Lay Her Among The Lilies

moved out of it towards me. He went past, humming under his breath, without even

looking at me, and climbed the ladder to the upper deck.

I breathed heavily through my nose, and headed for the porthole again, paused beside it,

and took a quick look inside. I very nearly let out a cheer.

Paula was sitting in an armchair, facing me. She was reading a magazine, a worried little

frown on her face. She looked very lovely and lonely. I had hoped to find her on this deck. I

couldn’t think where else they could hide her, but I hadn’t expected to find her so quickly.

I examined the door of the cabin. There was a bolt on the outside and it was pushed home. I

slid it back, turned the handle and pushed. The door opened and I went in. It was like walking

into a glass-house in mid-summer.

Paula started up out of her chair at the sight of me. For a moment she didn’t recognize me

in the white ducks and the cap, then she flopped limply back in the chair and tried to smile.

The look of relief in her eyes was a good enough reward for that trip I had made in the

packing-case.

“How are you getting on?” I said, and grinned. If she hadn’t been so damned self-controlled

I would have kissed her.

“All right. Did you have any trouble getting here?” She tried to sound casual, but there was

a shake in her voice.

“I managed. At least they don’t know I’m here yet. Jack and Mike will be out around nine.

We may have to swim.”

She drew in a deep breath and got to her feet.

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LAY HER AMONG THE LILIES

“I knew you’d come, Vic.” Then just when I thought she was going to let her hair down,

she went on, “But you shouldn’t have come alone. Why didn’t you bring the police?”

“I didn’t think they would come,” I said. “Where’s Anona?”

“I don’t know. I don’t think she’s here.”

The heat in the cabin made me sweat.

“What happened? Let’s have it quick.”

“The bell rang and I went to the door,” she told me. “I thought it was you. Four Wops

crowded me back into the lobby. Two of them went into the bedroom and I heard Anona

scream. The other two said they were taking me to the ship. One of them threatened me with

a knife. I had an idea he would use it if I gave him the slightest chance.” She made a little

grimace. “They took me down in the elevator out into the street. All the time one of them

pressed the knife into my side. There was a car waiting. They bundled me in and drove off.

As we were driving away I caught sight of a big. black Rolls pulling up outside the

apartment. One of the Wops came out with Anona in his arms. This was in broad daylight.

People just stared, but didn’t do anything. They put her in the Rolls and I lost sight of her. I

was brought here and locked in. They said if I made a noise they’d cut my throat. They’re

dreadful little men, Vic.”

“I know,” I said grimly. “I’ve met them. That Rolls belongs to Maureen Crosby. Maybe

they’ve taken Anona to her house on the cliffs.” I thought for a moment, asked, “Has anyone

been near you?”

She shook her head.

“I want to take a look around the ship before we go. Maureen may be on board. Think it’ll

be safe for you to come with me?”

“If they find me gone they’ll raise the alarm. Perhaps I’d better stay here until you’re ready

to go. You’ll be careful, won’t you, Vic?”

I hesitated, not knowing whether to try and get off the ship now I had found Paula or make

sure first Anona and Maureen weren’t on board.

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“If they aren’t on this deck I’ll leave it,” I said, and mopped my face with my handkerchief.

“Am I feverish or is this cabin overheated?”

“It’s the cabin. It’s been getting hotter and hotter for the past hour.”

“Feels like they’ve put on the steam heating. Stick it out for ten minutes, kid. I’ll be back

by then.”

“Be careful.”

I gave her a little pat on her-arm, grinned at her and slid out on to the deck. I shot the bolt:

began to move aft.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing up here?” a voice demanded out of the darkness.

I nearly jumped out of my skin.

A short, thickset man, wearing a yachting-cap, had appeared from nowhere. Neither of us

could see the other’s face. We peered at each other.

“How many times do I have to tell you guys to keep clear of this deck?” he growled, and

edged closer.

He nearly had me. I saw his arm flash up and I ducked. The sap glanced off my shoulder. I

slammed a punch into his belly with everything I had. He caught his breath in a gasp of

agony, bent forward, trying to breathe. I hung one on his jaw that nearly smashed my hand.

He went down on hands and knees and straightened out on his back. I leaned over him,

grabbed his ears and cracked his skull on the deck.

All this happened in the matter of seconds. I ran back to Paula’s cabin, unbolted the door,

threw it open, whipped around and dragged the unconscious man in and dropped him on the

floor.

“I walked right into him,” I panted as I bent over him. I lifted an eyelid. He was out all

right, and by the pulpy softness at the back of his head he would be out for some time.