Read Online The Atlas Murders by John Molloy - Free Book Online Page B

inquisitor would be cut short.
    The sailor jumped to his
feet.
    “Good afternoon Miss Twist,” he
said in the jolliest of voices.
    This seemed to smooth the
situation and restore Henry’s blood pressure to something approaching normal!
    “Good day Mr. Leach.”
    “I came in to know what time
the Kowloon is signing on tomorrow.”
    “She’s in the Royal Albert
dock and signing on at eleven hundred hours.”
    “Thank you Miss.” He leaned
in over the counter and spoke in a little above a whisper. “Could you arrange
for an advance for me? You know yourself how the cash gets scarce when you’re
on the beach for a couple of months.”
    “Of course I do Mr. Leach.”
    She went to her desk and took
out a small book, and came back to the counter. “Would five pounds be alright?”
    “Could you make it seven; you
know, five for the missus and a couple for meself.”
    “Seven it is Mr. Leach.” She
handed him the chit. “Take this down to the accounts department, and Mr. Leach,
have a good voyage.”
    “Thank you Miss I will.
    See you again sometime.” he
said to Henry as he breezed out the door and gave the little piece of paper a
kiss.
    Vera was standing at the
counter and as she spoke to Henry she kept looking at the door. “Henry, as
pleased as I am to see you, I can’t imagine why you decided to come here without
ringing me first. You see that man just gone out? I could have ten or twenty
more like him in today. It’s always like this on the day before one of our
ships signs articles. Captain Leavy-Hobbs is away on board the Kowloon so you
better come into his office.” She opened the big teak grained door and led
Henry through.
    “I never realized the
seriousness of meeting crewmen from the company’s ships and how inquisitive
their friendly questions could be.”
    “Yes Henry, it would be all
so innocent but you could be caught in a tricky situation concerning your non-existent
seafaring career.”
    He sat in the captain’s large
desk chair. He was joined by Vera who sat on his lap, two arms around his neck
and her mouth on his. He wanted her there and then as they both sought hungrily
for each other. Suddenly Vera pulled away and stood up. She was flushed and
trembling as she pulled her skirt down to cover her exposed thighs.
    “Wipe that lipstick off your
mouth. I so want you Henry, but it will have to wait”
    He pulled a handkerchief from
his pocket and wiped the evidence of lust off his lips. She moved around the
large desk and sat on its outer side. “I’ll stay this side to avoid temptation.
Now, what’s so urgent to bring you here, Henry?”
    “I’ve just left the Yard and
they are getting on with their inquiries to the ports of call of the Rangoon
for her previous twelve months voyage. If we turn up any crimes that fall into
the same category as Shirley’s murder, then I will have to consider seriously
about sailing as a crew member.”
    Vera crossed her shapely legs
to make herself more comfortable on the large desktop.
     “Yes, I agree with you that
it’s the only way to catch this murderer, if in fact your theory is correct. How
long will it take for you to know for sure?”
     “We should have some information
in two or three days. The larger ports authorities will understand how urgent
it is and if they find anything, they should contact our embassies without
delay.”
    “Have you thought about what
department of a ship’s crew you could best fit into?
    “I have done some time in
H.M. navy reserve fleet, so I have some ship’s experience.”
    “That’s going to save a lot
of time, so it will be a case of getting you the proper papers and discharge
book.
    “I realize that, and that’s
why I’m here now with you to get your advice and help, without you this whole
exercise would be impossible.”
    “Now, a ship’s crew is
divided into three categories. I am of the firm belief that you cannot fit into
either the deck section or the engine room. I believe the catering