Bill for the Use of a Body by Dennis Wheatley

telephone in his bedroom rang, and to his delight Merri’s silvery voice came over the line. ‘Good morning, Julian. I rang up to tell you that Bill is leaving today for Macao. The office tells me that you’ve booked me again. So if it’s all right with you I’ll call for you at half past nine.’
    When she arrived in her car she said, ‘This is the 1st March and it’s the hottest day yet; so unless you’ve anyother plans I thought I might take you to bathe at Sheko.’
    Stunned afresh at the sight of her flower-like face and slim body, he was willing to agree to anything; so they drove down to the beach. Quite a few people were already in the water, and when he had hired two tents she said, ‘What about skis? You do water-ski, don’t you?’
    He shook his head. ‘I’m afraid not. I’ve never learnt to.’
    She sighed. ‘What a pity. It’s marvellous fun. Bill and I came here yesterday. He’s absolutely first-class and wonderful to watch. But never mind. We’ll just go in for a swim.’
    Again Julian felt the awful handicap of middle-age that, despite his firm good figure, was creeping upon him. But they enjoyed their bathe and afterwards lunched off a delicious crab omelette and avocado pear salad.
    When she asked him if he would like to return to the Repulse Bay for his afternoon nap he suddenly formed a determination to break that habit of the ageing and replied, ‘No; let’s drive up into the hills and find a place where we can sit and enjoy the heavenly view.’
    Half an hour later they had left the car and were sitting side by side several hundred feet up looking out towards Lamtong Island and the ocean that faded into a blue haze beyond it.
    It was very peaceful and they were utterly alone there. Putting an arm round her shoulders, he made to draw her to him; but she wriggled free and said abruptly, ‘No, Julian, no. It’s too hot for that sort of thing.’
    He did not press her; yet as he refrained he was suddenly cynically conscious that, heat or no heat, had he been younger he would have laughed at her protest then pulled her to him and kissed her.
    All the morning he had been tempted to ask her about Urata. Now he could resist no longer, and enquired, ‘What sort of a time did you have with Bill?’
    Her large grey eyes regarded him with an amused look, and she replied, ‘I believe you’re jealous.’
    â€˜Of course I am,’ he admitted with a smile. ‘I just hated the thought of your being with him, because I know you like him.’
    â€˜I do,’ she agreed frankly, ‘and we had great fun. We danced every evening and it was heavenly. He’s the nicest and most amusing man I’ve met for a long time.’
    â€˜Then you find him nicer than me?’ Julian asked with a sinking feeling.
    She regarded him gravely for a moment with a little frown. ‘No, I wouldn’t quite say that. The two of you are so utterly different. Bill is a masterful sort of man. He wants his own way in everything, but all the time he is bubbling with spontaneous gaiety. Whereas you are wonderfully peaceful to be with. And you understand things about life and art that Bill hasn’t got a clue about. He is much more exciting; but you have so many things he lacks, and I’d put my trust in you much sooner than I would in him.’
    â€˜Thanks for the compliment,’ Julian smiled, much comforted; but, wisely, he made no further attempt to kiss her.
    That night they dined at the Carlton and on the way home she willingly surrendered again to his kisses.
    Over dinner they had planned their next day. Merri had said that one of the most enjoyable outings was to hire a private launch and go round the island, but it was so expensive that usually a group of tourists clubbed together to make the trip. Not the least deterred by that, Julian had asked her to engage one so that they could