014. The Clay Sphinx

'I could ask you the same question, Mrs. Carol!' Rex Rexton replied.

The two heard voices approaching. In one swift move, Rex bungled Caroline into a nearby cupboard. Through the crack between the cupboard doors, Caroline saw Graham Spalding enter.

'What are you doing in here, Baxter?' Spalding asked Rex.

'I was just checking to see if you had any more things for washing, sir.' was Rex's reply.

'Well, are you quite finished?' Spalding demanded.

'Yes, sir.'

Rex flashed Caroline a quick glance through the cupboard door before leaving the stateroom. Caroline watched as Spalding closed the stateroom door and fished a small golden key out of his breast pocket. He proceeded to unlock a drawer beneath his desk and remove something from it. Caroline struggled to see what it was. Spalding removed a large wad of newspaper from the object and Caroline saw what it was. It was the clay sphinx Hattie had bought!

What is he playing at? Caroline thought to herself.

A voice outside the stateroom said, 'Spalding, are you in there?'

Graham Spalding returned the clay sphinx to its drawer and locked it.

'I'll be out in a minute.' he said.

He snapped off the light and left the room. Caroline listened as the two men's footsteps disappeared down the corridor. She breathed a sigh of relief. Suddenly, the cupboard doors were flung open and she fell into the open arms of Rex Rexton.

'Oof.' she said.

'Are you alright?' he asked.

She hit him hard on the chest. 'What are you playing at?!' she growled, 'What's all this “Baxter” nonsense?! What are you doing working for Spalding?!'

He shushed her, 'Calm down.' he said.

'I am calm!' she screamed hysterically.

He sat her down on the bed. Caroline realised he was wearing a white uniform tunic and matching trousers. His shoes were impeccably well shined.

'Special Branch has had Graham Spalding under observation for twelve months,' Rex explained, 'This is his ship. Hence, Mohsen and I have been working undercover in the Eastern Promise's laundry for the past four months in order to keep tabs on him. Do you understand?'

'And "Baxter"?' Caroline asked.

'"Baxter" is a work of fiction, Mrs. Carol, concocted by Special Branch to get us onboard.'

Caroline nodded weakly in understanding.

'And what is it you are doing aboard this ship, Mrs. Carol?'

'Oh, Rex,' Caroline pleaded, 'They've got Hattie!'

'Who's "Hattie"?' Rex asked.

'Hattie Redfield, a family friend. Spalding took her because she outbid him on that clay sphinx...'

'What clay sphinx?'

'In that drawer under his desk.' Caroline said, pointing.

Rex tried the drawer.

'It's locked.' he said.

'Can't you open it?' Caroline asked.

'Not without a key.'

'Spalding has one, though can't you jimmy the lock or something?'

'Not without him noticing, no.'

Caroline sighed in defeat. She noticed that Rex was looking at her.

'What is it?' she asked, 'What's wrong?'

'I need you off this ship, Mrs. Carol,' Rex said sternly, 'It's not safe for you here.'

'I can't leave now, not without Hattie...'

'I'm sure Hattie will be fine...'

'They've been talking of killing her, you know, like they killed that port official...'

'Come now,' Rex said, 'These men aren't killers; they're thieves at best and kidnappers at worst but killers? No.'

Caroline was flabbergasted, 'You don't believe me? I can't understand why you wouldn't believe me after all we've been through!'

She stood and went to leave.

'Caroline, please!' Rex begged.

She shot him a disparaging look.

'Stay out of my way,' she spat, 'and I'll stay out of yours. Is that clear?'

'Very.'

Caroline nodded and slipped out into the corridor.

'Be careful.' Rex whispered, but Caroline was already gone.

============

Caroline slipped down the corridor and paused at a ship's deck plan. She used her intuition to deduce three possible locations where Hattie could be held: a food store on D Deck, the main cargo hold on E Deck or an office on C Deck.

Realising that she was already on D, Caroline searched the food store first. It was a small room and amply stocked with enough non-perishables to feed a crew of twenty for maybe a couple of weeks. Unfortunately, there was no Hattie. Caroline went to leave, but was stopped by the sound of approaching footsteps. She desperately searched for a place to hide, but could find none. Fortunately, the footsteps passed a moment later and Caroline let out a sigh of relief. She waited half a minute before slipping out of the food store and down the stairs to E Deck.

Not nearly as expansive as the deck above, E Deck comprised the laundry, a small armoury, the meat stores and the enormous cargo hold. Caroline slipped through this door and found herself in amongst a maze of wooden crates. She heard a gentle sobbing sound and followed it to Hattie. She had been stripped down to her undergarments but otherwise seemed fine.

'Oh, Caroline!' she sobbed.

'Don't worry,' Caroline said, reassuringly, 'I'll get you out of here.'

As she began to untie her friend, Caroline heard a sound that made her skin crawl: the door to the cargo hold had been opened. Several men had entered and were approaching Hattie and Caroline's location.

'What do we do now?' Hattie cried.

'I don't know...'

'Look over here.' a male voice said.

This is it, Caroline thought, the jig is up.

TO BE CONTINUED...