people, playing cards under the shade of the trees at the other.
I was beginning to think the ninety-five to five chance wasn't going to pay off.
'You see the cape ahead?' Nancy said, putting her hand on my naked shoulder. 'That's the place I was telling you about. It belongs to Jack Dexter. He's marvellous, but God! his wife's a drip ! Right now they are in the South of France. The place has been rented. jack hates renting his houses — he has around six of them — but she's so mean, she insists.'
I was beginning to get worried. Time was running out.
'Are there any more rented houses along here?'
'Dozens of them, but they are all gruesome . . . strictly for the tourist trade. This one's nice.'
Graceful cypress trees screened the approach to the house. I could see a harbour, then as we got closer, a powerful motor boat. Beyond the harbour was a sandy beach.
As we came around the screen of trees, I saw an expanse of lawn and a ranch-type house surrounded by flower beds packed with multicoloured begonias.
'That's Jack Dexter's place,' Nancy said. 'It's nice, isn't it? I haven't had time yet to find out who has taken it.'
I wasn't listening.
Sitting on the lawn under the shade of a spider orchid tree was Timoteo Savanto.
* * *
My immediate reaction on seeing Timoteo was to shout to Nancy to steer into the harbour, but I checked the impulse. There was a remote chance that Lucy wasn't there. I felt sure she was, but I couldn't take that chance.
'That's not the boy friend?' Nancy asked. She had joined me at the cabin window and was looking at Timoteo. 'He looks a drip, doesn't he?'
Timoteo had found another pair of sun goggles. At the sound of the motor boat, he looked towards us, the sun reflecting on the black glass of the goggles. Although I knew he couldn't see me at this distance and through the blue anti-glare glass of the cabin window, I moved back a little.
'No . . . that's not him,' I said.
I looked searchingly at the ranch house. Then I was thankful I had checked the impulse to take the boat into the harbour. I saw Nick in his yellow-and-red shirt, standing on the verandah looking towards us. I saw two other men in white ducks and sweat shirts suddenly appear around the building. They too looked towards us.
'Hey! A house full of men!' Nancy said excitedly. 'Shall we call in and say hello?'
'No. How far is the next place?'
'About a mile.' Reluctantly she opened the throttle and the boat surged forward.
We looked at four other houses. I didn't want her to know I had found my objective. After the fourth house, I said, 'I guess this is a waste of time. It was a long chance. She's probably at a hotel or taken an apartment. We'll go back.'
'There are still dozens of places along this coast you haven't seen,' Nancy said. 'Don't be faint- hearted.'
'We'll go back.'
She shrugged and turned the boat. We returned at high speed. As we flashed by Savanto's place, I saw Timoteo was no longer in the garden. The two men in white ducks were sitting on the verandah. There was no sign of Nick.
As we neared the Willington harbour, Nancy slowed the boat. 'Come and have dinner with me. I'm all alone. We can talk about your wife,' she said.
'No, I've got to get on,' I said. 'Thanks for your help.'
She cut the engine and moved close to me.
'Don't rush off, Max. Let's have fun. There's lots of time to look for your wife.'
'Thanks for your help.' I pushed by her and gained the deck. I dived into the sea and began a fast crawl away from the boat. After a couple of hundred yards, I eased off and looked back. She was standing on the cabin roof, her hands on her hips, her legs wide apart.
'You stinker!' she shouted. 'I hope you drown!' Then she waved.
I waved back and continued on my way.
I was pretty sure the ninety-five to five chance had paid off, but I wasn't certain that Lucy was there. If I had seen her T would have borrowed Nancy's telephone and alerted the police, but that would be asking for trouble if they walked in and didn't find her.
As I swam hack, I decided I would tell Raimundo that if the ski shot failed, it would be worth the risk of taking Timoteo to the Willington estate. I would show him on the map how it could be done.
I came out of the sea and started across the sand dunes. As I approached the house I saw Carlo on the verandah. I scarcely noticed him because I saw Savanto was sitting in one of the chairs, looking towards me. The sight of him, like a black vulture, made my heart skip a beat.
He stared stonily at me as I came up the steps.
'So you've been for a swim, Mr. Benson,' he said.
