The Mask of Sumi by John Creasey Page B

cabin.”
    â€œI know I saw you.”
    â€œWhere were you?”
    â€œIn the cabin opposite.”
    â€œYours?”
    â€œYes. I share it with two other women.” She rested a hand on Mannering’s arm. “I’m in a generous mood, John.”
    â€œHow generous?”
    â€œI’ll settle for two hundred and fifty pounds.”
    Mannering laughed.
    â€œGenerous is one word. Why do you think I went into O’Keefe’s cabin?”
    â€œDon’t be really silly,” protested Naomi. “He always carries several thousand pounds’ worth of cash with him. He buys a lot of goods for hard cash.”
    â€œAh,” said Mannering. “And what am I to pay you good money for?”
    Naomi said lightly: “When the theft is discovered, I won’t say a word.”
    Mannering smiled gently.
    â€œNo deal,” he said.
    â€œIt could be very unpleasant for you.”
    â€œYes, couldn’t it?”
    Naomi said: “I can’t make up my mind whether you really don’t care, or whether you think you’re calling a bluff which isn’t a bluff.”
    â€œYou’ll find out,” Mannering said. “Tell me something.”
    â€œWhat is it?”
    â€œAre you hard up?”
    She gave a brittle laugh.
    â€œYes, I am. Desperately hard up.”
    â€œYet you travel First Class on board.”
    â€œI’m not likely to meet anyone with money if I travel Tourist,” Naomi pointed out. “Such as you, for instance.”
    â€œWould you like to earn two hundred and fifty pounds?”
    â€œMr. Mannering, sir! If you’re suggesting that I be yours for the rest of the voyage—”
    â€œNaomi, dear,” said Mannering, “let’s get one thing quite clear. I have a wife at home, and I like a clear conscience. This is a proposal of work.”
    She looked puzzled.
    â€œOn the ship?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œI can’t imagine what.”
    â€œThere are five men and two women on board who might have something I want,” said Mannering. “O’Keefe’s one, Corrison, Mehta, Katman, and Nares.”
    â€œNares,” she echoed.
    â€œDon’t you like him?”
    â€œHe’s a whisky-sodden snake.”
    â€œHow much do you know about him?”
    â€œQuite a lot,” she said.
    â€œWill you find out everything you can about him and the other four men?”
    â€œAbout their love life, do you mean?”
    â€œAbout their real reasons for coming on the East Africa Star. And—” he paused.
    â€œYes?”
    â€œWhether they’ve a special hate for me.”
    â€œOh,” said Naomi, leaning back and looking at him through her lashes. “You’re playing detective, are you?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œAnd it’s worth two hundred and fifty pounds?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œTell me more,” said Naomi. “Have some great art treasures been stolen, or anything like that?”
    â€œI’ve told you all I’m going to,” Mannering said. “Will you take the job?”
    After a long pause, Naomi Ransom said: “Yes, John. What about the two women?”
    Mannering laughed. “Leave them to me.”
    â€œI’ll bet one is the little Malayan or whatever she is,” Naomi said. “She’s the loveliest girl I’ve ever seen. Don’t—” she broke off with a quick smile. “But you’re not on the prowl, are you, in view of that wife of yours?”
    â€œI’m not on that kind of prowl.”
    â€œWhen shall I report my findings?”
    â€œWe can always have a drink together, the romantics will leave us alone if we make it obvious we want to be.”
    Naomi laughed.
    â€œI always thought I would like you,” she said.
    Â 

Chapter Eleven
NIGHT
    Â 
    Mannering lay awake.
    They were nearing Port Said and Suez, and he was no further on in the investigation; he still had no idea who had