Those in Peril (Unlocked) Read Online Free

displayed the news channels and the sports results. At the moment she was particularly interested in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamps in which she had a horse running. She grimaced with disgust when she saw that it had run a disappointing third. This confirmed her decision to fire her trainer, and take on the young Irishman. She switched her attention to the tennis. She liked to follow the efforts of the young Russian and Eastern European girls. They reminded her of those days when she was eighteen and hungry as a she-wolf. She sat at her computer and sipped the vodka which tasted like a fairy potion while she opened her emails. Agatha in Houston had screened them for her so there were fewer than fifty for her personal attention. She went through them rapidly. Although it was 0300 hours in Houston Agatha slept with the telephone on her bedside table always ready for her call. Hazel raised her on the Skype connection. Agatha’s image appeared on the screen. She wore a nightgown with embroidered roses around the collar and her grey hair was in curlers and sleep filled her eyes. Hazel dictated to her the replies to the mail. Finally she asked,
    ‘How is your cold, Agatha? You don’t sound as croaky as you were yesterday.’
    ‘It’s so much better, Mrs Bannock. And thank you ever so much for asking.’ That was why her employees loved her, their caring employer, until they slipped up and then she fired them into orbit. She cut the connection to Agatha and checked her wristwatch against the digital clock on the wall. It would be the same time aboard the Amorous Dolphin . Hazel disliked the name that Henry had christened the yacht and always referred to it as simply the Dolphin . Out of respect to the memory of her husband she could not bring herself to change it, besides which Henry had assured her that it was the worst possible luck to do so. The name was the only thing Hazel disliked about the vessel, which was 125 metres of pure Sybaritic luxury, with twelve double guest cabins and a palatial owner’s stateroom. Her dining salon and other spacious entertainment areas were decorated with colourful murals by sought-after modern artists. Her four powerful diesel engines could drive her across the Atlantic Ocean in under six days. She was equipped with state-of-the-art navigation and communications electronics, and she could deploy all her expensive toys and gadgets for the amusement of even the most spoilt and sophisticated guests on board. Hazel dialled up the contact number of the Dolphin ’s bridge and it was answered before it rang twice.
    ‘ Amorous Dolphin . Bridge.’ She recognized the Californian accent.
    ‘Mr Jetson?’ He was the first officer, and the tone of his voice became awed as he realized who was calling.
    ‘Good evening, Mrs Bannock.’
    ‘Is Captain Franklin available?’
    ‘Of course, Mrs Bannock. He is here beside me. I will hand you over to him.’
    Jack Franklin greeted her and Hazel asked at once, ‘Is all well, Captain?’
    ‘Very well indeed, Mrs Bannock,’ he assured her.
    ‘What is your present position?’
    Franklin reeled off the coordinates from the satnav screen, then quickly translated them into more intelligible form. ‘We are 146 nautical miles south-east of Madagascar on course for Mahe Island in the Seychelles. Our ETA at Mahe is noon Thursday.’
    ‘You have indeed made good progress, Captain Franklin,’ Hazel told him. ‘Is my daughter on the bridge with you?’
    ‘I am afraid not, Mrs Bannock. I understand that Miss Bannock has retired early and has ordered her dinner served in your stateroom. I beg your pardon, I meant in her stateroom.’
    The daughter was allowed to occupy the owner’s stateroom when Mrs Bannock was not aboard. Franklin had always thought that the Gauguin and Monet oils, and the Lalique chandelier were rather wasted on an unbridled teenager who considered herself every bit as important as her illustrious parent. However, he knew better