‘I am sure you will,’ Helga said and turned away.
When he had gone, she sat down and drew in a deep breath. That had gone off better than she could have hoped. So Jackson had found and taken the money. That must mean he was miles away by now. The mess she had feared was now disappearing under the rug. The cards had begun to fall her way again!
Twenty minutes later, Hinkle appeared with a large, sealed envelope.
‘Is that what you wanted, madame?’
Helga slit open the envelope, glanced inside and saw the red folder.
‘Yes, thank you, Hinkle.’ She looked directly at him. ‘I suppose you have guessed what this is?’
‘I would rather not be told, madame,’ Hinkle said, his face expressionless. ‘I hesitate to offer advice, but may I suggest the contents of this envelope should be destroyed.’
She stared at him and again the small voice urged: go on, destroy it! Think what you have to lose! Even Hinkle is telling you to do it. Doesn’t that salve your stupid conscience?
‘Thank you, Hinkle. You are a good friend.’
‘I suggest a light meal would be sensible, madame. One thinks so much better when fortified. Perhaps a dozen oysters?’
She shook her head.
‘I feel like a big steak. I haven’t eaten for two days!’
His face lit up.
‘Certainly, madame. I will cook it myself. Also a little caviar with toast.’
As soon as he had gone, Helga decided to dress. Looking at her watch, she saw the time was 14.45. She hated slopping around in a wrap.
Half an hour later, when Hinkle pushed in the service trolley, she was wearing a white dress with a broad black leather belt around her slim waist and he regarded her with admiring approval.
‘If I may say so, madame, you are a remarkable person.’
She smiled at him.
‘Thank you, Hinkle. At times I believe that myself. You didn’t think...’ Then she stopped, seeing the cocktail shaker. ‘Of course you did... bless you.’
‘I fear Dr. Levi wouldn’t approve, madame, but in times of stress, a little alcohol is beneficial.’
After she had finished the meal and had drunk two vodka-martinis, she found to her surprise that her head no longer ached.
As she lit a cigarette, she asked, ‘What are the arrangements?’ She couldn’t bring herself to say “funeral,” but Hinkle knew what she meant.
‘I have attended to all that, madame. The service will be at the Church of Christ in Paradise City at three o’clock the day after tomorrow. Dr. Levi hopes you will be able to fly home in the executive plane tomorrow afternoon with Mr. Winborn.’
‘It is not going to be a big affair?’ she asked suddenly anxious.
‘No, madame. Later, of course there will be a memorial service, but for the private service, just you, Mr. Winborn, the staff and Miss Sheila.’
Helga stiffened.
‘Miss Sheila?’
‘Yes, madame. She has arrived. I saw her this morning. She would like to meet you. If it would be convenient she would come here at six o’clock.’
Helga hesitated.
She thought of the redheaded girl and she could hear again those cruel words: When a middle-aged woman gets hot pants for a boy young enough to be her son, cold water helps.
Inwardly, she flinched.
Then she remembered the sacrifice she was going to make by giving Winborn the letter. Because she refused to cheat, this girl, now living rough, would suddenly become a millionairess! Surely this girl would admire her for her sacrifice and regret what she had said.
‘Of course, Hinkle. I must see her.’
‘Very well, madame.’ Hinkle positively beamed. ‘If you feel strong enough, it is quite safe for you to come downstairs and enjoy the sun. With the assistance of the police I have got rid of the press. The Inspector was good enough to leave a couple of men on guard to see you are not bothered. Dr. Levi will be coming in half an hour.’
‘All right, Hinkle. I am so grateful for what you have done and are doing.’
With a happy expression on his fat face, Hinkle wheeled the trolley from the room.
Nervous and restless, Helga sat on the terrace under a sun umbrella. She kept looking at her watch. The time was 17.50. In ten more minutes the girl who called herself Terry Shields would arrive.
Dr. Levi had come and gone. He had offered tranquillizers, had warned her not to exert herself, had offered condolences and as Helga didn’t encourage him, he finally bowed himself out.
Nurse Fairely also took her leave. Kind as she was, Helga was glad to see her go.
Now, she was alone except for Hinkle who she could hear pottering around in the kitchen, probably preparing something for dinner. She thought of Winborn. He would be arriving the following morning. Once he had read Herman’s letter, his claws would be unsheathed, but she was beyond caring.
The sound of a discreet cough made her look around. Hinkle was standing in the doorway.
‘Miss Sheila, madame,’ he said and stood aside to let Terry pass around him, then he moved out of sight.
Helga watched the girl come across the patio with quick, purposeful strides. She was wearing a white T-shirt and dark blue jeans. Her red-gold hair glittered in the sun. She walked straight up to Helga and looked down at her.
‘Are you all right?’ she asked, and Helga was surprised at the concern in her voice.
‘I’ve got over it, thank you. Won’t you sit down?’
Terry pulled up a chair and sat down, her knees together, her slim hands in her lap.
‘I owe you an apology and an explanation,’ she said, looking directly at Helga. ‘My exit line when we last met was indefensible. All I can say is I regret saying it and hope you don’t hate me for it. You see, Dick means a lot to me and when my men are threatened, I behave like an ill-mannered bitch.’
Taken aback, Helga said, ‘You should never regret telling the truth. So Dick means a lot to you?’
‘Yes. He intrigues me. I see a big future for him. I am re-educating him.’
‘Are you? Will he appreciate that?’
‘He needs to be re-educated. He realizes he is very mixed up. So many people are. I have explained that to him. It is not a matter of liking or appreciating. People don’t like changes, but he accepts he must be re-educated. I intend to take him back to Paris with me. He will make a tremendous impact once he gets there.’
What the hell is all this? Helga asked herself, feeling bewildered.
‘Impact?’ she asked. ‘In what way?’
‘By his powers. He is a genuine Voodoo doctor.’
Helga stiffened.
‘A Voodoo doctor? Surely you don’t believe in that ridiculous cult?’
‘It is only those who know absolutely nothing about Voodoo who talk like that,’ Terry said quietly. ‘There is good and evil Voodoo. Dick had an evil master. I’m going to teach him to do good with his powers.’
‘I suppose you know he made an obscene effigy of your father?’
Terry nodded.
‘Yes, but it wasn’t obscene. He made it because you were forcing him to leave here. It was wrong, of course, but he was desperate and you mustn’t forget he is young and very immature.’
‘You really believe he put your father in a coma?’
‘Of course.’
Helga suppressed a shudder.
‘And you know he began to make a doll resembling me?’
‘Yes, but I stopped that,’ Terry said crisply. ‘That is what I mean about evil Voodoo. I have got him over that now. In Paris he will have a large following. In time he may be like the Guru with his Rolls Royce. People will flock to him once he has been re-educated.’
Helga felt bewildered. She shifted to more familiar ground.
‘All this will cost money, won’t it?’