CHAPTER XII
A TELEPHONE CALL
In the morning after breakfast when Dick went to the reception desk to pay the bill at the Albion, the same suspicious woman from the night before was as the desk to deal with him. Titty decided to stand to one side waiting for him.
The reception telephone rang and the woman excused herself and answered it.
"The Albion, how can I help you?" There was a pause. "Yes he is, I'll hand you over." She looked at Dick and held out the handset. "It's for you Mr Callum. Gentleman didn't give a name." Dick took the 'phone and wondered who would be calling him, and who knew he was there.
"Dick Callum speaking." He was surprised by the voice that replied, it was that of the man he met in the shabby office in London.
"Ah Mr Callum, we understand you have found Miss Blackett." Dick was taken aback for a moment, but not surprised, he made sure he did not give away his surprise in his reply.
"I have. I assume that's the end of the matter. I'm sorry to have wasted your time." He knew as he said it that this was of no relevance, there would be a reason why they were taking an interest in Nancy, and now himself as well unless of course they already were.
"Well Mr Callum, we would appreciate if you could provide us with more information." Dick was ready for a request of this kind.
"I can assure you that Miss Blackett is well and was never 'missing', it was just a misunderstanding with her relatives and friends. Once again, I have thank you for the assistance you gave me." Knowing full well they had given him none at all. He also knew that the next question from the anonymous caller would be a further attempt to give more details of Nancy's whereabouts.
"You're welcome, please do keep us informed if there are any changes to situation. Goodbye." The line went dead, Dick passed the handset back to the woman at the desk.
"Thank you, can I settle my account now?"
"Of course sir." This was said with a lack of conviction, she clearly did not approve of his and Titty's behaviour, and passed him the bill for him to pay. Dick settled the account and he and Titty left the hotel.
Once outside Titty immediately questioned Dick.
"What was that all about?"
"It was the man I saw in London, he knew I had found Nancy!"
"How? How did they know where you were?"
"When you have worked where I have in the past you begin to expect such things. What I don't understand is why they are interested in Nancy."
"But what did you do?" Titty was hopeful that now she and Dick had been more open about the feelings he would feel able to tell her more.
"Titty, I can't say, you know I can't, when I can I will tell you all about it." He could see she was still not happy about his reluctance. "What we need to do is talk to Nancy, I wonder if she knows people take an interest in where she is and what she does."
They sat on one of the seafront benches across the road from the hotel and waited for Nancy to collect them and take them to the moored dinghy at the Wade.
"Dick." Titty paused long enough for him to realise there was something on her mind.
"What is it? This business about Nancy is it bothering you?"
"No, well of course it is odd. No, it's you and me. Why do you have to keep what you did in the war such a secret? I've had enough of secrets, can't we be together and be free of them?"
"Of course we can, but in the war I had to sign the official secrets act and with the work I did that really meant something, I had to sign even before they would tell me what I was being asked to do. If I'd refused then that would have been the end of it. There were thousands of us in the same situation. I promise once I can I will tell you all about it." Titty looked uncomfortable.
"I do trust you, it's just all mysterious and the others are always asking about it, and now we are going to be together I just know they will ask even more!"
Suddenly someone shouted at them.
"Are you two ready! Come on!" They turned around to see Nancy in the Land Rover parked behind them, they climbed in and Nancy pulled away, she began to drive through the Town and back to the lane at the beginning of the Wade.
"I've had a telegram from Dot, she and Susan are driving down today, they'll meet us back at the Albion around lunchtime." Titty passed on her news to Nancy who was clearly delighted to hear it.
"Susan! Three million cheers! I've not seen her for yonks, she always been working and unable to get leave whenever we've got together." Dick had a practical thought.
"Do you think we'll get the dinghy back to the boatyard in time?"
"You should do, the tide is right and there is fair wind. Shall we still meet you and Dot and Susan and go on to the Naze as planned?" She didn't wait for answer. "I'll get Daisy to prepare a picnic, not exactly sailing but it will be like old times. Pity the others couldn't be here."
"Yes, good idea." Titty replied and Nancy turned the Land Rover in to the lane that led to the Wade and parked by the pillbox.
They all got out and walked over to the landing stage, the dinghy was waiting for them, untouched. The tide had turned and was now high enough for the dinghy to be floating freely on its moorings. Titty climbed in and started raising the sail. Nancy looked envious.
"I wish I was coming, we haven't got a boat yet, well only a rowing boat."
"You'll soon get one." Titty told her and as she said it Dick untied the painter and climbed in, pushed the boat away from the landing stage and Titty took control as it slid out in to the main channel. Nancy called out to them.
"I'll see you at the boatyard!"
As Dick and Titty sailed away from her she returned to the Land Rover and drove back to the cottage.