Bayliss's boat had not been found and, according to Perigord's gloomy prediction, it never would be. He thought it had been sunk. A small sailing yacht had been stolen from George Town in the Exumas.
"And it could be anywhere now, with a change of name and colour," said Perigord.
"If Kayles has any sense he'll be getting clear of the Bahamas."
I was about to turn away, but thought of something.
"There are rumours floating around that the fire at the Fun Palace was due to arson. Is there anything in that?"
"Not to my knowledge," he said.
"Squash those rumours, if you can."
"I do," I said.
"It's in my interest to do so."
So I went home and found that Debbie had returned.
She was spoiling for a fight. I was greeted with: "Where were you?
You're never here when I want you. "
"I could say the same for you," I returned acidly.
"In point of fact I was being shot at down in theJumentos."
"Shot at!" I could see her disbelief.
"Who by?"
"A man called Kayles – remember him? He killed a man down there, and damn near killed me and Sam Ford."
"Who is Sam Ford?"
"If you took more interest in me and my doings you'd know damn well who Sam Ford is. He's boss of the marinas division."
"So you found Kayles."
"Sam did, and you're looking at a damn fool. I tried to take him myself and got a poor bloody fisherman killed. I'm beginning to sicken myself." I poured myself a stiff drink and sat down.
"Commissioner Perigord doesn't think a great deal of me these days.
Just about as much as you seem to do. "
"And whose fault is that?" she flared.
"What interest are you taking in me? You're never around any more."
"My God, you know the problems I've had recently, what with one thing and another. And a new one has just come up the Fun Palace fire.
There's a meeting of the Hoteliers' Association and the Ministry of Tourism in Nassau tomorrow I'll have to leave early ' "That was bad," she said.
"I read about it in the Houston papers."
"You would. If you were in Timbuctu you'd have read about it. That's the problem." ^ "But what has it got to do with you? Why should you fly to Nassau?"
I looked at Debbie thoughtfully and decided to cool it. She was in a worse temper than I had ever seen, but even though she was being unreasonable she deserved an explanation.
"Because I'm in the business," I said patiently.
"It affects the Theta Corporation. The Bahamas seems to have become a disaster area lately and we're trying to figure out ways of minimizing the damage. My guess is that the Ministry of Tourism will propose a levy on the industry to fund a new advertising campaign."
"Oh, I see."
I adopted a more conciliatory tone.
"Debbie, I know I haven't been around much lately, and I'm sorry- truly I am. I'll tell you what.
Let me get straightened out here and we'll take a holiday. Maybe go to Europe London and Paris. We've never had a holiday together, not a real one.
"
"A second honeymoon so soon after the first?" she said ruefully.
"But will you get straightened out? Won't there be something else come along to need your personal attention? And then something else? And something else? Won't it be like that?"
"No, it won't be like that. No man is indispensable in a decently run organization, not even the boss. And this run of bad luck can't go on for ever."
She shook her head slowly.
"No, Tom. I'm going away to think this out."
"Think what out, for God's sake?"
"Us."
"There's nothing wrong with us, Debbie. And can't you do your thinking here?"
"I'd rather go home be among my own family."
I took a deep breath.
"I wish you wouldn't, Debbie, I really do, but if you must I don't suppose I can stop you."
"No, you can't," she said, and left the room.
I poured myself another drink, again a stiff one. As I sat down I reflected that although I had told Debbie I had been shot at, never once had she asked if I had been hurt. We had gone so far down the line. The Mangan marriage appeared to be another part of the Bahamian disaster area.
Bobby Bowen flew me to Nassau early next morning and I spent the day arguing the toss with Ministry of Tourism officials and a crowd of apprehensive and tight-wadded hoteliers. Everyone agreed that something must be done; the argument was about who was going to pay for it. The argument went on all day and ended as I had predicted; there would be a levy on the industry and the Government would put up dollar for dollar.
I got home at about seven in the evening to find that Debbie had gone, but had left a note.
"Dear Tom, I meant what I said yesterday. I have gone back to Houston and will stay until the baby has come. I don't want to see you until then, but I suppose you will want to come just before the birth. That's all right with me, but I don't want to see you until then.
I have not taken Karen with me because I think it would be unfair to take her from her school and her friends and into what is a foreign country. Besides, she is your daughter.
