and a young black man entered. As he took off his jacket, the first man found what he was looking for.
‘This is it, Mr Manning. This is the one Sergeant Howard took a copy of.’ Course I didn’t make the original out. That was Bill here. He’s the night man.’
Bill moved forward, glanced at the passenger list and nodded. ‘That’s it, Mr Manning. That’s the final copy I made after Mr Walker left.’
‘Final copy?’ Manning said. ‘What’s that supposed to mean?’
‘Well, sometimes people don’t show up for the flight,’ he explained. ‘When that happens we miss them off the final copy.’
Manning felt a coldness inside him. In that single instant, everything jumped back into focus. He leaned across the counter and said carefully, ‘Did someone fail to make the flight last night?’
The clerk nodded. ‘A Mr Garcia. He booked his seat around noon, but didn’t show up at flight time.’
‘And what about his luggage?’
‘Oh, that was on the plane. I told him it had to be here by seven. Mr Walker liked it stowed aboard early.’
‘Did you tell Sergeant Howard about this?’
The young clerk shook his head. ‘I ain’t seen him yet. Been sleeping. Only just heard about the accident half an hour ago. That’s why I came in.’
Manning turned slowly, found Seth standing at his shoulder. ‘You know what this means?’
Seth nodded soberly. ‘He’ll have left the island by now, Harry. Probably all arranged beforehand.’
Manning shook his head. ‘Never mind that. Get down to the harbour quick. See if you can find a boat that left last night, probably for Nassau. It shouldn’t be too difficult. I’m going to see Viner. I’ll meet you at the boat.’
Seth trotted away and Manning turned back along the waterfront. The Old Ship was a couple of hundred yards farther on, not far from the jetty. As he approached, he saw Viner standing by the main gate.
The German spread his hands in a vague Continental gesture. ‘No luck, Harry. Bill Lumley hasn’t taken on any new help since last season. All his present staff are islanders. Been with him for years.’
‘I’ve had a little more luck than that,’ Manning told him. ‘They missed someone off the passenger list. Man called Garcia. Apparently he never showed at flight time, but his luggage went aboard.’
‘Do you think he’ll still be here?’
‘Not a chance. I’ve sent Seth along the waterfront to see what he can find out.’
At that moment there was a shout and they turned to see Seth running towards them. Sweat poured down the big man’s face and his chest was heaving.
‘You were right, Harry. Manny Johnson took someone over to Nassau and it sounds like our man. He was sitting in Flo’s Bar around seven last night when this guy came in. Flo says they had a row. The trip had been fixed up two days before, but Manny wanted to call it off because of the weather. Flo says he only went because Garcia promised him another twenty quid.’
Manning slapped him on the shoulder. ‘Good man. Go and cast off. We’re getting out of here fast.’
Seth ran along the jetty and Manning said to Viner, ‘You could check on the other two hotels in case we’re on a wild goose chase, but I don’t think so.’
He moved away and the German said sharply, ‘Be careful, Harry. These people play rough.’
Manning turned, a slow, dangerous smile on his face like a fuse burning. ‘I only hope they do.’
He ran along the jetty, jumped down to the deck and went into the wheelhouse as Seth cast off. He opened the throttle and as the Grace Abounding strained forward with a sudden surge, swung her out of harbour into the gulf.
They came into Nassau in the early afternoon. As the Grace Abounding skirted the green shoals of Athol Island, a great white liner moved out of the wide harbour, her rails lined with tourists taking a last look at New Providence.
The waterfront was crowded with work boats from the out-islands carrying everything from vegetables and fish to passengers and poultry. It was more like a marketplace than anything else and thronged with colorfully dressed natives talking endlessly amongst themselves, arguing good-humouredly as they bargained.
They tied up at an old jetty on the other side of the harbour and worked their way along Bay Street, looking for Manny Johnson’s boat. They found it within half an hour and Manning dropped down to the deck and looked into the cabin. It was empty. As he climbed back onto the wharf, Seth turned from a couple of fishermen who sat on the wall baiting their lines,
‘Seems Manny went on the town in a big way last night. Tossed his money around like it was going out of style.’
Probably flat on his back in some flea-pit sleeping it off,’ Manning said.
‘Never knew him to save his money when he could be drinking. Maybe had his sleep and started over again?’
‘Could be. Start at the other end of Bay Street. I’ll take this side. Try every joint you see. Somebody must know where he is.’ Manny glanced at his watch. ‘I’ll meet you back here in a couple of hours.’
Seth moved into the crowd at once and Manning started to work his way along the waterfront, calling in all the bars. He was wasting his time. Manny Johnson seemed to have covered most of them on the previous night, but no one had any idea where he was now.
It was just after four o’clock when he returned to the boat. He was hot and tired and there was a dull persistent ache somewhere at the back of his head. He lit a cigarette and leaned on the parapet, looking out over the harbour, wondering if Seth was having any better luck. After a while he turned to look along the waterfront and saw Morrison crossing the street towards him.
There was a wide grin on the American’s face. ‘Say, I’d no idea you were coming over today.’
‘Didn’t know myself,’ Manning said. ‘Something came up.’
‘Sorry about breaking our date this morning, but under the circumstances I didn’t think you’d be interested. When Joe Howard said he was coming to Nassau I thought I’d go along for the ride. Never really had the chance to look the place over on my way in.’
‘It’s quite a town,’ Manning said. ‘Plenty of night life and a first-rate casino.’
‘Sounds interesting,’ Morrison wiped sweat from his face with a handkerchief. ‘Too hot for comfort. What about a drink?’
Out
