Vengeance in the Sun Read Free

living in isolation should need a secretary.
    â€œNow that I have found someone I shall fly straight back home. There is a ten-o’clock flight on Saturday morning which I shall book for you. If you run into any problems telephone the villa.” She rose to her feet and handed me a card embossed with the name of the villa and telephone number and several ten pound notes. “These should tide you over until you arrive,” she said generously. “My husband spends a lot of his time away from the villa, but he is there at the moment. I am sure you will fit in with us very well. We are a very casual household.” Her large hand gripped mine firmly. “ Till Saturday then. Goodbye.”
    â€œGoodbye,” I said, slightly dazed. “And thank you.”
    It was Uncle Alistair who cast the first ripples on the apparently smooth surface of life at the villa D’Este.
    â€œVan de Naude?” he had asked vaguely. “ John Van de Naude?”
    â€œYes. Do you know him?”
    â€œKnow of him, m’dear. Fellow’s a South African, lives in exile now. Made a fortune in mining or diamonds … or are they both the same? I know he couldn’t take his wealth out of the country. I only hope you know what you’re doing … seems a bit drastic to me … haring off to Minorca.…”
    â€œMajorca.”
    â€œJust because you and Max have had a tiff.”
    â€œIt wasn’t a tiff. I never want to see Max again.”
    â€œQuite, quite,” Uncle Alistair said, totally untaken in by this lie. “When is the wedding? Never did have a head for dates?”
    â€œThere isn’t going to be a wedding,” I said for the hundredth time.
    â€œBad as that, is it?” he said sympathetically. “ Well, well, still think this jaunt of yours is a mistake. Where there’s smoke there’s fire and all that.”
    â€œAll what?”
    â€œNasty business, remember thinking so at the time.”
    â€œI haven’t the slightest idea what you’re talking about. What was a nasty business?”
    â€œThe whole thing. Him being a politician as well. Wasn’t on m’dear. Wasn’t on at all.”
    â€œUncle Alistair,” I said patiently. “What are you talking about?”
    â€œYou mean you don’t know?”
    â€œNo,” I said, wondering if it wouldn’t be better to put the telephone down and forget all about it. “Tell me.”
    â€œHe was a widower with a young son when he met this second wife of his. A high ranking government minister. Couldn’t have been worse.”
    â€œWhat couldn’t?”
    â€œMarrying her.”
    I counted to ten slowly. “Why?”
    â€œI should have thought that was obvious when you met her. I mean, if someone is black as the ace of spades you notice, don’t you?”
    â€œGenerally. Helena Van de Naude isn’t.”
    â€œRubbish,” Uncle Alistair said crossly. “Of course she is. That’s what all the fuss was about. Can’t go marrying who you want in South Africa. Against the law.”
    â€œShe’s hardly any darker than Max.”
    â€œCan’t help that. She’s coloured and that’s that. It was the ruin of Van de Naude. Lost his wealth and became an exile. I think they said at the time she was a communist, but governments always say that if they want to discredit someone. Only hope you know what you’re letting yourself in for. Don’t mind her being coloured,” he said generously. “But don’t want you coming back a communist. Your Aunt Katherine wouldn’t like it. She’s set her heart on becoming a Justice of the Peace!”
    â€œThen I’ll try not to jeopardise her chances. Don’t worry about me, Uncle Alistair. I shan’t come to any harm!”

Chapter Two
    A car horn tooted loudly. The driver slammed his door behind him and walked across to me, a wide smile on his