Deceit. [COMPLETED.]

Chapter30

"A Picture never lies."

We took the train down to Marseille. Max didn't want to drive and flying would have been too much hassle and so we found ourselves on board the " Stamford I " by eight O'clock the next morning. The Captain, a tall thin man immaculately dressed in his summer whites and cap was on deck to greet us. He offered a makeshift salute and smiled jovially.

'Good Morning Miss Stamford. Welcome aboard.'

'Good morning David,' replied Max very formally. 'I trust everything is in order.'

'As it should be Miss. As it should be.'

'Is Mrs Bridges on board ?'

'Everyone is at your beck and call as always.'

'In that case,' said Max, her gaze fixed on the deep blue of the harbour. 'May we have breakfast outside in say half an hour?'

She moved away only to stop suddenly. She took her sunglasses off the top of her head. She paused.

'By the way,' she said looking back pensively. 'When was the last time either daddy or Adam were on board?'

Captain Smith didn't have to think long.

'Mr Stamford? He was here two weeks ago with your Mr Franklin. They were holding an informal meeting with a group of people from Italy I believe. It lasted a few days and involved amongst other things a spot of fishing and clay pigeon shooting off the aft end and Mr Stamford junior? Well I haven't seen him for quite a while. I thought perhaps that he was still out in Japan?'

Max placed one arm of her glasses in her mouth and waited a while before taking it out again. 'Yes ... Indeed ... That's what he says.'

I followed her inside. The air was cool. We moved into what could only be described as a large cocktail lounge beautifully decorated in Oak. Stairs at the back took us down below deck. The alleyway was wide and long. It was dimly lit using small shaded lights fixed to the wall. It had the same oak finish as above. Half way down an antique writer's desk stood alone minus the chair. It was flanked either side by two large thick double doors.

Max took me to my cabin or guest room as she called it. It was grand. Gold plated wash taps, a chandelier; it was more like your rich man's pad than a bedroom. A dressing gown and a pair of swimming trunks had been laid neatly on the bed and I was told that hanging up inside the wardrobe was a selection of clothes I could wear. They seemed to be all my size.

Max was already lying on a sun bed by the time I ventured back outside. She had wasted no time in relaxing. She was scantly dressed in a very small yellow bikini. It left nothing to the imagination. She laid there unashamedly under her sunglasses. I wondered if she had fallen asleep. I coughed discreetly.

She took off her glasses, gave me a once over looked and then frowned. She leant up on an elbow seemingly unimpressed that I had opted for a pair of light beige shorts with a green coloured polo shirt instead of the pair of skimpy swimwear laid on the bed.

'Hmmm.' She didn't seem to have approved of my choice.

I shrugged. I was happy with what I had on. I had no intention of swimming anyway, not with my arm. Max slowly got up off her sun-bed. She moved over to where a scrumptious breakfast had been prepared. She studied the display satisfied.

'Well I don't know about you but I'm starving. Let's eat.'

The cook had prepared a meal for every occasion from a healthy rich English country fried breakfast to the more conservative and very European cuisine of croissants, toast, cereals and fruit.