Free Midnight Never Comes - PC 04 (v5) by Jack Higgins Page A

platform at Glasgow, that French face of yours stuck out like a sore thumb.'
    'Breton,' he said.'
    'Is there a difference?'
    'My grandfather has forcible opinions on that score.'
    'I concede the point.'
    'I kiss your hands on his behalf.'
    'Oh, no you don't,' she said quickly. 'Or at least not until you've explained yourself. When you appeared again on the platform at Fort William waiting for the Mallaig train, I was intrigued to say the least. Something of a coincidence, considering there were only five passengers in all.'
    'But life is full of coincidences,' Chavasse said. 'One of the many things which make it so interesting.'
    'Was it a coincidence that you followed me over the mountain?'
    'Did I?'
    'I saw you when I stopped for my first breather and looked back.'
    'Presumably I was a little too late in dropping out of sight--'
    'You were.'
    A slow smile spread across his face. 'You didn't by any remote chance leave the train deliberately, just to draw me on.'
    'But of course,' she said calmly. 'What else could a poor girl do? I was beginning to despair of you and then I consulted my map and saw that there was a way over the mountain to where I wanted to be.' She smiled enchantingly. 'And it was such a beautiful afternoon. A pity to be cooped up in a stuffy carriage.'
    'I couldn't agree more.' Chavasse decided to take refuge in as close an approximation to the truth as was possible. 'I suppose I might as well tell all.'
    She folded her arms and leaned back in the chair. 'Good, I am waiting.'
    'It's quite simple, really. I was on the other side of the bookstall on the station platform at Glasgow looking at the magazines when you bought that map you referred to. I was interested as soon as you mentioned Moidart because that happened to be my destination also.'
    'Which doesn't explain how you came by my name?'
    He shrugged. 'I had a quick look at the labels on your suitcases when the porter put them on the trolley. Asta Svensson--Glenmore House. Then I checked my own map and discovered that Glenmore is no more than five miles from Ardmurchan Lodge which is leased by my uncle, Colonel Duncan Craig. You know him, I suppose?'
    She shook her head. 'This is my first visit to Glenmore, but never mind that now. What happened back there on the mountain? Where did you get to?'
    'I climbed the north face. The general idea was that I should be waiting at the summit cairn when you arrived.'
    'Ah, I see now,' she said. 'You were caught in the mist.'
    'For over an hour, while you kept on walking presumably?'
    She nodded. 'And here we are. I was hoping you would get here eventually. I turned my ankle climbing the gate back there on the track.'
    'Sorry I was delayed. I saw your light at the same time as our friend turned up.'
    She smiled and shook her head. 'Poor Fergus.'
    'Was that his name?'
    'So he informed me. Fergus Munro. He also told me that I was trespassing and that his employer wouldn't like it--although he followed this with a suggestion that perhaps he didn't need to know.'
    'But according to the notice on that gate back there, this is the Glenmore estate.'
    'Which is owned by my step-father, Max Donner, the financier,' she said calmly. 'Perhaps you've heard of him?'
    'I have indeed. But this raises an interesting situation. Friend Fergus is very probably hot-footing it to Glenmore House at this very moment with his tale of woe. I have a feeling we may expect company in the near future.'
    'I sincerely hope so. I haven't the slightest intention of walking any further.'
    'I wonder what your step-father will say to the unfortunate Fergus when he discovers who the mystery woman is?'
    'I can't wait to see.'
    Chavasse took off his raincoat and squatted in front of the fire, hands spread to its warmth and she leaned back in the chair, arms folded beneath her breasts, hair gleaming in the soft lamplight.
    'How's your ankle?' he said.
    'It could be worse.'
    'Shall I take a look at it for you?'
    'If you like.'
    She peeled off her stocking