘For the last time... get out!’
‘Jones and she are planning to get rid of you by Voodoo so she can inherit Rolfe’s money!’ Then stabbing his finger at her, Jackson went on, ‘Terry Shields is your step-daughter! She is Sheila Rolfe who will inherit all her father’s money if you are dead!’
Chapter eight
Helga reached for her glass of brandy while she struggled to absorb the shock of what Jackson had said. She forced herself to sip the brandy, knowing that Jackson was watching her for a reaction.
Terry Shields? Herman’s daughter?
She thought of the girl with the Venetian red hair, the strong face, the wide, firm mouth and the big eyes. From the moment she had seen her, Helga had registered that this girl had character, that she was unusual, but Herman’s daughter?
Then she remembered the cable to Hinkle: the cold, callous message:
Impossible to come to Nassau. Daddy will survive. He always does.
Did this stupid amateur blackmailer really think she would believe such a clumsy lie?
‘Oh, get out! Mr. Rolfe’s daughter is in Paris! I have proof of that!’
‘That cable she sent to Hinkle?’ Jackson shook his head. ‘That was just a blind. She didn’t want you to know she was here. She got a friend in Paris to send it. I heard her and Jones talking about it. I tell you, Mrs. Rolfe, Terry Shields is your step-daughter and she is planning to get rid of you.’
Helga hesitated. She couldn’t bring herself to believe this, but, looking at Jackson, she found it hard to believe he was lying and, besides, how did he know about the cable?
‘I can check if you are lying,’ she said, ‘and if you are, I’ll turn you over to the police. I mean this! Do you still say Terry Shields is Sheila Rolfe?’
He nodded.
‘I swear it, but wait a moment, Mrs. Rolfe. If you are satisfied I’m not lying, will you give me five thousand dollars to get away from here?’
‘If you are not lying,’ Helga said coldly, ‘I will give you five hundred dollars which is enough for you to leave here.’
‘Christ!’ Jackson beat his fist together. ‘You with all your money! I’ve got to get away! I’ve got to make a new start! What’s five thousand to you?’
She got to her feet.
‘Wait here.’
She went into the living room and called the Paradise City villa. The connection took a few minutes, then Hinkle’s fruity voice came over the line.
‘This is Mr. Herman Rolfe’s residence.’
‘Hinkle!’ How glad and relieved she was to hear his voice! ‘This is Mrs. Rolfe.’
‘Ah, madame. I was about to take the liberty of telephoning you as I have not heard from you,’ Hinkle said, reproach in his voice. ‘I have just called the hospital. It appears there is no change.’
‘No, I’m afraid not,’ she said, then went on, ‘I’m sorry not to have called before, but I have been busy.’
‘I am glad to hear that, madame. It must be lonely for you.’
Helga thought: Lonely? Could you or anyone else know how lonely?
‘How is everything at the villa, Hinkle?’
‘Not entirely satisfactory, madame. I am glad to be back, but I can assure you that by the time Mr. Rolfe and you return everything will be in order.’
‘I am sure it will.’ A pause, then she said, ‘Did you get the cable I forwarded to you from Miss Sheila?’
‘I did, madame. It distressed me.’
‘Yes, but the young don’t really care, do they? I am sure she is very busy.’
‘It would appear so, madame.’ Hinkle’s voice sounded mournful.
‘I have been thinking about Miss Sheila. I am disappointed not to have met her. When I think of a person it is helpful to have an image of them. Can you give me a description of her?’
‘A description of her, madame?’ Hinkle’s voice went up a note.
‘What is she like?’ Helga held on to her patience.
‘Well, madame, I would say she was a person of strong character.’ Obviously, from his voice, Hinkle didn’t approve of this conversation.
‘But her appearance, Hinkle? Is she fat, thin, tall, short?’
‘Miss Sheila has an excellent figure, madame. Like most young people she has improved on her appearance. She now has what I believe is referred to as Venetian red hair. It suits her very well.’
Helga experienced a little jolt.
‘That is interesting.’ She paused, then deliberately changing the subject, she went on, ‘Have you any plans yet about Mr. Rolfe’s study?’
‘Indeed yes, madame. I have already consulted an interior decorator. I am sure, when Mr. Rolfe returns, he will be most satisfied.’
‘Wonderful. All right, Hinkle. I am now going to play bridge. I just wanted to hear your voice.’
‘You are most kind, madame.’
‘And to say I miss your marvellous omelettes.’
As an exit line, she knew she couldn’t have done better. She replaced the receiver.
So Jackson wasn’t lying. This girl, calling herself Terry Shields, must be Herman’s daughter!
Jones and she are planning to get rid of you by Voodoo so she can inherit Rolfe’s money!
Could anything be more ridiculous? Then she thought of the doll with the needle in its head. She thought of Herman’s mysterious coma. For a brief moment she felt frightened, then the steel in her asserted itself. Know your enemy. She could hear her father’s dry, hard voice.
Now to handle Jackson. She would need to know everything he could tell her even if it cost her money.
She walked out on to the terrace. Jackson was sitting, slumped in his chair, a cigarette burning between his fingers. The reflected light from the swimming pool showed his face was shiny with sweat.
‘Right, Jackson,’ she said as she sat down. ‘So this girl is Sheila Rolfe. Now you start talking. I want to hear all about this. How did you find out who she was... did she tell you?’
‘Look, Mrs. Rolfe, if I don’t have another drink, I’ll flip my lid!’
‘Help yourself. The drinks are in the living room,’ Helga said impatiently. ‘You don’t expect me to wait on you, do you?’
He scrambled to his feet, and after a moment or so, returned with a bottle of brandy. He poured a drink, swallowed it, then poured more brandy into his glass.
‘Now start talking, Jackson!’
‘How about the money?’ He leaned forward and peered at her. ‘I’m not telling you anything more unless you promise to give me five thousand dollars!’
She could see he was slightly drunk and this made her uneasy. If he turned vicious there was nothing she could do about it. She must be careful how she handled him, she told herself.