Eye for an Eye (14 page)

‘And that
certainly is working well for you. How lucky that you came to stay
in my building,’ he smiled. ‘Not only beautiful, but coming into
some money as well. It must have been Fate.’

‘Why is that,
Colwyn?’ She looked at him coyly. ‘You’re not planning to marry me
and get your hands on my fortune, are you?’

He laughed, a
shade uneasily she thought.

‘Robyn! I’m an
investment advisor, I can help you build your fortune. I certainly
didn’t intend any ulterior motive… no matter how tempting that
might be.’

He opened his
blue eyes wide and fired charm down both barrels.

Robyn managed a
simper.

‘An investment
advisor? Well that might be handy. Perhaps you could help me make
some quick profits while I’m here! Daddy thinks I’m hopeless with
figures - can you picture his face if I go back to England with
heaps more money than Uncle Josh left me? Oh that would be fun! Can
you do that sort of thing, Colwyn?’

He was
practically salivating, she could tell. She began to understand how
he’d managed to convince people to give him their money - people
heard and believed what they wanted to hear. She was surprised that
such a ruse seemed to be working on him though, given his
experience in the field of greed and deception. She was delighted
to use his own techniques against him.

‘Do you really
think you can do something clever with my money if I give it to
you?’

‘Absolutely!
I’ll be very happy to give you all the financial advice you’ll
need, Robyn - it will be a pleasure. When did you say the
inheritance is due?’ He leaned forward casually and poured a glass
of water.

‘On my
birthday, September the tenth. My cousin’s going to give me a super
party, but she won’t tell me where yet. I’ll be sure to invite you
though.’

He laughed.
‘Robyn! As if I’d let you forget! Now, for a treat that’s a little
sooner on the calendar, I’m already planning to take you for a tour
of Lake Ontario in my boat. Whenever you say the word we can cast
off and head out on the water together.’

‘Ooh, that
sounds like fun! I’d love to see your boat. Does it sail fast? I do
adore the look of speeding yachts as the wind almost pushes them
over!’

His face fell
slightly.

‘Actually it’s
a motorboat. A 38 foot launch with twin Volvo Penta engines for
lots of power, and it’s great for water-skiing if you like that
sort of thing too?’

‘Golly, how
super. I can’t wait to see it.’ She wondered briefly if she was
overdoing it, but he seemed to believe her enthusiasm.

‘I spend most
of my free time on board when the weather’s right. And if I’m not
boating here, I go out of town to a rather delightful cottage in
the Kawartha Lakes area, about an hour north of here. It’s totally
secluded and the perfect place to get away from it all. I paddle a
canoe on the lake there and do a spot of fishing. Wonderfully
relaxing.’

The wine
arrived then, and Colwyn made a great show of tasting it and
allowing it to be poured. Privately Robyn thought she’d tasted
better from the Marlborough vineyards back home and was frustrated
that she couldn’t say so.

Colwyn lifted
his glass to her and proposed a toast. ‘Here’s to the good
life.’

‘Yes indeed!’
She took a large gulp. Enjoy it while you can, you devious little
snake. It may not last much longer.

‘How did you
say goodnight to him?’ asked Mike with interest, as they discussed
the date later back at his apartment. ‘I was wondering how you were
going to get away from him at the end of the evening.’

‘Well, when I
got in the elevator with him in the apartment building, I just
jumped out at the second floor before he had a chance to react. I
called out goodnight as the doors closed, and he just smiled rather
weakly and waved goodbye.’

She paced
across the floor scrubbing her face with her hands, trying to ease
the tension that the night had built up. ‘Oh God, I hope I haven’t
blown it. It was going really well until I spilled some sauce, and
then I rubbed my eyes and smeared my make-up. He rather seemed to
lose interest after that.’

Mike looked at
her and laughed.

‘Hardly
surprising! You’re really not used to dressing up and wearing
make-up, are you? Look at yourself now, Miss Panda-eyes!’

She glanced at
the mascara on her hands then peered into a wall mirror.

‘Aw, man! I
give up!’

She headed for
the bathroom, muttering dark curses against Revlon, Max Factor and
all their kind. Hopefully Colwyn’s eagerness to get his hands on
her money would overcome any residual distaste at her
less-than-perfect appearance.

She knew she’d
succeeded when he called her next day to repeat his invitation to
go out on his boat.

To take full
advantage of the outing, she prepared carefully. She packed a
sports bag with the usual items for a day on the water - hat,
towel, sun-screen lotion, insect repellent, swimsuit, and a
sweat-shirt in case of cool breezes. Then in a side pocket she
tucked her water pistol filled with bleach, a couple of items from
the drug-store, and two bottles of fruit juice.

Colwyn had
asked her to meet him in the lobby at 10am, so she left Mike’s
place in good time to look as if she’d just come downstairs a
little early. She had taken pains with her appearance, dressing in
what she considered overpriced fashion-plate casual clothing, with
a jaunty sun-visor to keep her hair tidy and just enough make-up to
complete her air of sophistication. Mike had selected an expensive
pair of sunglasses for her despite her protests that a two dollar
pair looked exactly the same, assuring her that Colwyn would spot
the difference immediately.

She settled
herself on a chair by the door and prepared to greet Colwyn with as
much warmth and charm as she could muster.

He bounded out
of the elevator at one minute to ten, looked at her searchingly as
he crossed the foyer, and took both her hands in his as he pulled
her to her feet.

‘Robyn! You
look fabulous! Are you all set for a day on the lake?’ His touch
was cool and dry, his hands softer than hers.

‘Oh yes,
rather! Jolly boating weather, what?’ She was aware that she was
overdoing the English accent and tried to tone it down a bit. ‘I’m
so looking forward to seeing your boat. Is it very far away?’

‘No, just down
at the marina. Are you all right to walk? It’s only about five
minutes away.’

She smiled
winsomely into his blue eyes and picked up her bag.

‘Ready when you
are, Captain. Lead the way!’

Once on board
she stowed her bag carefully in the cabin and made her way to the
cockpit. She almost made the mistake of helping Colwyn to cast off
but suddenly remembered that she wasn’t Robyn Taylor from the
Marlborough Sounds where boating was a way of life, she was Robyn
Heverill who adored boats but wasn’t very practical. As she settled
onto one of the padded squab seats in the cockpit, she couldn’t
help glancing back towards the dock where she had fallen headlong
into the lake only a few days ago. Then she’d been powerless and
enraged. Now she felt firmly in control.

The throaty
roar of the engines prevented conversation, so she simply smiled at
Colwyn now and again while enjoying their speed across the water.
He cut between two sailing boats, curving sharply to send up a wall
of water first one side then the other, leaving them rocking
violently in his wake. She whooped and gave him a thumbs-up,
carefully hiding her contempt for his bad seamanship.

Once near
Centre Island, he throttled back the motors and let the boat ease
forward at a snail’s pace.

‘Would you like
a drink, Robyn?’

‘Ooh yes
please. Do you happen to have any fruit juice?’ she asked,
casually.

‘Of course.
I’ll be right back.’

She watched
carefully as he went to the fridge and got out two bottles. Next
time, she wanted to fetch the drinks herself.

They sat in the
cockpit together, sipping their juice and gently rocking in the
slight chop on the lake. Above them a light veil of cloud softened
the full heat of the sun, and a gentle breeze tempered the day’s
humidity. Robyn caught a whiff of his pungent cologne now and
again, but mixed with the scent of engine fumes and lake water it
was almost pleasant.

‘Have you had
the Angel Lady long, Colwyn?’ she said idly, just making
conversation.

‘A few months.
My last boat was stolen, unfortunately.’ He smiled complacently.
‘Just as well I’ve got a really good insurance policy.’

Aha, thought
Robyn. That’ll be why Mike got on to you.

‘Did the police
ever find it?’ she asked innocently.

‘Sadly, no,’ he
said, with convincing regret. ‘Just one of those things, I guess.
Still, it meant that I could buy this little beauty, and she’s a
whole lot better than the one I lost.’

‘Yes, she’s
terrific. Gosh it’s hot in the sun, isn’t it?’ She fanned herself
with her hand. ‘Would you like another drink, Colwyn? I’ll get
them.’

‘Thank you
Robyn, that would be lovely.’

She went below,
and rapidly retrieved one of her drugstore purchases from her bag.
Shielded by the fridge door, she poured a small sachet of powder
into a bottle of juice and shook it well. Taking another bottle for
herself, she stepped back into the cockpit and handed Colwyn the
uncapped juice.

‘Lovely and
cold,’ she said appreciatively, and took a long swallow of her
drink.

Colwyn did the
same. Robyn met his eyes and smiled warmly, knowing that in about
an hour the urbane Colwyn Symons would be feeling extremely
uncomfortable.

They moved on
along the chain of islands, watching swimmers and jet-skiers
enjoying the water and safe sandy beaches. They buzzed along narrow
waterways between islands, past extensive yacht marinas and
inhabited areas where colourful houses were laid out along short,
straight streets. At one point, Robyn was astonished to see a plane
apparently coming in to land right behind them, until Colwyn showed
her the harbour chart with the Island airport marked on it.

About then, a
strange look crossed his face.

‘Robyn, could
you take the wheel for a moment, please? I just need to go
below.’

‘Sure, no
problem.’ She relieved him at the helm and watched him hurry into
the cabin where the door to the ship’s toilet shut smartly behind
him.

‘Gotcha!’ she
murmured. ‘Thar she blows!’ It was a shame she hadn’t had the
chance to get in there first and doctor the toilet tissue with
itching powder, but that would keep for another occasion.

Colwyn emerged
shakily about ten minutes later.

‘I’m terribly
sorry about that. I think I must have picked up some sort of tummy
bug.’ He shuddered. ‘Could you take us back in, do you think? Steer
for that leading mark, and give me a shout when we’re close to it.
I think I’ll just go and lie down - oh.’ He disappeared rapidly
back into the toilet.

Robyn opened
the throttle and headed back to the mainland, taking delight in
bouncing over as many ship’s wakes as she could on the way so that
Colwyn would get a good shake-up. She threw her head back and sang
all the saltiest sea-shanties she knew.

It was a very
good day.

When they
reached the marina, she found the berth without difficulty and tied
off the mooring lines. Then she used her new cell-phone to call a
cab, and escorted Colwyn to it with great solicitude.

He sat back
looking pale as they drove the short distance to his apartment
building, and Robyn could see beads of sweat standing out on his
forehead. She helped him to the elevator, smiling reassuringly at
the doorman who was looking concerned.

‘Probably a bit
of sunstroke!’ she called. ‘Nothing serious.’

Colwyn fumbled
for his keys in front of the apartment door, unlocked it, and
hurried into his own bathroom with a low groan.

Robyn looked
around. At last, here she was in Colwyn’s apartment - her prime
objective – with time to actually accomplish something!

It really was
the most luxurious place she had ever seen. Huge tinted windows
framed extensive views of the lake, while large art prints gave an
air of opulence to the interior. A black leather sofa faced an
enormous television, which was flanked by an expensive-looking
entertainment centre with a matt black finish.

She explored
further, past the bathroom where muffled explosive noises prompted
a look of distaste, and towards the bedroom. Here, the room was
done out in shades of cream, with heavy drapes matching the brocade
bedspread. The carpet was thick underfoot, plain cream, with not a
speck of fluff to be seen. A spacious walk-in wardrobe was faced
with mirrored doors, while the dresser at the foot of the bed had
another large mirror.

‘Fond of
ourselves, are we?’ murmured Robyn. ‘Like to watch all the action?’
Her stomach turned at the idea, and she hurried on with the rest of
her exploration.

Over by the
window was a desk with a computer on it and several shelves of
cased disks. Her eyes lit up. That was just what Mike needed. She
briefly contemplated hiding a couple of the disks in her bag and
taking them home, but rejected the idea straight away. She’d need
to be certain that they were the right thing before risking blowing
her cover that way. They’d keep till next time. Mike would be able
to tell her what to look for then.

The toilet
flushed.

Robyn hurried
quietly into the living room and was waiting there with an
appropriate expression of concern when Colwyn appeared.

‘Oh you poor
thing, here - come and sit down. Can I get you anything? A hot
water bottle? Some flat lemonade to sip? That’s good for upset
tummies.’