Follow Your Star, Jennifer Bohnet [best fiction novels to read txt] 📗

There was a short silence, before he said slowly, ‘I hope things work out for you.’

He continued, ‘Things in my life have changed, too, in the last three years. There are different things at stake.’

‘Things like your business deals with that criminal Boris Takyanov? You know, Zac,’ Nanette said thoughtfully, ‘I never had you down as a common criminal. How did that happen?’

Zac was silent for several seconds before saying, ‘I stupidly got myself involved in something I shouldn’t have. The next thing I knew Takyanov made me an offer I couldn’t refuse – didn’t dare refuse,’ he added quietly. ‘And now I’m in too deep for him to let me go.’

‘He’s blackmailing you? Oh Zac, what a mess,’ Nanette said sadly. ‘Well, I can’t see him doing much in the way of business from Monaco jail,’ Nanette said.

Zac spun round from the table where he was helping himself to yet more champagne. ‘Takyanov’s been arrested?’

‘Yes. Hadn’t you heard? Along with several of his so-called business associates.’

Zac pushed past her and opened the cabin door.

‘Phil, turn around and take us back to harbour now,’ he shouted.

Nanette heard the skipper’s answering ‘Will do’, felt Pole Position change course and breathed a sigh of relief. This nightmare would soon be over.

Unexpectedly he grabbed her hand. ‘I need some air. Come on, let’s go out on deck and watch the lights.’

As Zac pulled her towards the yacht’s bow, Nanette was struck by an irrational fear. Could he possibly be planning to push her overboard and claim it was an accident?

The city of Manaus was a huge shock to Vanessa. Ralph had told her it was one of the most isolated metropolitan areas in the world but she was ill prepared for its vastness and the noise it generated.

As their boat drew alongside the floating dock she stood up and looked around. Seven hours ago the boat had been moored in a quiet tributary with jungle animal sounds providing the background noise and happy smiling natives helping them load the boat for the journey up-river.

Here, moored on the banks of the Amazon River itself, it was the raucous sounds of a modern industrial jungle that surrounded them as they stepped off the boat. It was hard to believe that this busy inland port was in the heart of the rain forest.

Vanessa gazed fascinated at the double-decked ferries and houseboats that were everywhere, crammed along the shoreline in front of ramshackle buildings on the water’s edge. Dozens of large cargo ships were tied up unloading goods, others were taking on board sacks of coffee beans, rubber, and nuts. All, it seemed to Vanessa, in vast quantities. She glanced at her husband.

‘Do you think anyone is going to be interested in shipping the small quantities of produce Fruits of the Forest is going to have in the beginning?’

‘Of course,’ Ralph said confidently. ‘We’ll look for a small commercial shipper who is keen to expand and grow with the co-operative. No point in even approaching the big international boys in the beginning. We’ll ask around tomorrow. Right now, let’s get to the hotel.’

The hotel, a tall modern building ten minutes from the city centre, was blessedly cool after the humidity outside.

Once they were registered, Ralph asked the receptionist to book a phone call to Monaco for them, and they went straight to their room.

When the phone on the bedside table rang, Vanessa snatched it up only to be told the number wasn’t answering and the receptionist would try again later.

‘Perhaps by then we’ll have a definite UK arrival date,’ Ralph said trying to ease her disappointment. ‘Nick and Harry are going out to the airport later to try and book flights.’

‘Do you feel up to doing some exploring?’ Ralph continued. ‘Might as well see the sights.’

‘Can we leave the touristy bit until tomorrow? What I really want to do is have a shower, something to eat and go to bed. I’m exhausted,’ Vanessa said.

‘Sure. In that case I’ll go out to the airport with the boys. Do you want me to order you something from room service, or will you go down to the dining-room?’

‘A sandwich from room service would be fine.’

After her shower Vanessa curled up on the double bed to eat her supper revelling in the air-conditioned coolness of the room. She’d forgotten during the last few months in the jungle what it was like to be comfortable and not continually damp with perspiration.

Ralph returned with frustrating news. ‘I’m sorry, Vanessa, I know you’re desperate to get home to the twins, but there are no direct flights available. We’ve got to go via the States. And even then we can’t fly for forty-eight hours.’

Vanessa hid her disappointment. ‘Can’t be helped. Hopefully I’ll get to speak to them tomorrow.’ She glanced at Ralph, hot and sticky from his foray to the airport.

‘Why don’t you have a shower and then come to bed? It’s far more comfy than the hammocks we’ve been using recently.’

The next morning they were up early intent on getting down to the docks to look for a shipper exporter willing to discuss handling the Fruits of the Forest produce. Vanessa also wanted to explore the Mercado Adolpho Lisboa, the city’s oldest market place.

Their search around the docks for a shipping company proved fruitless. Nobody even had the time to speak to them, let alone discuss exporting Fruits of the Forest produce.

‘Let’s give up,’ Vanessa said. ‘I’ve a feeling it’s going to be easier to organize it through a third party from the UK.’

Before returning to the hotel they wandered through the vast ancient market thronging with locals buying their produce from the traditional stalls. The outside streets were packed with more stalls and souvenir sellers. Vanessa was delighted to find a stall selling the locally made woven bags and ponchos.

‘Nanette will adore one of the bags,’ she said. ‘And I’ll get a couple of ponchos for the twins.’

Back in their hotel room Vanessa booked a call to Monaco. Standing,